Dentists earn high incomes and carry significant financial obligations, which makes income protection essential. A comprehensive own-occupation disability insurance policy replaces a portion of your income if injury or illness prevents you from working in dentistry. Below you will find why dentists need coverage, what features matter most, typical pricing, and the five carriers most dentists consider in 2025.
Why Dentists Need Disability Insurance
Dentistry is physically demanding and highly specialized. If a hand, neck, back, or vision issue sidelines you, your earning power can drop quickly.
- Income at risk: General dentists often earn into the high five figures or low six figures, and specialists may earn far more.
- Debt load: Many dentists graduate with student loan balances around the low to mid-$300,000s.
- Fixed expenses: Mortgages, practice or equipment loans, and family expenses continue even if income stops.
- Common claim drivers: Musculoskeletal disorders, cancer, neurologic issues, mental and stress-related conditions, and accidents.
The Ontario Academy of General Dentistry published an article on why dentists should invest in disability insurance. This article quoted the ADA, stating that one out of every four dentists will become disabled. A quality policy is designed to protect your specialty income so you can continue meeting obligations and long-term goals.!
What Dentists Should Know Before Buying
Underwriting Basics
- Age and health affect approval and pricing. The younger and healthier you are, the better the offer.
- Lifestyle and hobbies can lead to exclusions or surcharges.
- Income and occupation class determine the maximum monthly benefit you can buy.
Group Versus Individual Coverage
- Group LTD through an employer is often limited, taxable if employer-paid, not portable, and may not be true own-occupation.
- Individual policies are portable, customizable, can be non-cancelable and guaranteed renewable, and can include a true own-occupation definition.
Occupation Class for Dentists
Carriers assign dentists to higher occupation classes than many other healthcare roles, but dentistry is still viewed as higher risk for fine-motor and musculoskeletal claims. Expect pricing that reflects this.
The Must-Have Features in a Dentist Policy
- True own-occupation definition: Pays full benefits when you cannot perform the material and substantial duties of your own dental specialty, even if you work in another occupation and earn income there.
- Non-cancelable and guaranteed renewable: The company cannot change your premiums or reduce benefits as long as you pay on time.
- Residual or partial disability rider: Pays a proportionate benefit when you can still work but have a loss of income due to partial disability.
- Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) rider: Increases monthly benefits while on claim to help offset inflation.
- Future increase or benefit update rider: Lets you increase coverage later as income rises, usually with limited or no medical underwriting.
- Student loan rider: Provides an extra benefit for loan payments during a qualifying claim.
- Catastrophic benefit rider: Adds additional benefits for severe loss of functional capacity.
Waiting period
A 90-day elimination period is common. Shorter periods cost more. Build an emergency fund that aligns with your chosen waiting period.
Benefit period
Coverage to age 65 or 67 is typical for dentists. Some carriers offer to age 70. Longer periods cost more but provide stronger long-term protection.
Mental and nervous limitations
Some policies limit benefits for mental or substance-related claims to 24 months, and some states restrict these limitations. Review this carefully.
Related: Do Dentists Qualify for Physician Mortgage Loans?
How Much Does Dentist Disability Insurance Cost?
A common planning range is about 1 to 4 percent of covered income, depending on age, health, specialty, benefit amount, benefit period, waiting period, and riders selected.
Level vs. graded Premiums
- Level premiums start higher and stay the same for the life of the policy.
- Graded premiums start lower and increase annually. Many dentists lock in level premiums while young to control lifetime cost.
The 5 Best Disability Insurance Companies for Dentists in 2025
Below are five widely used carriers for individual, true own-occupation coverage. Final features and availability can vary by state and by your profile.
1) Guardian (Provider Choice)
- True own-occupation with strong partial disability language
- Multiple COLA options and robust future increase features
- Student loan and catastrophic benefit riders available
- Often no blanket mental and nervous limitation outside certain states
2) Ameritas (DInamic Fundamental/Plus)
- True own-occupation definition
- COLA, future increase, and non-cancelable options
- Benefit periods up to age 70 available
- Mental and nervous benefits may be limited to 24 months in many states
3) Principal
- True own-occupation available with flexible riders
- Residual benefits after a 20 percent loss of income
- Automatic increase and benefit update features
- Benefit periods typically to age 65, 67, or 70
4) The Standard (Platinum Advantage)
- True own-occupation definition with multiple residual riders
- Automatic increase rider and two COLA choices
- Family care benefit options in some states
- Benefit periods to age 70 available
5) MassMutual (Radius/Radius Choice)
- True own-occupation available via rider
- Future increase and COLA options
- Benefit periods typically to age 67 or 70
- May require treatment under a physician while on claim
Discounts and Ways to Save
- Resident and fellow discounts can reduce premiums by 10 to 40 percent and are often portable to attending life if you keep the policy.
- GSI offers (guaranteed standard issue) at training programs can allow coverage with limited medical underwriting.
- Multi-life or employer list-bill discounts may apply when several dentists at the same practice buy policies.
Example Buying Framework for Dentists
- Choose true own-occupation with non-cancelable and guaranteed renewable provisions.
- Select a 90-day waiting period that matches your emergency fund.
- Pick a benefit period to age 65 or 67. Consider age 70 if cash flow allows.
- Add residual, future increase, and a COLA rider if buying early in your career.
- Consider a student loan rider if your balance is still significant.
- Re-underwrite only when it clearly improves pricing or benefits.
Key Takeaways
Dentists have more income to protect and more to lose if a disability interrupts clinical work. For 2025, a high-quality individual policy with a true own-occupation definition, strong residual benefits, non-cancelable and guaranteed renewable provisions, and thoughtful riders remains the gold standard. Expect costs around 1 to 4 percent of covered income, with meaningful discounts often available during training or through multi-life arrangements. The carriers most dentists consider include Guardian, Ameritas, Principal, The Standard, and MassMutual, with Ohio National frequently discussed as an additional option. The right policy is the one that matches your specialty risk, cash flow, and long-term plans. Request your free quotes from LeverageRx today to get started.
Yes. It pays when you cannot perform dentistry, even if you can work in another role and earn income there.
Carriers cap benefits based on income, usually enough to replace a portion of after-tax income. You can often layer increases later using a future increase rider as your earnings grow.
Group plans are a helpful base but are often taxable, capped, not portable, and may not be true own-occupation. Most dentists add an individual policy for specialty-specific protection.
Ninety days is common. Choose a period that you can comfortably self-fund with an emergency reserve.
Yes, but many policies limit these claims to 24 months, subject to state rules. Review policy language closely.
During residency or early in practice to secure discounts and stronger terms while you are younger and healthier.
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