Should I Get Dental Insurance? Is It Worth It?
The gist
Whether you’re “adulting” for the first time by getting your own insurance plan or simply shopping around for the best deal, it’s important to have comprehensive dental insurance to avoid costly, unexpected out-of-pocket expenses.
Maintaining your dental and oral health is an essential part of complete health care — that means sticking to a regular schedule of preventative care like cleanings and x-rays.
The dark days of scary, imposing dentists offices are gone! Many dentists offer lower-touch, lower-stress options for regular checkups.
In this article
If you’ve been feeling a bit of a pinch in your pocketbook lately, you’re not alone. People across the U.S. are taking a closer look at their spending habits and trying to get the best value out of every dollar they spend.
Some expenses, like streaming services you barely use, can be cut off with little to no change in your quality of life. Other regular costs, like dental insurance, may feel frivolous at times — after all, you only go twice a year (if even), right? Wrong! Your teeth and mouth are fundamental to your health, and dental insurance can save you a lot of trouble (and money) down the line.
We know, we know, dentists get a bad rap! Who among us wasn’t terrified by Steve Martin’s Orin Scrivello, D.D.S. in Little Shop of Horrors? Fortunately, dentists, dental hygienists, oral surgeons, and all the good people who care about teeth have your best interests in mind.
In this article on the benefits of dental insurance, we’ll respond to some major misconceptions about dentists and dental insurance.
Why is going to the dentist so scary?
We know where you’re coming from. The drills, the harsh fluorescent lights, the antiseptic smells, right? Nope! Those tropes are a thing of the past. If you haven’t been to the dentist in a while, you’d be surprised at how far the amenities and comforts of the industry have come.
Patient comfort is now a priority, especially as dentists are trying to get people back into the twice-a-year office visit schedule post-COVID. Many dental offices offer calming music, televisions with streaming services or video games, and lower-touch instruments and procedures, meaning you can relax and let the dental hygienist and dentist do what they do best.
That said, going to the dentist can certainly seem a little scarier if you don’t have insurance.
The benefits of dental insurance: Why do you have to go to the dentist twice a year?
Most dental insurance plans cover what’s referred to as “basic dental care.” Typically, that includes two office visits per year for cleanings, fillings, and X-rays. Staying up-to-date with your visits and X-rays are both essential ways to manage your overall health and can help avoid major issues (and major expenses) down the line.
At your twice-a-year dental visit, you will typically get a cleaning from a dental hygienist and a consultation with the dentist. Most plans also cover X-rays once a year. Keeping a consistent schedule with your office visits can help your dental care professionals determine if any extra treatment, incremental work, or even oral surgery might be necessary.
Once you get into the habit of going to the dentist two times a year, you’ll notice that the whole process feels a little easier, especially as you become more familiar and comfortable with the office and staff. With enough effort, you might even love that professionally cleaned feeling and start counting the days until your next visit (anything is possible).
Is dental insurance worth it for the cost you pay?
Did you know that more than 40 percent of Americans reported pain in their mouth or teeth over the past year? According to the CDC, it’s true! The same study found that almost a quarter of adults in the U.S. have untreated cavities. You don’t have to live in pain — if you have dental insurance.
Dental plans can vary in what exactly is covered, but as we mentioned above, many plans cover what is referred to as “preventative treatment.” That’s why checkups, cleanings, and X-rays are typically covered at 100 percent for people with dental insurance. This alone can add up to hundreds (if not thousands) of dollars a year in savings for families, and the focus on prevention can help mitigate bigger issues that could arise without proper treatment. So, in short, dental insurance is worth it.
If and when those bigger issues do happen, whether it’s a major oral surgery or an emergency treatment, dental insurance can help take a big bite out of your out-of-pocket expenses — that is, the amount you owe after your insurance company pays its share. Although these major treatments are typically not covered at 100 percent, like preventative visits, oral surgeries can end up being very costly, especially if you’re uninsured.
What happens if you have a dental emergency without dental insurance?
If you have a major dental emergency or need major dental work or surgery done, but you don’t have dental insurance, your options may become more limited. Low-cost, community-operated dental clinics may be a viable option, but they could still come with an out-of-pocket cost. Dental schools can be a cost-effective way to get treatment, but you have to be comfortable being a guinea pig for a student who might not be as skilled as you’d prefer.
Even if you end up at a more traditional dental office, you could incur massive out-of-pocket expenses. Fortunately, many offices now offer payment plans, uninsured patient discounts, and other perks. Be sure to be honest and transparent with the administrators about your income level and spending limits — your health is in their best interest.
That said, the easiest way to mitigate (if not completely avoid) these types of issues is by having active dental insurance all year round. Because these plans focus on prevention, your insurance-covered biannual visits are an important opportunity for the dental hygienist and dentist to assess your oral health on an ongoing basis. Additionally, your dental insurance can help cut your out-of-pocket expenses if and when you need more major treatment.
What’s the best way to find dental insurance if you don’t have it?
There are a number of reasons you might lack dental insurance, such as:
Affordability
Lack of employer-provided options
Self-employed or independent contractor
Between jobs
If you’ve been asking yourself “Should I get dental insurance?” the answer is quite obviously yes. That’s why we made it easy to find the best dental plans available — because a happy smile (and a happy wallet) will take you far.
Whether you’re shopping for your first dental plan ever or looking for something a little better than what you’ve got, we can help you find the right coverage. All you have to do is enter your ZIP code, your perfect dental plan could be a few clicks away!