There are many different types of dental plans and dental insurances that a person can buy.  When shopping for the right dental plan try to follow some of these helpful tips in order to avoid costly mistakes and frustration.

1) Know your dental needs before buying any dental insurance and or plans.

How can you buy the right plan for you and or your family if you have no clue as to what your dental needs are.? Ask your self if you are buying a dental insurance/plan for general checks ups, or do you currently have dental issues that need to be address.

If you have dental issues and do not know what needs to be done.  It is almost best to see a dentist first in order  to find out what kind of treatment is needed.   Sure you may pay for that out of your pocket,  but the information you will get may save you money in the long run.  This way you know what is needed and you can buy a plan that will fit your needs.

2)  Know your ADA Codes for your dental work needed.

ADA codes are the key to knowing ahead of time if the dental insurance/plan you are wanting to get even covers the work you are wanting to have done.  ADA codes tell everyone what it is the dentist is advising you to have.  When shopping out insurance having the ADA will aloud you to confirm before even buying any plan whether or not that company covers the services you need and in some case up to how much.

3) Are you trying to stay with your own dentist?

Many people have family dentist that they want to stay with.  If that is your case know what types of plans your dentist take before shopping out insurance.  This is just a time saving tip.  However as the saying goes:  ” Time is Money”.   Do not waste your time shopping for providers plans such as,  discount plans or dental HMO’s if your dentist you want to stay with does not participate in those types of plans.   Knowing what your dentist takes  lets you shop only those plans.

4) Read before buying any dental insurance/plan.

Buying dental insurance/plans on line is very common and easy to do.  For the most part most web sites are very clear in what they are selling.  Some sites may be less user friendly the others.  However, that is all the more reason to read completely what you are wanting to buy before buying it.

In my opinion this has to be the number one biggest mistake that people make.  They plain do not read!!   People will buy a plan to stay with their dentist only to find out the plan they bought is a net work plan and their dentist is not listed.  Or another big mistake is that you have a toothache now and are in pain but you  buy a dental plan that has waiting periods for the very service that you need.  When it comes down to it who’s fault is that?  Yours,  knowing what you are buying is under your control.

If you not sure about a plan,  call member sevices.  If you have any question or do not understand the plan terms or conditions call member services.  I would not buy anything on line regardless of what it is,  if the site  dose not offer a valid  member services number to call if you have questions.   I will some times just call to the number to make sure I can really talk to a real person.

5) Make sure you have both a dental plan and a dentist that is works for you.

Before getting any dental work started make sure you know what it is and whether or not it is covered under your plan.  Do not feel pressured into having to have dental work done before you know what your true cost are.

Example:  If your dentist is advising you to get a high end crown that your plan covers very little of or does not cover at all then find out why.  Ask  your why you can not have a crown that your company covers. Find out the cost of the dental work before starting any work.  If you have an dental insurance that pays on a UCR percent then submit the claim as a quote only before having the work done.  This helps you know what your true out of pocket cost is.

Keep in mine normally the dentist does not concern himself with whether or not your insurance is going to cover the work he may be suggesting.  The dentist job is to fix your teeth and to do what they feel is best needed. It is up to you to know your plan.  Showing the dentist that you are aware of your plan and you want all your options to treatment helps keep you involved and keeps you from paying unexpected bills.