Every year, countless people find themselves scrambling to book dental appointments in December, only to realize it’s too late. By the time the holidays roll around, most dental offices are fully booked, and those unused benefits you’ve been paying for all year are about to vanish. The truth is simple – waiting until the last minute puts both your oral health and wallet at risk. At Rifle Valley Family Dentistry, we want your smile to be provided with better timing and care before your dental benefits deadline is near.
The “Use It or Lose It” Rule Explained
The majority of insurance providers follow a “use it or lose it” policy. It refers to any unused dental benefits are lost at the end of the year. Once the calendar turns, you cannot get the coverage or funds back that you left on the table. Preventative visits like exams and cleanings are most often paid for, but many put them off until December. The last-minute rush clogs up the calendars, leaving little room for flexibility or follow-up procedures if needed.
By acting early, you’ll not only avoid the December rush but also give yourself time to plan treatments wisely – especially if your care requires multiple appointments.
How Waiting Can Affect Your Health
Avoiding your regular visits may not do any harm, but conditions of the mouth develop silently. Tooth decay, gum disease, and slight enamel loss can get worse if left alone. Catching them early through regular check-ups can spare you from extensive procedures down the road.
According to the American Dental Association, over 90% of adults get tooth decay at one point or another, yet most of such cases can be prevented with timely care. Waiting until the year ends to schedule preventive visits allows minor problems to become major ones, leading to discomfort and higher treatment costs down the line.
Why Timing Matters for Your Coverage
Here’s something that most patients forget: your dental insurance, dental coverage, and dental insurance timeline all collaborate to assist you with managing both care and cost. Preventive visits are usually covered or discounted, so they are the simplest way to use your benefits to the fullest.
For those with larger treatment plans like crowns or periodontal treatment, starting before the deadline for dental benefits assists you in splitting care into two benefit periods, keeping out-of-pocket expenses to a minimum. Waiting until December, however, might shut off your options and give you less time for appointments after the reset.
How to Get Ahead of the Deadline
Getting ahead helps you put your long-term health first. These are some suggestions to outsmart the end-of-year rush:
- Schedule cleanings and exams before the start of winter.
- Have your dental team review what remains of your benefits.
- Stage any complex treatments if possible.
- Leave reminders mid-year to keep an eye on your coverage status.
Getting an early start means you’ll begin next year with a healthier grin and the comfort of knowing you made good use of your benefits.
Don’t Wait – Book Before Time Runs Out
Your deadline for dental care is approaching, and once it arrives and passes, those unused benefits are gone for good. Don’t let procrastination take away from you the care that you deserve. By scheduling now, you will protect your smile, save time and money, and miss the December rush that overwhelms so many patients every year.
