Inflation and economic uncertainty have caused many people to re-evaluate their spending habits. You might have canceled some unnecessary subscriptions, cut back on expensive recreation, and made other changes to your routine. But what about your dental insurance? Is it worth the money, or is it another superfluous expense that you should get rid of? The answer will be obvious after you consider how your policy could help you save money year after year.
The Value of Preventive Care
If you visit your dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup, you could end up paying several hundred dollars for that care, especially if you need X-rays or other basic preventive services. With dental insurance, routine appointments are often 100% covered. You might not even have to pay your deductible. For many people, the yearly cost of their insurance premium is less than the value of the preventive services that their plan covers.
Prompt Treatment Saves Money
If you are diligent about visiting your dentist for an exam every six months, they will likely diagnose oral health problems while they are still in their early stages. For example, you might have a small cavity. Your insurance will probably cover 80% of the cost of a filling, so you will have to pay very little out of pocket.
On the other hand, if you do not attend regular checkups, a small cavity could easily worsen to the point where your tooth is severely damaged. You might need root canal therapy and a crown. You might even have to get the tooth extracted! You could end up paying thousands of dollars to get your oral health back on track.
A Healthy Mouth Supports a Healthy Body
There is a large body of research to support the notion that oral health and overall health are strongly connected. For example, gum disease is associated with a heightened risk of numerous medical conditions, including heart attack, stroke, diabetes, and dementia. If you use your dental insurance to take good care of your smile, you might delay or even prevent such problems. Therefore, you can protect your health and reduce overall spending on healthcare.
Avoid Missing Work
Every year, millions of work hours are missed due to oral health problems. If you use your insurance to maintain a healthy smile, you may stay well enough to perform optimally at work and avoid losing out on part of your income.
Is dental insurance worth paying for? Yes! If you use your policy, it can save you money and help you to enjoy a high quality of life.
Meet the Practice
The Center for Contemporary Dentistry features a highly skilled team of oral health experts, all of whom are eager to provide top-quality care at reasonable prices. We accept more than 200 different dental insurance plans, and we are always happy to answer patients’ questions about how they can use their benefits. To find out how we can assist you, contact our Belmont office at 603-556-7047.