Some of us are born with perfect pearly whites. Unfortunately, I am not one of those people. I blame genetics - dental woes run in my family. I care for my teeth like precious jewels. I brush and floss twice daily without fail, and visit the dentist regularly for cleanings. But still I find myself suffering from painful toothaches, and end up back in the dentist chair undergoing uncomfortable procedures.
All this dental work can be quite expensive. But dental coverage helps with those costs considerably. And it is even helpful for those lucky people with nice, healthy teeth.
Most people get their dental coverage through work. There are various types of dental plans, similar to those offered for medical health expenses - indemnity, HMO, and PPO plans. If your employer offers dental coverage, ask Human Resources to find out what types of dental plans you can choose from.
Plans typically cover a maximum of $1,000-$1,500 of dental services per year. This is more than enough for people who only need a couple of cleanings and maybe a filling or two. If you have a lot of dental work to get done, this may not be enough - but it is certainly better than nothing. Also, even if you exceed the annual maximum, the rates charged by your dentist may be lower under the plan than if you did not have coverage at all.
