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Choosing Dental Plans: Why A Dental Health Plan Is a Wise Investment

Most of us think that taking care of our teeth is about having a great smile and avoiding the discomfort of a toothache. Although these are valid and important reasons for maintaining a good oral, physical health program, there are three other equally strong reasons to consider.

First of all, a dental plan is part of your overall health. Second, choosing dental insurance is a wise investment of your time and financial resources. Third, your emotional well-being is influenced by how you think and feel about yourself. Your smile is a big part of your image of yourself. Proper dental insurance will help you maintain the above mentioned points. Let's examine each of these areas more thoroughly.

Your Physical Health - Your Dental Health

How easy it is to forget that our teeth, gums, and mouth are essential parts of our physical body. Periodontal disease, bone and gum loss, and infections all affect the overall picture of our physical health and need to be taken care of through good dental plans. The ability to chew our food well helps digestion and reduces stress on the gastrointestinal system.

Like any physical system, each part of the body plays a role in the overall health of the system; taking care of your teeth and gums is a part of an intentional dental plan for physical health. In collaboration with your dental team and your health and dental insurance, you can create a dental insurance plan that will contribute to your overall health and well-being.

A Wise Investment - Dental Insurance

There are two important resources that you use and allocate in your everyday life: your time and your money. When it comes to your dental care, they are closely related. The time you take everyday to invest in your dental plan is also an investment in your financial health. When treatment is necessary, the new dentistry is also an investment in your financial future.

Proper treatment today prevents more costly complications and uncomfortable problems tomorrow. For those who seek to maintain their dental health for life, it is a wise investment to get the most value from your health and dental insurance plans, as well as, from the knowledge and skills your dentist.

Emotional Well-Being - Dental Insurance Back-Up

How you feel and think about yourself is an important part of your emotional well-being and a pleasant smile plays a big role in this. In addition, when you take an active role in caring for yourself, it also contributes to your overall sense of competence in managing your life and maintaining a positive lifestyle. The habit of dental self-care and regular hygiene examinations reinforces taking positive steps for yourself in other areas of your life.

A dental plan, heath and dental insurance and new dentistry advancements can provide you with innovative and effective ways to create and maintain a pleasant smile that you feel good about. When it comes to feeling good about yourself and your smile, the new dentistry offers many exciting and effective options.

By Brian Des Roches, PhD

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.

What Type of Dental Plans Have the Best Benefits?

Dental PPO, POS, DHMO Or Fee For Service

Indemnity and managed care dental plans differ in their basic approach. Put broadly, the major differences concern choice of providers, affordable out-of-pocket costs for covered services, and how bills are paid.

Usually, an indemnity dental plan offers more choice of dentists than managed care plans. An indemnity dental plan pays their share of the costs of a service only after they receive a bill.

Managed care plans have agreements with certain dentists to give a range of services to plan members a family at an affordable cost.

In general, you will have less paperwork and lower out-of-pocket costs if you select a managed care-type plan and a broader choice of dentists if you select an indemnity-type plan.

Managed dental plans include Dental PPOs, POSs, and Dental HMOs (DHMOs).

What is a Dental PPO, POS, and DHMO?

A Dental PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) provides dental care to its members through a network of dentists who offer discounted fees to its affordable dental plan members. You can typically use dentists out of the PPO's network, but you will only be reimbursed the discounted fee for the services rendered - you will need to pay any additional amount yourself.

A DHMO (Dental Health Maintenance Organization) provides you dental services through a network of providers in exchange for some form of prepayment. If you use a dentist out of the established network of providers, you may be responsible for paying the entire bill.

A Dental POS (Point of Service) plan allows a member to use either a DHMO network dentist or to seek care from a dentist not in the HMO network. Members choose in-network care or out-of-network care at the time they make their dental appointment and usually incur higher out-of-pocket costs for out-of-network care.

What is an Indemnity Dental Plan?

An indemnity dental plan is commonly known as a fee for service or traditional plan. If you select an Indemnity plan you have the freedom to visit any dentist. You do not need referrals or authorizations; however, some plans may require you to pre-certify for certain procedures.

Most indemnity plans require you to pay a deductible. After you have paid your deductible, indemnity policies typically pay a percentage of "usual and customary" charges for covered services; often the insurance company pays 80% and you pay 20%. Most plans have an annual out of pocket maximum and once you've reached this they will pay 100% of all "usual and customary" charges for covered services.

Many dental indemnity plans also require a waiting period before covering certain services.

+Jim Du Molin is a leading Internet search expert helping individuals and families connect with the right dentist in their area. Visit his author page.