Although many practices have implemented a membership or savings plan to help those who don’t have access to dental insurance, this traditional option is still popular and affordable for many individuals and families. But how do you know that you’re taking full advantage of your plan? Are there tricks to maximizing your dental insurance benefits? The short answer is yes! Here are just three simple, yet powerful, ways that you can get the most value out of your policy!
Understand How Dental Insurance Works
To those who are not familiar with dental insurance, it can be intimidating to try to understand; however, you need to know a few basics in order to use it as it is intended to be used. Every January 1, regardless of when you joined your plan, dental benefits reset, giving you two preventive visits for the year, along with discounts for certain additional services. If the year ends and you still haven’t used these benefits, you lose them. In other words, you have wasted money!
Since you’re already paying for dental insurance, you should definitely take advantage of covered preventive services your dentist provides, especially because these can save you money in the long run. In fact, for every dollar spent on preventive care, you can save between $8 and $50 in restorative procedures.
Stay Current with Cleanings
Did you know that with most dental insurance plans, professional cleanings cost you nothing out-of-pocket? For the minimum two routine hygiene appointments per year, you may not have to pay anything other than your monthly premium. These visits are crucial to stopping plaque buildup from damaging your teeth. Unfortunately, as soon as plaque hardens, which takes just a few hours, it becomes much more difficult to take off teeth. But a professional can remove it and prevent decay from having a chance to harm your smile.
Treat Early
Tooth-colored fillings, which are usually covered at 70 to 80 percent, cost much less out-of-pocket than dental crowns, which typically are 50 percent covered. When it comes to insurance, the least invasive restorative treatments receive the most coverage. As a result, you stand to save the most money by diagnosing and treating problems while they are as small (and affordable) as possible.
How do you make you catch cavities and gum disease early on? Part of your six-month visit with the dentist includes a checkup, where your dentist inspects your teeth and gums for any sign of trouble that you may have overlooked or not noticed on your own. Then, they can take care of the problem using a minor procedure instead of a major one, helping you keep your costs under control.
As you approach the final months of 2022, make sure you enjoy the benefits you’ve already paid for. There’s no need to skip out on your hygiene appointment, especially when you could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars! Get your second visit in before the end of the year and before your benefits reset in January.
About the Author
Dr. Katherine Parét became a dentist because she wanted to help people. In her practice, Mind Your Mouth, she strives to make it as easy as possible to pay for oral healthcare and accepts most dental insurance plans. In addition, she has a membership plan for those without dental insurance. If you have questions about how to afford dental care, you can contact her team at Mind Your Mouth online or call the office at 207-200-4106.