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Dental insurance verification call script

A free call script for verifying dental benefits by phone: what to have ready, the questions to ask in order, and what to write down before you hang up.

Updated November 11, 2026

How to use it

Use it when the portal doesn't show everything, which is often the case for frequency limits, clauses and history. Ask the questions in order and write the answers on the verification form.

Always end by asking for the rep's name and a call reference number. If the claim is paid differently later, the reference is your proof of what you were told.

The template

Fill in the [brackets] in your own copy. This page has no fields: nothing you'd fill in is typed here.

Before you call
Have ready: the office's tax ID and NPI, the subscriber's name, member ID and date of birth, the patient's name and date of birth, and the procedure codes you plan to do.
Opening
"Hi, this is [your name] from [office name]. I'm calling to verify dental benefits for a patient. Our tax ID is [tax ID] and our NPI is [NPI]."
"The subscriber is [subscriber name], member ID [member ID], date of birth [date of birth]. The patient is [patient name], date of birth [date of birth]."
Eligibility
1. "Is the patient's coverage active today? When did it start?"
2. "When does the plan year renew?"
3. "Are we in network for this plan?"
4. "Does the patient have other dental coverage on file? Which plan pays first?"
Coverage and money
5. "What percentage does the plan pay for preventive, basic and major services?"
6. "Are root canals and gum treatment basic or major?"
7. "What's the deductible, how much is left, and does it apply to preventive care?"
8. "What's the yearly maximum, and how much is left?"
9. "Are there waiting periods for basic or major services? Are they waived for this patient?"
Limits and history
10. "What are the frequency limits for exams, cleanings, bitewings and full-mouth X-rays? Is that per calendar year, benefit year, or a set number of months?"
11. "What are the dates of the last exam, cleaning, bitewings and full-mouth or panoramic X-ray?"
12. "How often does the plan pay for deep cleaning per quadrant, and perio maintenance? Do maintenance visits count toward the cleaning limit?"
13. "How often will the plan replace a crown or bridge? Are there crowns on file, and when were they placed?"
Clauses
14. "Is there a missing tooth clause?"
15. "Does the plan pay tooth-colored fillings on back teeth at the silver filling rate?"
16. "Does the plan pay buildups separately from crowns?"
17. "Do you recommend a pre-treatment estimate for [procedure]?"
Closing
"Can I have your name and a reference number for this call?"
Write down: rep's name [name], reference [number], date and time [date and time].

A starting point, not legal advice. Check it against your state's rules and your network contracts.

Sources

Read November 11, 2026. Where a source describes one insurer's plans, we say so.

Get the patient's share in dollars, from the benefits page

Tabruns fills in the coverage, maximum, deductible and limits from the portal for you. Tabruns reads the coverage, deductible, yearly maximum, waiting periods and frequency limits from the insurer's portal and works out what the patient owes. Patient details stay on the office computer.

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