Why is Wisdom Tooth removal for military spouses not fully covered under TRICARE Prime Dental?

ENS Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 00:54:33 -0400

Removal of Wisdom Teeth for military spouses is not fully covered under TRICARE Prime Dental. For impacted wisdom teeth causing bleeding gums, bad breath, and severe headaches could this surgery be considered non-elective. For spouses who want to accompany their SM overseas, Wisdom Tooth removal is required, but still not fully covered. Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

Response by SN Kevin Neff made Sep 14 at 2016 12:56 AM

SN Kevin Neff — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 00:56:41 -0400

There are a few procedures not covered under tricare which is ignorant since your actually paying for anyway so why not just cover everything the SM receives.

Response by SFC George Smith made Sep 14 at 2016 1:16 AM

SFC George Smith — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 01:16:20 -0400

Interesting... never had the Problem.using them for that ...

Response by SGM Erik Marquez made Sep 14 at 2016 11:38 AM

SGM Erik Marquez — Wed, 14 Sep 2016 11:38:08 -0400

The "why" questions are endless...with Tricare authorizations.
Why does the medical community standard across the board state annual eye exams are important, medically relevant and needed.. Yet Tricare will only authorize one every two years?

Response by Damion Lofton made Sep 15 at 2016 11:28 AM

Damion Lofton — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 11:28:37 -0400

may not be necessary?

Response by SGT Morrison (Mike) Hogwood made Sep 15 at 2016 12:03 PM

SGT Morrison (Mike) Hogwood — Thu, 15 Sep 2016 12:03:10 -0400

i work in dentistry,i would like to say that insurers now want you to have definitive problems with the wisdom teeth,we used to send patients to oral surgery to have wisdom teeth extracted as more of a preventive procedure so you would not have problems,I know it sucks but the insurance companies have the medical communities by the gonads and the doctors opinions do not matter,unlike the military they used to remove every soldiers wisdom teeth at their first permanent duty station,i do not know if these standards still apply,additionally most tricare plans have waiting periods for certain types of treatments,I hope this helps,just remember if they hurt they will extract them