Keeping your natural teeth is very important, but sometimes dental procedures are very expensive. There is often no avoiding a crown or a root canal. The only way you can help cut the cost is by obtaining and utilizing a good dental plan.

If you have a house full of family members, the easiest and cheapest way to go about finding dental insurance is to sign up for a family dental insurance plan. It’s cheaper than getting insurance individually. When you get family dental insurance, you can put everyone in your home under the same group. Sometimes with most of the family dental insurances, the bigger your group is the more you can save on premiums deductibles, and other expenses. There are other ways to benefit from having family health insurance. If you are looking to sign up for a dental insurance plan, you need to ask these questions first: how much is dental insurance? does insurance cover dental implants? how to get dental insurance? is dental insurance worth it? does dental insurance cover braces? what is the best dental insurance?

Qualities of the Best Dental Insurance Plans:

You can customize each family member’s coverage if your insurance allows. What makes family dental insurance worthwhile is the fact that each family member can choose their dentist and they can also have their specific coverage. A good example of this is if a daughter is going to need braces at some point you can customize her coverage in a dental plan to cover orthodontic services. Those of you who don’t need braces won’t have to pay premiums for orthodontic coverage that you’ll never use. Customizable options will vary and no dependence on the specific policy that you signed up for.

• Network – An excellent dental plan gives you access to an active network of dentists in your area and around the country. This way you can find a dental office you feel comfortable with locally—and get emergency service if you are on vacation.
• Discounts – If you pay a high monthly fee and only get 10% off, you may not be getting your money’s worth. The plan should cover normal procedures and consistently offer 40% or more in savings.
• No Deductibles – An ideal plan has little or no deductible, so you are covered for general work from the beginning of the year.
• Bonuses – Many dental insurance programs will offer additional member benefits like a prescription drug card or alliances with ophthalmologists.

In case you are unsure of what makes them different. An HMO plan lets you choose a doctor within the network who you will make your primary. If you choose to see a doctor out of network, you must pay the entire cost of the treatment out of pocket because the insurance plan won’t cover it. HMO can be limiting but it can work for you if you don’t want to pay for the extra care you won’t need. The premiums for HMO are low as well as the deductibles. If you know you are going to need a lot of work done, consider an HMO plan. The cost tends to be lower than a PPO plan. The usual co-pay for HMO is $5-$10.

With PPO, you can see any doctor in or out of the network and still be covered. These plans are best for those who will need more dental treatment than average. This plan also allows you to see a  dental specialist without having to be referred by your primary care provider. Premiums are higher for this plan and there is a deductible.

Now that you know what you are looking for in a dental insurance program, you may wonder where you can find one. While you may get lucky and find a great plan through work or by using your family plan, you may find the best deal online. Look online, do some research and make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Don’t let your dental health suffer! Invest in yourself, take care of your teeth and get the best care with the most savings possible. If you have any questions about dental insurance, please call our insurance specialists at (713) 322-7474.

Ask for Recommendations:

Asking for a recommendation is as simple as asking friends and family who they recommend as a local dentist. You can also ask them what they look for in a dentist and what they like about their dentist. They can almost always give you their choice of referral. Recommendations can help you to choose a dentist and think about what to look for in a dentist.

Know Your Dental Health Benefits:

Choosing a dentist can seem like a hard task but referring to your dental health benefits via insurance can help make your choice a lot easier. Some insurance plans limit your choice of dentists to those who are on a certain network. This system is in place to save you money and reduce copayments.

Consider Location and Flexibility; Search Dentist Near Me:

A local dentist is considered local for a reason. Location is a factor when choosing a dentist. Some people prefer a dentist that is in a central location near their home or near their workplace. Flexibility is an option when choosing a dentist when it comes to scheduling appointments and office hours. Search dentist near me on google map. You can read their Google and Facebook reviews. 

Go to a Consultation:

Call or visit any of the dentist’s offices you may be considering before you make an appointment. Ask any questions you have about office practices, office hours, scheduling questions, and any other questions you have. One thing to keep in mind is to ask if the dentist is a member of the ADA or American Dental Association. It also helps to find out which dental procedures are to be completed in the office and which procedures require an out-of-office visit.

Evaluate Dentist Before and After Appointment:

Check the dentist’s office with the intention of making sure it’s neat and clean. After the appointment, ask yourself how helpful the staff members are? How family-oriented is the office?

How Insurance is Handled:

If you are considering a dentist that is out of your insurance network ask the dental practice if they submit claims to insurance providers. Some dental practices do, and others don’t, but this question is worth asking.

Payment Options:

Most dental practices offer versatile payment options for non-insured patients. A few practices require upfront payment, but you can ask to see if the practice offers to finance.

Patient Appreciation:

There are a few dental practices that offer an introductory promotion discount for new patients. These introductory offers may include cleaning and exams. You may even consider a dentist that has a referral program as well.

Treatment Plans:

Ask the dentists about treatment plans, how they work, how many visits the treatments will take, and the amount of time it will take. Payment estimates are also good to know.

These tips will help you when searching for a dentist or a family dental practice. If you are looking for a new dentist located in Houston, Texas, we welcome you to call our office (713)- 322-7474 to set up an appointment or ask questions.

Does insurance cover dental implants?

Once you get familiar with your new family dental plan you’ll know how much your insurance covers. You will be aware of how much your co-pays will be when you enter the dentist’s office. For basic restoration services (fillings and periodontal cleanings) most plans will cover 80% of the cost. For procedures like crowns and implants, it is common to get a 50% reimbursement.

Discount Dental Plan:

Most of the time you can combine a discount dental plan with your family insurance. To be sure, check with your insurance provider to confirm. A discount dental plan can help you to save money on your monthly premium payments. Discount dental plans are worth shopping around for. Dental discount plans are extremely affordable and only costs a couple of dollars a month to keep them. If you find one that is right for you then you can take advantage of dental discounts and savings. An example of savings is 50% off cleanings, 60% off root canals, or 30% off orthodontic work.