Frequently Asked Questions

Highlighted terms are defined in the glossary tab.

FAQs

Choose from more than 478,000 PDP Plus in-network providers nationwide with 6,500 providers in Tennessee. For an online list of participating dentists, visit metlife.com/stateoftn and select Find a Dentist.

*Based on MetLife internal contracting system analysis as of July 2025 reporting. Tennessee has over 6,500 as of July 2025.

Yes. For added convenience, MetLife’s mobile app3 is available on the App Store and Google Play. After downloading, you can use it to find a dentist, view your claims, access your ID card, and more. Please see next question on how to register.

Step 1
Provide a Group Name: Access MyBenefits at metlife.com/mybenefits. Enter your employer name (State of Tennessee) and select ‘Next’.

Step 2
Register: Once you have selected your employer,  you will then select the ‘Register’ button.

Step 3
Enter Authentication Information: Enter your name, address, phone number, e-mail (required), and unique security identifiers to confirm your identity. You will then receive a security code to continue the registration process. 

Step 4
Establish Account Credentials: You will be prompted to create a username and password and answer three identity verifications questions to be used if you forget your password. In addition to reading and agreeing to the Terms of Use, you will be asked to opt in to electronic consent.

Step 5
Registration is Complete: You are now registered on MyBenefits! A confirmation email will be sent to the email address provided for your registration.

Yes. We recommend that you request a pre-treatment estimate for services. Simply have your dentist submit a request online at metdental.com or call 1-877-MET-DDS9 (877-638-3379). You and your dentist will receive an estimate for most procedures while you are still in the office. Actual payments may vary depending upon plan maximums, deductibles, frequency limits and other conditions at time of payment.

Yes. You are always free to select any general dentist or specialist. However, you usually save more money when you visit a participating dentist. A participating dentist has agreed to accept negotiated fees as payment in full for covered services. Negotiated fees typically range from 35% – 50% below the average fees charged in a dentist’s community for similar services. 4 Non-participating dentists have not agreed to accept negotiated fees. So, you may be responsible for any difference in cost between the dentist’s fee and your plan’s benefit payment.

The plan covers a number of dental procedures, including5:

  • Exams and cleanings
  • X-rays
  • Fillings
  • Root canals
  • And more services, which can be found in your plan's certificate of coverage

Dentists may submit claims for you, which means you have little or no paperwork. You can track your claims online and even receive email alerts when a claim has been processed. If you need a claim form, visit MyBenefits or call 1-855-700-8001.

For central state government and state higher education employees, premiums will be paid through payroll deduction. Employees of local education and local government should consult with their agency benefits coordinator on how premiums are paid. Retirees may have premiums paid through retirement system deduction or be direct billed.

Yes. If your current dentist does not participate in the network and you would like to encourage him or her to apply, ask your dentist to visit www.metdental.com or call 1-866-PDP-NTWK (1-866-737-6895) for an application. The website and phone number is for use by dental professionals only.

The coordination of benefits provision in dental benefits plans are a set of rules that are followed when a patient is covered by more than one dental benefits plan. These rules determine the order in which the plans will pay benefits. If the MetLife Dental benefit plan is primary, MetLife will pay the full amount of benefits that would normally be available under the plan. If the MetLife Dental benefit plan is secondary, most coordination of benefits provisions require MetLife to determine benefits after benefits have been determined under the primary plan. The amount of benefits payable by MetLife may be reduced due to the benefits paid under the primary plan.

Yes. You can ask for a pre-treatment estimate. Your general dentist or specialist usually sends MetLife a plan for your care and requests an estimate of benefits. The estimate helps you prepare for the cost of dental services. We recommend that you request a pre-treatment estimate for services in excess of $300. Simply have your dentist submit a request online at www.metdental.com or call 1-877-MET-DDS9 (877-638-3379). You and your dentist will receive a benefit estimate for most procedures while you are still in the office. Actual payments may vary depending upon plan maximums, deductibles, frequency limits and other conditions at time of payment. 

When a participant receives dental services from an out-of-network provider, MetLife will pay a percentage of the MAC. The participant is then responsible for everything over the percentage of the MAC paid by MetLife up to the actual charge by the out-of-network dentist. When a participant receives dental services from an in-network provider, the participant is responsible for the portion of the MAC that is not paid by MetLife.

An EOB statement is a summary of your processed claim(s) or pre-treatment estimate(s), including services rendered, costs and benefits paid.

When switching your dental plan, some of the most common services that may be affected include orthodontics, endodontics and prosthodontic services. MetLife has transition of care guidelines for participants whose dental treatment is in progress during the benefit plan transition to the State of Tennessee MetLife group dental plan (DPPO). For Orthodontia, MetLife will apply payment history and treatment plan information to the participant’s MetLife dental plan, pro-rating the charges prior to the MetLife effective date and issue benefits from the effective date forward, under the MetLife dental plan.

A tooth opened prior to, but completed after the MetLife effective date will be considered an eligible expense under the MetLife dental plan.

Treatment (preparation and impressions) started prior to but placed after the MetLife effective date will be considered an eligible expense under the MetLife dental plan.

Final impressions for appliances completed prior to but delivered after the MetLife effective date will be considered eligible expenses under the MetLife dental plan, subject to MetLife plan frequency limits.

1 Savings from enrolling in a MetLife dental benefits plan featuring the Preferred Dentist Program will depend on various factors, including the cost of the plan, how often participants visit the dentist and the cost of services rendered.

2 Based on MetLife internal contracting system analysis as of January 2024.

3 To use the MetLife mobile app, employees can choose to register at metlife.com/mybenefits from a computer or directly through the app. Certain features of the MetLife Mobile App are not available for MetLife Dental Plans.

4 Based on internal MetLife analysis. Negotiated fees refer to the fees that in-network dentists have agreed to accept as payment in full for certain services, subject to any co-payments, deductibles, cost sharing and benefits maximums. Negotiated fees are subject to change. Negotiated fees do not apply to non-covered services in states that prohibit limitations for services not covered under a plan. Participating providers in these states may charge their non-negotiated fees for non-covered services.

5 Those services defined under your dental benefits summary are covered. Please review your plan benefits summary for a more detailed list of covered services.

Like most group benefits programs, benefit programs offered by MetLife and its affiliates contain certain exclusions, exceptions, waiting periods, reductions, limitations and terms for keeping them in force. You may be financially responsible for copayments, deductibles, or any other amounts in excess of those MetLife is required to pay for covered services as described in your dental certificate and/or policy. Ask your MetLife representative for costs and complete details.

Group dental insurance policies featuring the Preferred Dentist Program are underwritten by Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10166.