Now that it is back to school time and your child will be required to bring in completed dental and medical examination forms, it might be time to give some thought to your family's dental plan. What if you or your children need some expensive dental work? What if your child needs orthodontic treatment? Braces for both children and adults can be very expensive. If there are any senior citizens living in your household, they may have medical coverage through Medicare, but do they have an affordable dental plan?
Good dental care is so important to your family's good health and well-being. Who can underestimate the importance of a pleasant and attractive smile? Healthy gums and teeth can contribute to an individual's self esteem. A pleasant smile can help you feel confident and secure when you meet people and even help you do well at a job interview.
Dental and gum disease can effect your general health. There is growing evidence that bacteria from diseased gums and teeth can cause inflammation in the body. This inflammation can eventually lead to heart and coronary artery disease. Preventive dental care can avoid these serious complications, yet there are many Americans who cannot afford expensive dental treatment.
Dental insurance is often the forgotten coverage. While many employers provide some form of medical insurance, as many as 70% of all Americans do not have a dental plan. Even among the 30% who do have dental insurance, many dental plans prove to be very inadequate. In my work as an AmeriPlan® Independent Business Owner, I speak to many individuals each day who lack affordable dental coverage. Even if they have the good fortune to have dental insurance provided by their employer, often these plans have serious limits on coverage, have waiting periods for ongoing conditions, and frequently do not provide orthodontic treatment for their children. With the high cost of dentistry, a $1,500 per year limit on dental services will not take a family very far. The cost of a root canal and crown for just one tooth will easily exceed this limit.
Discount dental plans can provide the consumer with an excellent choice for saving money on dental care. These affordable dental plans are reasonably priced alternatives to expensive dental insurance plans. Savings typically range from 25% for specialist treatment (periodontists, endodontists, oral surgeons) to 80% for exams. Most major dental procedures, such as root canals, fillings, crowns and bridges, dentures, and orthodontic treatment (braces), provide savings from 50% to 60%--literally cutting a family's dental bill by more than half.
Some additional features that a good discount dental plan can provide are:
No limit on visits or services
Ongoing dental problems are accepted
Instant saving
No paper work
No waiting period
Orthodontia and cosmetic dentistry are included
When searching for an affordable dental plan look for a plan that is a member of the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP), has a good choice of dental providers in your local area, and has an 800 customer service number. In addition, many discount dental plans offer value added services such as discounts on vision care, prescriptions, and chiropractic treatment.
