Dental treatments can put a serious dent on your finances, and it’s but fitting that you take advantage of every opportunity to finance it through insurance coverage. The problem with this option is its limitations; cosmetic dental procedures are hardly covered by insurance, if at all, and you’re often required to pay for the treatment and professional fees out of your own pocket. The next time you consider teeth whitening or porcelain veneers, think of the cost first, if you’re able and willing to commit. Some treatments also come with a significant upkeep. Dental implant placements require several sessions, and the cost of the procedure is placed on each tooth, depending on the placement area.
Make sure your dental treatments are covered as far as your plan will accommodate, and your dentist should always be aware that you prefer subsidized treatment. The cost is always determined during the consultations, and it helps if you’re up front with your dentist. In this way, all cost-efficient alternatives are considered, and you can choose which one you’re willing to settle for. You’ll spare yourself the problem of paying for the treatment after the fact. Delayed gratification is always the better option. Some treatments require recovery periods, and you don’t want to add the costs of the procedure to the workdays you’ll lose recovering from it.
The rates also vary between states, and you’re better off familiar with the average costs of procedures. Finding out estimates is easy enough, just check out your local dental association’s website, enter your zip code, and confirm the going rates. Your dentist can’t contest this, but you shouldn’t settle for averages just the same. Negotiate the price until you’re comfortable or satisfied, dentists will accommodate requests by reducing the professional and laboratory fees. Your bargaining skills will pay off, in the hundreds or thousand dollars.
An alternative to dental insurance you can consider is a discount plan, and it also varies between states. These depend on the participating dentists and clinics and your area, but you can avail as much as 60% discount on certain dental procedures, a significant lop-off of your treatment’s cost. Dental coverage is usually voided in discounted treatments, but consider yourself fortunate if your clinic accommodates compounded savings. If you’re really desperate about cheap savings, then you can sign up for treatments at dental schools instead. Students welcome volunteer to participate in their practicums, and the treatments are absolutely free. The only tradeoff: students have yet to earn their license, so there’s a risk your treatment could turn for the worse.
