Beneficence in dental practice means:

Beneficence in dental practice is primarily centered around the principle of providing care that benefits the patient. This encompasses not only offering treatments that address their dental needs but also ensuring that such treatments will improve their dental health and overall well-being. It reflects a commitment to the patient's best interests, promoting positive outcomes and prioritizing the necessity and appropriateness of care.

The essence of beneficence is about actively doing good and contributing positively to the patient's health. This principle is fundamental to ethical healthcare delivery, as it guides dental practitioners in making decisions that favor the patient's health and align with their best interests.

In contrast, while the other options address important considerations in dental practice, they do not encapsulate the core essence of beneficence. Providing services only when necessary speaks to the principle of non-maleficence, as it focuses on avoiding harm. Ensuring patient payment capabilities is more about economic factors than patient welfare. Lastly, restricting services to insured patients raises ethical concerns related to access to care, which is not inherently tied to the principle of beneficence.