A study by University of Manchester researchers finds a toothbrush can contain over 10 million bacteria, including E. coli and Staph. The water can contaminate a toothbrush splashed when we wash our hands, or worse, by bacteria from an open-flushed toilet. Nasties that fall from toilet spray remain airborne long enough to settle on surfaces throughout the bathroom. And if you drop your toothbrush on the floor, the five-second rule does not apply. Think about keeping your toothbrush out of your bathroom. Also, you should soak your toothbrush in germ-killing mouthwash once a week.

Some people may feel dental insurance is not worth the plan’s cost. That may be true for some dental insurance plans if the person wants it only for short-term use. Many people put off their dental care until they are in pain or have significant dental issues. Then, they get upset when they find out that many PPOs or Indemnity insurance plans have limitations that will not be able to help them with their major dental care needs immediately. A dental PPO plan is not for those who only want to buy a dental insurance plan to fix a current dental issue and then turn around and cancel the plan once they have their dental work done. The reason is that dental PPOs are designed to be long-term plans rather than short-term ones. When considering buying a dental PPO or Indemnity plan, the thing to keep in mind is your long-term dental needs. When getting these types of insurance plans, it is a dental plan you want to keep for at least a few years.

Question: I know I will need some major dental care services. The dentist I want to go to takes only Delta Dental PPO plans. Delta Dental PPO plans have a 12-month waiting period for major services. Is there a way not to have the waiting periods?  

Answer: Delta Dental, like most PPO insurance plans, does come with plan waiting periods. Six months for basic services and twelve months for major services are standard *waiting periods, though some plans may have shorter or even longer waiting periods. In California, we provide two Delta Dental insurance plans that let you choose your dentists. They have a 2000/3000 *maximum limitation with no waiting periods, but they tend to be Delta Dental’s more costly option. 

• Waiting Periods: A waiting period is specified before certain dental insurance plan benefits become available to the policyholder. For instance, a dental plan may have a twelve-month waiting period for major procedures, such as crowns or root canals. Waiting Period means that the policyholder must wait twelve months from the date of enrollment before being able to receive coverage for these procedures. Waiting periods help to prevent people from enrolling in a plan only when they need expensive procedures and then canceling their coverage once the procedures are complete. It’s vital to consider waiting periods when choosing a dental plan, as they can affect when you receive certain benefits.
• Maximum Limitation: A maximum limitation is the maximum amount a dental plan will pay for covered dental services within a specific period, usually one year. For instance, if a dental plan has a $1,000 maximum limitation per year, once you have received $1,000 worth of covered dental services within that year, you will be responsible for paying for any additional services out of pocket. The maximum limitation is typically per person per year. It’s essential to consider the maximum limitation when choosing a dental plan, as it can affect the cost of care you receive.

Question: I have poor dental health right now and know I will need dental care to fix my teeth. I am looking for a good dental insurance plan in California that will help with the cost of having my teeth fixed. 

Answer: We offer many good dental insurance plan choices.  However, since you must address more extensive dental care issues, I would advise our HMO insurance plan options through California Dental and Delta Dental. Since these plans do not have any waiting periods for more extensive dental care needs, they are also the more affordable dental insurance plan type. Call our member service line at 310-534-3444 if you should have any questions about the available dental insurance plan options we provide, as we will be happy to help you find the best plan for your dental care needs.

What is an HMO Dental Insurance Plan? 

An HMO dental insurance plan is a type of dental insurance plan that typically requires you to choose a dentist or dental office from a network of providers. With an HMO dental plan, you usually have a fixed copayment for various dental services, and there may be no deductible or an annual limit on benefits. HMO dental plans are generally more affordable and may cover more extensive dental care needs with no waiting periods. However, you may have less flexibility when choosing your dentist or dental office.

If you do not currently have dental insurance, this is a good time of the year to start thinking about buying dental insurance to help save money on your dental care needs. The number one reason cited by people who do not visit the dentist regularly is that they can’t afford the ever-increasing cost of dental care. Going into the new year, make your dental health care a part of this year’s resolution. Dental health care does not have to be costly when you think again and buy a dental insurance plan that best fits your dental care needs.

Why buy a family dental insurance plan?

Buying a family dental insurance plan can benefit families who want to save money on their dental care needs. With a family plan, you can get coverage for all family members, including children, at a more affordable rate than buying individual plans for each family member. Additionally, family dental plans often cover preventative care, such as routine exams and cleanings, which can help keep your family’s teeth healthy and catch any potential issues early on before they become more serious and expensive to treat. Overall, a family dental insurance plan can provide peace of mind and financial savings regarding your family’s dental health care.

There are many benefits to having a dental PPO insurance plan. One such benefit is having your dental care at a more affordable cost. PPO dental insurance plans also have an extensive dental provider database, providing more in-network dental office options. Most PPO dental insurance plans also offer benefits to out-of-network dentists. They are letting you stay with your current dentist even if your dentist is not a provider of the PPO plan. However, with that said, PPO plans also have some limitations. Such as waiting periods, maximum limitations, and deductible/office co-pays.

When considering buying a PPO dental plan, having a checklist of things to know before deciding is essential. Here are some key factors to consider:

1. Network of providers: Ensure you understand the network of dentists participating in the plan and that your preferred dentist is included.
2. Cost: Understand the plan’s costs, including monthly premiums, deductibles, co-pays, and out-of-pocket maximums.
3. Benefits: Review the benefits the plan covers and ensure they align with your dental needs.
4. Waiting periods: Some plans may have waiting periods before certain services are covered, so understand these limitations.
5. Maximum limitations: Many plans have annual or lifetime maximums on benefits, so make sure you understand these limits.

Understanding the terms and conditions of the plan will help you maximize the benefits of your plan to fit your dental needs.

Question: I currently do not have dental insurance. I used to have it through my prior job. I want to keep my same dentist, so I am seeking a Delta Dental PPO plan for individuals. I never bought a dental insurance plan myself. I just got what a job offered. What should I look for? I see many different Delta Dental plans. 

Answer: In most states, we offer a Delta Dental PPO plan and or plans. First, decide what *maximum limation will work best for you. We have Delta Dental PPO’s plans with maximum limitations ranging from $ 1,000 per person to $ 5,000 per year. You will want to know the plan *waiting periods and if they have a yearly *deductible. Then, review the plan’s benefits and how they cover you. All our Delta dental plans have a first-year, second-year, and third-year benefit chart showing what they cover for each type of dental service per year until the third year when benefits will stay the same. Lastly, read each plan’s limitations and exclusions to know what the plan limits or excuses benefit from. 

• Maximum Limitation: A maximum limitation is the maximum amount a dental plan will pay for covered dental services within a specific period, usually one year. For instance, if a dental plan has a $1,000 maximum limitation per year, once you have received $1,000 worth of covered dental services within that year, you will be responsible for paying for any additional services out of pocket. The maximum limitation is typically per person per year. It’s essential to consider the maximum limitation when choosing a dental plan, as it can affect the cost of care you receive.
• Waiting Periods: A waiting period is a specified amount of time that must pass before certain dental insurance plan benefits become available to the policyholder. For instance, a dental plan may have a twelve-month waiting period for major procedures, such as crowns or root canals. This means that the policyholder must wait twelve months from the date of enrollment before being able to receive coverage for these procedures. Waiting periods are designed to prevent people from enrolling in a plan only when they need expensive procedures and then canceling their coverage once the procedures are complete. It’s vital to consider waiting periods when choosing a dental plan, as they can affect when you receive certain benefits.
• Deductibles: A deductible is a specified amount of money that a policyholder must pay out of pocket before their insurance coverage begins to pay for covered services. For instance, if a dental plan has a $50 deductible and a policyholder receives a covered service that costs $300, they will be responsible for paying the first $50. The insurance plan will cover the remaining $250, per the policy terms. Deductibles are typically annual, meaning that they must be met once per year. It’s important to consider deductibles when choosing a dental plan, as they can affect the out-of-pocket costs you will be responsible for.

If you have any questions about our individual/family dental insurance plans, call our member service line at 310-534-3444, as we are happy to help you find the right plan for your dental needs.

Question: I have this dentist I want to start going to, but the office stated that they only accept PPO’s dental insurance plans. What should I know before buying a dental PPO insurance plan? 

Answer: Dental PPO insurance plans are great for staying with or choosing your dentist. However, I strongly encourage you to carefully read the plan’s terms and conditions when buying any PPO dental insurance plan. Be aware that PPO plans require you to pay a percentage of the cost for specific dental services, known as coinsurance. Understanding the coinsurance percentage for the plan you are considering is essential.

Generally, dental PPO plans have waiting periods for basic and major dental care services and provide only preventive dental care at the plan’s effective date. Under most PPO plans, there will be a yearly maximum limitation. A maximum limitation is an annual amount the insurance company pays for dental care services. Also, check to see if the plan has an office co-pay (the dollar amount you pay each time just for going to the dentist, such as a $20.00 co-pay) or a yearly deductible (the dollar amount you pay before the insurance company provides benefits. Generally this would be around $50.00 – $75.00) 

Finally, compare the benefits and costs of multiple PPO plans before deciding to ensure that you are getting the best value for your money.

Question: I am thinking about buying a dental plan, but a few people say buying dental insurance is not worth it. Is that true? 

Answer: Our standard answer would be no; that is not true. After all, we sell dental insurance and dental discount plans. However, sometimes, when, why, and who can affect whether or not you think it is worth buying insurance. 

When: Buying dental insurance is essential because you may have to deal with plan waiting periods depending on the dental insurance plan type. You will want to keep that in mind. Plans such as PPO and Indemnity insurance plans will generally have waiting periods. Meanwhile, HMO and dental discount plans will typically not have plan waiting periods. 

Why: Why would you want dental insurance to deal with the necessary dental care? Again, waiting periods come into play.  If your current dental needs are just for preventive dental care such as X-ray office visits and cleaning, you could buy either dental plan and be okay with it. However, if you need fillings, crowns, extractions, etc., waiting periods will once again come into play with effectiveness. 

Who: Who refers to what dental office you wish to visit for your dental care? If you want to stay with a current dental office, buying dental insurance will depend on what that dental office accepts. Dental plan types such as HMO and Discount plans require you to stay in or choose a dentist within their plan network of providers. If the dentist you want to go to is not a provider of these types of plans, then it limits you to PPO or Indemnity dental insurance plans to stay with said provider. Go over what you want in an insurance plan and how it can best fit your needs to see if buying one is worth it. 

We offer many different plan types, and we are here to help. Please call our member service line at 310-534-3444 if you have questions about our dental insurance and plan options. We are always happy to help.

Question: Currently looking for either a dental insurance or dental discount plan. I am not picky, but I would like to get the better of the plan option. I have not been to the dentist in over three years, so it is time to at least get a check-up.

Answer: In a prior post, “Dental Plan or Dental Insurance we addressed some of the fundamental differences. However, no one plan is better than the other. What is best depends on your own current dental needs.  

Knowing your dental care needs is important in choosing the right dental plan or insurance. Here are some tips to help you determine what your dental needs are: 

1.  Assess your current dental health: Take note of any dental issues you are currently experiencing, such as tooth discomfort or gum bleeding, and list them. 
2. Consider your dental history: Think about any dental procedures you have had in the past, such as fillings or extractions, and any ongoing dental conditions, such as gum disease or tooth decay.
3. Evaluate your dental habits: Consider your dental hygiene routine and how often you visit the dentist for check-ups and cleanings. 
4. Determine your budget: Decide how much you can afford to spend on dental care, including premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket expenses. 

Considering these factors, you can better understand your dental care needs and make an informed decision when choosing a dental plan or insurance. Call our member services line at 310-534-3444. We can review your dental needs and help you choose the dental insurance plan type.