Waiting periods, limits and missing teeth
The checks that need dates. They run on the office computer, and only a yes or no reaches the estimate.
Updated November 4, 2026
Waiting periods
If the benefits page lists a waiting period for a category, such as 6 months for basic care, Tabruns compares it with the plan start date. Not over yet: the line pays nothing and says why. No start date on the page: a note under the estimate says the waiting period wasn't checked.
Frequency limits
Limits like “2 cleanings per year” or “1 crown per tooth every 5 years” are counted against the claims history on the page, by service kind, so every crown code counts toward the crown limit. Per-tooth limits need the tooth number. A limit by calendar year counts from January 1; a limit of years counts back from today.
The missing-tooth rule
Many plans won't pay to replace a tooth that was missing before the patient joined. Portals rarely show this in a readable way, so staff set it on a line with Does the plan pay it? and Missing-tooth rule applies.
Plan start dates and service dates are identifiers under HIPAA. They're used on the office computer to get a yes or no, and never leave it.
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