What Do You Need to Know about Gap-Free Dentistry?

In one form or another, insurance is a necessary part of life. It can help to smooth over any peaks or troughs in spending associated with a particular event and is certainly a great idea when it comes to medical care. This is why many people decide to take out insurance to cover them against major dental expenses, and often, such policies include routine visits for ongoing care and prevention. Yet, if you're considering this type of coverage, don't forget to look at the small print and understand how a gap in coverage could affect you. What do you need to know?

Regular Visits, Irregular Cost

One way to avoid significant issues like gingivitis, periodontitis or tooth loss is to keep up with regular dental examinations. After all, from time to time, your dentist may recommend that you have a cleaning to get rid of any buildup of tartar. Ideally, you will want to control the cost involved so that you can look after the dental health of you and your family without experiencing any cash flow issues.

Mind the Gap

However, the cost of dental care can vary significantly across your area, and it's not unusual for an insurer to specify a maximum payout (known as a cap) for each type of treatment. You may find that your dentist charges a higher price than the cap, which means that you need to find the money to pay the "gap" between the insured amount and the actual amount. Over time, this can add up, especially if you want to schedule regular exams, cleanings and other routine work for all your family members.

Free Policy

Still, some clinics understand what hardship this can cause and have decided to operate a "gap-free" policy. In other words, they will not make you pay more than the amount promised by the insurance company, so you won't need to deal with any of these out-of-pocket expenses. They will simply refer to the amount covered by your insurance company and leave it like that, so you won't have to worry about any nasty surprises when you go to the pay desk.

Making Your Choice

Look for dental clinics that offer this type of facility in your area. When you choose to visit for all your routine and other work, you can do so in the full knowledge that they will take care of that nasty gap.

For more information on gap-free dental, contact a professional near you.