1. In dental insurance, routine cleanings and exams fall under the category of:

Diagnostic and preventive services

Diagnostic and preventive services (exams, cleanings, x-rays) are usually covered at the highest level to encourage prevention.

2. A scheduled dental plan pays:

A fixed dollar amount listed for each procedure

A scheduled (table of allowances) plan pays a set dollar amount per procedure; nonscheduled plans pay a percentage of charges.

3. Predetermination of benefits in a dental plan allows the insured and dentist to:

Learn in advance what the plan will pay for a proposed treatment

Predetermination (pretreatment estimate) tells the patient and dentist the expected payment before major work begins.

4. Orthodontic coverage in a dental plan typically:

Is subject to separate lifetime maximums and may be optional

Orthodontic benefits are often optional, may apply mainly to children, and carry separate lifetime maximums.