Dental Insurance 101. What you don’t know could you hurt you and your wallet

Most dental plans cover basic examinations and cleanings, but some plans may not cover things you might assume to be routine. Most misunderstandings occur when patients believe their insurance will or should pay for more than it will.

Most dental insurance companies classify dental procedures in three categories:

• Preventative – This typically includes routine cleanings and examinations as preventative dental care, however, X-rays, sealants and fluoride can be deemed as preventative or basic, depending upon the specific insurance carrier. 
• Basic or Restorative – This usually consists of fillings and simple extractions. Root canals can be considered basic or major depending on the plan (the majority of dental plans list root canals as basic).
• Major – Usually includes crowns, bridges, dentures, partials, surgical extractions and dental implants. But not always.

When it comes to dental insurance, most people want it and are glad to have it. When it’s time to actually use the insurance on something other than a routine cleaning--like an unexpected filling, a chipped tooth there or worse, a root canal or crown—it’s a little too late. Doing a little research into your insurance benefit before you really need it is a wise move and can help minimize out-of-pocket costs from unexpected dental treatments.

Don’t forget to use all your dental healthcare benefits for 2011

As the clock is running out on 2011, we have much to be grateful for, like family, friends and your health. If you’re fortunate enough to have dental benefits, the upcoming new year means one more thing: your plan’s benefits for the year are running out.

Most dental plans allow for a certain dollar amount of dental coverage per year once you reach your deductible. Unfortunately, many people often delay dental work until after the holidays. Not only does that mean you have to meet a brand new deductible but you can use up a lot of your covered care dollars very early in the year. That can leave you vulnerable later on in the year if you need additional dental work.

So, if you know you need more dental work and you want to leave yourself adequate coverage for the new year, call 781-335-0604 for an appointment today and we’ll try to get you in before the end of the year. For your convenience, we offer early morning appointment times on Wednesdays and Friday (7 am) and evening appointments on Mondays (open until 7:30 pm).