With the year’s end rapidly approaching, many people scramble to prepare for the holiday season. But amidst all of your planning, shopping, vacations, or whatever else is occupying your time this time of year, something you should keep in mind is your dental insurance—time is running out to use your benefits! And if you weren’t aware, utilizing your dental insurance benefits is by far one of the best ways you can protect your smile’s health and beauty. Continue reading below to learn about three ways you can easily make the most of your dental insurance plan and enter the new year with a happier smile and wallet!
1. Know the Details of Your Insurance Plan
Knowledge is power, and knowing the ins and outs of your dental insurance plan is crucial to making the most of your coverage. Aim to familiarize yourself with details including deductibles, copayments, annual maximums, and all covered services. Knowing what these terms mean and understanding how they apply to your coverage will save you a lot of trouble whenever you go to use your insurance benefits. Your dentist’s team will also be more than happy to review the details of your plan with you, too—they don’t want you to feel like you’re breaking the bank just to pay them a visit!
2. Visit Your Dentist!
This might seem like an obvious one—but believe it or not, it’s estimated that only a small portion of people with PPO plans reach or exceed their annual maximum! You should be visiting your dentist twice a year for routine preventive care, especially if you have dental insurance. Dentists and insurance companies alike understand that oral health issues only worsen if left untreated, until they eventually become quite costly to treat. That’s why the majority of insurance plans cover preventive care, like checkups, cleanings, X-rays, and other services aimed toward safeguarding one’s smile.
3. Schedule Dental Work Strategically
Certain dental treatments, such as dental implants, can take multiple visits to complete, and the costs of these visits tend to add up quickly—but you can use your plan to mitigate these costs by planning things out strategically. For example, if there’s a certain treatment that you need, but it exceeds your annual maximum, you might consider scheduling part of it for the following year. That way, you’re taking advantage of two separate maximums, rather than just one. This is a pretty savvy way of using your benefits!
Following these tips can help you to make the most out of your benefits, so that your pearly whites continue to look bright and feel great for the foreseeable future!
About the Author
Dr. Tavi Henry received his DDS from the University of Colorado School of Dental Medicine and has proudly served patients and families in the Lakewood, CO community for several years! Dr. Henry is an active member of numerous professional dental organizations including the American Dental Association and the renowned Academy of General Dentistry. If you have any questions about the blog or it’s time for your next checkup, feel free to get in touch with Dr. Henry’s team through their website or by phone for assistance. Telephone: (303) 984-1400.