People frequently ask their dentists to help them choose the best dental insurance plan.  Some people are offered these plans through their employers.  Others purchase plans independently while they are between jobs, or if they are self-employed. 

Regardless of their motivations, people need to know what dental coverage is best for the prices being advertised.  Determining the true value of plan requires knowing what essential services dental insurance covers.  Otherwise, essential care may be excluded from the policy, and the individual may end up paying more than he or she expected at the end of the visit. 

Typically, dental insurance covers a specified amount of dental care per annum (that means per year).  Ideally, this should include preventative care as well as intervention care.  Waiting until there is a painful problem before going to the dentist is no way to take care of ones mouth.

Dentists recommend that a rigorous program of dental hygiene be faithfully followed by individuals.  Dentists also recommend seeking professional hygiene on a regular basis as well.  It is necessary for each individual to honestly estimate how much dental care will be needed for a 12 month period, then find a dental insurance plan that covers that care.   

Dentists recommend that the following criteria be used to determine the best possible policy for any given individual. 

Most dental insurance covers the initial oral exam that the dentist provides every new patient.   

Dental plans should ideally cover checkups, which we recommend having every six months.

Dental insurance should also pay for a full set of x-rays once every three years.

Under some plans, dental insurance covers bitewing x-rays once every year.

Teeth should be cleaned every six months by a dental professional. 

A topical fluoride treatment should also be covered by dental insurance.  Dentists recommend that the average individual have this treatment performed two times a year.

For children who are younger than 18 years of age, dental sealants should be applied to protect teeth against decay and cavity formation.

While dentists readily admit that many of these treatments are both diagnostic and preventative by nature, they maintain the stance that such aggressive, proactive care is essential for optimal oral health.  Without prevention, cure will be costly and painful.  Dental care is nowhere near as expensive as the aftermath of dental neglect.

Fortunately, thanks to increased public awareness of the need for preventative dental hygiene, dentists have seen a sharp decline in cavities over the past few decades.  This is good news, because it means that people are taking action to prevent problems rather than ignoring them in the hopes they will go away.

Even better is the news about our children.  More than half of all children who are currently enrolled in school have never had a cavity.  There has never been such a time in history where such widespread dental health exists among the masses.

While there will probably never be a truly perfect dental health insurance plan, finding dental insurance that covers the basics, along with dental procedures,  goes a long way to preserving both dental health and financial security.

If you are looking to improve your smile without diminishing it with visible orthodontics in the process, please call us at 1-888-790-0309 to schedule an appointment for this highly specialized and technologically advanced alternative to metal braces.