How Getting the Fillings You Need Before 2021 Ends Could Save You Money

Did your dentist tell you at your last checkup that you had cavities? It may have come as a surprise to you, especially if your teeth feel fine. While your dentist recommended that you get the cavities treated as soon as possible, you don’t feel a sense of urgency. After all, your teeth don’t hurt. But did you know that putting off fillings when you need them could actually be more expensive in the long run? Particularly if you have dental insurance, getting fillings sooner rather than later can save you money. Read on as a dentist in Edison, NJ explains how!

What Happens If You Don’t Get Fillings When You Need Them?

Most areas of the body can heal themselves on their own, but teeth cannot. Therefore, cavities will never get better; they’ll only worsen the longer you go without treatment. Eventually, the decay could reach a point where a filling is no longer enough to repair the tooth. Instead, you might require a root canal or even a tooth extraction. These procedures are not only more invasive than fillings, but also more expensive.

Fortunately, getting a filling you need as soon as possible can often prevent the need for more extensive procedures. Treating the decay early on renders it unable to progress to that point. This can save you quite a bit of money!

Dental Insurance Coverage: Time to Use It or Lose It

If you have dental insurance, that’s even more of a reason to get your needed fillings taken care of soon. By paying your monthly premiums, you’re entitled to a certain amount of dental coverage each year (usually around $1,000) after you meet your deductible. For most plans, this coverage – called your annual maximum – resets at the beginning of a new year, and any unused benefits do NOT carry over into the next year. Most Americans with dental insurance don’t meet their annual maximums, so millions of dollars in dental coverage end up going to waste.

By this point in the year, chances are you’ve met your deductible, so you can use your annual maximum to reduce the costs of other treatments, including fillings. The majority of dental plans will cover fillings at about 80 percent. Because more advanced procedures, like root canals and extractions, tend to only qualify for 50% coverage, getting fillings early on is the more cost-effective option!

Start 2022 with a Cavity-Free Smile!

Don’t let the dental benefits you’re paying for go to waste. If your dentist in Edison, NJ has recommended that you get fillings, or any other dental procedure, try to schedule it before the end of 2021. That way, you can start 2022 off with a healthier smile and a fuller wallet!

About the Author

At Signature Smiles at Edison, Dr. Hiren Shah strives to provide affordable, high-quality dental care. That’s why his practice is in-network with many leading dental insurance plans, including Delta Dental, Horizon BlueCross BlueShield of New Jersey, Cigna, and Aetna. While Dr. Shah has taken 1000+ hours of continuing education in the field of dental implants, he’d prefer to save your natural teeth if possible! To learn more about saving money on dental care, contact Signature Smiles at Edison via our website or by calling 908-834-8448.