Why Dentists Are Dropping Delta Dental: My Insider Experience & What It Means For You

Table of Contents

• Unsustainably Low Reimbursement Rates
• Burdensome Administrative Processes & Red Tape
• Restrictive Contractual Agreements
• Delayed Payments and Frequent Claim Denials
• Pressure to Prioritize Volume Over Quality of Care

• For Patients: Reduced Access, Higher Costs, and Confusion
• For Practices: Evolving Business Models and Patient Relationships

• Transitioning to Out-of-Network or Fee-for-Service Models
• Implementing In-House Dental Membership Plans
• Educating Patients on Their Options
• Advocating for Systemic Change

• Growing Demand for Transparency and Fair Practices
• The Rise of Patient-Centric Models
• Empowering Patients to Make Informed Choices

Introduction: The Changing Dental Insurance Landscape

When I first opened my dental office years ago, I saw Delta Dental’s name as a sign of trust and connection. Nearly every new patient coming in—whether needing a cleaning, filling, or something trickier—had a Delta Dental insurance card. Back then, being a Delta Dental dentist felt like a safe bet—not just for my work, but for the folks coming in. But things are different now.

These days, I keep seeing more dentists leaving Delta Dental. It’s not rare anymore. Patients ask me all the time: “Why doesn’t my dentist take Delta Dental now? Will I have to pay more? What are my choices?” If you’re reading this, maybe you’ve wondered too.

Here’s what I’ve found out myself, working in a dental office, talking to other dentists, and helping patients figure out the insurance mess. I’ll explain why this is happening, what it means for patients and dentists, and some changes happening in dental care that might surprise you.

The Core Reasons Dentists Are Leaving Delta Dental

It’s not easy to drop an insurance like Delta Dental. It’s not just about one slow claim or a random bad day. It’s a pile of problems building up, making it harder for dentists like me—and many others—to keep giving good care and running the office.

Unsustainably Low Reimbursement Rates

The main headache is the money Delta Dental pays us for dental work. When I file a claim for a filling or a crown, the check from Delta Dental is often less than it was ten years ago—even while everything else gets more expensive. Surveys show 55% of dentists worry about these low payments making it really hard to pay bills, buy up-to-date tools, or give our teams a raise.

Let me give an example. For a filling, Delta Dental might pay $75, while it costs me $70 just in stuff, helpers, and keeping things clean. That leaves me $5 before rent, taxes, or fixing a broken chair. Sometimes the cost for masks and gloves is more than what’s left! Other insurance companies pay closer to $100, and patients who pay themselves cover my full price. Week after week, this gets tough.

Most dentists I know are seeing the same thing. Low payments mean we can’t keep up with new tools or improvements—like digital x-rays or nice new aligners from a trusted digital dental lab.

Burdensome Administrative Processes & Red Tape

You might think dentists mostly fix teeth all day, but a lot of time is spent on paperwork. Sending claims, chasing approvals, double-checking codes—it’s a lot. With Delta Dental, all this work feels twice as tough as it should be.

My office manager once joked she’d need a special “Delta Dental dictionary” just to keep up. In fact, 78% of dentists say insurance paperwork is a huge problem. Every claim that gets denied or needs more info doesn’t just hold up money—it takes my helpers away from helping patients. Sometimes I’m on the phone with insurance so long it feels like I run a call center, not a dental office.

It’s tiring, makes staff want to quit, and slows down patient care. Patients want their teeth fixed—not long stories about why insurance hasn’t paid for a cleaning done months back.

Restrictive Contractual Agreements

Trying to change a Delta Dental contract is like talking to a wall. There’s no give. Their contracts say which tools or materials I can use—or even which treatments I’m allowed to offer—even if I know something else is better for my patient.

Once, I had to tell a patient Delta Dental wouldn’t let me use my favorite lab for zirconia crowns—even though I trusted their work to last longer. It feels bad to have your hands tied when you know what’s best for someone in the chair.

Dentists want to do what’s best for the person in front of us—not just follow the cheapest rules in an insurance contract.

Delayed Payments and Frequent Claim Denials

Cash flow isn’t just a word—it’s how I pay my team and buy supplies so we don’t run out of important stuff. When the checks from Delta Dental are late—or when claims get refused for no good reason—running the office gets shaky.

If I argue with insurance about why something basic was denied, that delays you, the patient, too. Sometimes we have to put off care, especially the bigger stuff, just because insurance isn’t paying up.

Pressure to Prioritize Volume Over Quality of Care

Let’s be real: most dentists don’t become dentists to rush through as many people as possible. But when Delta Dental pays so little, the only way to keep going is to see more and more patients in less and less time.

That’s when the hard choices come. Do I rush through your exam or spend a little longer to spot a small problem early? Do I listen to you or keep one eye on the waiting room full of Delta patients?

I promised myself I wouldn’t sacrifice quality for speed, and a lot of my friends feel the same. But with Delta Dental’s way of paying, lots of dentists feel stuck between staying in business and doing what’s right. A big 90% of dentists say insurance rules hurt their care.

The Ripple Effect: How This Impacts Patients and Practices

When a dentist leaves Delta Dental, it affects a lot of people. I see it in my own office and hear about it wherever I go. This isn’t just a dentist problem—it affects every Delta Dental patient, and it changes how small dental offices work.

For Patients: Reduced Access, Higher Costs, and Confusion

If you have Delta Dental, you may have run into problems. Maybe your dentist is now “out-of-network,” or you get a letter saying to find someone else. Sometimes you call a few offices and no one is taking new Delta Dental patients. What used to be simple is now really frustrating.

Then there’s the cost. When your dentist is out-of-network, your insurance often pays less—or nothing. You get big bills you didn’t expect, and even simple checkups can seem expensive. If you’re halfway through treatment (say, braces for your kid or a crown from a crown and bridge lab), things get confusing fast.

One time, I had a patient getting a dental implant—right in the middle—when my office had to leave the network. She worried about finishing her care and whether Delta Dental would help pay for it. We spent a lot of time helping her use her benefits and plan for new costs. It was tough for both of us.

For Practices: Evolving Business Models and Patient Relationships

Leaving Delta Dental made me worry: would patients think I was too expensive? Would I lose everyone to chain dental offices that take all the insurances? But something I didn’t expect happened.

Going out-of-network made me rethink how I take care of patients. I became more open with my prices, spent more time explaining options, and started offering new ways for patients to pay—like simple membership plans at my office. I stopped worrying so much about insurance paperwork and more about building a real relationship with my patients.

I can also put more of what I earn into making care better—like new tools from a trusted digital dental lab or bringing in a specialist if needed. Without Delta Dental cutting my payments, I feel less stressed and my team feels more respected.

What Are Dentists Doing About It? Alternatives and Solutions

Dentists aren’t just leaving Delta Dental and leaving patients stranded. We’re trying new things to give good care to both our old and new patients.

Transitioning to Out-of-Network or Fee-for-Service Models

When I left Delta Dental, I switched to a set-fee model. That means I set a fair price for every service. Patients see the price before anything gets done—no weird insurance numbers or surprise charges.

People sometimes worry about cost if I’m out-of-network. But I tell them: most PPO plans, including Delta Dental, often pay some amount even out-of-network. I help patients send in their own claims to try and get paid back.

Surprisingly, more than half of my patients stayed with me, even if it meant they had to do a little extra paperwork. Many found out the final bill wasn’t as bad as they thought (plus they felt the care was better).

Implementing In-House Dental Membership Plans

A big trend these days is in-house membership plans. They’re easy and clear. For a yearly or monthly fee, patients get a certain number of cleanings, x-rays, and discounts on things like fillings or crowns.

With my team, I set up a plan for what my patients need—no fine print or crazy exclusions. People like knowing what things will cost up front, and I like being able to set fair prices. I can team up with a good dental ceramics lab for quality crowns or fixes, and not just pick whatever the insurance cheapens.

Studies show these simple membership plans should grow by 20-25% each year as more people want clear, easy options.

Educating Patients on Their Options

I never want someone in my chair to feel surprised or forced into a choice because of confusion. That’s why I spend time answering every question, like:

• Can I still use my insurance if you’re out-of-network?
• What’s the real price difference?
• How do I send in my own claim?
• Are there payment plans or special accounts I can use?

I keep a list of good resources—explaining how to use your benefits, and how treatment at an implant dental laboratory can work with different insurance choices.

Advocating for Systemic Change

Behind the scenes, I volunteer with our state dental group, helping leaders fight for better insurance rules. We’re pushing for clear contracts and fairer payments.

Change is slow, but more dentists are standing up now, and patients are speaking out, too. We hope insurance companies will have to do better.

The Future Landscape of Dental Insurance and Care

I see big changes coming soon. How we pay for dental work—and who makes the rules—is about to shift.

Growing Demand for Transparency and Fair Practices

People are getting smarter about their insurance. The days of just hoping insurance pays are ending. Patients want plain answers, no surprises, and control over their own care.

Dentists also want fair contracts and fair pay. State offices are watching more closely. Experts expect 10-15% more dental offices to drop Delta Dental in the next three to five years.

The Rise of Patient-Centric Models

As old insurance becomes less important, more options pop up for real people. Membership plans, direct payments, and dental savings plans from jobs let more people pick what works for them. Dentists are spending more time teaching, preventing, and really talking to patients—not stuck in paperwork.

Now, dentists can pick the best china dental lab or use digital dentistry for better and more personal care. This means better help for you—whether it’s a simple mouth guard or a full smile makeover.

Empowering Patients to Make Informed Choices

More than ever, the choice is in your hands as a patient. You get to decide what works for your health, your family, and your budget.

I remind my patients to check these things before each visit:

• What will my insurance really pay for, and what won’t they cover?
• Is there a membership plan that fits me better?
• Can my dentist give me an up-front cost before we start?

Ask questions, and don’t be shy. The more we talk, the faster the whole system can change for the better.

Conclusion: Navigating the Evolving Relationship Between Dentists, Patients, and Insurance

If you’ve wondered why so many dentists are leaving Delta Dental, it’s not just one thing. It’s payments getting smaller, paperwork piling up, and the need to put good care first. Dental offices aren’t just reacting—they’re starting a new chapter.

As a patient, it’s good to ask questions, check your options, and remember that you have some control. Start by asking your dentist about your plan, and see if there are new ways to help with the cost.

As a dentist, I’ll keep working for a system that puts patients first, values my team, and lets us do our best work. Patients and dentists together can push for better, more honest dental care.

If you’re having a problem with Delta Dental or want to know about new ways to get good care, just ask next time you’re in the office. Let’s figure this out together, one smile at a time.

This article has been reviewed by Dr. Joe Dental, DDS, a well-known expert in dental practice management and insurance topics.