It has been well over six months since you last saw your dentist for a checkup. You meant to book another one right after your last cleaning, but you just never got around to it. While it might not seem like a big deal, putting off these appointments might actually make you waste money, especially if you pay dental insurance premiums. That’s right, seeing your dentist twice a year could mean more money in your pocket. Keep reading to learn why you should visit your dentist again before 2021 and how doing so could maximize your dental insurance benefits.
Why Should You Use Your Dental Insurance Before the End of the Year?
You wouldn’t pay for a service and then just not use it, right? However, that’s exactly what millions of Americans do when they pay their dental insurance premiums and decide not to attend two checkups and cleanings a year. Any benefits you haven’t used when 2020 ends will not roll over in 2021, now is a great time to use them.
Even if you don’t think you have any dental problems, it couldn’t hurt to schedule a preventive visit. Your dentist can diagnose early warning signs of issues and address them while treatment is still easy. For example, they might detect a tiny cavity that you didn’t even notice. It can then get treated with a filling, which is often covered by your insurance with only a small copay. However, if you wait until the cavity has become painful to get treatment, you might require a more invasive and expensive procedure, like a root canal or even an extraction. That’s why preventive care, which is primarily what your insurance covers, is massively important.
What Services Are Covered Under Your Dental Insurance?
Dental insurance is mostly about the prevention of larger health problems. That’s why they usually cover two checkups a year at no cost to you. At these appointments, your dentist checks for early indicators of issues like gum disease or oral cancer, which can both be serious if they’re not caught soon enough. By attending routine checkups, you can save money and preserve your oral health.
Some restorative procedures, like fillings or root canals, are only partially covered since the issues that necessitate could have been prevented. However, elective procedure, like cosmetic treatments, are almost never covered at all, as they’re not deemed medically necessary.
Since you’re already paying your premiums, why not visit your dentist once more before 2020 ends? Doing so is as beneficial for your health as it is for your wallet!
About the Author
Dr. Stephen Dean is a dentist in Covington, GA who obtained his doctorate from the Medical University of South Carolina. He holds memberships in various professional organizations and even a Fellowship in the International Dental Implant Association. His practice, Dean Dental Care, is in-network with Aetna and BlueCross/BlueShield, but will gladly accept virtually all PPO plans. To get the most out of your dental insurance benefits, contact Dr. Dean’s office at (770) 786-3915.