Dental Insurance

Dental insurance is insurance that provides coverage for services relating to the care and treatment of your teeth and gums. Typically, it provides coverage for some or all of the following dental services:

• Diagnostic procedures
• Semiannual checkups (including cleanings) and periodic x-rays
• Procedures that restore teeth
• Oral and maxillofacial surgery (teeth extraction and oral surgery)
• Periodontics (treatment of bone and gum diseases)
• Prosthodontics (fillings, dentures, bridges, and crowns)
• Orthodontics (repositioning of the teeth)
• Oral surgery
• Root canal therapy

What does it cost?

Dental insurance is typically inexpensive. For most people, the cost is less than you spend eating at McDonald’s over the course of a year (depending, of course, on your affinity for Big Macs). If you have employer-sponsored dental insurance, the cost to you will be even less because your employer probably pays all or most of the premium. Dental insurance is generally very affordable for the average consumer.

How does it work?

Dental insurance may provide direct payment to the dentist for the dental care and treatment you receive. Or you may be required to cover the applicable charges out-of-pocket at the time of service, and then file a claim for reimbursement. It depends on the specific plan.

With group dental insurance, deductible and co-payment features usually come into play, often with a separate co-insurance percentage for orthodontia and other specified procedures. Often the deductible does not apply to routine cleaning and oral examinations. Most plans also place a limit on the total amount of dental benefits you can receive each year.

Dental benefits can serve as an effective tool in recruiting and retaining key employees. If an employee has significant dental costs, dental benefits can make a significant difference in the perception of value in the overall benefit offering at a company. For those that do not, the peace of mind knowing they are covered also serves as an effective tool for employee loyalty and retention.



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