As you endeavor to help your family save money, you might be thinking about purchasing either a dental insurance policy or a dental discount plan. Both offer a convenient and easy way to reduce expenses related to oral healthcare, but which one is better? This blog post explains some of the pros and cons of each option. Hopefully, what you learn will help you to make a confident decision about how to move forward.

Dental Insurance

Many dental insurance plans offer the following benefits:

• Preventive services, such as exams, cleanings, and routine X-rays, are 100% covered.
• Restorative services, such as fillings, crowns, and extractions, can be anywhere from 50% to 80% covered.
• If you have a PPO dental insurance plan, you can use your benefits at virtually any dental practice, regardless of whether they are in your network.

Some potential downsides of a traditional dental insurance plan include:

• You may have an annual maximum, which places a limit on how much your insurance company will pay for approved services during a calendar year. Often, the maximum is around $1,000.
• There may be a waiting period before you are eligible to receive coverage for restorative services. Usually, the waiting period is 6 months for minor restorative care and 12 months for major services.
• Some popular services, such as cosmetic procedures, are not typically covered by insurance.

Dental Discount Plans

Dental discount plans often come with the following advantages:

• Preventive care is included at no extra cost.
• You can enjoy a discount on virtually all other services, including those that are not covered by traditional insurance.
• There are no waiting periods or annual maximums.
• Many discount plans cost less than traditional insurance.

Some potential drawbacks of dental discount plans that are worth considering include:

• You are likely to pay more for restorative services than you would with traditional insurance.
• You can only use your discount plan at certain practices. Some plans are even limited to one single dental practice.

Which Should You Choose?

If you travel frequently, or you know you will need some restorative treatment, traditional dental insurance might be the more economical option. On the other hand, if you are loyal to a specific dentist and you are primarily interested in preventive care, a discount plan might be perfect for you.

Compare the details of any insurance policies and discount plans that are available to you. Whichever one you choose, you can look forward to saving money on a healthy smile!

Meet the Practice

Aveni Dental Professionals is proud to feature a team of talented, highly skilled oral health practitioners. Our team seeks to provide top-quality care at reasonable prices. We welcome insurance, and we accept the Essential Dental discount plan. If you are curious about how we may be able to help you save money on oral health services, contact our Plymouth, MA, office at 508-876-3381.