What’s the Value of Dental Insurance?
85% of Americans believe oral health is very or extremely important to their overall health, according to a survey from Delta Dental1, and about 78% have dental coverage2. When you consider the overall value of dental insurance, it’s easy to understand why.
It makes dental care more affordable.
While it’s vital that you brush and floss regularly, it’s also necessary to supplement your efforts with regular professional care. Because dental insurance focuses on prevention, many services such as preventive check-ups and cleanings are usually covered at 100 percent. Dental insurance also helps reduce your out-of-pocket costs for many procedures by sharing the cost with you. Without a dental plan, you would be responsible for the full cost of your treatment.
Delta Dental helps you save even more money because we negotiate lower fees with our in-network dentists. With 3 out of 4 dentists participating nationwide, it’s easy to find a dentist in our network.
See how much insurance can save you on dental care costs.
In these examples, each person in a family of four makes two preventive visits and has a cavity filled over the course of a year. Compare the costs for a family without insurance to those who have it:
*Dental service fees are for illustrative purposes only. Premium rates are dependent upon your location and your plan type. See your plan for specific information.
**Preventive coverage may vary.
You are more likely to avoid future problems.
When you schedule regular preventive checkups, your dentist can detect problems early. This can help you avoid more costly and complex procedures, like crowns and root canals, down the road. In fact, for each dollar spent on preventive services, it is estimated that $50 or more is saved on more expensive procedures3.
You are more likely to get the care you need.
Families with dental insurance are almost twice as likely to get preventive care as those without it4. And people who develop more complicated oral problems are more likely to skip needed treatments due to cost if they don’t have dental insurance5. Mostly untreated, often preventable, oral diseases result in more than 2.1 million emergency room visits nationwide each year6.
It can help you save time.
Many dental insurance companies offer time-saving tools to make it easier for you to use your benefits. For instance, Delta Dental provides resources that make it easy to find a local dentist, estimate the cost of a procedure before you see a dentist, and manage your dental insurance plan online or through its mobile app. Visit the member homepage to access these tools and more.
It's good for your overall health.
Research shows that oral care is not just good for your smile, it also has a positive effect on your overall health. Studies have shown that oral health complications can be associated with an increased risk of heart disease and many other health conditions, and also exacerbate diabetes, according to the National Academy of Medicine.
During an oral exam, your dentist can potentially detect signs in the mouth of more than 120 diseases including heart disease and diabetes. This can lead to earlier, less costly and even life-saving treatment8,9.
Also, when oral diseases go untreated, it can lead to problems with eating, speaking, learning and productivity for children and adults10.
Dental insurance makes it much easier to protect your entire family’s oral and overall health by helping you get the care you need and by saving you money. Make sure you get the full value of dental insurance benefits by purchasing a plan and using your preventive care regularly.