Military families in Colorado Springs tend to find out the hard way that “TRICARE” means different things for dental depending on who in the house needs the appointment. The service member, the spouse, the kids and a retired parent living with you can all be on different plans. Before getting into which offices take what, it helps to know which plan each person actually has.
Who in the family uses which plan
| Person | Dental coverage | Where they usually go |
|---|---|---|
| Active duty service member | Active Duty Dental Program | Mostly the military dental clinics on post |
| Spouse and children of active duty | TRICARE Dental Program (TDP), administered by United Concordia | Civilian dentists in the United Concordia network |
| National Guard and Reserve members and their families | TRICARE Dental Program | Civilian network dentists |
| Military retirees and their families | FEDVIP dental plans, such as Delta Dental or United Concordia | Civilian dentists in that plan’s network |
| Veterans enrolled in VA health care | VA Dental Insurance Program (VADIP), or VA dental care if eligible | Civilian dentists in the VADIP carrier’s network |
The TRICARE Dental Program is voluntary and separate from TRICARE medical, so families have to enroll and pay a monthly premium for it. Retirees lost the old TRICARE Retiree Dental Program at the end of 2018 and now use FEDVIP instead. Networks change, so confirm any office below in your carrier’s directory before booking.
1. Star Dental Institute
Star Dental Institute sits on Star Ranch Road on the southwest side of Colorado Springs, close to Fort Carson, and is led by Dr. Gary Moore, who has more than 30 years of clinical experience in the city. It takes the top spot for a simple reason: it covers more of the plans in the table above than most single offices, and it handles the bigger work that military families often put off between moves.
Plans they work with
Their military dental insurance page lists FEDVIP coverage through Delta Dental and United Concordia for retirees, the VA Dental Insurance Program, Humana dental plans for veterans, and help for families coordinating TRICARE For Life with a FEDVIP plan. They also accept Health First Colorado (Medicaid) for family members who qualify, and they offer payment plans for anything insurance does not cover.
What they do that most general offices send out
- Same day dentures, made in an on site lab so most patients leave with teeth the day of their extractions
- Dental implants, including full mouth and All on 4 options
- Same day emergency appointments for pain, broken teeth and infections
- IV sedation for patients who struggle with dental anxiety
- Root canals with an in house endodontist
The hours work around a duty day
The office opens at 7:00 a.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday and runs into early afternoon. That early start makes it easier to get a spouse or retiree seen before work or school pickup.
2. South Springs Dental Group
On South Academy Boulevard right next to Fort Carson’s Gate 3, South Springs is about as close to post as a civilian office gets. They are in network with United Concordia for the TRICARE Dental Program and have run a low cost new patient special for military families.
3. All Smiles Dental Group
With offices on Bloomington Street on the east side and on Barnes Road, All Smiles accepts United Concordia and serves TDP families. They list emergency and weekend appointments, which helps when the only free day is Saturday.
4. Colorado Dental Group
Located on Centennial Boulevard on the west side, Colorado Dental Group accepts United Concordia and TRICARE dental for active duty family members. It is a convenient pick for families living closer to the Garden of the Gods area than to the south gates.
5. Exceptional Smiles
Up north near the Air Force Academy on New Allegiance Drive, Exceptional Smiles is in network for TRICARE through United Concordia and aims to finish a full cleaning at the first visit. Families stationed at USAFA or living in Briargate will find it the closest option on this list.
6. Discovery Kids Pediatric Dentistry
For children, Discovery Kids on Rangewood Drive is a pediatric only practice that accepts the TRICARE Dental Program through United Concordia and lists Fort Carson, Fountain, Security and Widefield among the areas it serves.
7. Practice 32
Practice 32 is a dental hygiene practice, not a full dental office, with locations on Centennial Boulevard and Powers Center Point. They accept United Concordia and TRICARE for cleanings and preventive visits and refer out for treatment. It suits families who only need to stay current on cleanings between PCS moves.
Before you book
Call with your sponsor’s information ready and ask the office to confirm two things: that they are in network for your specific plan, not just “military insurance” in general, and what your share will be for the visit you need. For TDP families, preventive visits are where the plan pays best, so it makes sense to book cleanings for the whole family soon after enrolling and keep them on a six month rhythm.