Did you know that most dental insurance plans have a benefit deadline of December 31st?

There are many dental insurance plans available with different premium amounts and coverages, but most of them have one thing in common – they expire.

What does it really mean? This means that unused funds you have remaining will expire. Most plans do not allow residual funds to roll over into the following year.

What does my dental insurance cover?

Now is the time to review your plan and contact your dental insurance provider to determine if you have benefits available. Many insurance plans cover 100% for preventative care such as biannual checkups, X-rays and professional cleanings. Fillings and simple extractions may have about 70%-80% coverage and, major restorative care such as bridges, root canals and dentures is generally covered at 50%. Dental insurance plans vary and in order to understand your benefits and coverage, we recommend that you contact your dental insurance provider to see what your plan covers.

How to maximize your dental plan?

In order to maximize your benefits make sure to schedule routine cleanings and check-ups. Also, if you have any pain or discomfort schedule your appointment right away, don’t wait for the issue to “resolve itself”. If a problem is caught early on, you may be able to prevent having to spend money on a costly procedure and multiple visits.

The most important part to remember is to schedule your appointments well in advance. This past year has been challenging for many dental offices because of a large increase in patients who are trying to catch up on their routine cleanings. This means that appointment availability might be limited. Do not wait till mid-December to make the call – contact your dentist as soon as you can to avoid the loss of your remaining benefit allowance.