The Benefits of Dental Insurance Coverage

Having dental insurance is just as important as any other insurance coverage. Oral health issues can arise at any time, whether by accident, illness, or poor hygiene, resulting in costly medical bills for those who don’t have dental coverage.

There are various health and monetary benefits of dental insurance and things to consider when getting dental coverage.

Financial Benefits of Dental Insurance

Dental insurance can help you save money on dental care. Preventive care, such as cleanings and X-rays, will help you avoid more intensive and expensive procedures later. Plus, most dental insurance covers routine checkups at little or no additional costs.  

Likewise, dental insurance protects you from paying the full price for unexpected dental work like fillings, root canals, and crowns. Typically, your plan will require you to pay a percentage of the full price.

Note that dental coverage varies by plan. Some may not cover all oral surgeries, like cosmetic procedures. Other plans may also require you to get pre-approval for certain surgeries.

Health Benefits of Dental Insurance

It’s well known that dental health, like mental health, gut health, etc., can affect overall health for better or worse. For example, the buildup of harmful bacteria in the mouth can make certain medical conditions worse. According to data from the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP), those without dental benefits report higher incidences of other illnesses, including heart disease, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Oral diseases can negatively impact one’s quality of life, such as impeding someone’s ability to eat, speak, and smile.

Dental insurance provides valuable coverage to safeguard your oral health from diseases. Preventive benefits, like routine checkups, cleanings, and X-rays, ensure problems get identified before they worsen. For instance, tooth decay will eventually lead to a root canal. But, if caught early, such surgery is avoidable.  

Choosing a Plan: Primary Care Dentist and Network Coverage

In light of these potential financial and health-related risks, it is highly beneficial to get dental insurance. Many people get dental coverage through their work. If you are self-employed or a gig worker (or your work doesn’t offer dental insurance), you must purchase coverage through an insurer or potentially bundled with your health plan.

When selecting a dental plan, it is best to choose a plan that includes your primary care dentist within its network. Such a plan will not only be more convenient because you won’t need to find a new dentist but will also save you money compared to visiting out-of-network providers.

However, if your current dentist is not in your plan’s network, you should consider switching dental plans to one that does include them. If you don’t have a primary care dentist, you can pick one from among those available in your dental insurance plan’s network.