How to make the most of your dental benefits

Preventive care is usually covered

In most dental plans, including those obtained through a union, cleanings and preventive exams are covered fully or nearly so.

That is money already paid for through contributions. If it goes unused, it does not roll over and it is not refunded: it simply disappears at the end of the year.

The annual maximum resets

Almost every plan caps what it pays per person per year. Once you hit that maximum, anything after it is on you until the plan renews.

And here is what many people never get to use: if you have a long treatment ahead, it can sometimes be planned in two phases straddling two coverage years, so each falls under a different maximum. It is not always possible or clinically advisable, but it is worth asking before you start.

Waiting periods and deductibles

Two terms worth knowing, because they change the math.

The deductible is what you pay before the plan starts covering. It usually does not apply to preventive care.

The waiting period is the time that must pass after joining a plan before certain treatments are covered. It is common for major work such as crowns or dentures. If you have just joined a plan, knowing this avoids surprises.

If your benefits come through your union

This is the case for many working families in the Bay Area, and also the most common case of coverage going unused. The coverage exists, it is written in insurance language, and nobody has sat down to explain what it actually pays for.

We do that part. With your card, or your union name and member number, we check which services are available to you and explain it plainly before any treatment starts.

What to bring to your first visit

With this we can review your coverage without you having to come back another day:

• Your dental plan or union card
• Photo ID
• Your employer's name
• A list of any medications you take