Discount Dental Plans for your Family

Discount Dental Plans

Good dental care is so important to your family’s good health and well-being. Who can underestimate the importance of a pleasant and attractive smile? Healthy gums and teeth can contribute to an individual’s confidence. An attractive smile can help you feel confident and secure when you meet people and even help you do well at a job interview.

Dental and gum disease may possibly effect your general health. There is some evidence that the bacteria from diseased gums and teeth may cause inflammation in the body that could eventually lead to heart and coronary artery disease. Preventative dental care can help you avoid these serious consequences, yet there are many Americans who cannot afford expensive dental treatment.

Now that it is back to school time and your child will be required to bring in completed dental and medical examination forms, it might be time to give some thought to your family’s dental plan. What if your family needs some serious dental care? What if your child needs expensive orthodontic treatment? If there are any senior citizens living in your home, they may have medical insurance through Medicare, but do they have an affordable dental plan?

Dental insurance is often the forgotten coverage. While many employers provide some form of medical insurance, as many as 7 out of 10 Americans do not have dental insurance. Even among those who do have dental insurance, many dental plans prove to be very inadequate. In my work as an AmeriPlan® Independent Business Owner, I speak to many people each day who lack affordable dental benefits. Even if they have the good fortune to have dental insurance provided by their employer, often these plans have serious limits on coverage, have waiting periods for pre-existing conditions, and frequently do not provide orthodontia for their children. With the high cost of dental care, a $1,500 per year limit on dental treatment will not take a family very far.

Discount dental plans provide families with an excellent choice for saving money on dental care. These discount dental plans are reasonably priced choices to expensive dental insurance plans. Savings typically range from 25% for specialist treatment (periodontists, oral surgeons, endodontists) to 80% for exams. Most major dental services, such as fillings, root canals, crowns and bridges, dentures, and orthodontia (braces), offer savings from 50% to 60%--literally cutting a family’s dental bill by more than half.

Some value addedfeatures that a good discount dental plan provides are:

• No limit on visits or services
• Ongoing dental problems are accepted
• Instant savings
• No paperwork
• No waiting period
• Braces and cosmetic dentistry are included

When looking for a discount dental plan, look for a plan that is a member of the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP), has a good choice of dental providers in your local area, and has an 800 customer service number. In addition, many discount dental plans offer value added services such as discounts on eyewear and contact lenses, prescriptions, and chiropractic treatment.

Helene Zemel, M.A., M.B.A., is Independent Business Owner for AmeriPlan® Health. For more information visit: Discount Health Plans. For a discussion on healthcare issues and alternative medicine choices visit her blog at: Health Plans Plus Blog. Ms. Zemel is also the website owner of: Work at Home Moms & Dads.