Dental insurance should be considered for what it is: a benefit that is paid for by your employer, or that you purchase yourself. It is meant only to HELP pay for dental care you want or need. It should be thought of as a gift card worth a certain dollar amount. I find that many people, when they receive a gift card, always spend a little extra in addition to the card to get what they really want. Your dental insurance should be considered the same way!

Some people with dental insurance believe that if their insurance does not cover the treatment then they must not need it, or perhaps it is not important. This is far from the truth! If you had a major illness, you would not let the insurance company dictate your treatment-you would of course do what was necessary to take care of yourself. Dental care is very important to your overall health and should be considered the same way. In our office we like to say, “If you don’t take care of your teeth then they won’t take care of you.” Poor dental hygiene and lack of dental care are major contributors to heart disease, illness, tooth loss, low birth weight babies, bad breath and even PAIN!

Sadly, dental insurance has not evolved to keep up with the economy, or inflation. In 1967, the annual limit was $1000. That would be over $5000 today! So, in a 5-year period, you could get over $25,000 in treatment completed. Today, the annual limit is still $1000 so it is impossible to get everything you need paid by insurance. Insurance should be considered a method of payment, not a method of treatment.

As the end of the year approaches, we encourage you to maximize your insurance dollars and your health savings accounts before they expire at the end of the year. Email or call to schedule your appointment- we look forward to hearing from you!