Dental Insurance & Why It?s Important For Your Family

Posted by Nick Niesen on October 29th, 2010

It may often go overlooked, but dental insurance is something that every individual needs to think about. In the event of a sudden toothache, the need for a regular checkup or cleaning and even possibly oral surgery, dental insurance is a must. Coverage is available from a variety of sources, including some employers and national insurance providers.

Dental insurance is more affordable than medical insurance and can often result in low monthly payments for those who have to seek out the coverage themselves. The amount of insurance that is selected will determine what type of deductible, if any, the patient is responsible for.

It may be surprising, but many people develop problems with their wisdom teeth. In the event that they do not develop as they should, they may become impacted underneath the gums and need to be surgically extracted. This procedure is very expensive and requires a certain amount of followup care, which can really add up without dental insurance. There are a number of other reasons that someone would unknowingly need dental care, including an accident that requires

Unlike life or health insurance, the cost of dental insurance isn?t particularly affected by age. While it?s true that a patient?s past oral health may be in question, it is much easier to get than other types. Prior to being accepted by a dental insurance provider, the patient may be required to undergo an oral checkup and x-rays in order to determine any previous or current conditions that may require treatment. In most instances, a new dental insurance policy will not cover previously known conditions. In other words, you could not find out that you have an impacted wisdom tooth and then sign up on a new dental plan to get the coverage for a procedure. The patient is required to disclose any previously known condition(s).

Dental insurance can be purchased as an individual plan or for the entire family. In order to make sure that a particular dentist accepts a specific dental insurance, the patient should inquire about the office policy prior making an appointment or arriving for treatment. The worst time to learn that a dentist doesn?t accept your dental insurance is after receiving treatment and immediately prior to getting the bill. In order to avoid the headache, make sure that the dentist will accept your provider?s coverage ahead of time. In some instances, insurance plans are only accepted at specific locations.