Frequently Asked
Questions

You and any qualified dependents you include on a Membership Enrollment Application must each agree to alignment with the beliefs and standards of American Dental Share as stated in the Statement of Standards. If you have dental needs that result from actions contrary to the Statement of Standards, those needs may be deemed ineligible for sharing and may result in termination from the Membership.

If your dentist is not a member of the Bento program, he or she may sign up at dentists.bento.net.

To become a member of the program, the dentist must satisfy Bento’s credentialing criteria and agree to Bento’s fee schedule. Not all dentists who apply are guaranteed admittance to be a Bento Affiliated Dentist.

If treatment starts with a Bento dentist and then referred to a non-affiliated dentist, the services of the non-affiliated dentist will be shared at the membership’s respective rates for non-affiliated providers.

Dentists participating in the Bento affiliation undergo a credential-checking process that focuses on practice location, specialty, licensing, utilization, malpractice offering and history, and emergency care arrangements. Participating dentists are periodically re-credentialed by Bento Dental and are also monitored periodically to ensure proper utilization patterns.

To view the provider list, open your Bento app and select ‘Find a Dentist.’ If your dentist is not included, use the ‘Refer A Dentist’ feature and the Bento Development team will reach out to the dentist.

No, the Membership does not share in dental services and treatment you receive outside the United States.

American Dental Share is not dental insurance nor is an insurance company.

The American Dental Share Membership is NOT an insurance company and our Members do not file ‘claims.’ American Dental Share Members share in eligible dental needs. American Dental Share processes eligible dental needs for sharing among the Membership. Your dental provider may submit your dental needs by using the instructions within a Bento Dentist portal. Once the dental need is received and determined eligible for sharing, the dental need is assessed, and MRAs are applied, the Membership will share in the amount directly with your provider from the sharing bank account. Should the dentist choose to mail in your dental need, they may do so at:

Bento
PO BOX 9028, Boston MA 02114
or fax to 844-214-4888.

If the dentist is not affiliated with Bento, your dental may be submitted by yourself via the Bento Dental app.

Bento’s goal is to ensure quality throughout the entire treatment process: from the courteousness extended to you by our customer service agents to the dental services provided by our participating dentists. If you have questions about any services received, we recommend that you first, review the matter with your dental provider. Nevertheless, if you continue to have concerns, please call Bento’s customer service line.
When calling, please make sure you have the name of the patient, the primary member’s name, and the patient’s member ID.

Although American Dental Share is not an insurance company, we require all our employees and necessary service providers to be HIPAA certified and adopt all the basic tenets of the HIPAA Privacy Standards. You can learn more about HIPAA standards at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services website.

American Dental Share Members do not have a monthly premium. Our members receive a Monthly Contribution Request. The amount varies based on which membership level you have chosen, and the number of eligible members included in your family membership.

Our Membership is for anyone who believes in living a healthy lifestyle and can agree to our Statement of Standards.

At American Dental Share, we understand that this may be your first time considering a Health Care Sharing Ministry as an affordable dental care option If during your membership, you decide that American Dental Share is not the right fit for you, you can cancel at any time. Please note any amounts contributed are nonrefundable including the ministry donation and application fee.

Yes, a member can have traditional dental insurance through work or another source. Members can utilize the American Dental Share Membership to share in the portion of eligible dental needs that the dental insurance plan does not cover. American Dental Share will always be secondary in the sharing of eligible dental needs to any other insurance or liable party.

Your annual amounts are based on the effective date of your enrollment. For example, if you and your family started your American Dental Share membership on March 1, 2025, then your membership, including your MRA and Annual Max Sharing Amounts, are based on the effective date. In this example, your membership year would go from March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2025.

American Dental Share Members do not have deductibles. Members have Member Responsibility Amounts (MRAs) that vary according to the specific membership chosen. The MRA is the dollar amount that a member must pay toward eligible dental needs before any bill may be shared among Members. For example, if you are on the Standard membership and your annual MRA is $50, then the first $50 of eligible dental needs will not be eligible for sharing; it is your responsibility. You also have a co-share amount for certain dental services. This is the percentage you pay for certain services. You can review those percentages in the table in the “What is Included in My American Dental Share Membership” section.

The Annual Max Sharing Limit is the total dollar amount the Membership will share in for your membership year. For example, if you are on the Preferred Membership, the Membership will share in up to $2,500 for your 12-month of membership. Once that maximum amount is shared by the Membership, any further expenses during your year of membership would be your responsibility.

The following expenses are shared in without first having to meet your MRA:

• Preventive and diagnostic services

If you receive dental services that are not shared in by the Membership, those costs will not apply to your MRA. Additionally, any expenses that are in excess of reasonable and customary charges will not apply to the MRA.

No, expenses that apply toward your MRA in one membership effective year cannot be applied toward the next membership effective year MRA.

No. The Membership does not share in any treatment performed before you or your included family member was enrolled in American Dental Share.

No, the Membership will not continue to share in treatment in progress after your membership ends.

Members can explain to any dental provider or facility that they are affiliated with Bento Dentists. Show your provider the American Dental Share Member ID card on the Bento app. 

Bento Dentists are dentists we have vetted across the nation for our members who have an outstanding quality of care and who work with us on negotiated pricing, all to bring you the absolute best experience. As an American Dental Share member, you can go to any dentists nationwide and to the entire national Bento Affiliation of over 390,000 dental access points. You will enjoy great dental care, better pricing, and convenience when you receive your dental care from Bento Dentists and Bento Partner Dentists. (Affiliated Dentists are neither agents nor employees of Bento. The availability of any particular provider cannot be guaranteed, and provider affiliation is subject to change.)

Yes, however, your Member Responsibility amount (MRA) expenses may be higher. The Membership’s sharing for services received from Non-Bento Dentists (non-affiliated) is based on either the dentist’s fee or the maximum allowed charge (MAC) by the membership for Non-Bento Dentists, whichever is lower. If the patient (Bento Member) utilizes the services of a Non-Bento Dentist whose fees are higher than the maximum sharing allowed by the membership, the patient is responsible for any differences between the membership’s share and the total submitted charges. Sharing for non-affiliated dentists is not available in US Territories.

Simply provide your dentist with your Bento Member ID and Membership Guidelines. Bento will process the membership reimbursement based on the dental needs form your dentist files on your behalf.

BILLING PROCESS FOR DENTISTS

Dentists Instructions:
Any provider can sign up to use the free Bento Dentist Portal.
Why should dentist use the Bento Dentist Portal?

• Immediate direct reimbursements from the membership and patient via check or ACH
• No processing fees
• Real-time patient eligibility
• No retroactive denials or billing issues
• 100% membership reimbursement / cost accuracy
• Instant pre-treatment authorizations

Go to the portal at dentists.bento.net

First time accessing the portal? Select “Create Your Free Bento Account” to get started.

Bento is not an insurance company and charges a $1.59 processing fee for non-portal reimbursements for practices that do not use Bento’s free checkout option. Bento’s online checkout is the most secure and the fastest way to collect for all treatment given to Bento patients and allows for

either paper check or ACH. Bento’s portal is completely free and allows you to check eligibility, generate estimates, and collect payment all in real time without ever having to file an ADA form.

Non-Portal address and fax number for completed ADA forms:

Bento
P.O. Box 9028 Boston, MA 02114
Fax:(855) 214-4888

Bento does not have an ePayer ID.

You are responsible for paying any MRAs as well as the difference between what the Membership shares and what the dentist charges.