With Thanksgiving and all of the end-of-the-year holidays approaching, it’s a perfect time to reflect on everything that we’re grateful for. And one thing that we are definitely thankful for is dental insurance.

If you have dental insurance, you already know about the peace of mind that this type of coverage can provide, and it may have already helped you save a lot of money too. If don’t yet have dental insurance, below are a few of the reasons why so many people love it.

The Spirit Indemnity Dental Insurance plan helps individuals and families cover the costs of dental care

Covered dental services include exams, cleanings, fillings and extractions, as well as crowns, root canals, bridges and dentures.

The policy pays for covered dental expenses based upon a percentage of the reasonable and customary (R&C) fees for those covered expenses after the deductible has been satisfied. 

The percentages are: 

• 100% for Preventive Services, 70% for Basic and 10% for Major Services in the 1st year.
• In the 2nd year of coverage, Basic Services increase to 80% and 50% for Major. 
• In the 3rd year, Basic Services increase to 90%

Highlights of the plan include: 

• The right to choose your own dentist.
• Calendar Year Maximums - $1,000, $2,000 or $3,000 per insured
• Two dental exams and three cleanings are included per calendar year
• One series of bitewing x-rays per year
• Space maintainers
• Sealants (children to age 16)
• One topical fluoride treatment per year to age 16

Major services include:

• Simple extractions
• Implants (endosteal only), up to the allowance for the lowest cost covered traditional procedure
• One diagnostic x-ray, full or panoramic in any 3 year period
• Oral surgery
• Endodontic treatment
• Periodontic services
• Restoration services; inlays, onlays and crowns
• Prosthetic services; bridges and dentures
• Basic fillings

The Spirit PPO Dental Insurance plan helps cover the costs of dental care. Covered dental services include exams, cleanings, fillings and extractions, as well as crowns, root canals, bridges, and dentures.

This policy pays you for covered dental expenses for Careington (Maximum Care) PPO Provider or Non PPO providers (Out-of-Network) based on the contracted fee amount negotiated with Careington (Maximum Care) organization after the deductible has been satisfied.

The percentages are:

• 100% for Preventive Services, 40% for Basic, 20% for Major and 10% for Ortho Services in the 1st year.
• In the 2nd year of coverage, Basic Services increase to 80%, 50% for Major and 25% for Ortho Services.
• In the 3rd year, Basic Services increase to 90%, Major Services increase to 60% and Ortho Services increase to 50%.

Highlights of the plan include:

• Spirit Dental allows you to select your own Careington (Maximum Care) dentist.
• Calendar Year Maximums - $1,200, $2,500 or $3,500 per insured
• Two dental exams and three cleanings are included per calendar year
• One series of bitewing x-rays per year
• Space maintainers
• Sealants (children to age 16)
• One topical fluoride treatment per year to age 16

Major services include:

• Simple extractions
• Implants (endosteal only), up to the allowance for the lowest cost covered traditional procedure
• One diagnostic x-ray, full or panoramic in any 3 year period
• Oral surgery
• Endodontic treatment
• Periodontic services
• Restoration services; inlays, onlays and crowns
• Prosthetic services; bridges and dentures
• Basic fillings

Children Orthodontia benefits include:

• Orthodontic care for the proper alignment of teeth is provided only to dependent children who are under 19 when treatment is received
• Coverage is 10% 1st year, 25% 2nd year and 50% 3rd year with a $1200 lifetime maximum per child

Alabama Family Dental participated in sponsoring its fifth annual free dental services day for individuals and families in Mobile, Alabama who do not have Alabama dental insurance and cannot afford dental care.

Nearly 100 people who did not have Alabama dental insurance participated in the event. Three dentists from the clinic, their hygienists, and assistants provided oral exams, x-rays, cleanings, fillings, and extractions at no cost.

Dr. Jennifer Milazzo of Alabama Family Dental was quoted as saying, "We understand that people's lives may be busy and treatment may be expensive, and we just feel like we need to help people who otherwise can't afford it or get it done."

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services over 108 million American's do not have dental insurance and many of those affected are children who are not receiving basic and fundamental dental care at an early age. Increased access to pediatric dental insurance programs has been a major goal of the (ACA) Affordable Care Act.

A recent ADA News story on the potential effects of the (ACA) Affordable Care Act on dentistry stated that an estimated 3 million children will gain dental benefits by 2018 through health insurance exchanges, roughly a 5 percent increase over the number of children with private benefits currently. 

Beyond the exchanges, more children will benefit through employer-sponsored dental benefits with dependent coverage, "although the number is uncertain at this time," the Association said.  

The law includes pediatric dental coverage in a list of essential health benefits to be provided by small and individual group health plans. The ACA does not address coverage for adult dental benefits. However, some states are looking at adult coverage as a potential optional benefit after the ACA-mandated health benefit exchanges are in place.