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Finish the Year with a Healthy Smile: Use Your Dental Insurance Benefits Now

October 30, 2024
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Posted By: Dr. Jason Justison
A smiling woman getting a dental exam in Wilmington

You don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone… except when you actually do, but you forget.

If you have dental insurance, it’s crucial to understand the extent of your coverage to maximize your financial benefits. Under the terms of most dental insurance plans, benefits expire and reset with the change of each calendar year. This makes these final weeks of 2024 the perfect time to make the most of any unused benefits before they expire.

By making a strategic year-end oral health plan, you can maximize your remaining dental benefits before they’re gone — and probably minimize future discomfort and expense in the process. Here’s how!

Plan Your Preventive Appointments

Dental insurance plans generally cover preventive procedures like cleanings and oral exams at minimal cost. These help patients maintain oral health by identifying issues early on and addressing them before they become pricy, painful, and time-consuming problems.

Maximize Annual Maximums and FSAs

Dental insurance plans usually have an annual maximum they will pay out. If you’re under this cap, try to complete as much treatment as possible to utilize your remaining funds. It’s similarly wise to take full advantage of any available flexible spending accounts (FSAs) funds. Like insurance benefits, FSA funds usually expire at year-end. Make the most of any unspent FSA money by scheduling dental treatments or getting accessories like custom mouthguards.

Map Out Your Multi-Visit Treatments

If you started a multi-stage procedure earlier in the year (like a dental implant placement) and have unused benefits remaining, this end-of-year period is the perfect time to finish these treatments at minimal out-of-pocket cost.

At the same time, if you’ve worked through most of your benefits for the year, your dentist may advise you to plan (or spread) non-urgent treatments across calendar years. This will minimize your costs while maximizing your benefits in multiple years!

Helping You Maximize Your Dental Benefits in Wilmington, DE

If you’re looking for a patient-focused Wilmington dentist to help you and your family maximize your dental benefits before the calendar flips to 2025, contact Dr. Justin Justison and the friendly and knowledgeable team here at Justison and Gladnick Family Dentistry to schedule an appointment!

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