You might be wondering if it’s worth paying a monthly premium for dental insurance when you rarely visit your dentist more than twice a year. Although it may not seem like it at first, dental insurance is actually one of the smartest investments you can make. It’s designed to help you save money on the care your smile needs to stay healthy. Here are three reasons why having a dental insurance plan is worth every single penny.
1. Regular Dental Care Becomes More Affordable
In general, oral health problems like cavities and gum disease are much easier to prevent than they are to treat. That’s why dental insurance mainly focuses on preventive care. Your insurance plan is very likely to cover routine services like exams, X-rays, and professional cleanings at 100%. In fact, preventive services are often the only treatments that insurance will cover in full, so you might as well take advantage of that by attending two checkups and cleanings every year.
2. You Save Money in the Long Run
At first, you may believe you’re saving money by not paying monthly insurance premiums, but the truth is that going without dental coverage can cost you a whole lot more in the long term. How? The answer is simple – prevention.
At your routine checkups, your dentist monitors your mouth for signs of problems that you may not have noticed yet. When these issues are spotted and addressed early on, you can avoid the need for more expensive procedures down the road. For example, your dentist may detect a small cavity that only needs a filling. If you’d waited until the tooth started hurting, you might have needed a dental crown or root canal, which are more expensive and typically qualify for less insurance coverage.
Because preventive dental visits are almost always fully covered by insurance, these appointments can save you a great deal of money over time. Not only can you avoid pricey dental work, but you’ll prevent your benefits from going to waste.
3. You Reduce the Risk of Systemic Illnesses
Poor oral health has been linked to a higher risk of overall health conditions. In particular, gum disease has been shown to increase the chance of heart attack, stroke, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, and various systemic medical conditions. By attending regular checkups – which is much easier when they’re completely covered by dental insurance – your dentist can help you prevent gum disease and its related health risks.
Dental insurance is an investment, but it’s definitely one worth making. By signing up for a plan and maximizing your benefits, you can make sure your smile stays healthy for life – and that’s certainly worth paying for!
About the Author
Dr. Nicholas Baldelli graduated with honors from the Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine in 2013 with his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree. He aims to provide quality yet affordable dental care in Newport, RI at Newport Dental Associates. To that end, his team files claims for all dental insurance plans, but they’re in-network with Delta Dental, MetLife, Guardian, Aetna, and BlueCross BlueShield. To learn more about why dental insurance is worth paying for, contact Dr. Baldelli at 401-847-7662.