Having a straight, white smile is a feature many people are not born with, but takes multiple dentist visits to achieve.

From teeth cleaning, pulling, and filling to cosmetics such as whitening, visiting the dentist can be painful and expensive. The Tricare Dental Program (TDP) tries to minimize both and makes the process of finding a dentist simple and painless.

Servicemembers are required to go to the dentist to maintain good oral hygiene, and have yearly exams as well as predeployment checks. While the uniformed member stays on schedule with his or her oral healthcare due to necessity, military dependents many times have difficulty understanding their dental insurance benefits.

Currently, TRICARE has a contract with United Concordia to provide dental insurance for dependents. Enrollment in the TDP is voluntary.

TDP offers two enrollment options. The first option is to enroll in single enrollment.Single enrollment is for one eligible active duty family member and is a good choice for servicemembers with only one dependent.

The second option is family enrollment. Family enrollment is for two or more eligible family members. The initial enrollment contract is for twelve months; after that, it rolls over to a month-by-month contract that can be cancelled at any time. The cost for TDP is $12.69 per month for single enrollment and $31.72 per month for the family premium.

Benefits include diagnostic, preventative and emergency services. There is a cost share for all other services. The cost shares are broken down in a comprehensive chart available on www.tricaredentalprogram.com. The cost shares are based on rank, with lower enlisted servicemembers paying a smaller percentage out of pocket. For instance, those in the grades of E1 through E4 will pay 30 percent of the total cost for oral surgery, whereas servicemembers in grades E5 and above, warrant officers and officers will pay 40 percent for the same procedure.

Two of the largest dental costs are for orthodontics and oral surgery. The cost share for orthodontic treatment is 50 percent for all ranks and is only available for non-spouse family members under the age of 21 (unless enrolled full time in an accredited college, at which point the age cap is 23). Oral surgery prices will include either general anesthesia (at a 40-percent cost share for all ranks), or intravenous sedation (which is a 50-percent cost share for all ranks).

A complete list of benefits as well as the Dental Program Benefit Book can be found on the website. For United Concordia billing and enrollment questions call (888) 622-2256; otherwise, call the customer service department at (800) 866-8499.

The TDP is currently transitioning from United Concordia to Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. The transition, which will take about 12 months to implement, should be complete by February 2012.

Benefits will change for the better under the company switch: premiums will lower during the first year; lifetime orthodontic and annual maximum will increase; pregnant women will receive an additional cleaning; and there will be accidental dental injury coverage. Enrollees should watch their mail for a welcome packet.

Until then, the benefits will remain unchanged and patients should continue to use the same customer service number for information and appointments.