Dental Insurance – Use It or Lose It

If you’re one of the lucky ones who have employee benefits that offer dental coverage, you probably already realize that this health benefit helps you maintain affordable and regular dental care. But are you sure that you’re making the most of your coverage and understand the terms and eligibility stipulations that may apply?

Dr. Jeff Chan and Dr. Verena Lam of Metro Dental in Harvest Hills are Family Dentists who understand how expensive dental treatment can be at times, but how avoiding seeing your dentist can actually make your treatment more expensive than needed, due to dental emergencies and more involved treatment plans. Even patients with dental coverage don’t always embrace the thought of seeing a dentist and hygienist twice a year – often delaying appointments until really necessary. Let’s be clear – no one loves the idea of going to the dentist – but knowing that costs will be covered by your insurance plan can take the sting out of a visit.

Preventative Dental Care is the best thing you can do for your teeth and overall health – this means routine cleanings, exams, and x-rays – procedures that are usually covered by dental plans. Taking advantage of seeing your hygienist every six, four, or three months – depending on frequency recommendations – can be the required procedure that keeps diseases like dental decay and periodontal concerns at bay. What’s interesting to mention is that some patients may be under the impression that an appointment with a hygienist for scaling falls under the same frequency limitations for check-up exams, but is in fact set by an amount of scaling units in a certain time period – which enables a patient to still come in two to three times a year, even if they see the dentist just once a year.

This simple yet highly beneficial act of maintaining regular cleanings by maximizing coverage for scaling allows a hygienist to monitor a patient’s dental health and advise if there are any changes (good or bad) to tissue health. Keeping teeth free of plaque and calculus is a huge step in keeping dental decay to a minimum and optimum gum and dental health. Delaying or canceling dental cleanings due to perceived dental insurance limitations can prove to be more costly down the road.

NW Calgary Dentists at Metro Dental welcome patients’ inquiries regarding dental insurance and are ready to explain what deductibles, maximums, and procedure eligibility means.

New Patients Welcome – Procedures performed by General Dentists