Good Dental Insurance Not Only Protects Your Teeth, But Also Your Overall Health

Posted by Nick Niesen on October 29th, 2010

When most people think about the term work benefits, they are most always talking about health insurance followed closely by dental insurance. This should come as no surprise as everyone knows that you need dental insurance. Yes, dental insurance is atop many people's lists of important job perks. But why exactly is dental insurance so important and necessary?

That answer can be found in the midst of a debilitating toothache that seems to simultaneously throw your world into one giant throbbing, aching tooth. In fact, few things that can disturb your day more than a bad tooth. This is why it is imperative that people have a good dental insurance plan. More and more employers are starting to systematically include dental insurance as part of their benefit package. It's undeniable that dental health is very important, and doctors are emphasizing this idea each day.

Currently, only 57% of Americans under age 65 have dental insurance, through their employers compared with 85% for medical insurance. Unfortunately, many companies are being forced to take a hard look at how they spend their limited health-care dollars, meaning that dental insurance tops the list of benefits employers are looking to cut. Companies argue dental insurance is a nonessential benefit, since a patient's total financial risk is relatively low. After all, a medical catastrophe could wipe you out financially ? something that's unlikely to happen with even the most costly dental expenses.

Dental health can also be attributed to other physical health issues. For example, Gingivitis, which is an infection of the soft tissues of the mouth, if left untreated, can become a serious problem that could land someone in the hospital. Neglecting your teeth can be bad news when it comes to your overall health.

Unfortunately in past decades, regular dental checkups and preventive care could only be afforded by the upper middle-class and wealthy groups. So it turned out that before dental insurance became widespread, the average person did not seek regular dental checkups and saw a dentist only when something hurt really badly. Millions of people now get regular preventive care that in the past might not have done so, and the nation's dental health is much better for that change.

But even in this day and age, there is still a large group of people that simply cannot afford to pay for any kind of dental insurance. A severe lack of finances makes it impossible to pay for any type of dental care. For people who lack proper dental insurance, dental procedures or simple regular dental checkups are often extremely expensive. If people cannot afford to pay for these treatments themselves, the result is simply that they are missing out on essential dental care. After a trip to the dentist, some people are often left with a nasty taste in their mouth, not from the experience, but after they have seen how much they owe.

The biggest dental problem that needs proper medical care is tooth and gum disease. These gum and tooth problems can rapidly grow worse and this can even result in tooth decay to a point where people suffering from these problems are not even able to properly use their teeth and help is needed. Treatment of tooth decay and seriously deteriorated teeth are unaffordable for many consumers, and if they want to avoid losing their teeth, it is important to get some kind of care that is affordable. This is another factor highlighting the importance of dental insurance.

Without dental insurance, there would be many more people across the nation who would be suffering. Furthermore, people would have to deal with the rising costs of premium dental health care. A filling for example might cost anywhere from $125-$200 depending on the region of the country where they live. Routine examinations and cleanings will cost the patient at least $75, which is nothing when compared to dental x-rays which can be over $200. Other procedures such as root canals can cost up to $1,000, and cosmetic dentistry averages $1500 to $3000, depending on the procedure.

Good dental insurance reduces the cost of routine dental care, often paying in full for one set of x-rays and a cleaning each year. That routine care can prevent many of the more expensive emergencies. Even more important, routine dental examinations can often turn up the first signs of more serious health problems - the first signs of illnesses like diabetes are often found in your mouth. Comprehensive dental insurance is one of the key ingredients in good health care.

Is dental insurance really necessary? The answer is a definite yes.