The end of the year is rapidly approaching. You’ve taken care of your body all year, made mindful choices about your health, and invested in your holistic well-being. Your dental insurance represents part of that investment, and yet many people unknowingly leave hundreds of unused dollars behind when the calendar turns to January. Your dental benefits don’t roll over into the new year. They simply vanish. Understanding how you can make the best use of your benefits allows you to honor your commitment to whole-body wellness while being a good steward of your resources.
Here’s what you can do before year's end:
- Consider getting treatments you’ve been postponing
- Log in to your insurance portal to see if you’ve met your deductible
- Check to see if you’ve hit your insurance maximum
- Call Gentry Dental at (704) 554-1007 to schedule your appointment
- Check your FSA or HSA balances
Your Dental Benefits and Whole-Body Wellness
Most dental insurance plans reset completely on January 1st. The coverage you’ve earned and paid for through monthly premium payments doesn’t follow you into the new year. Here’s how most dental plans work. Your insurance likely includes an annual maximum dollar amount. This represents the total amount your plan pays toward your dental care each year. Once you reach that limit, you pay for any additional treatment. So if you’ve reached your deductible and haven’t hit your maximum, you’ve got benefits ready to be used.
How does dental insurance connect to a holistic perspective? Your oral health doesn’t exist on its own. As you probably know, your dental health is deeply connected to your overall health. For instance, there are connections between gum disease and heart disease, diabetes, and cognitive decline. The bacteria that cause periodontal inflammation can leave your mouth, travel through your bloodstream, and cause systemic inflammation throughout your body.
Back to insurance. When you use your end-of-year dental benefits to their fullest, you’re investing in preventive care that protects your entire body. For example:
- A professional cleaning removes bacteria buildup that your toothbrush can’t eradicate
- Early cavity treatment prevents infections that stress your immune system
- Treating gum disease reduces inflammation that affects your heart and brain
Your deductible resets every year. So if you’ve already met your 2025 deductible, getting treatment before the end of the year means you avoid paying another deductible in January for the same procedure.
Creating Your Year-End Wellness Plan
Here’s your game plan. Begin by contacting the Gentry Dental team for a comprehensive evaluation. We’ll assess your oral health through a holistic lens, looking at how your dental wellness connects to your overall well-being.
We take a different approach than conventional dentists. We won’t rush you through your appointments or pressure you into treatment. Instead, we’ll listen carefully to your concerns and work with you to create a plan that honors your body’s needs and your financial situation.
We’ll help you prioritize treatments that support your long-term health. As the end of the year approaches, treating gum disease, fixing cavities, and replacing missing teeth protects your health for years to come.
Delaying necessary treatment often leads to more complicated and expensive procedures later. For example, letting gum disease fester can cause periodontal disease and eventually, bone loss, creating ramifications for your health that go beyond your mouth.
So consider using your end-of-year dental benefits to address these issues now. Appointments fill up quickly in November and December as people realize their benefits are about to expire. Scheduling early gives you first pick of appointment times in our comfortable, spa-like office. You can relax in our massage chair, warm up with a cozy blanket, and never feel rushed as you undergo treatment.
Give Us a Call Before Your Benefits Expire
As you make plans for the end of the year, consider prioritizing your dental health as a key part of your holistic well-being. Call Gentry Dental at (704) 554-1007 to schedule your visit. Let’s work together to maximize your benefits and support your journey toward optimal wellness.