News

When working, most people receive dental benefits through their employers but may forget about the premium that both employer and employee must pay in order to keep a dental insurance plan. This premium is paid upfront, so the money is completely wasted if you don’t visit the dentist enough throughout the year. If you don’t go to the dentist before the end of the year, then you will lose the chance to use your benefits.

How Do Your South Houston Dental Benefits Work?

There are different kinds of dental insurance plans, each with different benefits. "Benefits" is the term we use to refer to coverage for different dental treatments, meaning your insurance will pay a portion of your treatments. Which dental insurance plan and benefits you get depends on your employer. However, most plans will offer substantial coverage for your routine dental cleanings, which should take place every 6 months. Other benefits you may have include coverage for root canals, crowns or bridges, dentures, and more, but this will depend on the plan you buy.

Dental Benefits Will Expire by the End of the Year

Insurance providers set a deadline of December 31st of each year. If you do not use your benefits by then, there is no roll-over, so you are unable to save multiple treatments for the next year when your insurance and premium reset. On the other hand, there is still some time to take advantage of your benefits. If you or your family have any of the aforementioned treatments outstanding, now is the perfect time to schedule an appointment with our South Houston dentists to get those treatments completed. We want to make sure you get your money’s worth and can take advantage of all the benefits you have so you can be as healthy as possible.

Centra Dental Accepts Many In-Network Insurance Plans

We want our south Houston patients to get the most out of their dental insurance so they can take the best care of their teeth. This is why we make sure we are in-network with several insurance plans, such as Aetna, Cigna, Delta, Guardian, Lincoln, United, and much more. If you have an outstanding treatment or dental check-up please book an appointment with us so we can see you before the end of the year.

Both health and dental insurance can be really confusing. Dental insurance is absolutely helpful and essential, but we find that when our south Houston dentist’s patients don’t fully understand all that goes into their insurance plan, or just how helpful it can be, they end up struggling to make full use of their plans and the benefits that come with them.

Your Dental Insurance Comes With Benefits

When it comes to dental insurance, the insurance plan you use offers benefits by providing coverage of most dental procedures. Depending on your plan, your co-pay can be so low that it’s next to nothing.

For example, most dental insurance plans provide coverage for your dental cleaning, which should take place every six months, so you will want to take advantage of the fact that your plan is covering most of the bill. This serves as an incentive to get the preventative care you need to ensure your teeth and gums are healthy. Additionally, our dentists use your dental check-ups to determine if there are any underlying health issues that need to be addressed, as many illnesses show early signs in the mouth.

Your Dental Benefits Don’t Last Forever

Most insurance providers set a deadline for all dental benefits to expire on December 31st of each year. This means that your benefits will not roll over into the new year. Essentially, if you haven’t taken advantage of the benefits during the year, you’ll lose out on the opportunity for them. The good news, though, is that there is still some time to take advantage of your benefits, especially for outstanding treatments you have been procrastinating on.

Centra Dental Accepts Several Insurances For All Your Dental Needs

We want our south Houston patients to get the most out of their insurance so they can take the best care of their teeth. This is why we accept many in network insurance plans, such as Aetna, Cigna, Delta, Guardian, Lincoln, United, and much more. If you have any outstanding treatment or dental check-up, please book an appointment with us so we can schedule a visit with you before the end of the year.

Your dental insurance comes with benefits. These benefits are available in the form of coverage for a variety of dental procedures and treatments. However, it’s important to use your coverage before the end of the year, or else you and your family will lose it.

Dental Insurance Benefits For Your Family

Most insurance plans offer impressive coverage for procedures and treatments that are preventative in order to maintain proper dental health. These procedures typically include your dental cleanings, and your insurance covers two a year for everyone in your family. Your annual x-rays are most likely also covered as preventative care.

Other procedures, such as dental crowns, may also have substantial coverage with your insurance plan because they protect and strengthen a damaged tooth so that it doesn’t need to be extracted. Missing teeth can negatively impact your jaw and even your facial structure if not addressed in a timely manner.

Understand Your Dental Insurance Limitations

Most insurance companies may set a limit on how much they will pay out per year, per person. If you haven’t used their money’s worth of treatments by December 31, there is no rollover.

In addition to knowing your insurance’s limit, it’s also important to understand the deductible. With a deductible, your insurance will not offer coverage until you’ve spent the amount of your deductible. After it’s been paid, your coverage is good for the calendar year. Essentially, you’re paying a premium, so you must use your coverage benefits in order to get the most out of the money you have paid. 

Don’t Procrastinate on Treatments

We highly recommend that now that it’s December, you don’t avoid essential dental treatments. In doing so you not only waste money by having to deal with paying an all-new deductible to regain your benefits, but you also lose out on the opportunity to have your treatments at least partially paid for by your insurance. Not using your benefits before the end of the year also puts your overall dental health at risk by avoiding necessary treatments such as dental crowns, bridges, or root canals.

Centra Dental Accepts Different Insurances For Your Family Dental Needs

We want our south Houston patients to get the most out of their insurance so they can take the best care of their teeth. This is why we accept many in-network dental insurance plans, such as Aetna, Cigna, Delta, Guardian, Lincoln, United, and much more. If you and your family have any outstanding dental treatments, then please book an appointment with us so we can schedule a visit with you before the end of the year.

When Invisalign Clear Aligners first took off in the 2000’s, there was quite a bit of skepticism. How could lightweight plastic ever straighten someone’s teeth? However, it did not take long for Invisalign to pick up and for dentists all over the country to see how well Invisalign Clear Aligners work. Today, they are a viable alternative to metal Houston braces and are sought after by many South Houston teens.

How Does Invisalign Compare to Metal or Ceramic Houston Braces

Metal and Ceramic Braces

Metal braces have been the go-to method for correcting malocclusions for decades upon decades. Ceramic braces, although newer, work much in the same way that metal Houston braces do. When it comes to non-Invisalign braces treatments, metal and ceramic braces work by gluing either metal or ceramic brackets to the patient’s teeth and then running what is called an “archwire” across each of those brackets. This wire is then regularly adjusted with different levels of pressure, which helps gradually move the teeth in order to correct a malocclusion.

Invisalign Clear Aligner Treatment

Invisalign, on the other hand, doesn’t involve wires or brackets. Instead, the patient will have different sets of clear aligners, each with a slightly different shape. They will wear each set for a few weeks at a time as they go through each phase of alignment. It’s important to note that while metal braces work for any and all cases, no matter the complexity, Invisalign works best for milder cases.

Our South Houston Teens Love Invisalign

Many teenagers favor Invisalign because it’s barely noticeable when they smile or talk, which ensures the self-conscious teenager doesn’t draw any unwanted attention. Additionally, our teen-aged patients enjoy more flexibility with Invisalign, as clear aligners can be taken out at mealtimes, but they have to be worn for 22 hours a day. However, if they keep up a good oral hygiene routine, they can afford to skip them for some special occasions, like prom.

Invisalign at Centra Dental in South Houston

Invisalign is a highly favored orthodontic treatment these days. If you think your teen may be a candidate for Invisalign, please schedule a Houston braces consultation. Our skilled dentists will answer all of your questions regarding possible Invisalign treatment.