More than 40 million people in the United States still lack dental insurance, and this often means that they do not see a dentist for years at a time. Having insurance is positively correlated with better dental health. If you are fortunate enough to receive dental benefits through your employment, or if you are interested in purchasing an individual policy, you need to understand how this form of insurance works. read more
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There are several reasons that people lose their teeth which includes injury from accidents and periodontal disease. Today's technology makes it possible to implant "teeth" in place of the lost tooth.
The implant is rooted in a "root" that is usually made of titanium and is placed surgically to support not just one tooth, but it can also be used to anchor several kinds of dental prostheses which would include dentures, crowns, bridges and other devices. Implants also have the benefits of restoring a person's looks and it certainly will not decay and become diseased, as natural teeth can.
As wonderful at implants are, they come with a high price attached to their implementation, and that alone can be a real deterrent to their implantation. However, Spirit offers dental insurance plans that help to ease the cost of these necessary procedures.
Implants that are "reasonable" or "affordable" can run between $1,000 to $3,000 apiece. However there are other procedures that are often necessary such as bone grafts, extractions and perhaps other forms of surgery. These costs can add an additional $5,000 to $10,000, making paying for these procedures out-of-pocket nearly impossible.
Luckily there are affordable coverage offers through Spirit Dental. It is one of the few insurance providers that offers plans that help cover the cost of implants without waiting periods.
You can evaluate what type of plan is right for you and your needs by getting a free quote and assessing your options. Affordable implant coverage is possible and Spirit is here to help.
Have you visited the dentist in the last six months? If so, you are not alone. Every month, millions of Americans see the dentist for a cleaning and an examination. Regular dental appointments are vital if you want to have strong, healthy teeth, but unfortunately, there are still many people who do not see a dentist on a regular basis.
While some people put off these appointments because they are afraid of the dentist, or because they just do not see the need, many people do so because of financial concerns. The cost of dental care is the most commonly-cited reason for avoiding the dentist. Since more than 40 million Americans lack any kind of dental health coverage, it is not surprising that so many people neglect their teeth.
What many of these people do not consider, however, is that seeing a dentist is associated with lower long-term costs. The amount that they pay for dental insurance will be more than made up for in the savings produced by better dental health, Spirit is a strong advocate of regular exams so carriers are covered for three cleanings per year.
For example, the United Concordia Oral Health Study found significant reductions in health care costs associated with better treatment of gum disease and other periodontal conditions. Patients who saw a dentist and received treatment for gum disease reduced their annual health costs from anywhere between $1,000 and $6,000.
Hospital admissions were also reduced by proper periodontal treatment. Annual hospitalizations were reduced from 20 percent to as much as 40 percent, just by seeing a dentist. Many people do not understand how significantly your dental health can affect the rest of your body.
Gum disease is increasingly being seen as one of the leading risk factors for heart attacks and strokes. One study found that patients who had gum disease or other periodontal problems were at significantly greater risk of developing heart disease than were those with healthy gums. In some cases, the risk was nearly three times greater.
Gum disease is also a significant problem for patients who suffer from diabetes. In fact, it may even be a contributing factor in causing diabetes. Research has indicated that moderate gum disease makes it harder for your body to control your blood sugar levels and reduces the effectiveness of insulin.
Even setting aside such significant health issues as heart disease or diabetes, having dental insurance offers other benefits as well. A dental emergency can happen at any time. You might crack a tooth on or have one knocked out by a stray blow. In such cases, receiving prompt care can mean that your tooth can be saved. Knowing that you can afford the cost of major dental services care takes quite a load off of your mind.
As you can see, there are many benefits to having good dental insurance. If you do not have coverage, Spirit Dental is here to help start shopping today for a plan that you can afford.
Having a comprehensive dental insurance plan means that you do not have to worry about paying full price for any dental procedures that you need. This can help relieve any financial concerns that you might have when you are developing a treatment plan for you or a family member. However, such plans are more expensive, so is the additional expense worth it?
You might think that you just need a basic plan that only covers the minimum. Such plans usually only provide coverage for basic preventative care, such as annual cleanings and examinations. They may also provide some coverage for certain procedures such as fillings or X-rays. Any additional care that you may need will have to be paid for out of your own pocket.
If your teeth are in good shape, such a basic plan may seem like all you need. However, you never know when an emergency might happen. You could be eating lunch, bite an olive pit, and end up with a cracked tooth. If your basic dental plan does not cover emergency dental care, you would have to come up with the funds to pay for the needed repairs.
In many cases, choosing a bare-bones dental plan, rather than a full coverage dental insurance plan, is being penny wise but pound foolish. While you may save money in the short term by paying lower premiums, your long-term costs could end up being quite a bit more. This is more likely to be the case if you are choosing coverage for your entire family.
For example, if you have young children, you need to start taking them to the dentist at a young age and having family dental coverage is vital. Teaching your children about the importance of proper dental hygiene will help them keep their teeth strong and healthy. However, it is also quite likely that one or more of them will need braces at some point.
Every year, millions of teenagers need orthodontic treatment, and the cost of these procedures can easily be as much as $5,000 or more. Most basic insurance plans do not provide any orthodontic coverage, which means that you will have to pay for the whole cost of braces. Choosing a full coverage plan means that much of the cost of this treatment will be paid for by the insurance company.
In general, people who have more comprehensive dental coverage end up paying significantly less in the long run. This is both because their insurance pays for more procedures, and because they are more likely to seek treatment right away. This way, they are less prone to developing expensive dental conditions that can require long, involved treatment plans to correct.
At this point, you should be well aware of the many advantages offered by full coverage dental plans. For most people, the benefits of such plans are more than worth the additional cost. Of course, you will have to weigh the pros and cons for your situation before making a final decision.
Do you find yourself questioning whether dental insurance is worth the dent to your wallet? You already have home insurance, health insurance, car insurance, but is there room in all of that for a new dental insurance plan?
That's a valid question and only can know the answer. However, many people can't answer that question because they don't know all of the facts. They don't know what plans are commonly available and affordable.
If you're one of those people, then you'll find the following information useful.
COMPARING DENTAL INSURANCE
Traditional Dental Insurance.
Traditional dental insurance is a ìfee-for-serviceî dental plan. Today, traditional dental insurance is more commonly referred to as indemnity insurance. It is considered the direct counterpart of managed care plans like a dental HMO.
With a DHMO you select a single dentist to handle your required oral care. That is what's covered by the plan. With indemnity insurance you have the option to visit any dentist you choose. The caveat with indemnity insurance is that you'll pay more at the time of the visit.
Unlike HMO or PPO plans, an indemnity plan doesn't reimburse the policy carrier at the time of the visit or payment. The carrier also pays a coinsurance fee for each visit. The visit is paid for in full, but is later reimbursed by the insurance provider after a claim has been filed.
Insurance carriers are usually required to meet a specific deductible. There are also limitations on the amount of coverage available each year. The real advantage indemnity insurance has on these other plans is the range of dentists.
Whether or not this is the best plan for you really depends on your needs. Traditional indemnity plans do have benefits. The most obvious is the largest selection of dentists available with any dentist plan. Second, after you receive reimbursement, the insurance plan covers a large portion of the bill. You're only left paying a few small fees.
If you're worried about whether you might undergo a certain procedure only for the insurance provider to later deny the claim, don't fret because they have a solution for that. You have the option to file a pre-claim prior to any serious dental service. The pre-claim will let you know if and how much of the service will be covered by the insurance provider.
Preferred Provider Organization.
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or Network dental plans are extremely popular. Patients love PPO plans because they provide the perfect middle-ground between payments and possibility. You can have your choice of dentist, but they must be within the providers network.
Obviously, one of your concerns when choosing a plan like this is how good is the provider's network. That's something you should definitely find out before signing any contracts. If the network has reputable dentists, then it's usually a great choice.
PPO plans takes the least amount of money out of your pocket at the time of the visit. You pay a coinsurance payment like with the indemnity plans, but the rest is covered on-the-spot by the insurance provider.
Making The Right Choice.
Weigh your local options, do the research, and make the choice that best suits your needs or the needs of your family. You can always talk to your doctor and ask for a recommendation, but follow up with research online.
Individual dental insurance is often considered an 'additional' expense that is going to put a dent in one's personal budget. Most people decide to overlook it as a potential option because it simply does not fit into their monthly stipend. However, there are a number of reasons for having individual dental insurance because the costs attached to dental treatments will add up over time. The advantages far outweigh the negatives and it is essential to see how.
Costs
Let's imagine you do not have individual dental insurance and are relying on either staying orally healthy or simply footing the bill as the issues come around. Here are what the costs are going to end up looking like for some major and routine services.
Dental Fillings - $110
Root Canal -$600-1000
Teeth Extractions - $100-200
Sealants - $60-100
These are just some of the costs that will be attached with these treatments. It is important to remember the costs that come along with these treatments such as x-rays and other fees are not being taken into account and they should be. All of these costs would be covered with the right dental insurance package, benefits of having Dental Insurance should be flashing like a bright light at this point.
Freedom
A patient that is going to be looking for the right treatment has the ability to go with a dentist that is going to do the job properly. There are a number of dentists out and about, but only a select few that are going to make sure the treatment is done appropriately.
When stuck with a certain budget, it becomes near impossible to go to any dentist because some of them might be out of your price range. If that is the case, you might end up settling for mediocre results and that is simply asking for trouble. If you had dental insurance, this would never even cross your mind. You go to the dentist that you want to go to.
Regular Maintenance
Those who do not have dental insurance are known for pushing the limits when it comes to their oral health. They will refuse to go to the dentist because it will end up being an 'unnecessary' cost that could have been avoided.
However, great oral health is key for your overall health and when you have dental insurance, you are not going to have to think twice about going to a dentist. It is recommendend that you see a dentist twice a year; Spirit Dental believes so strongly in the importance of routine check ups that Spirit will cover up three cleanings per year.
Significant Coverage
Even with a insurance plan where you are paying $30 a month, it will be easy to get over $1000 in coverage per year. This is often more than enough for people who are only going to be heading to the dentist here and there.
The coverage that is on offer will be based on the plan that has been signed up for. There is a lot of customization that goes into this process and Spirit is happy to walk through that process with you. That is the charm of having individual dental insurance through Spirit Dental.
The importance of individual dental insurance cannot be stressed enough for those who want to be free from the pressures of their budgetary demands.
“Families who have dental insurance are more than twice as likely to get preventive services like cleanings, exams and x-rays than those who don’t have dental insurance.”
-Tom Mayer, Spirit Dental Founder
When is the last time your family had a dental checkup? Are you in need of one ASAP?
Spirit Dental provides families with 3 cleanings and 2 exams covered at 100% on our Gold plans. Getting comprehensive preventive care is the key to preventing more expensive procedures in the future. It is important for your kids to understand the importance of dental health and know how to take care of their teeth. Some tips we have to get your kids interested in brushing their teeth are:
Let your kids choose their toothpaste and toothbrush - Kids don’t always like the adult toothpastes; they can be too strong for them. Get your kids interested by letting them pick out their own toothpaste. Cartoon characters and flavored toothpastes may seem silly to adults, but keep kids from dreading brushing their teeth.
Kids will also be more excited to brush their teeth if their toothbrush is in the shape of their favorite cartoon character or is their favorite color. Many hit kids movies will make character toothbrushes and toothpastes; nothing will encourage them to brush more than seeing their hero supporting their teeth brushing habits!
Sing the alphabet - We recommend that your kids brush their teeth for approximately two minutes. Have them sing the alphabet or another of their favorite songs as they brush their teeth, or sing it to them as they do. This shows them that there is an end in sight and gives them a fun activity to do in the meantime.
Compliment your kids - This one is extremely important. It is important that you praise your kids and encourage them, especially when they brush correctly, for the full two minutes.
Join in! - Kids are very observant. Brushing your teeth at the same time they do is a good incentive. Many children like to copy what their parents do - it makes them feel more grown-up and responsible. Not to mention it will keep the both of you on a dental health schedule.
With most things in a kid’s life, good habits developed during childhood are more likely to remain while an adult. Start your child’s good dental health habits early; not only will you enjoy fewer visits to the dentist in the long run, but you’ll be promoting healthy habits for your child’s future.