The year is drawing to an end, and you likely look forward to making resolutions for 2024. You might even hope to prioritize your oral health. You can start this goal before the arrival of the new year by considering your dental insurance.
Before the conclusion of the year, you should take advantage of your dental insurance benefits. Your policy may feature annual benefits that will not carry over into the next calendar year.
Give your dentist a call as soon as you can to ensure you maximize the benefits available to you through your insurance plan. You can also read on to learn more about dental insurance coverage and its relation to your oral health.
What Benefits Are Included with Dental Insurance?
Many dental insurance policies feature “use it or lose it” benefits as part of their plans. This means that you have an annual maximum, an amount that an insurance provider will pay toward oral health care within a one-year period.
In many policies, this maximum will not roll over into the next year if you do not use all of it within the designated period. So you should seek dental services before the end of the year in order to take advantage of your insurance.
If your employer provides you with dental insurance, the benefits come out of your own salary. Not using the entirety of your annual maximum will mean that you waste money.
Your specific coverage and dental insurance policy may vary depending on your provider. Read through your policy and then contact your dentist’s office to learn how you can use your benefits before they expire in the new year.
How Can I Use My Dental Insurance Benefits?
The average dental insurance plan will cover two dental cleanings and oral exams per year. If you have not yet visited your dentist for this preventative oral health care in the last six months, now is the ideal time to schedule this appointment.
Even if you practice good oral hygiene at home, you should still attend regular teeth cleanings. A professional dental cleaning allows a dentist to scrape away plaque and other build-ups from your teeth that a toothbrush cannot easily reach. If left on your smile, plaque will weaken your teeth, putting you in danger of serious dental problems.
During these routine appointments, a dentist will evaluate your oral health. They check your gums and teeth for signs of any issues. Then they can offer swift treatment to get rid of them before they advance and require more extensive dental work to fix.
You can also talk to your dentist about other types of dental treatments covered by your annual maximum. For instance, you could qualify for cosmetic or restorative dental work that you might otherwise skip due to their costs.
You can speak to your dentist’s office about financing options as well if you worry about exceeding your maximum. They can find a dental treatment plan that suits your budget as well as your oral health goals.