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- Dental Plans
- By: JOE STEWART
Visiting a dentist regularly is a problem that should be addressed by many people. The numbers don't lie and right now only 30% of everyone in the USA has a dental plan. This number will probably not change any time soon either, with a spiraling economy that's teetering on the brink of recession and over 40 million people without any regular health care, most people have no choice but to put their tooth care on their "to do" list. Unfortunately, in a lot of circumstances, there's simply no way to continuously ignore a toothache or teeth that are decayed to the point where you're too embarrassed to smile anymore. These are things that simply can't be put off any longer. So what are your options? Here are a few options you might consider.Dental Insurance
This type of coverage is likely the most mis-understood of any type of healthcare. A lot of people think that they can actually purchase dental insurance today and be instantly covered for any problems that they may have incurred in their whole life. This is absolutely false. Many people are taken by surprise when the dentist tells them that their broken teeth or their caries are pre-existing conditions and that their plan won't pay for it. That means that you'll be liable for all of the costs.
Most dental insurance provides a certain amount of coverage if you have it in place BEFORE anything major happens. But that's it. Also, standard dental insurance policies do not cover braces (orthodontics) and have annual coverage limits, such as a maximum amount payable of $1,000 per individual and $2,500 per family.
Discount Dental Plans
Dental discount plans don't provide "coverage" as dental insurance does. This plan is designed to offer you professional care at a lower price. Many of these dentists and specialists offer reduced rates as high as 60%, depending on the condition treated or service performed. There are no premiums or co-pays like you would have with a regular insurance policy. You only make one payment, usually for the entire year, and then you may visit dental providers within the "network" of the plan. You'll get discounts on existing conditions, such as braces, dentures and more.
The one challenge of having a dental discount plan is that in order to receive your reduced rate you must pay for all services in full at the time of each visit. An example of this might be an individual that hadn't been seen in a long time so they needed an in-depth check-up, x-rays, cleaning, etc. They might save up to 60% off of these costs, but they'd have to pay the balance in full at the time of their appointment. If you have money set aside for health care then this is may be a good option for you.
Colleges And Universities
A lot of colleges and universities offer reduced cost dental care through their schools. These are mostly things like teeth cleaning, minor fillings, x-rays, etc. The work is performed by students who are supervised by licensed professionals. This is another great way to save a few bucks, as long as you aren't in need of anything major worked on. In most cases, availability for this care is very limited. You should get on the phone or online and find out what is available in your area.
Financing
Another option you might consider is to find a dentist that will accept payments. This can get expensive fast because in most cases you'll have to pay full price plus interest, but if you have an emergency and no cash available, then this is something else to consider. Do You Need To See A Dentist Now? Find Out How To Save 10% More On Our Already Low Cost Dental Plans. Do It Today By Visiting http://www.Discount-Dental.net or by clicking on Dental Plans .