November 25, 2021
Some people are under the impression that dental care is expensive, and that dental insurance is the only way to afford it. However, the truth is that keeping your smile may not be as costly as you think, even if you don’t have insurance. A dental savings plan is a popular way to minimize the price of necessary services. Let’s talk about how such plans usually work.
What Is a Dental Savings Plan?
An in-house dental savings plan is an arrangement wherein you pay an annual fee to your dentist. In return, you get to enjoy discounted rates on most (or all) of the services offered by that particular practice. Most plans include basic preventive care, such as X-Rays, cleanings, and exams, for no extra fee. If you need restorative care or want to get some cosmetic work done on your smile, you can expect to pay significantly less than patients who do not have the plan.
Dental Savings Plans: Pros and Cons
Some of the top advantages of most dental savings plans include:
- Anyone can sign up at any time.
- There are no deductibles, waiting periods, or annual maximums.
- Discounts apply to services that insurance does not usually cover, including popular cosmetic treatments.
- The price for a savings plan is usually quite manageable, and the preventive care benefits alone make the plan a great value.
Of course, a savings plan does also have a few drawbacks. For example, the discounts it provides are usually less than what you would enjoy with a traditional insurance policy. Also, if you travel a lot and have a dental emergency while you are away from home, you won’t have any way to use your discount because most plans are exclusive to a single practice.