Most people only think about dental insurance when a bill shows up. If your plan runs on the calendar year, as many do, the weeks before December 31 deserve a closer look. Dental benefits you have not used by then may not carry over into the new year.
This is a short year-end checklist for using what you have, and for booking a visit at our office in Holladay before the holidays fill your calendar.
Do dental benefits reset at the end of the year?
For many plans, yes. A lot of dental plans have a yearly maximum, which is the most the plan will pay toward your care in a year, and a deductible that starts over when the plan year does. In many plans, money that was not used does not roll over.
Plans differ, though, and some do not follow the calendar year. Your plan documents or your insurance company can tell you for certain how yours works.
Your year-end dental benefits checklist
- Find your plan year. Check whether your benefits reset on January 1 or on another date.
- Check what is left of your yearly maximum. Your insurance company can tell you how much has been used so far.
- Check your deductible. If you have already met it this year, care you receive before the reset may cost less out of pocket than the same care after it. Your plan terms decide that.
- Count your cleanings. Many plans include preventive visits such as cleanings and exams. If you have not had yours this year, it is the easiest visit to book.
- Look for unfinished treatment. A filling or crown you were told about and never scheduled is worth a second look now.
- Check your FSA. If you have a flexible spending account through work, look at its deadline too. Many have a cut-off for using the money each year.
Start with your cleaning and exam
If you only do one thing on this list, make it this. At a dental cleaning and exam, our team cleans away plaque and tartar, and Dr. David S. Cannon then examines your teeth and gums. X-rays may be taken for a closer look. It is the visit where small problems are found while they are still small.
For most people we recommend a cleaning and exam every six months. Dr. Cannon may suggest a different schedule based on what he sees.
Finish what was already planned
If a cavity was found at your last visit, a dental filling is usually done in a single visit. Decay does not pause while it waits, though. A cavity that needs a filling now can grow into damage that needs a dental crown later, or reach the nerve and need a root canal.
If you have already been told you need a crown or other treatment, ask your insurance company how much of your benefits remain for this year before you schedule.
Why book in November
December gets busy for most people. Work deadlines, school programs, travel and family plans all compete for the same few weeks, and a dental visit is the easiest thing to push into next year. Booking in November also leaves time for a follow-up visit before the year ends, if your exam turns up something that needs one.
What waiting can cost
Nothing happens to your teeth on January 1. The cost is quieter than that. Benefits you paid for go unused, and anything small has a few more months to grow. A cavity, early gum inflammation or a worn filling rarely becomes simpler or cheaper to fix with time.
No insurance, or not sure what you have?
We accept a number of insurance plans, offer CareCredit, and have an in-office membership plan for patients without insurance. The details are on our financial options page. Everyone on our team speaks Spanish.
Our office is at 1434 East 4500 South, Suite #202, in Holladay, a short drive for our Millcreek patients as well.
Common questions
Do unused dental benefits roll over?
In many plans they do not, but plans vary. Check your plan documents or call your insurance company to find out how yours works.
Is it too late to book in December?
Not necessarily. December is a busy month for most people, though, and booking late leaves less room for a follow-up visit if one is needed.
It has been years since my last cleaning. Can I still come in?
Yes. Many of our patients come back after a long gap. Your cleaning and exam is done gently and without a lecture.
What if I do not have dental insurance?
Our in-office membership plan is for patients without insurance, and CareCredit is also available. Our financial options page has the details.
To use your dental benefits before they reset, call Pinnacle Dental at 801-274-3889 or request an appointment online.
