Gateway to Overall Health: The Mouth

As part of your overall health, it’s important to stay on top of your oral health, too! The mouth is the “front door” to the body, therefore practicing good oral hygiene can help prevent against other health complications caused by oral bacteria.

If you know you’ll be needing a few dental procedures done, or don’t want to pay a ton out of pocket for a cleaning every 6 months, you might want to consider your options for dental insurance. Dental insurance will help you pay for a portion of the costs associated with preventative check-ups, as well as minor and major dental services.

This short guide is meant to provide answers to some common questions we get about dental insurance. If you have more questions, we’re here to help!

Is dental included in my health insurance plan?
It’s unlikely. Most major medical plans do not include adult dental– you’ll usually have to purchase a separate dental plan. However, under the Affordable Care Act, all health plans must provide benefits for children’s dental insurance.

What’s usually included in a dental insurance plan?
Most dental insurance plans will cover most of not all the expenses for exams and cleanings. In addition, dental insurance can cover part of the cost of basic and major services, such as fillings or a root canal.

Minor services include: Fillings, X-rays, emergency palliative treatment (to relieve pain due to dental emergency).
Major services include: Root canals & crowns, periodontal cleanings, bridges, implants & dentures.

What’s the difference between an HMO and PPO plan?
If you’re looking into a dental plan that is an HMO, you’ll have to choose a dentist or dental facility that will oversee all your oral health care and needs. If you try to visit a dentist “out of network” of your HMO plan, your plan won’t cover any of the visit, and you’ll be expected to pay out of pocket. A PPO dental plan offers much more flexibility. PPO plans usually have a broader network of dentists and facilities. Unlike an HMO, you don’t need to stick to one dentist. PPO plans prefer that you stay in their network, but they’ll still provide coverage even if you go outside of the network.

What comes with TREK dental plans?
• No waiting periods — start using your plan immediately!
• Simple & affordable — plans start at less than $30/month
• Take advantage of the PPO network — our plans are accepted by over 200,000 dental locations nationwide.
• Easy enrollment — Online, paper or over the phone