Frequently Asked Questions

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, local government and state offline agencies 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.

NOTE: Waiting periods may apply prior to benefits being paid Endodontic Treatments, Root canal – A tooth opened prior to, but completed after the MetLife effective date will be considered an eligible expense under the MetLife dental plan.

NOTE: Waiting periods may apply prior to benefits being paid Prosthodontic Treatments, Crowns and Bridgework – 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.

NOTE: Waiting periods may apply prior to benefits being paid Partial or Full Denture – 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.

NOTE: Waiting periods may apply prior to benefits being paid.