Our teeth are essential in our lives. It helps our digestive system by chewing food, making it easier for our body to devour and absorb it. Aside from this, the teeth aid with proper pronunciation, especially of words with the letter T, F, and V. Without them, you may find it challenging to pronounce each word.
In addition, the teeth support the bone structure, specifically the jawbone. Their presence affects your facial appearance with the way you smile and the possible number of vertical lines that might appear on your face. If a person loses their teeth, they will have a poor facial bone structure and a more extended upper lip.
A tooth can be durable—able to withstand more than 100 pounds of pressure, but without proper care, it will soon weaken, decay, crack and pass. Brushing your teeth as part of your hygiene aside from having a healthy diet is a good start, but assistance from a dentist nearby can come in handy to ensure that your teeth stay strong.
Table of Contents
What Is A Dentist?
A dentist is a healthcare provider trained to conduct procedures to ensure their patients’ dental wellness. They work in primary care institutions, dental hospitals, and clinics. With the help of their expertise and equipment, they can diagnose and treat dental illnesses and apply tooth cosmetics. They also educate their patients about proper dental hygiene and food intake.
Dentist can bring back a damaged tooth in good shape through dental bonding and veneers. They can also extract a tooth and replace it if the tooth’s damage is too severe. They’re the best practitioners to look for if you feel pain and discomfort in your teeth or wish to keep them healthy.
How Can A Dental Insurance Help You?
Dental insurance is a kind of health insurance. It offers coverage to a client’s oral care after meeting a certain amount, depending on their agreement with an insurer. Let’s dig deeper into its benefits by checking out the information below:
Affordability
A dentist’s service is recommendable for dental health, given their specialty, but you will likely spend more without dental insurance. For example, a dental exam out-of-pocket fee with a dentist alone can reach more than $200USD per session. On the other hand, if you choose dental insurance, they can cover it up to 100% for a year (Calendar or Plan Year);
- Calendar Year- Dental Insurance that renews from January to December
- Plan Year- Dental Insurance that resets from the plan’s creation date.
Dental insurance benefits depend on the network coverage of the dentist or its facility to the insurance, offered deductible, coinsurance, and copay;
Network Coverage
This coverage includes in and out-of-network benefits.
In-network coverage refers to providers with a negotiated discount with the insurance. It gives the most significant percentage of coverage, usually 80-100%.
On the contrary, out-of-network coverage refers to providers with the opposite status. Therefore, it can give a lower benefit percentage, usually 50-70% only.
Deductible
It refers to the contribution that a client should meet to become eligible for network coverage. If a patient sees a dentist in-network with the insurance, the service fee that the practitioner rendered to the patient will add to the contribution for the in-network deductible.
For example, Suppose the patient’s dental plan for in-network says that they will cover in-network services by 80% after the deductible of $500USD. In that case, the patient needs to contribute that amount before the insurance starts to cover dental fees.
Coinsurance
It refers to the percentage of insurance coverage and the patient’s responsibility. It also includes the amount the patient needs to meet before the plan covers their dental fees by 100%.
For example, Suppose the patient’s plan has a coinsurance of $1000USD and a coverage of 80% after deductible. If the patient has already met the deductible but not the coinsurance, the insurance will cover 80% of the dental fees; and 20% will remain as patient responsibility.
The contribution of a client fills both the deductible and the coinsurance. So, if the patient contributed $500USD to the insurance, then the deductible is already met. But they need to add $500USD more to meet the coinsurance.
Ensures Great Numbers Of Credible Dentists
Health insurance works with countless healthcare providers. Some have a contract with them while others don’t. Even so, an insurance network can determine preferable dentists in an area. Their software can identify if a dental provider is registered and if they have any pending cases of malpractice.
Moreover, dental plans have reachable customer service if you have concerns about choosing your dentist, especially if it’s your first time. They can suggest a dentist and provide their contact information who is not only in-network with the insurance but also trusted in the dental field. That way, you can get the proper dental treatment you deserve.
Conclusion
Your teeth are essential to your body. It’s valuable for your digestion, appearance, and pronunciation. Maintaining proper hygiene and a healthy diet may not be enough to ensure their wellness. By looking for a credible dentist with the help of dental insurance, you can get a high-quality dental treatment that you can afford.
