Original Medicare does not cover routine dental care. For that reason, the majority of people with Medicare (65%) have no dental insurance and many of them forego care as a result.

This is concerning because oral health and overall health are connected. 

Gum disease, for example, is associated with an increased risk for heart disease and poorly managed diabetes. Some have suggested that inflammation in the gums may even produce an immune response that increases the risk of cancer.

For the elderly, dental health is made more relevant by the average number of prescription drugs they take. Dry mouth, a common pharmaceutical side effect, increases the risk of cavities, alters chewing and taste, and encourage the formation of oral sores.

Dental insurance helps encourage people to keep seeing their dentists who, in turn, help their patients maintain good oral health. That's why dental coverage is so important for older Americans.

Dental insurance enrollment by the numbers

Slightly more than 11 million Medicare Advantage enrollees have some amount of routine dental insurance, although the services covered and expense limits vary by plan. 

Another 5 million have a private dental insurance plan and 6.3 million are helped by Medicaid.

A private standalone dental insurance policy for someone with Medicare will cost approximately $45 each month.

Every standalone Medicare dental plan will cover most or all preventive oral health care like annual exams, cleanings and x-rays of the teeth. Plans typically share in the cost of common, sometimes expensive procedures like fillings, crowns, extractions and dentures. 

It is common for dental plans to limit the annual amount they will pay each year, at which time the Medicare enrollee must pay for their dental care out of pocket.