Use These 5 Tips to Maximize Your Dental Insurance

Are you paying for dental insurance? While many Americans have dental insurance through their employer or the marketplace, not all of them are making the most out of their coverage. In fact, studies estimate that thousands of dollars in unused dental benefits go to waste every year! If you’re paying for dental insurance in Pewaukee, don’t let your investment go to waste. Use these five tips to make the most out of your coverage and keep your smile healthy!

Tip #1: Understand the 50-80-100 Rule

While every dental insurance policy is unique, nearly all of them follow the 50-80-100 rule for coverage. This sorts treatments into three different categories that get different level of coverage: For example:

• Preventive care like routine exams is usually 90-100% covered by dental insurance.
• Basic treatments including fillings and dental bonding usually get 60-80% coverage.
• Major restorations such as dentures may only receive 50% coverage or less.

Tip #2: Don’t Waste Your Preventive Care

Nearly every dental insurance plan covers two dental checkups a year. Not only are these quick and easy exams often covered at 90-100%, but they play a key role in preventing future oral health issues. Stopping or spotting problems early can save you a significant amount of money in the long run!

Tip #3: Don’t Postpone Your Treatment

If your dentist recommends a treatment, it’s best to get it taken care of right away. Even if your teeth look and feel fine now, postponing your care allows the issue to get worse. Before you know it, you may have serious dental pain or damage that requires an expensive treatment! The sooner you get an oral health problem taken care of, the less expensive it will likely be.

Tip #4: Use Your Annual Maximum

Once you’ve met the set dollar amount for your deductible, your dental insurance will start covering your dental care. They’ll do so up until you reach your annual maximum. Whatever you don’t use from your annual maximum won’t roll over when your plan renews, so it’s important that you take advantage of it and get all the dental care you need before the year ends!

Tip #5: Talk to Your Dentist

The above information barely scratches the surface of all there is to know about navigating dental insurance benefits. If you’re having a difficult time fully understanding the details of your coverage, don’t hesitate to talk to your dental team. They’ve had plenty of experience maximizing dental insurance benefits for their patients, and they’ll be able to give you personalized advice on what you can do to make the most of your dental insurance benefits without risking your oral health.

Dental insurance is a great investment if you make the most of it! Keep these tips in mind so you can reap the benefits of your coverage.

About the Practice

At Ostrand Family Dentistry, we’re committed to providing affordable, high-quality dental care to the smiles of Pewaukee and the surrounding communities. Our insurance-friendly practice accepts many major providers, including Cigna, Anthem Digital, Aetna Extended, Guardian, and many more. Additionally, we offer Kleer® Dental Membership Plan as an affordable alternative to dental insurance. To learn more about it or how to make the most of your dental insurance coverage, you can reach us online or at (262) 695-8600.