It’s important to see your dentist every six months for regular cleanings and checkups to maintain excellent oral health. However, many people put off these visits due to worry about cost. Fortunately, there are options out there to make essential oral healthcare as affordable as possible. Two common options are dental insurance plans and dental discount plans. Continue reading to learn more about each one so you can decide which one best meets your needs.
How Does Dental Insurance Work?
Dental insurance works kind of like health insurance, but there are many differences. Either you or your employer pay for all or part of your qualified dental expenses up to a stated maximum. Each dental plan is a little bit different, but here are the main ones that there are to choose from:
- Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO): This plan requires that the insured selects a primary care dentist from the plan’s provider network. If you see a dentist who is out of network, the services will not receive coverage. This type of plan doesn’t have a maximum, but they will have a set copay amount that the insured will pay for each procedure.
- Dental Preferred Provider Organization (DPPO): This allows the insured to select a dentist who is either in or out of network. You generally receive better rates from an in-network dentist. This allows you to have more freedom to choose any dentist that you’d like for treatment. DPPO plans usually have a deductible and an annual maximum. They cover a percentage of each dental service based on whether it is classified as preventive, basic, or major.
How Do Dental Discount Plans Work?
Dental discount plans don’t pay any expenses for you. Instead, your dentist offers you discounted prices for treatment completed at their practice. With one of these membership plans, there are no deductibles, waiting period, or annual maximums. Every plan is a little bit different, but many of them include regular dental cleanings and checkups, oral cancer screenings, routine X-rays, an emergency exam, and discounts on needed restorative treatments.
Dental insurance and dental discount plans are both great options to help you and your family receive the care you need at a cost that fits into your budget. Getting essential oral healthcare shouldn’t mean stressing over finances.
About the Practice
At Michelsen Dental, we have a team of skilled dentists serving patients in the Orange community. We offer multiple payment options, including an in-house membership plan. We are also happy to accept most traditional insurance plans. To learn more about dental insurance or membership plans, don’t hesitate to contact us. For more information or to schedule an appointment, visit our website or call (714) 492-1169.
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