Do you sometimes avoid or put off important dental care because you’re worried about the cost? If so, dental insurance could be a wise investment; the right plan can go a long way toward making dentistry more affordable. But before you buy any dental insurance, you should make sure that you fully understand what you’re getting into. Here are 3 important dental insurance facts you should know before making any purchases.
1. Dental Insurance Generally Focuses on Preventive Care
One thing that separates dental insurance from medical insurance is that dental insurance puts a greater emphasis on preventive care. The idea is that by taking appropriate measures to address dental issues before they actually happen, you can avoid the need for more expensive treatments, thus saving yourself a significant amount of trouble and money.
As such, your typical dental insurance plan will usually provide higher coverage for preventive services like biannual checkups and cleanings. In fact, many insurance companies are willing to cover 100% of the cost of these important visits, thus making it much easier to ensure that you’re able to see your dentist regularly.
2. Coverage for Restorative Care Can Vary Depending on the Procedure
When it comes to restorative dental work, services fall under one of two categories: basic and major. Basic restorative care typically includes fillings, tooth extractions, and reattaching lost crowns and bridges. Meanwhile, major restorative care can refer to the placement of new crowns and bridges as well as advanced procedures such as root canal treatment.
Why does this distinction matter? Simply put, it’s because it affects the coverage that your dental insurance provider offers for a given service. Basic restorative care usually receives around 80% coverage while major restorative work will often only receive about 50% coverage. Before buying any dental insurance plan, you should review the benefits carefully to make sure that you understand what coverage looks like for specific procedures.
3. Your Dental Insurance Plan May Come with Waiting Periods
Once you purchase dental insurance, your coverage doesn’t necessarily kick in right away. You will normally have to wait a certain amount of time before your dental insurance company pays anything for specific treatments. Different types of services usually have different waiting periods:
- Preventive care is often covered right away or within 30 days.
- Coverage for basic restorative care typically kicks in after 3 months.
- For major restorative care, you may need to wait as long as 6 months.
The more you know about dental insurance, the better equipped you’ll be to make a wise purchase. Make sure that you have a firm grasp of the basics before you commit to buying a dental insurance plan.
About the Practice
Here at Wolfe Dental Hillsboro, our knowledgeable dental experts are protecting and enhancing smiles with the latest techniques and technology in the field. We’re happy to accept a variety of dental insurance plans, and we’re in-network with major providers such as Delta Dental and Aetna. To schedule a consultation with us, visit our website or call (503) 844-6550.