To avoid unnecessary pain and costs, it's important to get coverage that fits your needs. But what does that include? If you're 65 + and shopping for dental insurance, watch out for these:
1. Three to four cleanings (with check-ups) each year
Regular cleanings and check-ups help maintain basic dental health and give dentists a chance to look for cavities or talk about a variety of possible needs, ranging from dental bridges to crowns, plates to dentures, or services such as root canals.
While check-ups are great for oral health, they also have links to overall health and early detection of larger health issues. At regular dental exams, dentists can identify health issues such as nutritional deficiencies, HIV, and some cancers, as well as microbial infections.
2. X-rays
Depending on the person and the issue at hand, x-rays are crucial for diagnosing an array of dental concerns. These photographs can include basic pictures to more comprehensive views of the mouth to show the full range of what's happening with a person's oral health and overall health.
3. Local anesthesia
Not all plans cover local anesthesia, but be sure that when you enroll in a plan it's included as a part of your services. This is especially important if you think you may need common fillings, crown work, root canals, or other work that requires medication to keep you comfortable during the procedure.
4. Oral surgery
According to the National Institutes of Health, people between the ages of 60 and 70 have a greater risk of getting oral cancer. If this happens, you want to be sure you're covered. Oral surgery coverage could include extraction, incision and drainage of tooth abscesses, and tooth transplantation, among other services.
Getting older is an adventure: don't let dental issues get in your way. Ensuring that your dental insurance plan includes these four things will help you keep up with regular dentist visits and any other dental services that might be necessary.
Have a question? We’ve done the research and are here to help! To chat with one of our team members, you can call us at (888) 890-1944 or e-mail us at info@directbenefits.com.