If you have dental insurance, you might already know that your plan’s benefits will reset at the end of the year. If you haven’t seen your dentist in Joplin yet, time is running out to take full advantage of your plan. Here are 4 reasons why it could be better for your wallet – and your smile – if you schedule an appointment now instead of waiting for the new year.
1. Getting the Most for Your Premiums
If you’ve kept up your premiums, it only makes sense to use the services you paid for. Most in-network PPOs will fully cover the cost of two dental cleanings and checkups a year; these visits can help prevent or detect cavities and disease, and if an oral health problem is found, you have a better chance of finding and treating it early on. At the very least, you should make sure that you’re getting the preventive care that you’re already entitled to under your plan.
2. Meeting the Yearly Maximum
Most dental PPOs have a maximum amount of money that they’re willing to pay for your dental work during the year. The exact amount varies between insurance carriers, but one thing you can count on is that once the year ends, the yearly maximum will be renewed, and any money that’s left over is lost. If you know you need a filling or another procedure to protect your oral health in the future, it’s better to have it done now and use as much of the current yearly maximum as possible.
3. Paying the Deductible
The deductible is what you must pay out of pocket before insurance will pay for anything. This is usually waived for preventive care such as checkups and cleanings, but you’ll usually be expected to pay the fee for restorative procedures like getting a crown. If you’ve already met your deductible for the year, it’ll be cheaper to have dental work done now before you have to pay it again.
4. Avoiding Long-Term Problems
It’s a mistake to think you can save money by ignoring cavities or gum disease. Oral health problems only get worse over time, and eventually the treatment they require becomes more expensive. A small cavity can be repaired by a filling; a large cavity might require a root canal, or it might even force the dentist in Joplin to extract and replace the tooth. By having treatments done as soon as possible, you’ll stop your oral health from getting worse and avoid the more costly procedures.
Of course, every patient’s needs are different. Talk to your dentist about ways you could improve your oral health and review your insurance plan to see what benefits you have. In some cases, using your dental benefits to their fullest could save you hundreds of dollars in the long run!
About the Author
Dr. Dan K. Young has over 20 years of experience helping patients in Joplin protect their smiles. He believes in using preventive care to avoid long-term oral problems, and he offers a wide variety of services – including crowns, fillings, gum disease treatment and so on – that will let you use your dental benefits while keeping your pearly whites healthy. To schedule an appointment at his practice, Young Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, visit his website or call (417) 781-3440.