At the end of every year, your dental insurance essentially resets. This means that you’ll have an opportunity to make adjustments to your plan. If you don’t have insurance, you’ll have a chance to pick a plan that best fits your needs. For many, dental insurance is just there when they need it. But, if you aren’t taking advantage of it, you’ll miss out on a lot of benefits. Read on to learn about four reasons why a visit to your dentist can save you money.
Reason #1: Catch Gum Disease Early
In the United States, 50% of adults develop gum disease. Though this infection of the gums can generally be avoided with good oral hygiene, it’s still incredibly common. That’s why it’s so important to visit your dentist every six months. A portion of your dental exam will be dedicated to looking for signs of inflammation, plaque buildup, or infection near the gums. If they see any signs of gum disease, they will work with you to come up with a treatment plan.
Reason #2: Detect Oral Cancer in the Early Stages
Oral cancer includes cancer of the lips, gums, tongue, inner lining of the cheek, the roof of the mouth, or the floor of the mouth. There are roughly 53,000 new cases of oral cancer per year, which is roughly 3% of all cancers diagnosed yearly in the United States. Symptoms of oral cancer like white patches along the floor of the mouth can fly under the radar for a while, so it’s important to attend your biannual dental visits. These checkups allow your dental team to identify symptoms of oral cancer early on and administer prompt treatment.
Reason #3: Prevent Decay
Small cavities are easy to treat if they’re caught early on. But, if you wait too long, the decay will become worse and can cause a range of issues including a tooth infection. Though root canal therapy is a virtually painless treatment that is used to repair severely decayed teeth, you’ll save money on treatment by having the cavity fixed when it’s still small.
Reason #4: Utilize Your Remaining Dental Insurance Benefits
As previously mentioned, dental insurance plans reset at the end of the year. On January 1st, you will need to start over again with reaching your insurance deductible. This is the amount of money that you are responsible for paying before your insurance plan starts to cover anything. Receiving the care you need early in the year means you can reach your deductible sooner and save money on treatments closer to the end.
As you can see, there are a variety of reasons why you should make a visit to your dentist twice per year to receive care. This will help you save money and maintain a healthy smile all year long!
About the Author
BridgeMill Dental Care is an Indian Land-based dental office led by Dr. James Candon and Dr. Daniel Carver. These skilled dentists take pride in helping patients keep their smiles healthy and giving them the care they need. If you aren’t sure how your dental insurance coverage works, their team can help you understand your benefits so there is no confusion during your next visit to your dentist. Visit their website or call (803) 650-3925 for more information or to set up an appointment.