Dental
What you need to know
Sandia offers three dental plan options to help keep your pearly whites healthy and provide coverage when you need dental procedures.
The dental plan is available to regular employees, postdoctoral appointees, limited-term employees, and eligible dependents. Student interns are not eligible.
Preventive dental care—cleanings and X-rays—are covered at 100%.
When you need care, you can go in- or out-of-network. When you use a Delta Dental contracted network provider, you will pay less.
You do not need to enroll in medical coverage to elect dental benefits.
Three Plan Options
You have three dental plans to choose from:
- The Value Plan offers the lowest maximum benefit, with 70% coverage at the highest level.
- The Standard Plan provides a benefit that’s higher than the Value Plan and 80% coverage at the highest level.
- The Plus Plan offers the highest maximum benefit, with 90% coverage at the highest level. You must remain in the Plus Plan for at least two consecutive years.
Four Coverage Tiers
You can choose from among the following coverage tiers:
- Employee only
- Employee + child(ren)
- Employee + spouse
- Employee + spouse and child(ren)
Plan Overviews
All the dental plans cover the services below. What you pay for services depends on the plan you choose and the network provider you use.
- Diagnostic and preventive care, such as routine cleanings and exams, at no cost to you
- Basic and restorative services, such as filings, root canals, and extractions
- Major services, such as crowns, bridges, and implants
All three plans cover diagnostic and preventive care at no cost to you when you use PPO or Premier network providers. For basic and major services, you’ll pay a deductible before the plan begins to share costs.
Only the Standard Plan and Plus Plan cover orthodontia; the deductible does not apply to orthodontics.
Where to Learn More
To compare coverage and what you’ll pay for services under the three plans, review the Dental Plan Comparison Chart (pdf).
Monthly Premiums
Your dental premiums are based on the plan you choose and the dependents you cover. To see what you’ll pay for coverage, review the Monthly Premiums for 2026 (pdf).
Network Providers
When you need to see a dentist, you have a choice of providers and networks:
| Delta Dental PPO™ Preferred | Delta Dental Premium® | Out-of-Network |
|---|---|---|
| Dentists in this smaller, preferred-provider network charge the least for covered services. When the total cost of care is lower, your portion of the costs is also lower. | This is a larger network and providers in this network charge more for their services. However, you are not responsible for any amounts over the Delta Dental maximum approved fee. | You can use any provider; however, dentists that are not contracted with the network do not discount their fees and you will be responsible for any amounts over the Delta Dental maximum approved fee. |
To find Delta Dental providers in New Mexico:
Visit deltadentalnm.com/snl > Find a Dental Provider > Select Specialty > Select Plan Network (can be in Delta Dental PPO, Delta Dental Premier®, and Delta Dental Patient Direct) > Search by current location > Select Yes or No > Enter zip code, city, or address > Find Dentists
To find Delta Dental providers outside of New Mexico:
Visit deltadental.com > Find a Dentist > Select Specialty > Select Plan network > Search by current location > Select Yes or No > Enter zip code, city, or address > Find Dentists
Register for the Delta Dental Member portal to check covered benefits, view your claims, and get a copy of your plan ID card.
Get an ID Card
Most in-network Delta Dental providers will not require an ID card at the time of service.
However, if you need to print or save an electronic copy, you can do so from the Delta Dental Member portal once you register.
If your dependents live outside New Mexico, remind them to take an ID card to their visit. Their claims will be processed and paid faster.
Contacts and Resources
Delta Dental
800-264-2818
deltadentalnm.com/snl
Find a Dentist – New Mexico
Find a Dentist – Outside of New Mexico
Delta Dental Member portal
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Quick Tip
In-network dentists file claims for you
Dentists who participate in the Delta Dental PPO Preferred or Premier network will submit claims for you. After processing, providers will bill you for your share of the costs. If you go out-of-network, you will have to submit a claim for reimbursement; you can get a claim form through the Delta Dental consumer toolkit.