Frequently Asked Questions

Choose from more than 478,000 PDP Plus in-network providers nationwide with 7,200* 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 March 2026 reporting, Tennessee has more than 7,200 providers.

Yes. MetLife’s mobile app 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
Register: Enter your name, social security number, date of birth, zip code, state, telephone number, and email address. Your email address will be used as your login username going forward. (It is highly recommended to use a personal email address). Select Next to continue.

Step 2
Enter Authentication Information: Select how you’d like to receive a one-time verification code text message or voice call, that will be sent to the phone number shown on screen. Once you receive the code, enter it and select Next. The verification codes expire after 15 minutes, but you can easily request a new one if needed.

Step 3
Establish Account Credentials: Create your password using a mix of letters, numbers and symbols. Remember, your email address will be your login ID. Review and accept the Terms of Use and eDelivery policy to opt into paperless communications. When finished, select Create Account.

Registration is Complete: Once your account is created, you’ll see a confirmation message.

Yes. We recommend that you request a pre-treatment estimate for services. 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. 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
• Plus more services, which can be found in your plan's certificate of coverage

Members are encouraged to ask their dental office to file claims on their behalf. Members can also submit claims and upload documents directly through MyBenefits. By doing so, members can track claims online and receive email alerts when a claim has been processed. If using MyBenefits to file a claim, members should upload all necessary documents such as X-rays at the time of submission. If it’s determined that more information is needed after the initial claim is submitted through MyBenefits, MetLife will reach out to the employee, letting them know that additional documents can only be provided by mail or fax. Alternatively, a claim form can also be obtained by calling 1-855-700-8001.

For state government and higher education employees, premiums will be paid through payroll deduction. Employees of local education and local government should consult with their agency benefits coordinator in their human resources office 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 dentalprovider.metlife.com or call 1-866-PDP-NTWK (1-866-737-6895) for an application. The website and phone number are for use by dental professionals only.

Members can also recommend that a particular dentist be added to the MetLife PDP Plus Network. Members can log in to their MyBenefits to make this recommendation. To do so, use the provider search to search for a dentist after logging in to MyBenefits. Then, look for the “Recommend a Dentist” button and follow that link.

The coordination of benefits provision in dental benefits plans is a set of rules 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 that will cost more than $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 maximum allowable charge 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. 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.

No. A dentist listed as in-network at one location in the MetLife PDP Plus Provider Search is not necessarily in-network at other offices where that dentist provides services. Please be sure to review the specific location shown in the Provider Search carefully.