When you think of your family you may think about their education and their overall safety and well-being, but what about their dental health? There are a number of dental issues that can plague your family members such as tooth sensitivity, cavities, gum disease, toothaches, and even emergencies like a broken tooth. That’s why family dental health should be a priority for you, and you should look into a family dental plan this Family Day.
Why is it important to take care of your teeth
When you keep your gums, teeth, and mouth clean and healthy, you can prevent diseases and infections. You will also be able to avoid illnesses and pain. A clean and healthy mouth not only looks good, but it also feels nice and keeps your breath fresh.
Brushing your teeth twice a day is necessary otherwise bacteria can grow on your teeth and gums and become plaque that attacks your teeth and gums and cause diseases. Family dental care can help you avoid dental diseases or address a dental emergency if your dental health has deteriorated.
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Why you need a family dentist | Risks of avoiding the dentist | Taking your child to the dentist
What to look for in a dentist
When you are looking for a dentist, you want to find one that speaks your language if your first language isn’t English or if any of your family members speaks a different first language. You also want to see if the dentist accepts the specific insurance plan that you’re using and is willing to see new patients. You also want to look at the dentist’s location – if it’s accessible by public transit – and office hours.
If you have young children, you should know if the dentist and staff have any specific training or experience treating young children. You should see if there are any children’s books or toys in the waiting room. Lastly, if one or more of your children has a disability or health issue, you should find out if the dentist and staff have worked with children with the same condition.
Dental savings plan vs dental insurance
If you have been paying for all of your family’s dental services solely out-of-pocket, you may want to take a look at the two other options: dental savings plan and dental insurance.
Dental savings plan
With dental savings plans, you pay a fee to be part of a savings group and when you go to a dentist, you get services at a discounted rate. The dentist has to be approved by the savings plan to get the special rate on the procedures. Dental savings plans are cheaper than dental insurance plans. You can save up to 60% of the cost of dental procedures without waiting periods. You would need to see if your dentist accepts your savings plan, but there are no health restrictions for qualifying for a dental savings plan.
The downside to using a dental savings plan is that you still have to pay out-of-pocket for all of your dental procedures, although there’s a discounted price.
Dental insurance
Dental insurance is a category of health insurance that pays for dental care. You pay monthly premiums for the dental insurance plan and the insurance pays all or part of your dental costs. The majority of dental insurance plans have wait times before they cover procedures and a deductible you must meet before the policy covers a part of or the entire costs. It can, however, provide you with many savings and allow you to see a dentist regularly.
The disadvantage with dental insurance plans is that they only cover a certain number of visits each year and it could be months before you see a dentist again so your insurance can cover it. They can also have high deductibles.
At Dawson Dental we work with families to make sure their oral health is always looked after. We work with patients to figure out the best financial solutions, whether it is insurance coverage or a dental savings plan. We also offer easy financing options to make quality dental procedures accessible to everyone.