How to Maximize Your Dental Insurance Benefits

Studies show that having dental insurance benefits can contribute to better oral and overall health. One survey found that those with benefits are 58% more likely to visit a dentist, helping them maintain good dental health. What’s more, people who reported excellent oral health were twice as likely to report great physical well-being. That said, do you know how to make the most of your benefits while you still have them? If not, don’t worry – here are four easy ways to maximize your dental insurance benefits.

Don’t Neglect Preventive Care

A healthy smile requires more than just proper at-home dental care. Regular preventive dental care is critical for maintaining good oral and overall health. Visiting your dentist every six months allows them to prevent, detect, and treat dental issues before they turn into severe complications. With their help, you can easily avoid needing more complex and expensive treatments down the line. The good news is most dental insurance plans cover preventive services like oral examinations, teeth cleanings, and routine X-rays at little or no cost to you. So, make sure you attend all your preventive checkups before the year ends!

Know What Your Insurance Covers

Even though most dental insurance plans only cover preventive care, you may be able to use your benefits for other types of dental work. For example, treatments like fillings and dental crowns may be covered by your insurance if they’re considered restorative and medically necessary. It’s worth noting that every policy is unique, so you’ll need to review the details of your specific plan to understand what’s covered and by how much.

Schedule Major Procedures in Advance

Most complex dental treatments and procedures require multiple appointments to complete. Luckily, you can make the most out of your coverage by scheduling the visits in advance. If you need dental work that exceeds your annual maximum, you can ask your dental team to schedule part of this year and the rest the next. With this strategy, you can use two annual maximums instead of one and decrease your out-of-pocket expenses significantly.

Find Out When Your Dental Benefits Expire

Now that the end of the year is approaching quickly, it’s critical to review your dental benefits to understand what you have left. Take a look at what’s covered under your plan, your remaining annual maximum, and the date your benefits start over. Your dental insurance may operate by calendar year or by plan year – and there’s a notable difference between the two. If your benefits are by calendar year, they’ll renew on January 1^st, and you’ll have to pay your deductible again after that date. Your annual maximum will also reset at the beginning of your dental plan year.

Have you made the most of your dental benefits this year? If not, don’t worry – by following the tips outlined above, you can still maximize your dental insurance benefits!

About the Practice

At Bristol Family Dental, we offer comprehensive and personalized dental services guaranteed to meet all your oral health needs. Our team will always go above and beyond to help you achieve your happiest, healthiest smile. If you have any questions about your dental insurance benefits, we’re more than happy to answer them for you. Visit our website or call (860) 589-2794 our office to speak to a member of our team.