When it comes to paying for your dental care, deciding on which option is best for your budget can be a little confusing. Thankfully many dental practices accept a variety of dental insurance plans, and some even offer their own dental discount plans independently. If you’re not sure what these options mean and which one is the best choice for your family, here’s a closer look at the differences between the two.
What is a Dental Discount Plan?
A dental discount plan is a plan that is offered through your dentist to help pay for your routine dental care. This plan is provided in lieu of dental insurance and for a fixed rate may include:
- Two dental exams and cleanings per year.
- One emergency visit.
- Unlimited X-rays.
- A 20 to 30 percent discount on additional services.
Additionally, your dentist may offer other perks like fluoride treatments and other savings like referral discounts for family members. They may also offer different levels of membership, such as if you need perio maintenance or have children.
Dental discount plans have the added benefit of encouraging you to visit the dentist each year because you’ve already paid for your exams. There are no out-of-pocket maximums to worry about, and you’ll also save time by not having to submit claims or confusing insurance paperwork.
What is Dental Insurance?
Dental insurance is an insurance plan designed to specifically care for your oral health. Unlike medical insurance, dental insurance is focused on preventive maintenance, so the better you care for your teeth, the more money you will save.
Typically, your dental insurance will cover:
- Up to 100% coverage for preventive care like routine exams and X-rays.
- Approximately 80% coverage for basic restorative care including fillings.
- Approximately 50% coverage for major procedures like crowns, root canals, and dentures.
Which is Better: Dental Insurance or a Dental Discount Plan?
Key Differences
- Payment: With a dental discount plan, you pay the dentist directly. With dental insurance, however, you pay a copay, and your dental insurance pays the dentist.
- Waiting periods: Your coverage starts immediately with a dental discount plan, but some procedures (such as root canals) may be delayed with dental insurance.
- Annual Limits: There are no annual limits with a dental discount plan, however your dental insurance may have a maximum annual coverage amount.
- Discounts: While a dental discount plan may offer a level of discount on all services, it may only cover some services fully. Conversely, dental insurance may cover some procedures fully, but not cosmetic procedures.
- Cost: The typical cost of a dental discount plan ranges between $250 and $500 a year, while dental insurance generally costs between $200 to $600 a year or between $15 and $50 a month. You may also be required to meet a deductible before all services are covered.
- Your dental discount plan only covers you for care at the dentist you purchased the plan through, but your dental insurance will cover you at a much wider array of dental practices.
While it is ultimately up to you and your individual needs and budget to determine which method of dental coverage is best, both options provide an easier way to afford quality dental care and encourage you to make your oral health a priority.
About Dr. Parmar
A member of the American Dental Association and The Texas Dental Association Dr. Deval Parmar received her training in both India and the United States. She is well versed in treatments ranging from Invisalign to dental implants, and prides herself on providing ethical and honest care to each one of her patients.
Dr. Parmar and the team at Archway Dental are proud to provide a wide array of dental services right here in Frisco. We accept a variety of dental insurance plans, and even have our very own dental discount plan available at three different levels to best suit your needs.
If you would like more information about our dental discount plan, have questions about your dental insurance coverage, or to schedule an appointment, please visit our website or call us at 972-737-9506.