Oral Hygiene is equally significant as body hygiene. One should take good care of their teeth every day by brushing twice everyday  & flossing twice a week. You should not ignore even minor problems of your tooth. It is these minor problems that may lead to serious problems in the future. So where you need spent only a small amount, you may have to spend large amounts. A small cavity should not be left unattended. It will disappear only when treated by a dentist. You have to visit a dentist at least two times a year for regular checkups or cleanings. So a dental insurance will not be a bad idea.

Primary dental insurance

There are different types of Primary dental insurance.

1. DHMO: - Network of dentists is already listed. If you choose from the network only, you will be covered for all the treatments. There is specific waiting period. For major treatments waiting period is more. Premium amount is cheap.

Treatments

Primarily this covers routine procedures like cleanings, X-rays, fluoride treatments for children etc. Cosmetic procedures, orthodontic treatments & pre-existing conditions are not covered.
2) PPO: - You can choose the dentist of your choice.

Less discount if it is the dentist of your choice. Easily reimbursed without the hassle of co pays & deductibles.

High premiums & more coverage.

Treatments

Routine treatments are covered. Orthodontic treatments like application of braces are covered. 18 months.

Secondary Dental Insurance

A person generally prefers secondary Dental insurance if the primary insurance is not satisfying his/her family needs.

Clauses

• You or any member of your family has met with a dental emergency. You have lost a tooth or part of it, and then you may have to go for dental implants.
• Your teen-ager requires braces. Then you become a frequent visitor.
• Root canal or crown replacement.
• You cannot avoid certain new cosmetic procedures like bleaching, certain corrective methods like gum treatments, smile correction etc.

The above-mentioned clauses persuade you to take a secondary dental insurance, if your primary dental insurance provides only preventative treatments & fillings.

Advantages of Secondary dental insurance

1. Dental treatments not covered by primary dental insurance are covered.
2. No waiting period like primary dental insurance.
3. You get more coverage than your any previous dental insurance. This is something additional.
4. Best option for any dental emergency.

Disadvantages: -

1. You have to pay more. If you have to pay more, and then better opt for a   primary dental insurance, which give you more options & more coverage.
2. In any dental emergency, if you cannot afford secondary dental insurance ‘coz of its cost then it   will come of no use.

Dental care is something, which starts from infancy  & lasts through out the lifetime. Each & every member of the family is responsible for their own oral hygiene. It includes brushing twice a day, flossing once a week & avoiding sweets.

Even if the dentition is of a higher quality, regular checkups every six months is compulsory. In some cases cavities will appear & fillings become necessary. In children, fillings & extraction become quite common. In adults, wisdom tooth extraction, root canal treatment, root crown replacement etc might be needed. If older people are also members of the family, then fixing dental implants, dentures etc may become a routine procedure. These expenses may bust your pocket. A Dental insurance is sure to act as a helping hand.

Role of Dental insurance

When you apply for a family dental insurance, these are some of the factors, which you should consider.

• Minimum expense
• You & your doctor have the control of your treatment & not your insurance provider.
• Maximum coverage
• You can have the doctor of your choice.
• The routine treatments are covered like x-rays, fillings etc
• Clear idea about co pays & deductibles.

Types of Dental insurance

• PPO: -Preferred provider organization. The insurance carrier already decides the list of dentists. If you are consulting a doctor inside the network, you will get about 80% discount. You can consult a doctor outside the network, but the discount will much less. More expensive ‘coz the monthly premium is high. More coverage. No coverage for preexisting conditions & cosmetic procedures. Orthodontic procedures like application of braces are also covered.

Advantages

You can have the dentist of your choice. More coverage on routine procedures like checkups, fillings, X-rays, tooth extraction, & fluoride treatments for children. Immediate reimbursement. Excellent for families.

• DHMO: -Dental Health maintenance organization. The insurance carrier presents a list of dentists. If you are an insurer, you have to adhere to the list of dentists. If you are consulting outside the network, you will not be a beneficiary. Pre-existing conditions, Cosmetic procedures, orthodontic procedures etc are not covered.

Advantages

Fewer premiums. So less expensive & more affordable. Immediate reimbursement.

• AARP: - American Association of Retired persons. Relief for senior citizens. This is a voluntary organization, which supports dental needs of senior citizens in a subsidized rate.

There are two schemes: -

1. Low premium with 80% coverage on routine procedures. 50 % coverage on major procedures. General diagnosis will be free. Accidents up to 1000$ is covered.
2. Deductibles up to 100$. Accidents are not covered.

Advantages: -

Majority of the senior citizens will not be   having a regular income. So they have to depend on other outside agencies. Thus agencies like delta dental, AARP are a permanent relief for them.

An individual’s dental care is decided solely by his/her hygienic habits. This includes brushing twice a day & flossing at least once a week. Dental hygiene is equally important as body hygiene. It starts from childhood & lasts throughout a lifetime. Most of the individuals feel, visiting a dentist for simple checkups is a waste of time & money. Here, Dental insurance has got a major part to play, especially during

Dental insurance

Dental insurance allows you to take good care of your dental needs with minimum worry about the expenses. Dental insurance is provided in the following ways: -

Group dental insurance

Provided by insurance providers to private employees of corporate. Pre-existing conditions & cosmetic procedures may be excluded. This is comparatively cheaper than other insurances.   The types of   insurance thus provided will be: -

DHMO: – Dental Health maintenance organization. You will be provided with their own network of dentists, which you have to strictly adhere to. Your dental expenses will not be covered if you are consulting a dentist of your choice.

Direct reimbursement: – insurance carriers do not provide this. The employer directly reimburses the dental expenses of the employees. It is primarily hassle- free.

Individual dental insurance

If dental insurance is not provided by your employer, then you can apply on your own to any insurance provider. You can browse online or contact any local agent for a dental insurance.

Some of the types are: -

PPO: – Preferred provider organization. You will be provided with network coverage. But the insurance provider will cover a percentage of your dental expenses, if you have to consult a dentist of your choice. More premiums& more coverage are some of the features. Sometimes orthodontic treatments like application of braces might be covered. Pre-existing conditions & cosmetic treatments are excluded from coverage.

DHMO: – This option is available for individual dental insurance as well. Low premium. But deductibles & co pay will be present. You are paying deductibles to the insurance provider, whereas co pay is directly to the dentist.

INDEMNITY: – 50—80% coverage. Low premium.  Services provided by the dentist will be capped for each year. Pre-existing conditions, Orthodontic treatments & cosmetic treatments are excluded.

Family Dental insurance

If the dental insurance provided is to be extended to your family members then there is provision of family dental insurance, where each & every member including children is a beneficiary.

Children are provided insurance, until they reach age 18 or 19. This varies from one insurance provider to another.

Some of the types are: -

1)PPO  2)Indemnity   etc
No preexisting conditions; No cosmetic procedures; Orthodontic procedures might be covered.

Significance of no waiting period:

In any of the above-mentioned dental insurances, waiting period is an unavoidable clause.

Whenever you apply for a dental insurance, you cannot expect it to reimburse immediately. There is sure to be a waiting period for filling the forms & for the insurance to come into effect.

This is ‘coz some customers apply for a dental insurance when there is any dental emergency & later when it is reimbursed, they will cancel the insurance.

Even no waiting period is a part of the propaganda of most of the insurance providers, most of the major dental procedures like root canal, crown replacement, oral surgeries etc requires a specific waiting period ranging from 6 months – 18 months.

Certain routine checkups, fillings, extraction etc may not require waiting period, in the case of some insurance providers.

If you are already a member of the insurance provider, & you have bought dental insurance, then there might not be any waiting period for you.

Again the clauses & conditions vary from one insurance provider to another.