Great question. People ask me this all the time.

Dental procedures can get really expensive. In fact, it could end up costing you several thousand dollars if you pay for the procedure out of pocket. Dental Insurance is designed to help you pay for those costs and make the procedure more affordable.

Here are 3 things you need to know about Dental Insurance:

1. You get what you pay for.

1. If you get a plan that has a very low monthly premium and you file a claim for a procedure, it could be a lot more expensive than you hoped. At this point you get frustrated and feel like your insurance isn’t covering what you want and it isn’t worth it.
2. The most common plans are what I call the 100/80/50 plans. That means they cover 100% of preventative care, 80% of basic work (like fillings), and 50% of major work (like root canals). These are the best plans you can get and I highly recommend them because they offer the most benefits
3. Watch out for waiting periods!

1. Most dental plans have waiting periods. Why? Because enough people have signed up for a plan and have the work done. Then they cancel the policy, leaving the insurance company to pay for thousands of dollars of work with too little of a premium to cover the costs.
2. Preventative care doesn’t usually have waiting periods. However, Basic work (like fillings) and major work (like root canals) can have waiting periods ranging from 6 to 18 months depending on the company and the procedure.
3. Is it worth it?

1. If you plan to get your teeth cleaned twice a year, then yes it is worth it. If you do the math of what two typical cleanings and x-rays would cost, then it is usually about the same price as your annual premium that you pay for the policy. Unfortunately, if you have to get some basic or major work done, then the insurance will give you a 50% to 80% discount.
2. Yes, I think it is worth it!

I have seen clients with some very painful dental problems and having dental insurance gives them a peace of mind when they urgently want to go to a dentist and have it fixed!

Let me know if you have any questions.

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