Helpful Terms About Dental Care

The world of dental insurance can be confusing. To help you make sense of it, here’s a quick guide to some of the most commonly used terms.

• Deductible is the amount of your yearly medical bills that you are responsible for paying. Your insurance policy typically covers the remainder.
• Dental Insurance is medical insurance that specifically covers visits to the dentist and medical procedures needed to keep your teeth healthy.
• Dental Plans are membership-based programs that offer discounts on dental procedures. Dental plans are not the same as dental insurance.
• EPO or Exclusive Provider Organization, is a dental insurance plan that will not cover any charges for services by dentists outside its network.
• Geriatric Dentists specialize in dental care for senior citizens and the elderly.
• Group Dental Insurance lets a group of associated people save on their premiums by pooling their purchasing power to buy one master policy.
• Major Care is any extensive dental procedure. Typical examples of major care include root canals, crowns, and bridges.
• Network refers to the list of dentists approved by an EPO or PPO insurance plan.
• Orthodontics is the area of dental care specializing in treating misaligned teeth and other abnormalities.
• Open Plansare insurance plans that allow the policyholder to choose any dentist for their care.
• Pediatric Dentists specialize in the dental care of young children.
• PPO or Preferred Provider Organization, is a dental insurance plan that offers savings as an incentive to use dentists within its network.
• Premiums are the monthly cost paid to maintain coverage by an insurance plan.
• Preventative Care is dental care that focuses on preventing tooth and mouth problems. Check-ups and cleanings are examples of preventative care.
• Restorative Care is dental care that treats simple dental problems to maintain good oral health. Fillings are an example of restorative care.
• Waiting Periods are required by some insurance plans before they will cover certain kinds of restorative and major care.
• Yearly Maximums are the amount of money a dental insurance policy will pay out annually. Once this maximum is met, the policyholder is responsible for the rest of the dental expenses.