dental insurance benefits Harrisonburg

2023 IS ALMOST over, which means another year of insurance benefits is about to expire. It’s okay if you haven’t used your dental insurance benefits already, but it’s now or never, so don’t let a year’s worth of benefits go to waste. To help you prepare, we want to give you an idea of how to use your dental insurance at Blue Stone Hills Dentistry in Harrisonburg.

Most Insurance Benefits Don’t Roll Over to Next Year

Each year, you typically get a maximum amount of available benefits from your dental insurance provider. Since those benefits don’t typically roll over into the following year, you’ll want to contact us now to get your appointment scheduled!

What Are Dental Benefits?

Dental benefits are the cost-free treatments you get as part of your dental plan. Generally, most health insurance companies are straightforward and specify the type of services they cover.

What Does Dental Insurance Cover?

Dental insurance plans typically cover the cost of common services like preventative care, fillings, root canals, oral surgery, and crowns. Some dental plans even include restorative and orthodontic treatments such as braces, dentures, Invisalign, and bridges.

Understand Your Maximum Benefit

When you pay for your dental insurance each month, you’re paying for coverage up to a certain point. That coverage amount is your annual maximum. At the beginning of a new year, everything starts over, and you start building back up to that max from zero again.

The money you were supposed to get for essential dental treatments through your plan goes straight back into the insurance company’s pocket at the end of the year if you don’t use it. That’s one reason you should never skip out on your dental checkups. Aside from it being a smart, health-conscious choice, keeping up with regular oral checkups also gives you the most bang for your buck.

Understand Your Insurance Deductible

At the beginning of the year, your deductible also resets. The deductible is the amount that you must pay out of pocket before insurance kicks in. In most health plans, the structure is 100-80-50 for the contribution to certain dental services, but the amounts vary from plan to plan.

In a 100-80-50 structure, most preventative care is 100% covered, most basic treatments are 80% covered, and major dental procedures are usually covered at 50%. Keep in mind that it’s uncommon for insurance companies to cover cosmetic treatments like crowns or whitening.

100% Dental Coverage on Preventive Dental Procedures

Your dental policy isn’t just something to rely on when you need major work done. Staying on top of your oral health and  preventing disease before it starts is the best way to use it.  It’s always a win to take advantage of your dental benefits. Most dental plans offer 100% coverage of the following services up to two times per year:

  • Regular professional teeth cleaning: crucial for preventing cavities and getting rid of plaque and tartar you can’t remove with normal flossing and brushing.
  • A dental examination: in an exam, your dentist not only checks for cavities but inspects your soft tissues and looks for suspicious areas related to oral cancer. They examine your thyroid, lymph nodes, and jaw joints.
  • Dental X-rays: these show problems that aren’t visible to the naked eye. Small cavities between your teeth can be hard to detect, and abscessed teeth are sometimes only seen through X-rays.

Your Insurance Won’t Wait and Neither Will Cavities

Cavities can be inconvenient, but we really need to make the time to get them treated right away. Early treatment of cavities prevents long-term damage to our teeth and is essential to maintaining a beautiful, healthy smile! Scheduling your preventative care visits early is the easiest way to take advantage of your benefits there. 

We Can’t Wait to See You!

At Blue Stone Hills Dentistry in Harrisonburg, we’re always looking out for our patients. We want to make sure you’re taking the fullest advantage of your dental benefits! If you have any questions regarding dental insurance, stop by or call us today and we can help! Make sure to contact us to schedule an appointment. Don’t forget to check the map before you head our way.

The greatest benefits are to your dental health!

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The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.