At Marysville Children’s Dentistry we strive to help our patients get the most out of their insurance benefits. We, as parents ourselves, very much know the hassle insurance companies can be.  So you can rest assured we’re here to help!

Here are 5 great tips to maximize the benefits you can receive:

Make sure to get as close to your yearly maximum as possible

Dental insurance companies will only pay a certain amount every year for all of your dental visits. This amount varies by insurance company, but the average is around $1,000 per year, per person. The yearly maximum usually renews every year and the bummer thing is, if you have unused benefits, they won’t rollover. So use ‘em or lose ‘em!

Try to get your deductible fulfilled early in the year

Your deductible is the amount of money that you must pay out of pocket before your insurance company will pay for any services. The average deductible for a dental insurance plans is usually around $50 per year. Your deductible also starts again when your plan rolls over.

Get your money’s worth

If you are paying your dental insurance premiums out of pocket every month, you should be using your benefits. Even if you don’t need any extensive dental treatment, you should always have your regular dental cleanings to help prevent and detect any early signs of cavities, gum disease, oral cancer and other dental problems. You’re paying for this, don’t give the insurance free money!

Beware of flaky insurance practices

With the vast changes in insurance today, many companies are switching their levels of coverage to cut costs sometimes not even notifying their customers! Before you put off any treatment until “next year”, make sure your insurance will still cover your necessary treatment.

Dental problems can worsen

By delaying dental treatment, you are risking more extensive and expensive treatment down the road. What may be a simple cavity now could turn into a root canal later. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a dental check-up at least twice a year for most children. Some children need more frequent dental visits because of increased risk of tooth decay, unusual growth patterns or poor oral hygiene.

If your child hasn’t had their 2 dental cleanings this year, ACT FAST! The end of the year is fast approaching and the schedule is filling up. Call us or go to our website today to schedule an appointment and get the most out of your dental insurance for 2011!