Oral health is essential in keeping our overall health in check. But, the exuberant costs of dental treatments hinder most people from subscribing to dental services.
- 61.4 percent of Americans aged five and above have untreated dental caries
- 47.2 percent over the age of 30 suffer from gum disease
- 47.7 visit the dentist once a year, once every two or three years, or did not do so in the past few years.
Skimping on Dental Care: Why people do not visit the dentist?
- 59 percent cost – 22 percent fear,19 percent cannot find a convenient location or appointment time
- 5 percent increase rate annually
Heavy in the Pocket: How much do dental procedures cost?
- Filling – $288
- Filling repair – $265
- Extraction – $501
- Crown – $1, 018
- Root canal – $1, 201
- Gum treatment – $972
- Bridge – $2, 698
- Implant – $3, 938
Medicaid’s Aid for Adults: What does government’s health care program cover?
- 18 states – emergency services
- 28 states – preventive services
- 26 states – restorative services
- 19 states – periodontal services
- 26 states – dentures
- 25 states – oral surgery services
- 2 states – orthodontia
- Nine states implement annual limits on their Medicaid coverage.
What are other resources you have for your oral care?
Option #1: Dental Insurance is a form of health insurance designed to cover a part or all risk of a patient in incurring expenses from medical treatments.
Option #2: Dental Discount Plan is a membership-based program that gives discounted rates on dental services at participating providers.
| Dental Insurance | Dental Discount Plan |
| 350 USD a year | About half the price of a dental insurance |
| Can be paid annually or monthly | Paid annually |
| Saves cost of dental care (after annual deductible is paid) | Saves 10 to 60 percent off the usual price of the dental care |
| Annual deductible | No deductible |
| Annual limit | No annual limit |
| Waiting period | No waiting period |
| Rarely covers orthodontics and cosmetic dentistry procedures | Offers savings on orthodontic and cosmetic dentistry procedures |