If you’re like many people, you may not make it to the dentist’s office for a checkup or cleaning as often as you should. It’s recommended by professionals that you visit your dentist for preventive care twice a year in order to preserve optimal oral health.
As it turns out, the beginning of the year is the perfect time to make the pilgrimage to the dentist’s office, particularly if you have insurance. Here’s why that is.
Make Use of your Benefits
Dental insurance plans generally want to save as much money as possible, which is part of why they heavily incentivize the cheapest care possible. In nearly every situation, it will cost less to prevent a problem from appearing than to deal with it once it arises. For this reason, dental insurance companies typically cover 100% of the cost for two checkups and cleanings each year, along with yearly x-rays.
Since you’re paying for your dental insurance anyway, it’s a good idea to make use of the services they provide you. By getting the first of your checkups early in the year, you increase your odds of using both of them by year’s end.
No Need for a Deductible
Most dental plans require you to meet a deductible before they’ll start to pay out for dental care. Early in the year, odds are that you haven’t met that number yet and will be paying out of pocket. Notably, preventive care is often without needing to pay a deductible, which makes it an excellent choice early in the year. And look at it this way: if you’re able to stave off tooth decay and gum disease with regular cleanings, you may never need to pay that deductible at all!
Seize the Present
Ultimately, checkups and cleanings are incredibly important for a variety of reasons. They afford you an opportunity to ensure that your oral health is in good shape, and can stop issues before they start. All that being the case, one great reason to see a dentist early in the year is that it happens to be right now!
About the Author
Dr. Thomas Gromling has spent the last 40 years of his dental career here at his dental practice, and in that time he has had the privilege of helping thousands of people help to get beautiful, shining smiles that they can take pride in. Dr. Gromling received his dental degree from the Medical College of Virginia at Virginia Commonwealth University, and since then has earned Fellowship in the Academy of General Dentistry for his dedication to honing his craft.
If you have any questions about an upcoming dental checkup, he can be reached at his website or by phone at (540) 869-4377.