As a dental office in Waterloo, we always listen to people discussing how dental care in Canada is expensive. It is also expensive to maintain a dental office here.
Setting up and maintaining a dental office is not an easy task. We have to find the best location, with free parking for patients, make sure the place is always nice and clean, follow all the health and safety protocols, use high quality materials, hire qualified dental professionals, and the list goes on.
In this article, we are not talking about dental office’s costs. We will discuss about dental care, treatment plan and dental insurance.
Most dental offices are privately owned by dentists or dental corporations. Government don’t provide dental care services, with some exemptions.
For this reason, it is common to have a dental plan (dental insurance) through your employer, union or provincial government.
It’s important for you to understand that there are two different things: dental plan and treatment plan.
A dental plan is a means to help you to pay for your dental treatment plan.
Once you go to the dentist for your complete oral exam, they will develop a treatment plan based on your dental needs and it should not be limited by what your dental plan covers.
Understanding your dental plan coverage and limitations is the first thing to do, even before you go to the dentist. Read the booklet or other materials available from your dental insurance provider.
Some things you need to know about your dental insurance coverage:
- What is covered each year? When does it start?
- Is there a deductible? What is this?
- Is there a total dollar limit on my coverage?
- To what extent (percentage and frequency) am I covered for cleanings and x-rays?
- To what extent (percentage and amount in dollars) am I covered for dental treatments such as restorations and root canals?
- What about other treatments such as crowns, bridges, dentures and oral surgery?
It is your responsibility to know how your plan works. But, at Iris Dentistry, in Waterloo, we can help you understand your dental insurance plan.
We can call them with your consent, and most likely they will inform us about your coverage and limitations.
We can even submit an estimate to your dental insurance to double check your benefits and reimbursement. This is not a guarantee, but it reduces the chances of your claim to be limited or declined.