Use Your Dental Insurance: End The Year With Healthy Smile

As the year draws to a close, you might be thinking about your holiday plans, New Year resolutions, and—unfortunately—how much is left in your dental insurance benefits. The clock is ticking, and if you’re not careful, your dental insurance benefits will expire before you have a chance to utilize them fully.

Instead of letting your hard-earned benefits go to waste, it’s time to make the most of them and end the year with a healthy smile. But how exactly do you maximize your dental benefits? Here’s your ultimate guide to making the most of what’s left in your insurance plan before it resets.

Maximize Your Coverage: Plan Now for Preventive Care, Treatments, & More

1. Your Benefits Won’t Roll Over—Use Them Now!

Let’s face it: dental insurance benefits are ‘use it or lose it’. Most insurance plans offer an annual maximum—meaning the total amount they will pay for covered services in one year. And if you don’t use it, you lose it! Whether you’ve been procrastinating on that dental checkup or waiting for the right time for a major procedure, now is the time to act.

What happens if you don’t use it?

• Unused benefits don’t carry over to the next year, so any remaining balance resets at the beginning of January.
  
• You might end up paying out of pocket for the same procedures next year, which could be more expensive or require you to wait longer to schedule.

By scheduling your appointments before December 31, you ensure that you’re not losing money you’ve already paid for in premiums.

2. Schedule Preventive Care Before It’s Too Late

If you haven’t seen our dentist for a checkup yet this year, don’t wait until after the new year begins. Most insurance plans cover preventive care (such as routine exams and cleanings) at 100%—but only if you use them within the current year’s benefit period.

Why schedule now?

• Routine Cleanings & Exams: Regular cleanings help prevent gum disease, cavities, and other issues, saving you money on costly treatments down the road.
  
• X-rays & Screenings: These are typically covered fully or partially, and they can help identify problems early before they become serious and expensive.

By scheduling your preventive care, you’re protecting not just your dental health but also your finances in the long term.

3. Minor Treatments You’ve Been Putting Off

Have you been ignoring small dental issues, thinking they’ll get better on their own? Whether it’s a cavity, a small filling, or a minor tooth repair, now is the time to take care of those little things that could snowball into larger, more costly problems.

Common minor treatments to consider:

• Fillings: Fix small cavities now before they require more extensive treatments like root canals or crowns.
  
• Gum Treatments: If you’ve noticed signs of gum disease, treatments like scaling and root planing can be done now, often covered by your plan, to keep your smile healthy.

Addressing small dental problems before they turn into big ones can save you from higher out-of-pocket costs later.

4. Major Treatments? Split Them Up If Required

For those with more extensive dental needs, now is a great time to start treatments that can span the end of the year and the beginning of the next. You can often split major procedures (such as crowns, bridges, and root canals) across two years to take advantage of both benefit periods.

How to manage major procedures?

• Crowns & Bridges: These treatments often cost more, but if you start the procedure before December 31, you can use this year’s benefits to cover part of the cost and apply next year’s benefits to complete the treatment.
  
• Root Canals: If a root canal is on the horizon, you may be able to schedule part of the treatment now, then complete the final steps after the new year to take advantage of a fresh benefit year.

This strategy allows you to save out-of-pocket costs while completing your dental treatment in phases.

5. Don’t Forget Orthodontic Coverage

If you or your child are in need of orthodontic treatment, now is the time to schedule a consultation before the year ends. Some dental insurance plans include orthodontic coverage, and it’s possible to start treatment now and use the remaining benefits this year, with the balance covered next year.

How to make orthodontic treatments work for you?

• Consultation: Book a consultation with our highly professional dentist to assess your orthodontic needs and get a head start on treatment.
  
• Treatment Planning: Our dentist can help break down the treatment into phases, ensuring you make the most of your benefits this year and next.

Orthodontic care can be expensive, but with careful planning, you can reduce out-of-pocket expenses by using your insurance effectively.

Don’t Let Your Dental Benefits Go to Waste!

This blog focuses on creating urgency and providing actionable steps for readers to utilize their dental insurance benefits through a ‘use it or lose it’ policy, offering both strategic advice and specific recommendations for various dental treatments.

As we close out the year, it’s essential to take full advantage of your dental insurance benefits. Whether it’s routine checkups, minor fillings, or major procedures, now is the time to schedule your treatments at our dental practice Dr. C Family Dentistry, and prevent unnecessary costs in the new year.

So, why wait? Contact our dentist and take charge of your dental health today to make the most of what your insurance has to offer.