New Haven Dental Group is a 42 North Dental Care, PLLC practice and is owned and operated by dentists Dr. Samuel Shames, DDM. and Dr. Ronald Weissman, DDM. Gentle Dental is supported by 42 North Dental, LLC, a dental support organization that provides non-clinical administrative and business support services to the practice. 42 North Dental, LLC does not own or operate the dental practice or employ dentists to provide dental services. Find more information about 42 North Dental, LLC and the dental practices it supports at 42northdental.com.
As a budget-conscious person, you may always be searching for ways to save money. A dental insurance policy or dental discount plan could certainly help you accomplish that goal — but is one option better than the other? Both have their benefits and disadvantages. Read this blog post to gain an overview of each option so you can choose the one that best fits your unique circumstances.
Dental Insurance
Dental insurance plans can have vastly different details, so it is important that you research any given policy before you commit to it. In the meantime, though, you can get an idea of how many plans work. PPO dental insurance often offers these benefits:
- Preventive care is usually 100% covered, meaning that services like cleanings, checkups, and routine X-rays may not require you to pay anything out of pocket.
- Restorative care may be 50 – 80% covered, depending on whether a procedure is classified as major or minor.
- You can use your policy at virtually any dental practice, regardless of whether that practice is in your insurance plan’s network.
Of course, traditional dental insurance also comes with a few drawbacks:
- There might be a waiting period of 6 – 12 months before you are eligible to receive coverage for certain restorative services.
- You will probably have an annual maximum, which places a limit on how much your insurer will pay out within a calendar year.
- Advanced services, such as orthodontia and dental implants, are not always covered.
- Cosmetic services are almost never covered.
Dental Discount Plans
In exchange for a set monthly or annual fee, a dental discount plan provides some noteworthy benefits:
- You may be able to enjoy preventive care for no additional fee.
- You can get a discount on virtually all other services, including those that are not usually covered by regular dental insurance.
- In many instances, dental discount plans cost less than insurance.
- You will not have to deal with waiting periods or an annual maximum.
One significant disadvantage of dental discount plans is that they can only be used at certain practices. Also, the discount they provide on restorative services is often quite a bit less than the coverage that you would receive with regular insurance.
Which Should You Choose?
There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing between dental insurance and a dental discount plan. Compare the specific options that are available to you so you can make the best decision for your family.
Meet the Practice
New Haven Dental Group has been serving our community for more than 40 years. We charge reasonable prices, welcome more than 200 dental insurance policies, and accept the Essential Dental discount plan. To learn more about how we may be able to help you save money on top-quality oral healthcare, get in touch with us at 203-712-4068.