PRINCIPAL DENTAL PROVIDER CREDENTIALING GUIDELINES
The Principal Financial Group is one of the largest and most trusted dental benefits providers in the U.S. employer group market. Founded in 1879 and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa, Principal serves more than 60,000 employer dental plans and provides dental coverage to nearly 2.8 million participants. Its dental network is administered through Diversified Dental Services, Inc. (DDS), a wholly owned Principal Financial Group company, alongside three other proprietary networks, the Principal Preferred Provider Network, First Dental Health, and the newly acquired DentaNet (Alabama’s largest dental network, joining Principal’s portfolio in 2026).
Why Principal Dental Credentialing Is a High-Value Enrollment for Your Practice
Principal’s employer group market dominance and the breadth of its wholly owned networks make credentialing a strategic priority for practices targeting commercially insured patients:
| Key Fact | Data / Insight | What It Means for Your Practice |
|---|---|---|
| Employer Dental Plans | More than 60,000 employer dental plans served as of Dec. 31, 2025 | Dominant presence in the small and midsized employer benefits market |
| Members Covered | Nearly 2.8 million dental plan participants as of Dec. 31, 2025 | Substantial commercially insured patient pool — primarily employer-sponsored |
| Network Administrator | Diversified Dental Services, Inc. (DDS) — a Principal Financial Group® company — administers dental credentialing | All credentialing flows through DDS; applications submitted to applicationreview@principal.com |
| Wholly Owned Networks | Principal Preferred Provider Network, Diversified Dental Services, First Dental Health, DentaNet (Alabama, 2026 acquisition) | Four wholly owned dental networks — one credential gains access to all affiliated plan patients |
| Plan Types | PPO (Principal Plan Dental), Dental Access Plan (discount), New Dental Choice (discount — FL, IL, NV), indemnity | Multi-plan structure serving employer groups, COBRA, and individuals who need discounted access |
| Credentialing Process | Initial application + supplemental information reviewed for completeness; verified by agencies; reviewed by dental director and/or peer review committee | Peer-reviewed, multi-stage process with written notification of final decision |
| Recredentialing | Periodic re-credentialing — usually no information required from provider; Principal contacts if more details are needed | One of the most provider-friendly re-credentialing processes in the industry — minimal paperwork burden |
| Utilization Review | Statistically based profiling of treatment patterns against established norms for specific procedure codes | Practice patterns outside norms may trigger counseling or affect continued participation |
| Dental Access Network | Principal Dental Access Plan and New Dental Choice — discount plans where members pay directly based on PPO fee schedule; no claims to file | Serve additional patient population who can't afford insurance or have exhausted benefits |
2026 EXPANSION
In March 2026, Principal announced the acquisition of DentaNet of Alabama’s largest dental network with approximately 1,500 dental providers. DentaNet joins Principal’s portfolio of wholly owned networks alongside the Principal Preferred Provider Network, Diversified Dental Services, and First Dental Health. This acquisition reflects Principal’s broader strategy of expanding its small and midsized employer dental market presence across the Southeast
Understanding Principal's Dental Network Structure & Four Wholly Owned Networks
Principal operates through four distinct wholly owned dental networks, each serving different geographic markets and patient populations. Understanding which network covers your practice state determines your application pathway:
| Network / Program | Structure & Geographic Reach | Key Provider Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Principal Plan Dental Network (PPO) | National PPO network — one of the largest PPOs in the country. Fee-for-service at negotiated rates. Members may see any dentist; in-network saves money. | Access to 60,000+ employer groups; primary revenue driver for in-network practices |
| Diversified Dental Services (DDS) | PPO operating primarily in Nevada (including rural areas), plus Arizona, California, Mississippi, and Utah. Administered from San Diego, CA. | Regional PPO credentialing pathway for Nevada and select western/southern states |
| First Dental Health | Dental access network — California and Arizona. Serves Principal Dental Access Plan members as a discount plan (not insurance). | Access to patients using the ACCESS Network discount plan in CA and AZ |
| DentaNet (Alabama — 2026 Acquisition) | Alabama's largest dental network with ~1,500 providers. Joining Principal's portfolio following acquisition announcement March 2026. | Expanded Southeast presence; providers in Alabama gain access to Principal's employer group plan market |
| Principal Dental Access Plan | Discount plan (not insurance) available nationwide except FL, IL, NV. Members pay directly at your PPO fee schedule. | No claims to file; serve patients who have exhausted benefits or can't afford full insurance |
| New Dental Choice | Discount plan available in FL, IL, NV only (states where Dental Access Plan is not available). Offered by First Dental Health. | Alternative discount access program for patients in FL, IL, NV |
DENTAL ACCESS NOTE
The Principal Dental Access Plan and New Dental Choice are not insurance products, they are discount plans. As a contracted provider, members pay you directly based on your current PPO fee schedule and there are no claims to file. This makes the Access Network an efficient way to serve patients who have exhausted their benefits or cannot afford traditional dental insurance, without any additional billing burden on your practice.
State-Specific Application Routing and Critical Step Before You Apply
Principal’s credentialing process has one feature that catches providers off guard more than any other: state-specific application routing. Before you fill out a single form, you must confirm which pathway applies to your state. Using the wrong form or sending to the wrong address means starting over.
| State / Region | Application Pathway | Where to Submit |
|---|---|---|
| Most states (general pathway) | Email applicationreview@principal.com to request an application packet | Email or mail to Principal Plan Dental Network, 711 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50392-2556 |
| Louisiana, Maryland, New Mexico, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont, West Virginia | State-mandated online application — use the state-specific online form at principal.com | Submitted through Principal's online application portal — state form required by state law |
| Nevada | Join through Diversified Dental Services (DDS) — not Principal's main application pathway | Fax: 877-243-3797 OR Mail: DDS, 9445 Farnham Street, Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92123 |
| Arizona, California, Mississippi, Utah | DDS-specific application (PDF) for these states — separate from the main Principal network application | Fax or mail to DDS at San Diego address above |
| Washington State | Must email applicationreview@principal.com specifically to request an application — online application not available for WA | Email request first; then follow instructions provided by Principal |
| Effective Date Rule (DDS / most states) | To be effective the 1st of the month, submit completed application packet by the 13th of the previous month | Plan your submission timeline around the 13th-of-month deadline for same-month activation |
Complete Document Checklist Everything You Need to Submit
Principal’s credentialing reviews are comprehensive. The application must be complete, with all supplemental information, before the review begins. Missing documents don’t delay the process: they pause it entirely until the missing items are received:
| Document / Information | Applies To | Key Requirement / Strategic Note |
|---|---|---|
| Completed Dentist Application | All providers | Use correct state-specific form where mandated; the wrong form triggers an immediate process restart. |
| Supplemental Info Package | All providers | Complete one uniform packet per provider; multi-site operations require the separate Location Addendum. |
| State Dental License | All providers | Must be active and unrestricted; verified directly with state licensing agencies by DDS. |
| NPI-1 & NPI-2 Identifiers | All providers | Must match NPPES records identically to prevent digital claim routing failures. |
| Federal Tax ID (TIN) + W-9 | All providers | Principal Electronic Payer ID is 61271 — confirm this is active in your billing platform. |
| DEA Certificate | Prescribing staff | Mandatory where state law dictates; verify matching expiration details before submission. |
| Dental School Diploma | All providers | Primary source verification completed through the accredited issuing institution. |
| Specialty Certificate | Specialists | Requires full verification of post-doctoral training program, registry details, and dates. |
| Malpractice Insurance COI | All providers | Active, current coverage page showing explicit liability limits and clear policy ranges. |
| Comprehensive CV / Work History | All providers | Continuous chronology from graduation to present; any gaps over 30 days require a signed explanation. |
| Disciplinary History Disclosure | All providers | Proactively disclose all historical malpractice settlements, ongoing actions, or license variations. |
| OIG / SAM Exclusion Check | All providers | Active tracking matches showing federal or state program exclusions trigger an automatic denial. |
How Principal Dental Provider Enrollment Actually Works
Here is the complete enrollment workflow, from determining your state pathway through EFT setup and ongoing utilization review compliance:
| # | Stage | Timeline | Key Action / What Happens |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Determine Your Application Pathway | Day 1 | Confirm your state routing: mandated states (LA, MD, NM, OH, OR, VT, WV) use online form; Nevada uses DDS; AZ, CA, MS, UT use DDS PDF; WA email applicationreview@principal.com; all other states email applicationreview@principal.com for packet. |
| 2 | Request Application Packet | Day 1–3 | Email applicationreview@principal.com or call 800-247-4695. For DDS states: fax 877-243-3797 or mail to DDS San Diego. Use the credentialing checklist to track all required documents. |
| 3 | Gather All Required Documents | Days 3–10 | Collect state license, NPI, TIN/W-9, DEA (if applicable), dental school diploma, specialty certificate, malpractice COI, CV, and malpractice/disciplinary history disclosure. |
| 4 | Complete Application and Supplemental Information | Days 5–12 | Complete every field on the dentist application form. Complete one full credentialing packet per provider. For additional locations: attach the Additional Location Addendum form per location. |
| 5 | Submit by the 13th-of-Month Deadline | Day 12–13 | Submit by the 13th of the month to be effective the 1st of the following month. Submit to correct regional address or DDS fax/mail address. Confirm receipt. |
| 6 | Completeness Review | Days 14–21 | DDS reviews application and supplemental information for completeness. If additional information is needed, DDS contacts the applicant directly to request it. Respond immediately. |
| 7 | Primary Source Verification | Days 14–35 | Credentials verified with state licensing agencies, dental schools, malpractice carriers, NPDB, and OIG/SAM. Any discrepancy triggers a resolution request. |
| 8 | Dental Director / Peer Review Committee Review | Days 25–45 | Verified information reviewed under direction of the dental director and/or peer review committee. Final credentialing decision made. |
| 9 | Written Notification of Decision | 30–60 days total | Applicant notified in writing of approval or denial. Approved providers receive welcome letter and instructions for registering on Principal's provider portal (principal.com). |
| 10 | Provider Portal Registration | Upon approval | Register at principal.com — Provider Services Login. Enables real-time eligibility, benefits, claims status, tooth/service history, and patient coverage verification. |
| 11 | Electronic Payments Setup | Upon approval | Register with PaySpan Health (877-331-7154 or payspanhealth.com) for EFT direct deposit and ERA. Principal Payer Number for EDI claims: 61271. |
| 12 | Recredentialing (Ongoing) | Periodically | Principal conducts periodic re-credentialing — in most cases, no information from providers required. If additional details are needed, Principal calls or sends a letter. |
What It Is and Why Every Principal Provider Must Understand It
Principal’s utilization review system is one of the most distinctive features of their dental network, and one of the least discussed in credentialing guides. Every network provider agrees to participate, and the results directly affect your ability to continue participation:
| Utilization Review Element | What It Means | Provider Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Statistical Profiling | Principal uses a statistically based system to profile each dentist's treatment patterns against established norms for specific procedure codes | Your practice is continuously compared to network peers, outlier patterns trigger review |
| Procedure Code Norms | Credentialing and re-credentialing establish utilization norms for certain codes. Provider profiles are measured against these norms at each re-credentialing cycle. | High-frequency usage of specific codes beyond norms may flag your profile for review |
| Counseling Before Termination | If your profile does not meet guidelines, Principal will counsel you regarding changes that would allow reconsideration — before taking adverse action | You receive an opportunity to adjust practice patterns before participation is affected |
| Treatment Records Review | Principal may periodically review your treatment records to ensure services and recordkeeping are consistent with their established methods and procedures | Maintain consistent, well-documented treatment records from day one in the network |
| Agreement Requirement | All network providers must agree to participate in and accept the decisions resulting from the utilization review and quality assessment program | Contractual obligation — non-participation can result in termination |
| Recredentialing Link | Utilization review is a required part of the provider re-credentialing process — your profile is reviewed at each re-credentialing cycle | Clean utilization profile = smooth re-credentialing; outlier profile = additional review |
Principal's Provider-Friendly Re-credentialing
- One of the most valued features of Principal’s network for established providers is its re-credentialing model. Unlike most major payers that require full application resubmissions every 2–3 years, Principal’s approach is significantly lighter:
- Principal periodically re-credentials all network providers, the timing is at Principal’s discretion, not a fixed annual or biennial cycle
- In most cases, no information is required from the provider, Principal reviews your profile using existing data and monitoring sources
- If additional details are needed, Principal contacts you by phone or letter, you are not required to proactively track or initiate the process
- Utilization review is integrated into the re-credentialing process, your treatment profile is evaluated against network norms at each cycle
- Treatment records may be periodically reviewed independently of formal re-credentialing cycles
Common Errors That Delay or Derail Principal Dental Credentialing
These are the mistakes that appear most frequently in Principal credentialing applications, and every one of them is preventable:
| Error | Consequence | Impact | Professional Solution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Using wrong state application (non-mandated form in mandated state) | Application returned; full restart | 3–6 weeks lost | State routing confirmed before application requested |
| Missing 13th-of-month submission deadline | Effective date pushed back a full month | 30 days of lost activation | Submission calendar tracking with 3-day advance alert |
| Multi-location practice: no Additional Location Addendum | Additional locations not enrolled; claims for those sites denied | Per-location delay | Addendum form prepared for every additional location |
| Incomplete supplemental information package | DDS requests missing information; application held | 2–4 weeks | DDS credentialing checklist used and verified pre-submission |
| Expired state dental license submitted | Processing hold | 2–4 weeks | License expiration tracking with 60-day advance alerts |
| Malpractice history not disclosed or inadequately explained | Application flagged; committee scrutiny | 3–6 weeks | Full disclosure with written explanation prepared pre-submission |
| Work history gaps unexplained | PSV flag; additional information requested | 2–4 weeks | All gaps documented with written explanation |
| OIG/SAM check not run before application | Automatic denial after verification | Full disqualification | OIG/SAM check run on every provider before any application |
| Principal Payer Number 61271 not set in billing system | EDI claims routing failure post-approval | Claims lost or delayed | Payer number confirmed in PM system on day of approval |
| PaySpan/EFT setup neglected after approval | Paper check payments instead of direct deposit — slower cash flow | Ongoing cash flow delay | PaySpan registration completed immediately upon network activation |
The Principal Provider Portal Your Operational Hub After Approval
Once approved, your Principal provider portal at principal.com is your central tool for patient verification, claims, and payment management. Register immediately on the day of your approval:
| Tool / Feature | What It Does | How to Access |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility & Benefits | Check patient eligibility and coverage including copays, deductibles, benefit maximums, tooth history, network membership, and benefits in effect on a given date | Login to principal.com → Provider Services → Eligibility, Benefits, and Claims |
| Claim Status | View claims in process and paid, including submitted charge amounts, check issue dates, and payment amounts | Same portal — principal.com → Provider Services |
| Full Benefit Breakdown PDF | Download a complete benefit breakdown PDF per patient — including ortho benefit breakdown if available | Available within each patient's eligibility screen in the portal |
| Electronic Claims Submission | Submit ADA standard claims electronically through Principal-connected clearinghouses | Via Emdeon (emdeon.com / 877-363-3666), Capario (capario.com / 800-586-6870), or Tesia (tesia.com). Payer #: 61271 |
| Electronic Attachments (NEA + Tesia) | Submit X-rays, perio charts, intra-oral pictures, and narratives electronically with claims | NEA FastAttach at nea1ast.com; Tesia eAttachment at tesia.com (800-795-7320) |
| EFT / Direct Deposit | Receive claim payments faster via Electronic Funds Transfer and Electronic Remittance Advice | Register with PaySpan Health at payspanhealth.com or call 877-331-7154 |
| Predetermination | Submit dental treatment plans before major services (inlays, crowns, periodontics, oral surgery) to receive estimated benefit in writing; response within 30 days | Submit electronically or mail to the claim center on the patient's ID card |
DIY vs. Professional Credentialing: Why State Routing Makes the Difference
Principal’s state-specific routing structure creates credentialing errors that are invisible until an application is rejected, weeks after submission. Here’s the honest comparison:
| Factor | DIY Credentialing | Professional Credentialing Service |
|---|---|---|
| State Routing Accuracy | Wrong form used for mandated states, common and costly | Correct state pathway confirmed before any application is initiated |
| 13th-of-Month Deadline | Deadline missed, effective date pushed back a full month | Submission calendar managed with advance alerts |
| DDS vs Principal Pathway | Providers submit to Principal main team when DDS is required — application misdirected | Correct pathway confirmed — DDS or Principal as appropriate for the state |
| Multi-Location Addendum | Additional locations missed — no Addendum form submitted | All practice locations covered with correct Addendum forms |
| Utilization Review Awareness | Providers unaware of utilization profiling until counseling notice arrives | Utilization expectations explained from day one — practice positioned correctly |
| Recredentialing Management | Usually passive — Principal contacts when needed, but timing surprises practices | Proactive monitoring even for Principal's light-touch re-credentialing cycle |
| PaySpan/EFT Setup | Often skipped — practice receives paper checks for months | EFT setup completed immediately upon approval |
| Payer Number Setup | Principal payer number 61271 not entered — EDI claims route incorrectly | Payer number verified in billing system on activation day |
| Overall Timeline | 6–12 weeks due to routing errors, deadline misses, and incomplete packets | 4–8 weeks — clean, complete, correctly routed submissions every time |