Your smile is one of the brightest commodities you own and one of the first things people notice. Good oral health is essential for good health in general. Unfortunately, though, many people do not have dental insurance coverage, because their employer does not offer it, dental insurance is not part of their overall health insurance plan, or they do not feel they need it since insurance premiums aer expensive and dental care is (usually) rather predictable.
Now think, what happens when you go in for your regular cleaning and the dentist says you need a filling, or worse, a root canal? These procedures would cost you (completely out of your own pocket) about $300 for a filling or up to around $850 for a root canal.
Dental Plans
Dental plans provide a way for you to have coverage for regular and unexpected dental procedures. Most dental plans work like a club membership to a grocery store warehouse. With dental plans, you pay a certain annual fee to be a member and then receive significant discounts on ALL your dental procedures from a variety of participating dentists throughout the year.
Most dental plans like to reward the members of “the club” who take good care of their teeth. These dental plans will provide for two cleanings and checkups each year so you can keep your teeth and gums healthy. The reward on these dental plans is a higher percentage of coverage on your other dental procedures throughout the year — about 80% to 90 percent — after you meet your deductible. But if you do not keep up your end of the bargain and do not take good care of your teeth with regular maintenance, these dental plans could drop their coverage down to about 50 percent after you meet the deductible.
The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
One of the best selling points of dental plans is their coverage on every dental procedure. Discount dental plans do not discriminate between cosmetic and necessary dental work. Generally, you will get the same discount from dental plans, whether you get veneers or a filling.
Unlike dental insurance, dental plans will cover you immediately. Discount dental plans do not require a waiting period before they begin coverage. They also do not have any stipulations on pre-existing conditions.
On the negative side, because you only get a percentage off with discount dental plans, if you have major dental work done on your teeth, you will be required to pay for your percentage. For some emergency dental work and if you decide to have certain cosmetic work, even with a discount, your out-of-pocket expense can be staggering.
Making the Choice
If you do not have dental insurance coverage, look into discount dental plans to help keep your teeth and gums healthy and happy. If you have dental insurance, compare the coverage that comes with your plan to the coverage and savings of various discount dental plans to decide which option — dental insurance, dental plans, or a combination of both — is the best for you and your family.
D. Blair Thompson