Do I even need dental insurance?

Dental insurance is a lot like an ogre—they’re both misunderstood.

If you’ve seen the early 2000s movie, “Shrek,” you might remember the line when Shrek (a fictional ogre that lives in a fairy tale land) tells his loyal companion, Donkey, that ogres have layers to them, like an onion—what you see on the outside doesn’t tell you the whole story of who an ogre is. (They might look mean and scary, but they’re actually thoughtful and loving creatures that enjoy candlelit dinners and solitude.)

Dental insurance also has layers to its value and coverage.

What is dental insurance to you?

• Used for emergencies only when you need it
• Saving money on expensive major dental work
• Preventive care cleanings and check-ups
• Not worth the monthly expense, I pay out-of-pocket

Whether you’re new to dental insurance or experienced, here are some ways to maybe see dental insurance a little differently.

Like car insurance—but better

With your monthly car insurance payment, if you ever get into an accident, your car insurance will help you cover the costs.

Same goes for dental insurance. You have a monthly payment and if an issue arises (a filling, crown, root canal), your dental plan will help you cover the costs.

Now imagine you receive a letter from your car insurance company that reads: “Free Oil Changes and Maintenance Checks Yearly—On Us, No Additional Charge.”

Well, that’s exactly what dental insurance does for your teeth! Most dental insurance plans fully cover your preventive cleanings and exams 100% yearly.

And the same reason you get oil changes is the same reason you get dental cleanings. Sure, you might get away with skipping dental cleanings for a while, but eventually, what could have been a $0 cleaning could turn into a $1,500 root canal.

Like a gym membership—with a trainer

When you sign up for a new gym, your monthly payment gives you access to equipment that helps you improve your strength and conditioning through exercise. If you also have a trainer, they’ll provide tips that help you achieve your workout goals faster.

Same goes for dental insurance and preventive care. Your monthly payment secures access to cleanings and exams, fully covered, that not only strengthen your teeth and gums, but also provide you with a treatment plan, tips for dental hygiene and advice for dental products—just like a trainer!

Like a Costco membership—with twice the benefits

As a Costco member, you pay an annual fee for access to discounted products within their stores.

With dental insurance, you’re given access to a network of dentists offering discounted rates that are pre-negotiated with the insurance company—that’s in-network savings on top of your plan benefits that lower your out-of-pocket costs even more.

Is dental insurance worth it?

If you’re motivated to visit the dentist regularly for cleanings and check-ups on your own; if you have enough financial savings to cover expensive major procedures; if you’re fine taking on the stress when an emergency happens and you know you have a dentist you can trust—then maybe dental insurance isn’t for you.

But if you want to pay an affordable monthly rate for a dental plan that covers preventive care, lowers your out-of-pocket costs for dental expenses and provide peace of mind when an issue arises, then go for it! Get a dental plan today and secure your smile. 

Spirit Dental insurance plans offer "true" no waiting periods for immediate full coverage with access to a top network with Ameritas offering 25-50% lower rates. Shop our low-cost dental plans today!