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If you have dental insurance, you may not realize your unused benefits disappear at the end of the year and don’t roll over or accumulate. Once the clock strikes twelve on Near Year’s Eve, any unused coverage is gone for good. If you’re looking for a way to get the most out of your dental insurance or looking for an affordable dentist in Phoenix or Gilbert, our team is here to help.
Many Arizona families accidentally leave hundreds or even thousands of dollars on the table every year. Those are benefits you pay for with your monthly premium, so you should be able to get the most out of them! The good news is there’s still time to use your benefits before the end of the year, making it an excellent time to get on top of your oral health and start 2026 with a healthy smile.
What Your Dental Insurance Actually Covers (More Than You Think!)
Dental insurance is actually a benefit plan, meaning there is a certain amount of money available for you to use on dental care each year. For example, your policy may pay for 70% of the fee for dental crowns, up to $2,000. If you only use $150 on dental care that year, the rest of your benefits expire at midnight on December 31st.
Every dental insurance plan is a little bit different, but most follow a similar structure:
Preventive Dental Visits Are Usually Covered
This includes cleanings, check-ups, and routine X-rays. Many policies cover two preventive visits per calendar year, often at 100%. Some policies cover more than two cleanings per year, and many cover fluoride treatments to help prevent cavities.
These services prevent bigger problems down the road, so many insurance companies fully cover them. If you haven’t had your two (or more!) cleanings this year, now is the time to take advantage of your coverage!
Most Dental Insurance Partially Covers Basic Dental Treatments
Most policies will pay for 70-80% of the fee for treatments like fillings, simple extractions, and periodontal cleanings.
More Significant Treatments May Be Partially Covered
Most dental insurance policies cover 40-50% of the fee for treatments like:
- Crowns
- Root canal treatments
- Surgical Extractions
- Dentures
- Some parts of dental implant treatment
Coverage for these types of treatments can be somewhat complex (for example, the crown and abutment may be covered for a dental implant, but not the post itself), so it’s important to get help understanding your benefits and how they can make it more affordable to get the care you need.
Why Using Dental Insurance Benefits Now Saves You Money Later
Preventive care is one of the smartest investments you can make in your smile. Keeping up with your regular check-ups and dental cleanings helps you take advantage of one of the best benefits of having dental insurance. It also keeps your smile looking and feeling its best and significantly reduces your long-term dental expenses by preventing gum disease and allowing our team to identify and treat issues as early as possible.
If you do need a treatment like a filling, getting it taken care of promptly prevents the cavity from growing and becoming more painful and expensive. Letting your available benefits expire also means giving small issues time to get worse, so using your benefits when you need them is one of the best ways to get affordable dental care.
Getting the Most Out of Your Dental Insurance to Make Dental Implants Affordable
Dental implants can be a life-changing solution for many people. However, our team at Dental Specialty Associates of Arizona understands that finances can be a major obstacle for many people, which is why we’re proud to provide affordable dental implants in Phoenix and Gilbert. And maximizing your dental insurance is a key part of how we do that.
Know What Parts of Your Treatment Are Covered
As mentioned above, dental implant financing can be a little complex, so it’s important to be sure you know exactly which parts of your treatment are covered and which aren’t. Our team is happy to verify your benefits as part of your consultation so you know exactly what to expect.
Time Your Treatment to Maximize Benefits
Dental implants are completed in stages. After the implant surgery, you’ll need several months before we attach your restoration or prosthesis. That means we may be able to use your benefits in one calendar year to complete your implant surgery, then wait for your benefits to renew at the beginning of the next year to complete your treatment. If you need additional procedures such as bone grafting, timing becomes even more important!
Can You Use Dental Insurance for Cosmetic Dentistry?
The short answer is no. Cosmetic dentistry is not covered by dental insurance. However, you probably have coverage for many treatments that improve the look of your smile. That may seem confusing, so let’s break it down.
Treatments That Only Improve the Look of Your Smile – Not Covered
- Teeth whitening
- Veneers
- Cosmetic bonding
Medically Necessary Treatments That Look Great – Likely Covered
- Dental crowns for cracked, broken, or weakened teeth
- Dental inlays and onlays
- Orthodontics (some plans provide partial coverage, especially for functional needs)
- Implant crowns
- Bridges to replace missing teeth
- Restorations after trauma or decay
So while insurance won’t pay for veneers because you want a whiter smile, it may cover a crown that restores a damaged front tooth and also improves its appearance.
How to Check Your Remaining Dental Benefits
It only takes a few minutes to call:
- Your insurance provider
- Our concierge team
Here are some ideas of what to ask about:
- Remaining annual maximum (how much money is left to use)
- Your deductible (the amount of money you need to pay out-of-pocket before benefits can be used)
- Percentage covered for needed procedures or preventive visits
- How many cleanings and check-ups are covered per year
- Whether you or your children can get fluoride treatments
- Waiting periods (how long you need to wait after enrolling or before having a treatment done again)
- Whether you’ve met your frequency limits (how many times a procedure can be done within a certain timeframe)
Our team is happy to help you understand your benefits so you can get the care you need without unnecessary stress.
We Make It Easy to Find an Affordable Dentist Near You in Arizona
Dental insurance can be very helpful in making a healthy smile affordable, but it’s not the only option! We can also help you get the most out of your Health Savings Account, and partner with third-party dental financing companies to make it as comfortable as possible to fit any out-of-pocket portion of your fee into your monthly budget.
Dental Specialty Associates is proud to provide an in-house dental discount plan that makes it simple to find an affordable dentist in Phoenix or Gilbert without sacrificing the quality of your care. We’re also a VA-approved dentist, meaning you can use VA dental benefits with us. If you’re looking for an affordable dentist near you, get in touch with our team! We’re here to help you smile without stress.
