5 Ways to Fully Maximize Your Dental Insurance Benefits Before 2022

Dental insurance is a great investment to have because it can help you save when it comes to your oral healthcare. By looking after your smile, you are contributing to the health of your entire body. However, dental insurance doesn’t work exactly like the health insurance plan that you’re used to, so it may seem confusing to navigate at first. Here are some tips to help you maximize your dental insurance benefits and get the most out of your plan.

Use Your Preventive Coverage

If you haven’t been seeing your dentist every six months for routine cleanings and checkups, you aren’t even close to fully maximizing your dental benefits. By attending these regular appointments, you can prevent the development of dental problems. Your hygienist will thoroughly clean your smile, and your dentist will take a look to ensure that you don’t have existing dental issues that need to be addressed. By catching small issues now, you may be able to avoid costly, more invasive procedures later on. For instance, if your dentist treats tooth decay with a filling now, you might be able to avoid root canal therapy or an extraction in the future.

Prevent General Health Problems

Your dental health and overall health go hand-in-hand. People who have gum disease are much more likely to suffer from a variety of other serious conditions, like heart disease, diabetes, respiratory issues, and pregnancy complications. By seeing your dentist for cleanings and checkups, you can prevent gum infections and overall health issues that will require lots of time and money to treat.

Pick a Dentist Who Is In-Network

If you have a PPO plan, you have the ability to choose any dentist you’d like, even if they aren’t necessarily on your list of “in-network” dentists. When you pick an in-network dentist, you will likely benefit from increased coverage of your dental treatments, therefore resulting in lower out-of-pocket costs.

Use Your Flexible Spending Dollars

If you have a flexible spending account (FSA) through your employer, you should use these dollars before the year comes to an end because not all of your funds will necessarily carry over. Most of the time, dental expenses are eligible FSA healthcare expenses. FSAs work by reducing your taxable income by putting aside money for healthcare. When you use tax-free dollars to pay for your dental treatment, you can ultimately save money in the long run.

Review Your Benefits

The end of 2021 is approaching, so now is a great time to look over your dental benefits again. By knowing exactly what is covered under your plan and when it will reset, you will be able to better maximize your coverage. For most insurance plans, the benefits will reset at the end of the calendar year. This means that you will be responsible for paying your deductible once again on January 1st. Any remaining benefits do not carry over to the following year.

If it’s been a while since you’ve been to the dental office, now is a great time to get started. If you need assistance when it comes to understanding your benefits, talk to your dental team. They will lead you in the right direction so you can get the most out of your plan!

About the Author

Dr. Mark Gerome is an experienced dentist who has been working in the field for over 25 years. He earned his dental doctorate from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry. Currently, he is involved in numerous local, national, and international dental associations, including the Seattle Study Club, American Dental Association, and Ohio Dental Association. For more information on dental insurance or to schedule an appointment before the year comes to an end, visit his website or call (513) 677-1349.