September 2, 2008— SARASOTA, FLORIDA — Many cosmetic dentistry procedures are viewed by dental insurance companies as elective procedures and therefore, they don’t cover them.

For that reason, there is a significant segment of the population that views cosmetic dentistry as a luxury they can’t afford. Sarasota Cosmetic Dentist Dr. Charles Crane said that when people view cosmetic dentistry in that light, they typically aren’t thinking of the long-term ramifications of short-changing themselves on dental care. “Studies and medical research increasingly show that oral health affects many aspects of overall health from diabetes and heart disease to the ability for people to properly nourish themselves,” Crane said.

For those reasons, Crane and his staff have found that educating and helping his patients understand their dental coverage is a great starting point in assisting them on their journey to a healthy, beautiful smile. Part of the time, it means addressing the dental issue from a common sense standpoint. “You don’t neglect getting your oil changed in your new car because you don’t have ‘oil change’ insurance,” Crane said. “You don’t delay getting your hair cut because you lack ‘hair cut’ insurance.” There are countless tasks people carry out without much thought and without “insurance” coverage plans, but people often will neglect their mouths and oral health because of the lack of dental coverage.

In best case scenarios, insurance may cover only a portion of a procedure. Patients who want, need and value the procedure shouldn’t allow their dental insurance benefits to determine what is best for them in the way of treatment, he said. Crane’s practice focuses on restorative and cosmetic dentistry and his approach is more comprehensive than most general dentistry practices. “We don’t chase tooth-at-a-time emergencies,” Crane said. “We examine the entire health of the mouth and create a comprehensive plan.” Some patients might read that and think that means more expensive trips to the dentist, but to the contrary, when oral health is approached comprehensively, dollars can be spent more efficiently and effectively.

The Truth About Dental Insurance

Patients who have dental insurance and fully understand the coverage can maximize those benefits and the money spent while achieving long term dental health.

Many people don’t understand that their benefits have a cap for each year, per person covered and that amount often is not as much as they may think, said Ann White, Crane’s office administrator. It typically is between $1,000 and $1,500 per year. Unlike medical insurance, people think their benefits cover 60 to 80 percent of the entire bill.

It will cover 40 to 80 percent of the “approved or usual and customary fee” up to their “cap,” White said, adding that this is a widely misunderstood notion. Also, their benefits expire yearly, so if they do not use their benefits, that $1,000 to $1,500 does not roll over and accumulate, it is gone. The clock starts over.

Another issue is that dental insurance often covers and approves lower grade materials- materials that may have to be replaced again within two to five years because of their substandard quality.

“Our office uses the highest quality materials and care,” Crane said. “Other offices that are enrolled in dental insurance plans often will not present to a patient the better, healthier and more aesthetic materials, since they will not get paid.”

That means the doctor limits the dental options to those that insurance will pay for.

“When it comes to extensive dental work, the patient should be given a choice of treatment options once they understand how limited their dental insurance coverage is,” he said.

Payment Options

Because patients end up paying significant out-of-pocket expenses for many cosmetic dentistry procedures, financing companies have created options to make paying for those procedures a bit easier.

For example, Crane’s office uses Capital One credit for patients who choose not to pay for services in full at the time of the procedure. These plans typically offer interest-free time frames in which patients can pay off balances without penalty.