Use Your Dental Benefits in the New Year

For the new year you need to consider things like your dental insurance renewal, your annual maximum for dental insurance, how deductibles will work, what’s considered preventative dentistry, and more depending on your insurance.

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to be healthier. For 2020, a whole new decade, our Grand Rapids dentists challenge you to protect your oral health by scheduling your teeth cleaning and oral examination at least once every 6 months. For more information on dental benefits in 2020, keep reading.

When Does My Dental Insurance Renew?

Most dental insurance plans reset at the start of the calendar year, which is January 1. However, before you schedule an appointment with our Grand Rapids dentists, be sure to check the specific details of your insurance policy. To do this you’ll need to call your insurance company.

Most insurance cards have a customer service number on the back. Give that a ring and ask them about your dental coverage for this year. Some dental benefits renew at the start of your contract year, which is when your policy took effect.

If insurance is provided through your work, check with your employer on when your insurance policy took effect and when your yearly renewal is. Generally, it’s January 1, but there are some circumstances when renews differently per employee, especially with long term contract work.

What Is an Annual Maximum for Dental Insurance?

An annual maximum is the most your dental plan will pay for treatment during a calendar year or other specified period of time.

If you are in need of advanced dental work throughout the year to restore your smile, the new year is a great time to schedule appointments with our cosmetic dentists. If you have already met your annual maximum last year, continue improving your smile and oral health at the beginning of your new insurance term to guarantee that you get the most out of your dental care benefits.

While elective dental procedures typically aren’t covered by insurance, there’s still plenty we can do to restore the function and appearance of teeth. For example, a dental crown can be used to cover and protect a tooth from further damage. If your benefits renewed on January 1, now is the perfect time to schedule a consultation with one of our Grand Rapids cosmetic dentists.

How Do Deductibles Work for Dental Insurance?

Your deductible is how much you have to pay out of pocket before your insurance kicks in to pay for dental treatments.

While teeth cleanings and other preventive dental care are typically covered in full without having to meet your deductible, the same can’t be said of other dental services like restorative dentistry or cosmetic dentistry.

If your dental benefits renew at the start of the calendar year (January 1), you’ll typically need to meet your deductible again before your insurance pays for anything other than preventive dentistry.

This is why it’s important to try and schedule your dental visits accordingly. If you visit every six months, you should be able to visit the dentist twice one year, and three times the next year, oscillating January and December.

What Is Considered Preventive Dental Care?

Most insurance companies cover teeth cleanings, oral examinations, x-rays, dental sealants, and other types of preventive dentistry.

We recommend taking full advantage of this by making sure you have a teeth cleaning and oral examination at least every 6 months. Since dental plans typically cover teeth cleanings and dental oral exams in full, there’s no reason not to make your appointment with our office.

From a preventive dental visit, we’ll be able to inspect your oral health for things like gum disease and can warn you about other potential dental needs. Sometimes we can catch warning in advance and save you from thousands of dollars in oral care. At Contemporary Dental, we offer dental E-Visits but in order to clean your teeth, you will have to come in for an appointment.

Are You Looking to Schedule a Dentist Appointment?

Our dentists in Grand Rapids MI want to help you achieve your best smile and offer a range of dental services. Feel free to schedule a teeth cleaning appointment online with an oral examination for the new year, or call Contemporary Family Dental at (616) 209-3969. We can’t wait to help you practice good oral health in 2020!

This blog post has been updated.