This is Why Dental Insurance Is So Important in 2021

Dental Insurance is not something most of us think about…

Since we were kids, we were told that brushing, flossing, and visits to the dentists are something we should always do. And for good reason! Sadly, we don’t always listen. A recent study published by NYPost [1] showed that 3 out of 10 millennials brush their teeth only once per day. To add to that,  up to 40% of adults in the US haven’t visited a dentist in the past year [2] (according to the CDC).

Dental Insurance

Dental work is expensive and is rarely covered by insurance, so proper dental hygiene and maintenance are key in order to save your health and money. Although dental insurance may minimize the cost of check-ups and treatments, it is true that quite a few individuals have difficulty locating a package that finds a balance between price and coverage.

Outcome? According to USA Today and the National Association of Dental Plans, about 74 million Americans, or 23%, do not have any dental insurance benefits. [3] But even those with health insurance do not always receive dental benefits from their work. Around 20% of these persons are estimated to have health insurance and insufficient dental insurance coverage, which makes them unprotected.

The numbers clearly show that improved oral well-being is associated with a healthy dental plan. The better your insurance is, the less likely you are to have cavities or more serious dental issues. The harm caused by poor grooming and not going to the dentists for routine check-ups include painful toothaches that get worse over time, painful gums and gum leakage due to periodontal disease, and missing teeth, all of which entail lengthy and painful restoration operations. A single dental implant with a foundation and crown, for instance, will cost around $4,000 in the US. 

Fewer Expenses

So as you may see, dental insurance is a must. There are a few good dental coverage plans but you need to pick the right one and not some plan that will hurt you in the long run. If you already have a dentist that you like, try, and find a plan that they accept. Otherwise, you will have to go to a new dentist which you maybe won’t like as much. Also, check that your plan covers your children, partners, or parents if you have to take care of any of them. 

Aside from that, you should also consider whether in the future you or your children will need orthodontic services. In addition to malocclusions or “bad bites,” because of overcrowding, overlapping, and crooked teeth, many individuals require braces and correction. [4] According to WebMD, if you take into account that the average price of braces for your child will cost between $2,000 and $8,000, it becomes apparent that choosing a plan with decent coverage and benefits is crucial.

With that said, we agree that choosing a package that helps you to strike the perfect balance between out-of-pocket costs and annual premiums is important. Some consumers immediately pick the package with the lowest premiums and then are shocked when they learn how long they have to pay before their policy actually kicks in. It is worth spending a little more each month and ending up paying much less in the long run.

Finding the best dental insurance for your case is not an easy task, but it should be taken seriously and with enough time and research. The worst thing that can happen is that you lock yourself into a multi-year awful contract that you have to pay for. So pick carefully!

[1] https://nypost.com/2018/02/23/millennials-are-terrible-at-keeping-their-teeth-clean/
[2] https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/dental.htm
[3] https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/personalfinance/2017/09/15/chew-this-dental-coverage-gives-protection-within-limits/665409001/
[4] https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/braces.html
[5] https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/children-and-orthodontics#3-12