How to Manage Dental Expenses at Every Stage of Life

Tooth care begins as soon as a baby’s teeth erupt in their mouth and is necessary for a person's entire life. Along with brushing twice a day and flossing, routine dental visits help keep teeth and gums healthy.

But even though seeing your dentist is crucial for your oral health, paying for dental expenses can be a hurdle. You will face dental expenses at every phase of life, and knowing how to plan for oral care costs will ensure you can get the regular dental care you need.

Managing your dental expenses includes more than just routine checkups with your dentist — dental care emergencies such as a painful toothache or a chipped tooth need immediate attention. Financially preparing for potential expenses adds comfort during these stressful situations.

Throughout your childhood, your parents were responsible for managing your dental expenses. But as you enter your late teen years and into your early 20s, it is important to establish good oral hygiene habits so your teeth remain in good condition throughout your life. 

To keep dental expenses low, preventing issues like cavities or gum disease through routine dental care can save you time and money. Likewise, regular checkups can prevent taking time off work or missing class because of tooth pain. Cleaning your teeth daily makes a huge difference in your oral health. 

If you had braces as a teenager, you have an advantage in the oral health game. More than aesthetic reasons, straightening your teeth makes it easier to clean them and with significantly lower chances of developing cavities. With fewer oral complications, a yearly visit with your dentist will ensure your mouth is healthy and on the right track to oral health.

In addition to building good oral hygiene habits, dental insurance through your employer will make paying for necessary dental procedures more affordable. 

If your employer does not offer dental benefits, find a dentist in your community that provides other affordable dental options. Some dentists offer in-house discounts or payment plans. 

For families with dental insurance, as you approach your 18th birthday, your parents may be worried about how you will manage your dental expenses. The Affordable Care Act ensures that medical insurance covers children until they turn 26 years old. But this does not apply to dental insurance. The cutoff age when you will no longer be covered under your parents' dental insurance benefits is up to your parents' provider.  

Fortunately, more affordable dentistry options exist for young adults, even if they are no longer covered under their parents' dental insurance plan. 

Along with dental plans that provide savings from individual dental offices, young adults can apply for a dental credit card that can be used for dental treatments and procedures. 

As an individual adult or a parent, you need a solid plan to make sure every mouth in your household gets seen by a dentist regularly — including your own. However, it can be tough to do so without being blindsided by unexpected dental costs.

If you are among the slightly less than 50% of Americans who do not have dental insurance, making a budget for dental care expenses and knowing what savings and financing options are available to you can make a huge difference. 

For dental care for adults without insurance, many dental financing options today can compare with the coverage insurance provides. These financing options enable you to pay back your dental costs without paying a monthly insurance premium or deductible or being restrained by coverage maximums. 

If you are fortunate to have dental insurance, especially provided by your employer, you want to make sure you get as much out of it as possible. This starts with understanding your coverage and paying close attention to the details in your plan. You want to make sure you know:

• What is your coverage maximum? The insurance company will no longer pay for your dental bills when you reach this limit. 
• What is your deductible? This is how much you must pay out of pocket before your insurance starts covering expenses.
• Does your insurance cover orthodontist bills for you and your children? Coverage varies on who it applies to and how much of the total will be covered. 

If you have met your deductible but are still under your coverage maximum, you will want to schedule a needed dental appointment before the end of the year. Once the new year rolls in, you will have to pay your deductible again before getting full coverage for dental procedures. 

As you age, you become susceptible to wear and tear on your teeth and gums, which makes dental appointments even more important. According to the CDC, 1 in 5 seniors over the age of 65 have untreated tooth decay. Even more alarming is that total tooth loss is almost 1 in 5 for adults 65 and older. 

Dental care is crucial at every stage, but with prevalent tooth decay and the need for dentures, seniors especially must see and talk with their dentist every six months. These necessary dental treatments add up, and finding ways to pay for dental care, especially on a fixed income, becomes more paramount.

Because dental insurance often comes through an employer and Medicare does not cover dental care in most cases, seniors can get the care they need by using a discounted dental plan. A plan like the Smile Generation Dental Plan provides patients with significant discounts on procedures and treatments needed to keep their mouth healthy.  

Paying out of pocket for mouth appliances like dentures, which greatly impact your daily life, can be difficult when coupled with other essential monthly expenses. Getting the low-cost dental care you need without worrying about coverage maximums makes your oral health a priority that won’t put undue strain on your wallet. 

If paying for dental expenses seems too difficult to do, whether or not you have insurance or take advantage of discount dental plans, looking over your household budget may help you find a little room for much-needed dental care. By assessing your finances, you can make changes that maintain your lifestyle while allowing you to visit a dentist’s chair. Typical ways to reduce your monthly expenses include:

• Canceling streaming services you rarely use
• Opting for a less expensive car with a lower monthly payment
• Intentionally eating at home instead of eating out
• Making a grocery budget and sticking to it
• Avoiding shopping when you are hungry
• Refinancing your home
• Finding a home with lower rent or mortgage payments

If you need a dentist who can provide you with alternative solutions to paying for your dental expenses, Smile Generation's Find a Dentist tool can point you in the right direction so you get the right dentist that helps fit dental care into your budget. Talk to a dentist today about how to effectively manage your dental expenses.