You won’t find “read dental insurance coverage” on very many people’s to-do lists, which is why many aren’t aware of their policy’s limitations.

In fact, even dentist offices often don’t know the specifics, as policies vary widely and change from year to year. Meanwhile, there is an ever-growing number of procedures available to improve the look and feel of your teeth.

So what likely won’t be fully funded -- or even partially, in many cases -- by your insurance? Here are the ones I see most:

1. Attrition, or loss of tooth structure due to natural wear.

2. Abrasion, or loss of tooth structure caused by a hard toothbrush, poor brushing technique or teeth grinding and clenching.

3. Tooth-colored fillings on your back teeth.

4. Veneers, or thin shields of porcelain used to cover the front of teeth.

5.  Teeth bleaching.

My best advice if you’re concerned about your out-of-pocket costs is to insist that your dentist predetermine with your dental insurance company what the payout would be for any procedure -- and what you would owe -- before having any work done. Also remember, you can always call the customer service line on the back of your insurance card to double-check your coverage before even stepping foot at the dentist’s.

Dr. Roy Daniels is a practicing dentist in Sedona, Arizona. He is a past president of the Arizona Dental Association and served on the board of insurance company Delta Dental of Arizona from 2002 to 2010

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