Insurance for dental

How to get the most from your supplemental dental coverage

Here are a few ways to get the most out of insurance for your dental needs...

Good dental insurance will cover the standard 100% of preventative, 80% of basic, and 50% of basic dental expenses after your deductible is met and subject to a variety of other possible requirements. Here are some ways to maximize your coverage.

For more affordable dental treatment, Be aware of your:

Why does it matter? Because your yearly maximum benefit or the amount that your insurance will pay out in one year cannot be saved for the next yearly cycle. Most insurance plans have a use it or lose it policy.

If you have met your deductible and still have work that is needed don't let the year (and your benefits) slip away, get it done!

Preventative coverage - If you have preventative coverage, use it don't lose it:) Preventative care includes cleaning, exam and dental x-rays and is the most important thing you can do for your dental health. Here's why:

• A good dental cleaning makes your gums healthier and your job of flossing and brushing easier to do. It's more difficult and you won’t be as successful with your floss if you have dental calculus on your teeth. Why make a hard task even harder?
• Dental x-rays are the only way to detect a small cavity between your teeth. A cavity between your teeth will be visible without x-rays if you wait long enough, but so much better to fix it when it's small. You can learn more about your particular tooth decay causes from your hygienist or dentist.
• An Exam is vital for many reasons. Most routine dental exams include a screening for oral cancer, periodontal disease, signs of TMJ issues, cavities, and occlusion concerns. Why would you not take advantage of THAT? Remember, preventative care is usually covered at 100%!

Yearly maximum benefit - Dental insurance plans have a yearly maximum of $1000 - $2000. Knowing what yours is and being aware of how much you have left is a good way to maximize your insurance for dental.

If you find yourself at the end of your benefit year and have not used all your benefit, consider asking your dentist for treatment recommendations. Be sure you trust your dentist to only recommend necessary treatment. If in doubt, a second opinion never hurts.

Many dentists are very conservative in evaluating your teeth, are careful not to over diagnose, and don’t jump at every chance to recommend expensive treatment...this is a good thing!

However, the end of your benefit year is a good time to be a little more pro-active and replace fillings or crowns that may be acceptable for now but will eventually need replacing.

Additional articles on dental insurance...

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