Dental costs are becoming a bigger part of health care costs, and more and more people are getting dental insurance to protect themselves against these costs. Most dental insurance policies work the same way as other types of health insurance. You'll pay your monthly premium, which will give you access to services like checkups, cleanings, and x-rays. You will also be covered for any other procedures that your dentist thinks you need to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Comprehensive
As with any insurance policy, they will vary in what treatments they cover and how much they cost. While more expensive policies will give you more benefits and access to a wider range of services, cheaper ones will cover less and require you to pay a portion of the cost of the procedures you need. If you think you might need dental surgery, oral implants, an orthodontist, or other more expensive treatments, you should probably get a more complete policy.
One of the biggest differences between medical care and dental care is that children usually need a lot more treatment and cost a lot more than adults do. This is true even when your child is a teenager and going to the orthodontist can be very expensive. So, you may only want to get dental insurance for your children. Check with your insurance company to see if this is possible. Some insurance companies will give children their own dental insurance policies, but others will only cover them as part of an adult or family plan. If this is the case, you will need to get them covered through your own dental insurance company, which may mean getting dental insurance for yourself if you don't already have it.
Discounts
Some insurance companies also give you the choice of getting a dental discount card. This isn't dental insurance in the strictest sense of the word, but it does give you discounts on dental care when you need it. They are becoming more popular because they can be a cheaper way to get some protection against dental costs. Not all insurance companies offer them, so look around to see what's available. As with any insurance, there can be big differences in what you get for your money. Since dental insurance can be a big expense, it's smart to make sure you know what's out there before you choose a policy.
