Dental insurance is typically insurance that pays for dental care. In the past, dental insurance was often separate from regular health insurance, but most employers nowadays offer a dental benefit package that includes dental and other health insurance plans. Dental insurance helps cover the costs of routine cleanings, x-rays, braces, dentures, and more. When you take advantage of dental insurance, your policy will pay all or part of the costs associated with getting the following:

X-Rays:

While a dental insurance plan will cover the basics, sometimes an emergency needs to be treated right away. X-Rays are generally covered by the majority of dental insurance plans. If you need an immediate tooth look-up, you may be able to get it at the dentist’s office. However, if there is an emergency, you may have to wait up to one hour in the waiting period before getting it done. Some dental insurance plans don’t have any waiting period at all, but you may have to wait even longer for the x-ray. Check with your provider to see what they offer.

Braces:

A common emergency that comes up when you need dental care is a chipped tooth. Fortunately, most dental insurance plans cover some or all of the costs associated with getting a dental brace. Depending on the plan you have, you might be reimbursed completely or partial of the cost of the brace. Some plans cover the entire cost, while others require that you pay out of your own pocket first. Check your policy to see what exactly is covered and how it works.

Preventive Care:

One of the most important aspects of dental insurance is preventive care coverage. Many people simply don’t think they’ll need the full scope of dental coverage, because regular checkups and cleanings will be enough. The fact is, no matter how healthy you are, you can end up needing certain types of dental care at some point. For example, gingivitis is only treatable after it has formed. So if you don’t get gingivitis checked regularly, it could end up costing you a lot more in the end. Make sure that your dental insurance provides this preventive care coverage.

Dental Discount Plans:

Most insurance plans offer some sort of dental discount plan. Typically, there are two kinds of discount plans: major and minor. Major plans cover a wider range of procedures and dental services than do minor plans. If your plan allows it, you can usually save money by going with a major plan and getting higher deductibles per year. These plans tend to cover everything from cleanings to braces. They also tend to cover everything in pretty much every dental office across the country, so you’ll always be covered no matter where you go.

Spirit Dental:

Most insurance plans have a spirit option, which will cover a portion of your monthly premiums. This allows you to take advantage of a lower cost for the service in the event that you choose to go ahead and visit a dentist. For many people, this is a good way to save money because you aren’t required to pay as high of a deductible. However, there are some people who have a hard time committing to a dentist’s service or don’t have any family members who would like to see a dentist on a regular basis. In these cases, the deductible becomes a factor in their decision.