Dental Insurance Myths: Get the Most of Your Dental Care

Myth: I can not go to the dentist if I do not have dental insurance.

Fact: That is not true at all. Regular dental care can be affordable. It also helps prevent future problems that can end up being more serious and expensive. Oral health is linked to many other health areas and poor oral health can worsen or lead to issues such as diabetes, oral cancer, and heart disease. If you do not have dental insurance, ask us about about our affordable in-office finance options and payment arrangement plans.

Myth: My dental plan should cover all of the costs of my dental care.

Fact: Insurance is a tool that is deigned to help offset some of the cost of your dental care not all of it. Your employer bought a dental plan based on what premiums were affordable to the employees and the company. It is very rare that an insurance plan will cover 100 percent of all dental services.

Myth: My dentist has recommended a more expensive procedure that is only partially covered by my dental plan. Is my dentist trying to take advantage of me?

Fact: Absolutely not. Everyone has different needs when it comes to dental care. The insurance companies are not trained to decide what dental procedures are right for you, but your dentist is. When your dentist recommends the best solution to your particular dental problem and it is not a covered benefit under your dental plan, they are making their recommendations based on your health not your benefits.

Myth: A note on my explanation of benefits indicates that my dentist’s fee is more than was allowed by the dental plan for a procedure. Is my dentist charging me too much?

Fact: No, your dentist is not over charging you. Dental plans have set limits for the amount paid for any treatment based on a fee schedule. This fee schedule is based on what your employer and the insurance company have negotiated as the amount that will be paid toward your treatment. It is usually much less than any dentist might actually charge for a dental procedure.

Myth: My dental plan is better able to determine the fees for my dental needs than my dentist.

Fact: Your dentist is a specialist who works to diagnose, treat, and prevent oral health problems. They have completed at least eight years of schooling, and received either a DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) degree, or a DMD (Doctor of Dental Medicine) degree. It is your dentist’s priority to diagnose and treat any urgent conditions that pose an immediate threat to your oral health. Their next priority is prevention, which means controlling the disease process, promoting wellness, and helping you maintain good overall oral health.

Most dental insurance companies have dental plan administrators or customer service reps with little to no dental training. It is important to understand that the dental benefits you receive from the insurance company have nothing to do with your individual needs or achieving the best results. Many services needed for your dental health may not be covered or have restrictions on the coverage. Your dental insurance is a contract negotiated between your employer and the insurance company providing the dental benefits, not your dental office. The goal of most dental insurance policies is to provide only basic care for specific dental services. It is important that you understand your dental insurance and what is and is not covered. You can always talk to your dentist about your treatment and any questions regarding your dental benefits.