You wouldn’t drive a car without car insurance. You can’t purchase a home without home insurance. Why wouldn’t you protect your oral and overall health with dental insurance? People with dental benefits are more likely to go to the dentist, receive preventive care, and experience greater overall health.
Why have dental insurance?
Eighty-five percent of Americans believe oral health is very or extremely important to their overall health, according to a survey from Delta Dental. However, only about 70 percent of Americans have dental insurance. More surprisingly, only about 48 percent of those with coverage actually see a dentist every year.
Dental insurance not only helps maintain good oral health, but it can also save money over time. Learn more about how preventive dental care, good oral health, and dental insurance go together.
Top 6 reasons why you need dental insurance
Dental care is more affordable
While it’s important to brush and floss well, regular visits to the dentist are also necessary. Because dental insurance focuses on prevention, services like exams, cleanings, and radiographs are usually fully covered. Preventive exams help reduce the risk of more serious and costly problems down the line.
Additionally, dental insurance helps reduce out-of-pocket costs for many procedures by reducing the amount that you pay. Without dental insurance, you would be responsible for the full cost of treatment.
Delta Dental helps you save even more because we negotiate lower fees with our in-network dentists. With 150,000 dentists participating nationwide, we make it easy to find one in-network.
Dental insurance saves money
Annual dental care costs start to add up for a family of four without dental insurance. Each family member should visit the dentist twice annually for preventive care. See the example below of potential dental care costs for a family of four:
Dental insurance helps you get the care you need
Families and individuals with dental insurance are more likely to get oral health care compared to those without it. People who develop complicated oral health problems are more likely to skip necessary treatments due to cost if they don’t have dental insurance. Untreated and often preventable oral diseases result in an estimated 2 million emergency room visits nationwide each year.
Dental insurance helps you avoid future dental problems
Regular preventive checkups help your dentist detect problems early. This can help you avoid costly and complex procedures, like crowns and root canals, down the road.
It’s good for your overall health
Dental care is good for your smile, and it has a positive effect on your overall health. Studies show that oral health conditions like gum disease are linked with many chronic health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and pregnancy complications.
During an oral exam, your dentist can detect signs of serious medical conditions, including oral cancer. This can lead to earlier, less costly, and even life-saving treatment.
When oral diseases go untreated, they can lead to problems with eating, speaking, learning, and productivity for children and adults.
It’s good for your well-being
Your oral health affects your day-to-day sense of well-being. Many say they avoid smiling and reduce social participation because of their oral health. A smile is not only important for your self-esteem and confidence, but the simple act of smiling has many benefits. Evidence has shown smiling has a positive effect on overall happiness and may even boost your immunity.
A smile affects every aspect of your life in a positive way. It will also impact the world around you in a positive way. A healthy smile is a gift that keeps on giving, to you, your body, and those around you.
Why dental insurance? It helps protect both your oral and overall health in addition to saving money in the long run. Learn more about your dental coverage options today.
To learn more about how preventive care can impact your smile, check out:
*Updated June 2023
