Getting the care you need to keep up with regular trips to the dentist is an important part of maintaining a happy and healthy smile. As a result, many people choose to purchase individual insurance plans that provide dental coverage, which offers many benefits, including those explained below.
Access to Care
Dental insurance gives you access to care that is not covered by your provincial health insurance plan. Whether you need basic services like routine cleanings, fillings and x-rays or extensive treatment, such as dentures, bridges, crowns or orthodontics – with supplemental dental insurance, you can get the care you need when you need it.
Without dental insurance, you may not be able to get the necessary treatment, which can cause small problems to become larger, more complicated ones. In fact, it’s estimated that nearly 20% of Canadians do not seek the treatment they need because of the high cost of seeing a dentist when you don’t have health and dental insurance.
Prevention
The Canadian Dental Association recommends seeing a dentist regularly for routine cleanings and preventative treatment to maintain a happy and healthy smile for life. Regular dental check-ups can help you avoid common oral health problems, including cavities, gingivitis and periodontitis. If you do not have adequate dental coverage to get the treatment you need to maintain healthy teeth and gums, it could have negative consequences for your overall health.
Several studies have shown people with periodontal disease are more susceptible to coronary artery disease than those who are not afflicted with this condition. Scientists are investigating two possible causes for this link:
- The same bacteria that causes periodontal disease releases toxins into the bloodstream, which in turn helps to form fatty plaques in the arteries.
- The bacteria cause the liver to produce high levels of inflammation-causing proteins.
In any event, regular trips to the dentist can also help you maintain good overall health by preventing other health issues that have been linked to poor oral hygiene, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Routine dental examinations can help prevent these conditions by keeping the damaging effects of periodontal disease at bay.
Minimize Expenses
Dental care can be expensive without adequate dental coverage. The average cost of a routine cleaning is approximately $150-$200, and more extensive treatments, such as root canals and dentures, cost even more. If you do not have dental insurance, these costs can add up quickly, requiring you to make the difficult decision between incurring costs you may not be able to afford and sacrificing treatment you need.
Dental insurance can help defray many of the out-of-pocket costs associated with routine and emergency dental care, so you can get the care you need when you need it without breaking the bank. An annual or monthly fee for dental insurance premiums is a fixed cost that can form part of the household budget while paying for emergency dental care out of pocket would cause a strain for most families.
Peace of Mind
Dealing with a dental care emergency is stressful. There are the physical pain and potential for lost time at school or work to consider. Worrying about how to pay for dental care on top of it all can add to an already stressful situation.
Not only does adequate dental coverage give you access to the care you need, while protecting your bottom line, but it also provides peace of mind for you and your family. With the right dental insurance plan, you can rest assured that you will only have to pay a portion of the cost associated with the treatment you and your family need.
Choosing a Dental Insurance Plan
There are many dental insurance plans on the market today that offer varying levels of coverage at different prices. It can be difficult to determine which health and dental insurance policy offers the best value. A policy that is more expensive up front, but comes with a lower deductible or more comprehensive coverage, may be a better choice for your family than a lower cost option.
An insurance broker is a knowledgeable professional who can help you assess your needs and review the plans available, so you can find the one that best meets your needs. Contact one of our customer service representatives today to get the plan that’s right for you and your family.
