# Dental Predetermination vs Preauthorization > Dental predetermination vs preauthorization comparison explaining how offices should document payer review, eligibility, remaining benefits, attachments, and estimate caveats before treatment. Last verified: 2026-07-09 Publication status: Public HTML page: https://dentovio.com/resources/dental-predetermination-vs-preauthorization Markdown: https://dentovio.com/resources/dental-predetermination-vs-preauthorization/index.html.md Canonical resource: https://dentovio.com/resources/dental-insurance-verification-form PDF form: https://dentovio.com/downloads/dental-insurance-verification-form.pdf Fillable form: https://dentovio.com/downloads/dental-insurance-verification-form-fillable Excel workbook: https://dentovio.com/downloads/dental-insurance-verification-worksheet.xlsx Phone script: https://dentovio.com/downloads/dental-insurance-verification-phone-script ## Direct answer Predetermination is a payer review that can estimate benefits before treatment, while preauthorization usually means a payer approval step may be required before treatment or payment. Neither should be presented as a payment guarantee; the office still needs active eligibility, maximum remaining, deductible, procedure limits, documentation requirements, and the payer caveat. ## Capture before estimating Whether payer review is optional or required, review reference, active eligibility, maximum remaining, deductible, procedure limits, attachments, timing, and non-guarantee caveat. ## Checklist - Ask whether the payer uses predetermination, preauthorization, prior authorization, or another review term for the planned service. - Confirm whether the review is recommended, required before treatment, or required before payment consideration. - Document requested attachments such as radiographs, narratives, chart notes, periodontal charting, or photos. - Do not quote the review response as guaranteed payment because eligibility and remaining benefits can change before claim processing. ## Related searches - dental preauthorization vs predetermination - dental predetermination guarantee of payment - dental insurance prior authorization vs predetermination ## Related verification pages - [Oral Surgery Insurance Verification Checklist](https://dentovio.com/resources/oral-surgery-insurance-verification) - [Dental Insurance Verification vs Predetermination](https://dentovio.com/resources/dental-insurance-verification-vs-predetermination) - [Root Canal Insurance Verification Checklist](https://dentovio.com/resources/root-canal-insurance-verification) - [Cigna Dental Insurance Verification Checklist](https://dentovio.com/resources/cigna-dental-insurance-verification) - [Delta Dental Insurance Verification Checklist](https://dentovio.com/resources/delta-dental-insurance-verification) - [Dental Annual Maximum Remaining Verification Checklist](https://dentovio.com/resources/dental-annual-maximum-remaining-verification) ## Source basis - `ADA-ELIGIBILITY` ADA Eligibility Verification: Dental-office guidance on verifying eligibility, preserving portal or call documentation, and asking patients about coverage changes. - `ADA-PREAUTH` ADA Pre-Authorizations: ADA explanation of voluntary predetermination of benefits and the eligibility / plan-maximum caveats before treatment. - `ADA-BENEFITS` ADA Introduction to Dental Benefits: ADA primer on common dental benefit concepts such as deductibles, annual maximums, and plan design. - `ADA-REJECTIONS` ADA Responding to Claim Rejections: ADA practice resource on documentation patterns that can support reconsideration after common claim rejections. ## Boundary Educational dental-office operations resource only. It is not legal, clinical, financial, coding, or coverage advice and does not guarantee payer payment.