Dental benefits allow you to maintain clean teeth and healthy gums. Taking full advantage of your dental benefits can help you avoid problems like gum disease, cavities, and other painful dental conditions.
Like other types of insurance, dental benefits reset annually. Knowing how dental insurance works can help you get the most out of your benefits.
Follow the “Use It or Lose It” Rule
Every plan has an annual maximum amount that the insurer will cover for the year. If you haven’t used the maximum amount before December 31st, these benefits will expire without any carryover or refunds. Using your coverage now ensures you get the full value of your insurance.
Fit In All the Preventive Care You Can
Routine preventive visits are often covered at 100%, so they cost you nothing out of pocket. Most dental insurance pays for a set number of preventive procedures annually. If you haven’t used all the benefits provided under your plan, scheduling your preventive care ASAP can help you fit in one more dental cleaning before the benefit expires.
- Dental cleanings remove buildup to prevent decay and gum disease. Most patients see the dentist for cleanings every six months.
- Dental exams help detect issues early, before they become expensive to fix.
- X-rays identify hidden dental problems that might otherwise go unnoticed.
- Preventive care now helps you avoid more extensive (and costly) treatments later.
Fix Small Problems Before They Grow
- Minor dental issues can quickly worsen if left untreated. Use your remaining benefits to handle small fixes.
- Fillings stop small cavities from turning into root canal cases.
- Sensitivity treatments prevent minor discomfort from escalating into severe pain.
- Gum therapy addresses early gum inflammation before it progresses into periodontitis.
Get early treatment for your dental problems, as they may get worse. Dental insurance typically pays for dental problems at a lower rate than it does for preventive care, and this discrepancy only becomes more pronounced as the procedures become more expensive. Take care of small problems today to avoid high costs next year.
Plan Major Treatments Across Multiple Calendar Years
For larger procedures (crowns, implants, bridges, etc.), start treatment before December 31st. These treatments happen over the course of multiple visits to the dentist. Scheduling some appointments this year and the remaining next year allows you to use up your current year’s benefits and push whatever isn’t covered into next year, when your benefits start fresh.
Ask your dentist about a treatment timeline that optimizes your insurance coverage. Using both benefit periods can significantly reduce out-of-pocket expenses for extensive care.
Book Your Appointment With Your Tampa Dentist Now
Dental offices fill up quickly in November and December as patients rush to use remaining benefits. Schedule your next appointment as soon as possible to secure your preferred time. If you need multiple treatments, ask your dentist to prioritize procedures that use the rest of this year’s coverage first.
Need to schedule your last dental appointment of the year — or your first appointment for next year? Contact Weninger Dentistry for dental care in Tampa, Florida. Call today to get your dental appointment on the schedule.