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Dental plans · NCD by MetLife

Compare NCD Complete, Essentials & Value

Three dental plans on MetLife's PDP Plus network, side by side. Complete has a $10,000 yearly maximum and covers implants. Essentials has a $2,000 maximum. Value is the lowest-cost option, with a $750 maximum. All three pay more the longer you keep them. Amounts are per covered person.

Based on NCD's May 2026 product overviews · Updated October 2026

Preventive care at 100% See any dentist Underwritten by MetLife
Please read: these are dental insurance plans with yearly maximums, offered to members of the National Wellness & Fitness Association (NWFA) and underwritten by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. The policy lists all covered services, frequency limits, and exclusions.
Where these plans are available

NCD plans are sold in most states, but not all. NCD doesn't publish a state list, so call NCD Member Care at 800-485-3855 or ask me, and I'll confirm what's available where you live.

NCD Complete

$10,000 max + implants

A good fit if you need major work like crowns, bridges, or implants, and want a high yearly maximum to cover it.

  • Up to $10,000 a year, including up to $3,000 for implants
  • One $100 deductible, ever: it's a lifetime deductible
  • 3 cleanings and exams a year, paid at 100%
  • Fillings pay 65%, then 80%, then 90% in year 3
  • Major work pays 10%, then 50%, then 60% in year 3

Good to know: major work pays only 10% in your first year, so big jobs are best planned for year 2 or later.

NCD Essentials

$2,000 max

A good fit if you want the same percentages as Complete at a lower cost, and don't expect implants.

  • Up to $2,000 a year
  • $50 deductible each year, for basic and major work only
  • 3 cleanings and exams a year, paid at 100%
  • Fillings pay 65%, then 80%, then 90% in year 3
  • Major work pays 10%, then 50%, then 60% in year 3

Good to know: implants aren't a covered benefit on Essentials.

NCD Value

Lowest cost

A good fit if you mainly need cleanings, checkups, and the occasional filling.

  • Up to $750 a year
  • 2 cleanings and exams a year (1 every 6 months), paid at 100%
  • $50 deductible each year, for basic and major work only
  • Fillings pay 50%, then 65%, then 80% in year 3

Good to know: major work isn't covered in year 1, then pays 10% in year 2 and 25% from year 3. No implants.

Which plan fits you?

You mainly need cleanings and checkupsNCD Value
You might need a crown, root canal, or bridgeEssentials or Complete
You're thinking about an implantNCD Complete
You expect a lot of dental workNCD Complete
You want 3 cleanings a yearEssentials or Complete
You get regular deep cleanings for gum diseaseEssentials or Complete
You want to pay a deductible only onceNCD Complete
You need bracesNot covered on these plans
You need major work in the next few monthsLet's talk timing
How the plans pay

What a visit looks like

Illustrations using example in-network fees. Actual costs vary by dentist and area. In network, the dentist accepts MetLife's negotiated fee as payment in full.

NCD Value · any year

Checkup and cleaning

An exam, a cleaning, and bitewing X-rays.

  • Plan pays100%
  • DeductibleDoesn't apply
You pay$0

The same on NCD Essentials.

NCD Essentials · year 1 · example fee $150

A filling

Your first filling of the year.

  • Your $50 deductible$50
  • Plan pays 65% of $100$65
  • Your 35%$35
You pay$85
NCD Complete · year 3 · example fee $1,100

A crown

Your lifetime deductible was already met in year 1.

  • Plan pays 60%$660
  • Your 40%$440
You pay$440

In year 1, the plan would pay just 10%.

NCD Complete · year 3 · example fee $4,000

An implant

Implants are a major service, with their own $3,000 yearly limit.

  • Plan pays 60%$2,400
  • Your 40%$1,600
You pay$1,600

Not available for a tooth that was already missing before your coverage started.

All benefits

Every benefit, every plan

Not covered Not a covered benefit Percentages are what the plan pays, in or out of network, for years 1 · 2 · 3 and later on the plan.

Rotate your phone for a better view of this table.

Benefit NCD Complete NCD Essentials NCD Value
Yearly maximum $10,000 $2,000 $750
Common questions

Questions people ask

Straight answers about how these plans work. Tap a question to open it.

Is there a waiting period?

No. On Complete and Essentials, every covered service is payable from your first day. On Value, preventive and basic care start right away, but major work doesn't pay until year 2. Instead of waiting periods, all three plans pay a higher percentage each year you keep them.

How do the year 1, 2, and 3 percentages work?

The longer you're on the plan, the more it pays. For example, on Complete and Essentials, a crown pays 10% in your first year, 50% in your second, and 60% from your third year on. Fillings go from 65% to 80% to 90%. If you know you'll need big work, the timing matters, and I can help you plan it.

What's a lifetime deductible?

On NCD Complete, you pay the $100 deductible once, and never again for as long as you keep the plan. On Essentials and Value, the $50 deductible applies each calendar year, and only to basic and major work. On Essentials and Value, cleanings and checkups never have a deductible.

Can I see any dentist?

Yes. The plan pays the same percentages in or out of network. In MetLife's PDP Plus network, the dentist accepts MetLife's negotiated fee as payment in full. Out of network, MetLife pays based on its maximum allowable charge, and the dentist can bill you the difference. Find a PDP Plus dentist.

Are implants covered?

Only on NCD Complete, as a major service, up to $3,000 a year within the $10,000 maximum. Implants can't replace a tooth that was already missing before your coverage started, unless it was congenitally missing.

Can I replace a tooth I lost before the plan started?

Generally no. Dentures or implant-supported teeth to replace teeth that were missing before your coverage started aren't covered, except for teeth that were missing from birth.

Are braces or night guards covered?

No. Orthodontics, night guards, and treatment for teeth grinding aren't covered on any of these plans. Jaw (TMJ) treatment isn't covered either, except in Minnesota.

Are white fillings on back teeth covered?

Yes. All three plans cover tooth-colored (composite) fillings, including on molars, as a basic service.

What is the NWFA?

NCD plans are offered to members of the National Wellness & Fitness Association, and you join when you enroll. Membership includes discounts on wellness and travel services, roadside assistance, and discounts on hearing aids. These perks aren't insurance, and MetLife isn't affiliated with the NWFA.

How do I see my ID card and benefits?

Log in to the NCD member portal at members.ncd.com to see your benefits, download ID cards, update your contact information, and change your payment method. NCD Member Care: 800-485-3855, Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Central.

Does accidental damage to my teeth count?

No. Dental work after an accidental injury isn't covered, except for damage from chewing or biting food.

Questions? Let's talk

Not sure which plan fits? I'll walk you through it.

I'm Hamon R. Burkhardt, a licensed Health & Life insurance broker. I'll help you pick a plan based on the dental work you expect, plan the timing of bigger work, and check that your dentist is in network. No pressure, no fine print.

What counts as each service

Preventive (Type A): exams, cleanings, bitewing X-rays, and fluoride for children under 14. Basic (Type B): fillings, simple extractions, full-mouth X-rays, sealants and space maintainers for children under 14, gum maintenance cleanings, and emergency pain treatment. Major (Type C): crowns, bridges, dentures, root canals, gum surgery and deep cleanings, oral surgery, general anesthesia, and implants (Complete only).

What these plans don't cover

  • Orthodontics (braces)
  • Night guards and treatment for teeth grinding
  • Jaw (TMJ) treatment, except in Minnesota
  • Cosmetic dentistry
  • Replacing teeth missing before coverage started
  • Dental work after an accidental injury, except from chewing food
  • Replacing lost or stolen appliances or dentures

This is a summary. The certificate lists all exclusions and limitations.

How out-of-network pay works

In network, dentists accept MetLife's negotiated fees as payment in full, subject to your deductible and share. Out of network, MetLife pays based on the lesser of the dentist's fee or its scheduled maximum allowable charge, so you may owe more.

About this guide

This guide summarizes NCD's product overviews for NCD Complete, NCD Essentials, and NCD Value. Dental insurance policies featuring the Preferred Dentist Program are underwritten by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY. Metropolitan Life Insurance Company is unaffiliated with the National Wellness & Fitness Association. It was prepared by Hamon R. Burkhardt, licensed Health & Life insurance broker (NPN 16713594), and is not an official NCD or MetLife document. It is not a contract. The certificate decides what is covered. Products are not available in all states. © 2026 helpmehamon!