At Gentle Dental, our goal is to give our patients from Edison and the surrounding areas healthy teeth and gums that they can smile about. But there’s one thing that would make anyone frown, no matter how great his or her smile. That’s leaving dental insurance dollars unused. That’s why we encourage you to schedule an appointment soon to get the most out of your dental insurance benefits before the year ends.
Here’s why you need to call us today.
Yearly maximum
Dental insurance is usually far more limited in scope than regular health insurance. Most plans have a yearly maximum that the company will pay for your dental work within one full year. The average amount is usually $1,000 per year, per person. After you reach that amount, you have to pay for everything. If you have unused benefits, these won’t rollover into next year, so you should take advantage of them before 2019 comes to a close.
Deductible
It’s not a large amount, but to initiate any dental insurance coverage, you first need to pay your deductible. In most plans this is $50. So, if you’ve already had something done this year, say the first of your twice-yearly exams and cleanings, you’ve met your deductible. Having something done before the end of the year saves you from paying that $50 again.
You’re paying for it
If you’re paying for dental insurance you should use it. Dental insurance is a little different than health insurance, as it’s is basically intended to be used for things you usually need to do to your teeth. Health insurance is really more, well, insurance in case of large expenses such as surgeries. Because dental insurance maxes out at such a low amount, it is foolish not to use it, at least for your two cleanings and exams.
Inertia isn’t your friend
While we’re a friendly crew at Gentle Dental, some people still have an inherent fear of the dentist. That makes them avoid making appointments for routine care. When it comes to your teeth, that’s a really bad idea. Dealing with a tiny bit of decay in the outer enamel of a tooth is a simple procedure; we place a small filling. We’ll catch that when you see us twice each year. But if you wait a year or more, your inertia is not only wasting your dental insurance money, but it’s making that small problem a big one. That decay will have progressed from a surface issue into a full invasion of the tooth interior. Now a root canal is needed to save the tooth from extraction.
So, while a trip to the dentist may not be high on your end-of-year party planning, it will pay off in getting the most out of your dental insurance. Call us at Gentle Dental, (732) 549-5660, to make your appointment.
