As the year comes to a close, most individuals are looking at holiday vacations and school holidays, overlooking one crucial fact: their dental benefits. Every year, your dental plan quietly renews, and if you do not utilize the benefits within the time, you will lose them. The “Use-It-or-Lose-It” policy reminds you to use your dental care benefits before they expire. 

Let us learn how the “Use-It-or-Lose-It” policy helps keep your smile gentle and prepares you for a healthy new year.

What Is “Use-It-or-Lose-It” Policy?

The “Use-It-or-Lose-It” policy is the annual reset of your dental benefits. Under most plans, you can access preventive and restorative care within a specific calendar cycle. When that year is up, unused benefits will go away. Knowing how the cycle works allows you to get the best out of the care you have already paid for.

When Your Dental Year Begins and Ends

Dental plans generally run from January to December, though not every plan works this way. Some may start mid-year, depending on when coverage began under your plan. Knowing the renewal date of your “Use-It-or-Lose-It” plan helps you avoid falling behind in cleanings, exams, or advisable treatment.

If you do not know when your plan recycles, looking at your documents or inquiring with your provider is a good place to begin. It is like knowing when your favorite town festival comes back every year, you would like to put it on your calendar ahead of time.

How Dental Benefit Cycles Actually Work

Dental benefit cycles are planned to motivate regular oral care. Most annual plans offer a fresh slate of preventive visits as well as coverage for required procedures. When you miss them, the chance does not transfer over to the following year. It just restarts.

Following your cycle means being able to schedule visits ahead of time, whether it’s your regular cleaning or follow-up care that your dentist recommended earlier this year.

Why Most People Miss Their Dental Reset Window

Most individuals let dental visits pass them by. Work schedules, going out with family, or organizing holidays lead individuals to forget that they must visit the dentist. The reason is that most individuals believe they still have sufficient time to visit the dentist prior to the end of the year. Suddenly, one day, they realize that the calendar has already changed, and the benefits have expired.

Dentist clinics receive a surge of bookings towards the end of the year, so it would be challenging to get a booking at your desired time. Therefore, booking ahead allows you to take advantage of your accrued benefits.

How to Check If You Still Have Unused Coverage

You can access your remaining benefits by looking at your dental insurance summary online or at your provider’s office. Search for information regarding preventive visits or pending services.

If you have already undergone a dental exam this year, ask your dentist whether you need a follow-up visit. This fast check prevents you from missing any benefits.

Clues Your Benefits Are About to Expire

Several signs suggest your coverage may be nearing its renewal date. When the following hints appear, it is a good time to call your dental office:

1. You have not received any reminder from your dental insurance provider for a long time.
2. It has been over 6 months since your last visit to a dentist for cleaning.
3. You recall your plan renewing around the same time as last year’s holidays.

Note: Your dentist can assist you in learning whether your benefits are active or about to reset soon.

How to Stay Ahead of the Dental Calendar Flip

Staying ahead is not hurrying but planning your dental visits carefully. Try the following ways to keep your oral health maintained:

• Set a mid-year reminder to check your dental plan.
• Every year, schedule the second cleaning at a distinct time.
• Confirm with your dental team if you need to complete any recommended treatment.
• Book appointments in quieter seasons like late Summer or early Fall to beat the rush.

Remember, planning can help you maintain good oral health and ensure that your benefits work for you, not against you.

Make The Most Of Your Benefits Before The Year Turns

Your dental coverage is in place for regular care, not to sit in a drawer. Utilizing it on schedule helps bring in the new year with confidence and a brighter smile. Whether it is completing treatment you began or getting a cleaning you have put off, taking action today keeps your oral health progressing.

Stay on Track with Your Smile at Fair Lakes Family Dentistry, Cypress

Before the end of the year, take a glance at your dental calendar. If you are overdue for a visit, do it while your benefits remain in effect.

The compassionate staff at Fair Lakes Family Dentistry, Cypress, is dedicated to helping you maintain a healthy, shining smile and prepare it for the new year.