Did you know that seniors need far more oral care than any other age group? Teeth, like any other body part, grow and decay as time goes on. People without dental insurance are less likely to take proper care of their teeth. It’s important to safeguard yourself against any future problems. read more
Spirit Dental Resources
“What is a waiting period and why do I have one on my dental insurance?
“Why isn’t all dental insurance offered with a no waiting period?”
“Why am I still waiting for my insurance to cover my dental procedures?”
Are these questions you are wondering and maybe even confused about? At Spirit Dental, we keep things simple with no surprises. Once you’ve enrolled in a plan, you’re covered by insurance and can make that appointment with your dentist. We have no waiting period. What does this mean and how does this help you?
At Spirit Dental there are no waiting periods for preventive, basic or major services on the Spirit Dental plans. This means that on almost every one of our plans offered you will not be waiting for coverage, as soon as you are effective you are covered. Effective dates are the 1st, 5th, 10th, 15th, 20th and 25th of every month, so you’re maximum wait time is 5 days.
Many dental insurance carriers impose a waiting period on plan coverage. This means that after you’ve enrolled in an insurance plan, you have to wait up to twelve to eighteen months before having any of your major services dental needs are covered. You could still be paying your monthly premiums without the benefit of having your dental costs covered, leaving you to pay 100% out of pocket. The impact on your coverage is clear, a waiting period may leave you without coverage – and when you need it most.
At Spirit Dental, we will help you get coverage, answer all questions, and make sure you aren’t waiting to have any necessary dental procedures completed. This means as soon as your policy is effective you can immediately start making those vital and important dental appointments needed to start bettering yourself and your health! Get your 30 second quote today.
Missing teeth are nothing to smile about. But with dental implants, you can fill those gaps permanently, brighten your smile and boost your confidence. Unlike dentures or removable bridges which may be loose or uncomfortable, dental implants look better, feel better and give you back your biting power. Corn on the cob, anyone?
The Dental Implant Downside
Unfortunately, replacing missing teeth with dental implants isn't always an option. Why?
A basic dental implant typically costs $1,250 to $3,000 -- or as much as $60,000 for a full set of implants on both upper and lower jaws. Clearly, dental implants are a major investment.
Because implants are classified as cosmetic dental procedures, they are often excluded by dental insurance. Other dental insurance plans offer some coverage but require waiting periods of up to five years before implant coverage begins. Other insurance plans exclude implant coverage if it’s linked to a pre-existing condition.
All Spirit Dental Plans Cover Tooth Implants
With Spirit Dental, you don’t have to worry about exclusions buried in the fine print. Our policy is clear: Every Spirit Dental plan covers tooth implants. With Spirit Dental you also have more flexibility, more preventive care and more annual coverage.
Choose your own dentist
No waiting periods
Guaranteed acceptance
Implants and major services covered
3 cleanings per year
$1200, $2500, $3500 annual maximums
More Questions?
Why don’t all dental plans cover implants?
Implants first came into practice in the 1990s, and are still considered a cosmetic solution. Because implants are more expensive than bridges or dentures, dental plans often choose the most affordable fix. If you compare dental insurance companies, you’ll find Spirit Dental among the leaders in implant coverage.
What is reasonable and customary?
The term “reasonable and customary” refers to basic norms regarding procedural costs. While dental procedure costs vary by region, a generally accepted “reasonable and customary” cost helps guide reimbursement. Find out your cost with a simple Spirit Dental 30-second quote.
Are there any waiting periods?
Many dental insurance policies impose a waiting period on certain procedures. With Spirit Dental, there are no waiting periods. Period.
How Can I Save Money on My Kid’s Braces?
Many parents run into serious issues when their kid’s permanent teeth come in. According to Betterhealth, your central incisors or your “two front teeth” begin to arrive at just 6 to 7 years old and your last “adult” teeth or molars come in on average at 13. Most parents are hopeful that their children will never need braces. Some may think, “Since I didn’t need them my children won’t either”. Yet most orthodontists would disagree and estimate that “roughly 45 percent of children need braces to fix functional problems such as a misaligned bite, but up to 75 percent of kids could benefit from them to straighten their teeth” (Health.com). Without dental insurance, the overall cost of braces can be expensive. The cost of hardware and orthodontist treatments will range from $4,000 to $8,000 dollars. In the likely scenario that your child needs braces, what is the best way to save money?
The answer is dental insurance for children. Most insurance companies do not cover orthodontia, so it is important to find one that does. The main issue with orthodontic coverage is that it is not typically provided immediately upon enrollment. By getting your family insured earlier rather than later, you can save big.
An example of a plan that is great for orthodontic savings is the Spirit PPO plan. PPO means that you have a network of dentists who agree to lower their prices for services, making it cheaper for you and your family. Under this plan, aside from getting dental exams and cleanings for free, you will also get Basic, Major, and Ortho Services at least partially covered. Without coverage you might end up having to pay 100 percent out of pocket. Whether your child has to get braces for physical reasons or you want him or her to grow up with a wonderful confident smile, reconsider investing in a family dental PPO insurance plan.
The world of insurance is complicated, sometimes needlessly so. One topic we discuss with clients on a daily basis is networks, or more simply “who accepts this plan?” It’s confusing, so let’s start by explaining what a network, HMO, PPO, and Indemnity plan is.
Network is the easiest of these to understand because it is a word used outside of the insurance industry. In insurance a network is a group of doctors that sign an agreement with that network. Doctors (providers) are then bound to the network, which typically requires them to charge members of that network a reduced rate for their services. In return for lowering their prices, network providers (doctors) can expect to receive more customers. Some dental insurance companies keep premiums down by only offering plans that use a network.
Larger networks typically have smaller discounts, while small networks can offer deeper discounts. This is the primary difference between a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) and a HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). HMO’s generally have less options because less providers are part of the HMO, but the discounts are deeper. PPO’s generally have more providers in more areas, because more doctors agree to the network’s terms and discounts.
HMO’s tend to have less providers but it can also be the most affordable. This is because HMO’s control all aspects of the healthcare. The downside of HMO’s is choice, as you are strongly encouraged to go to a HMO provider.
For clients who want more choice, an Indemnity plan allows them to see any dentist. The Spirit Indemnity plan will pay any dentist a set amount for each procedure. The payments are based on 90% of Reasonable and Customary in each area, meaning that 9 of 10 dentists charge that amount or less. So the Indemnity plan provides coverage with no networks to worry about. The Spirit Indemnity plan is perfect for people who want the freedom to see any dentist.
A child's primary teeth, sometimes called "baby teeth, typically begin to appear when a baby is between six months and one year of age, are as important as the permanent adult teeth. Primary, or "baby," teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt.
The ADA recommends that a dentist examine a child within six months of the eruption of the first tooth and no later than the child's first birthday. Consider a dental visit at an early age is a "well baby checkup" for the teeth. Besides checking for tooth decay and other potential problems such as thumb-sucking.
Parents should take their children to the dentist regularly, beginning with the eruption of the first tooth. Then, the dentist can recommend a specific program of brushing, flossing, and other treatments for parents to supervise and teach to their children. These home treatments, when added to regular dental visits and a balanced diet, will help give your child a lifetime of healthy habits.
Are milk, cheese, and other dental products good for your teeth?
Milk contains a sugar called lactose which is fortunately pretty benign as far as tooth decay is concerned. Even with the presence of lactose milk does not promote tooth decay because of the presence of high amounts of calcium, phosphate, and casein which is a milk protein that helps strengthen teeth.
Eating cheese can actually help protect teeth from developing cavities because eating cheese helps increase the flow of saliva which helps neutralize acids in the mouth. Cheese also increases calcium concentration which helps stop the demineralization of tooth enamel. The fat that is abundant in cheese also helps reduce bacteria in the mouth.
A lump of cheese is often eaten in Europe after a meal as a desert. European cultures have known for centuries that cheese helps protect the tooth enamel after a meal by neutralizing bacteria in the mouth. So next time you have a sugary meal have a piece of cheese when you finish to help neutralize the effects of the sugars in your mouth.