Unfortunately, dental insurance coverage does not roll over. Every calendar year, it expires and resets, which means any unused benefits are lost forever. In some cases, patients leave that money on the table—several hundred dollars or even a few thousand in unused funds are just gone.
According to industry reports from the National Association of Dental Plans, less than 3 percent of patients with PPO dental plans typically reach their annual maximum. This means patients aren’t taking advantage of the coverage they’ve earned through work or paid for privately.
In this blog, we want to help patients maximize their benefit in 2026 and not let words like “deductible” scare them.
In this article, we cover the following:
- Using All Your Dental Benefits: Navigating the Language of Your Plan
- Ways to Use Your Dental Benefits with Your Dentist in Columbus, OH
- Questions to Ask Your Insurance Carrier or a Member of Our Team
- 3 Ways to Use Your Dental Insurance
- No Insurance? No Problem: The Shiflett Family Dental Membership Plan
- When to Call Your Dentist in Clintonville for Assistance
Using All Your Dental Benefits: Navigating the Language of Your Plan
When looking over your plan, you probably see words like:
- Deductible
- Copay
- Yearly Maximum
- Covered Treatment
- In-Network
- Out-of-Network
The deductible is the amount you pay out of pocket in conjunction with your policy. In other words, you may have to meet a specific monetary amount out-of-pocket before your insurance kicks in. This is not so scary. In most cases, deductibles are reasonable because the yearly maximum is low (typically $2500 or less).
The copay is the amount you owe at each dental visit, which is a small share of the overall costs. It may be in the ballpark of thirty dollars. Note that some policies do not have copays.
Covered treatments, such as dental exams, fillings, and professional teeth cleanings, differ from elective services, such as cosmetic dentistry or dental implants, in Clintonville, OH. Typically, elective treatments are not covered.
Dentists in-network with your insurance plan often mean lower costs for you or the service.
At Shiflett Family Dental, we work with most insurance plans and are happy to bill your insurance provider on your behalf.
Ways to Use Your Dental Benefits with Your Dentist in Clintonville, OH
The first rule of using your dental benefits is to know what services are covered by your plan and how much treatment is allowed.
Most plans cover two professional exams, including x-rays, and two teeth cleanings annually. These are preventive appointments designed to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Most plans also allow for emergency dentistry and specific restorative services. Some plans include an orthodontic benefit and limited tooth replacement.
Questions to Ask Your Insurance Carrier or a Member of Our Team
- Q: Is a Specific Treatment Covered?
- Q: Is Part of a Specific Treatment Covered? (Example: Extractions before tooth replacement)
- Q: How Much Insurance Coverage Do I Have Left for the Current Calendar Year?
- Q: When I Reach My Deductible, Is Treatment Covered 100 percent?
In short, ask your carrier or a member of our team any questions that come to mind. We want you to understand your total coverage.
3 Ways to Use Your Dental Insurance
Of course, there are many ways to use your dental insurance, but beyond dental checkups and cleanings, where should you start?
- If you have a tooth that is sensitive or causing concern, schedule a consultation with the dentist.
- If you have a loose or broken restoration, it’s essential to visit our dental office for repair or replacement to avoid infection.
- Are you considering tooth replacement? Schedule a consultation with the dentist to discuss tooth replacement.
No Insurance? No Problem: The Shiflett Family Dental Membership Plan
If you don’t have dental insurance, talk to us about our membership plan and how it can help you get the care you need for a low annual fee.
Limits and exclusions apply, but talk to us today.
When to Call Your Dentist in Clintonville for Assistance
If it’s time for your first checkup and teeth cleaning for the year, or if you have oral health concerns, we want to hear from you.
Likewise, if you have questions about your dental coverage or our membership plan, a team member can help. Call us today at (614) 968-8752 to get started. We work with CareCredit.