Dental Insurance: Caring for your Teeth

Brush your teeth before bed. Floss every day. Avoid sugary
foods. These words have been spoken by parents everywhere.
Instilling good dental hygiene habits in your children is
necessity, but once these children become adults, many of them
begin to neglect their teeth. Although it is crucial that your
teeth are carefully attended to in the early stages of life, it
is as important to maintain this care throughout your adult and
senior years. In fact, as you age, a number of issues may
potentially arise that can cause irreparable and often costly
damage. Clearly, caring for your teeth is a lifetime commitment.

Once a child has their first tooth, they are susceptible to
tooth decay. At this early age it is imperative that parents
dedicate themselves to establishing a dental care routine. This
includes regularly paying a visit to the dentist, which dentists
recommend should first take place around the age of one. At the
age of two or three, many children have all their baby teeth.
Sadly, it is not uncommon for a two-year old to develop a
cavity. With a dental hygiene routine in place, this can be
avoided.

In actuality it is not age that causes tooth decay, but neglect.
It is a certain guarantee that adults who do not care for their
teeth will invariably develop dental problems. Unfortunately,
there are serious issues that may arise despite your best dental
hygienic efforts in your adult years and these include:
cavities, gum disease, tooth misalignment, and root decay. While
these issues may be impossible to avoid, you must still exercise
diligence in taking care of your teeth and monitoring them for
signs of trouble.

Undeniably, suffering from cavities or recovering from root
canal can be painful and disruptive to your life. Moreover, in
regards to your teeth, there is not just the cost to your health
to take into account, but also the cost to your wallet. Dentists
are highly trained professionals whose services do not come
cheap. Without financial assistance, many people are forced to
go without dental check-ups and are left to suffer the
consequences.

In Canada, there are very few provinces that offer coverage for
dental services. At best, a province may provide basic dental
care until the age of 12, or may provide coverage in the case of
someone who is receiving social assistance. For a large portion
of Canadians who do not have an employee health plan, the
financial burden falls solely on the individual. Planning ahead
for the cost of braces for your children, surgery for yourself
or dentures as you age is imperative if you hope to avoid costly
expenses. Purchasing dental insurance is your best defense
against expensive dental bills.

Having supplemental health insurance enables you to follow a set
dental hygiene routine that includes regular trips to the
dentist. Dental insurance plans will vary but several exist that
can adequately meet your needs. Opting for a basic supplemental
dental insurance plan for example can provide you 50% coverage
for your first $1,150 of eligible services in your first year of
coverage. This would increase to 80% for the first $300 of
services in your second year.

Whether you are visiting the dentist for a check-up or for an
unexpected dental problem, you should prepare yourself for the
financial cost. Caring for your teeth is a lifelong commitment
and a job that you must take seriously.