We all pay for dental insurance each year, but most of us waste it. At Centreville Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we want to inform you of the important “use it or lose it” rule of dental insurance and how it affects your coverage.

Whether you’re new to dental insurance or just need a refresher, it’s important to know how your dental coverage works, especially as the year draws to a close. Understanding how dental benefits expire can make a difference in your health and finances.

What Is ‘Use It or Lose It’ in Dental Insurance?

The “use it or lose it” policy is the standard employed by most dental insurance plans. In other words, this rule says that if you do not use your benefits at the end of the year, you are out of luck. It’s a “use it now, or forget it” policy. Benefits that have not been used as of December 31st do not carry over into the next year.

Why You Should Act Before the End of the Year

Your dental coverage renews when the year is up. Using the complete benefits before time means your insurance is doing its job for you. The majority of plans cover routine procedures like cleanings, exams, and X-rays at little to no out-of-pocket cost. You do need to schedule and have these treatments done before December 31st.

Maximize Your Coverage with Preventive Care

It’s easy to overlook preventive care, but maintaining regular visits actually saves you from more painful and expensive procedures down the line. Cleanings, check-ups, and frequent X-rays are all important in catching early warning signs of trouble, such as cavities or gum disease. These are much easier and less expensive to repair if you catch them early.

Don’t Let Your Dental Benefits Expire

One of the most common mistakes people make is waiting until the last minute to utilize their dental insurance benefits. By then, dental clinics are normally full of patients, and the chances of securing an appointment before the year runs out are slim. Waiting until it is too late might make you lose out on the preventive treatment that your plan is offering.

How Can You Take Advantage of Your Benefits?

• Book your check-up: Get an appointment as soon as possible so that you have adequate time to get your benefits prior to the end of the year. 
• Consider treatments you’ve postponed: If you’ve been delaying treatments such as fillings or crowns, this is your chance to attend to them before the new year.
• Check your dental coverage: Be sure you know what you have covered and whether you have used up your maximum benefits for the year.

Your dental maintenance is meant to make you healthy, but it can’t help you if you don’t take advantage of it. Don’t let your dental insurance renewal slip by without using it. Schedule an appointment at Centreville Family and Cosmetic Dentistry and get what you’re entitled to before the end of the year.