When you agreed to work for your current employer, there’s a good chance that more than the salary had to do with your decision. There were probably other factors—including work culture, health and dental benefits, and vacation time—that you considered heavily before signing up for the job.
The reality with most dental insurance plans, however, is that they expire at the end of every calendar year. That means if you don’t use them by the end of the winter holidays, you can never get that money back again as your annual allotment resets in January.
Taking care of your teeth and the oral health of your family is extremely important, so you should take steps to make the most of your dental benefits. Today we’ll discuss how crucial benefits are and how to take advantage of them before the end of the year.
The Financial Value of Dental Benefits
Although you may not think about it, dental benefits can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars when you add up all the checkups and procedures that you and your family book throughout the year.
If you’re not sure how much insurance can actually save you, here’s a breakdown of average costs for some common dental work:
- X-rays: $100 to $150
- Checkup and cleaning: $75 to $200
- Root canal: $800
- Crown: $1,600
- Cavity filling: $325
For a family of four, two regular annual checkups with one set of X-rays each could end up costing you over $2,000. Most or all of that could be covered by your benefits as long as you use them. Furthermore, while you may not think about benefits as money earned, they’re still part of the compensation you receive for all your hard work. You and your family will benefit from the dental insurance provided by your employer.
The Real Value Is More Important Than Money
Did you know that going to the dentist can save your life? Although this may be a bit of a sensational claim, it’s no less true. Let’s look at an example to illustrate.
John goes to the dentist for his annual checkup. While Dr. Abrams is examining John’s mouth, he notices an odd sore on John’s tongue and asks him about it. Even though John just chalked it up to a persistent canker sore, Dr. Abrams recommends that John follow up with a doctor for further testing. After a visit to the doctor and a referral to the oncologist, it’s confirmed that John has tongue cancer. However, thanks to the early diagnosis, John is able to undergo treatment and survives the ordeal.
Although this is a fictional story, dentists are your first line of defense when it comes to early diagnosis of oral cancer. There are many other health conditions that a trip to the dentist can uncover as well. Moreover, there’s a connection between your oral health and overall physical health, so proper oral hygiene (which includes routine trips to the dentist) is crucial to your wellbeing. Dental insurance makes proper oral care possible for many families, so it’s crucial that you make use of it.
Dental Health Helps Your Overall Health