dentist insurance

Your Insurance Benefits are Running Out | Dentist in Barrington

If you have been paying for a dental insurance policy and haven’t been to Maple Avenue Family Dentistry this year, then now is the time to make an appointment. There is one major thing to keep in mind when it comes to dental benefits–if you don’t use them, you lose them. Why pay out each month for a dental insurance policy that is going to waste? 

Read below to learn more about how a dental insurance policy works and how you should take full advantage of its healthcare benefits before the end of the year.

What Are Insurance Dental Benefits?

Dental benefits plans are cost-free treatments you get from signing a dental insurance plan. Generally speaking, most health insurance companies are pretty straightforward about the specific services they cover. 

What Does Dental Insurance Cover?

Dental insurance typically covers the cost of preventive care, fillings, root canals, oral surgery, crowns, and tooth extractions. They may also cover braces, periodontics, dentures, and bridges. Usually, two preventive visits are covered per year. 

What is a Maximum Benefit?

When you pay each month for your dental insurance, you are paying for coverage up to a certain point. The coverage amount is called your annual maximum. Heads up, because when the year ends, it starts all over. You will have to start building back up to that max from zero in January. 

Basically, the money meant for essential dental treatments goes down the drain. It will not roll over in the new year, which is a considerable gain to the insurance company and a sorrowful loss to you. For this reason, you should never skip out on your yearly dental checkups. Six-month checkups and exams help you maintain excellent oral health and give you the most bang for your buck!

What is an Insurance Deductible?

Your deductible resets at the beginning of the new year as well. It is your out-of-pocket cost that you must pay before insurance kicks in. Most dental health plans use a 100-80-50 structure to specify how they contribute to certain dental services and procedures. The amount varies from plan to plan. 

What does this all mean? It means that the cost of your preventive care could be 100% covered, basic treatments 80% covered, and major dental procedures covered at only 50%. In addition, some insurance companies may not cover cosmetic treatments like teeth whitening or crowns.

100% Dental Coverage on Preventive Dental Procedures

Your dental insurance policy isn’t only for getting your teeth fixed or dealing with dental emergencies. It’s about maintaining great oral health and preventing disease before it starts. Most dental care plans cover 100% of the following two times a year: 

  • Dental x-rays – show problems that are not visible to the naked eye. Sometimes small cavities hide between your teeth and can be hard to detect. Abscessed teeth with no symptoms are sometimes only seen through x-rays.
  • Teeth cleaning – prevents cavities and keeps your teeth in tip-top shape. 
  • A dental examination – is more than just looking for cavities. Your soft tissues are inspected for suspicious areas related to oral cancer. Your dentist also examines your thyroid, lymph nodes, and jaw joints.

Taking advantage of your dental plan benefits will always be a win for you. The best way to use your benefits is to schedule out preventive care visits at the beginning of the year. 

Visit Your Dentist in Barrington, RI, Before Your Insurance Benefits Expire

Please visit our Maple Avenue Family Dentistry dental practice in Barrington, Rhode Island. We will help you to use your maximum dental insurance benefits before you run out of time.