Spirit Dental vs Stride Health

Continued from above...

If you need other procedures like fillings, crowns, or root canals, your total cost at the dentist could be thousands of dollars (crowns can cost up to $1,800 per tooth). While you can't do much about the cost of the dentists themselves, there are some resources to help you find affordable dental insurance to keep costs down.

A recent study compared different monthly costs (including preventative visits) and found that those with insurance paid $800 less per year than those without. Plus, if you get insurance, many of the basics are free of charge, making it less likely that you will need more complicated or expensive trips to the dentist in the future.

Now, when you decide to grab dental insurance, you'll want to keep a few things in mind. Like health insurance, your dental insurance company will have a network of accepted providers. If you have a dentist you really love, you'll want to make sure you grab insurance that is taken by your current dentist. In-network insurance policies will usually cover 100% of preventative dental care, up to 80% of basic procedures (fillings, root canals, and extractions), and up to 50% of major procedures like crowns, implants, and treatment for gum disease. Keep in mind many plans do not include orthodontics (such as braces), but most insurers or brokers offer at least one plan that does include specialist care.

In general, you can find a few types of dental plans. First is the Preferred Provider Organization (PPO). This is the common "network” approach where dentists join a PPO network and set up their fee schedule with the insurance provider. You can go out of network with PPO plans, but you may have higher out-of-pocket fees. The other main option is the Health Maintenance Organization (HMO) plans which have a more restricted network requirement. For HMO (sometimes called DHMO in dental insurance), you are not able to go out of network and still use your insurance benefits.

If you're ready to support your dental health and enjoy the security of covered preventative care, but don't know which dental insurance service to choose, we've put together some factors to help you decide:

• Cost. Different plans and providers have different costs, so make sure you find one with a deductible or monthly payment that makes sense for your situation. You may be able to find the same dental plan at a lower price, depending on which platform you shop through, so make sure to compare prices across insurance databases to make sure you get the best cost and value balance.
• Features and coverage. Make sure your chosen provider offers a range of different features and coverage, so if you want to change your dental insurance plan, you can use the same insurance provider or database to get what you need. The more options there are, the easier it is to compare costs and benefits.
• Reputation. Check out your chosen dental insurance provider or broker through third-party reviews. Sites like the Better Business Bureau and review platforms like Trustpilot and Sitejabber are particularly helpful so you can see what other customers think of the service, assistance, and sign-up process.

To help you find the best dental insurance for your sparkling smile, Top Consumer Reviews has researched and ranked the top providers and brokers out there today. Whether you prefer total coverage for dental and orthodontics or a simpler option that focuses on preventative care, there's a dental insurance plan out there waiting for you. This way, you can enjoy your pearly whites and save some money in the process!