WHY YOUR TEETH MIGHT WANT A BACKUP PLAN
Most of us don’t think much about our teeth — until one of them starts complaining. A little sensitivity here. A dull ache there. And suddenly you’re lying awake at 2 a.m., bargaining with God, your dentist, and your checkbook. Here’s the reality: Once we hit our mid-60s, dental issues become more common, more complicated, and more expensive. Gum disease, cavities, cracked teeth, crowns, root canals, partials, dentures — you name it. And unfortunately, Original Medicare still looks at teeth as a luxury item, like cable TV or premium ice cream. That’s where a stand-alone dental plan comes in — not as a replacement, but as a backup parachute .
That’s not bad luck. That’s bad planning.
A stand-alone dental plan adds: • Stability
• Predictability • Peace of mind
It’s like carrying an umbrella when the forecast says “mostly sunny.” When it rains, you don’t look silly — you look smart. WHY TIMING MATTERS MORE THAN PEOPLE REALIZE Here’s the part I wish more people understood before they cracked a tooth. Most stand-alone dental plans have a waiting period — often 12 months — before major services like crowns and root canals are covered. I get phone calls every week from clients who say, “Christopher, I need dental coverage now . I just broke a tooth.” Unfortunately, insurance doesn’t work that way. You can’t buy coverage after something happens. Otherwise, licensed insurance agents would be standing next to tow trucks and showing up at car wrecks. The time to get dental coverage is before you need it, while your teeth are still behaving. WHY THIS MATTERS MORE AS WE AGE As we get older: • Gums recede • Medications cause dry mouth • Teeth that have worked hard for 60-plus years start filing complaints Dental problems don’t usually show up politely or cheaply. They show up fast, painful, and right before a holiday or vacation.
THE $500 QUESTION Let’s talk dollars.
For about $500 a year , roughly the cost of two routine cleanings without insurance , you can have a stand-alone dental plan that does far more than just polish your smile.
Many of these plans:
• Cover preventive care (cleanings, exams, X-rays) with little or no out-of-pocket cost • Pay 50% of major services like crowns, root canals, and partial dentures • Dramatically reduce your financial exposure when real dental work shows up uninvited
Preventive care helps, but coverage for major work is what really protects your wallet.
IN PLAIN ENGLISH For about $500 a year :
Think of it this way: Cleanings are the warm-up act. Crowns and root canals are the main event.
• You protect yourself from large dental bills. • You reduce financial surprises. • You avoid relying solely on coverage that may change next year.
And the main event is where most people get financially blindsided.
That’s not over-insurance. That’s common sense.
WHEN DENTAL BILLS BITE BACK Here are some very common costs Medicare beneficiaries face without solid coverage:
Your teeth have been with you your whole life. They’ve earned a little backup. If you’d like help reviewing your dental options — connect with me, a licensed insurance agent. After all, the only thing worse than a toothache … is a toothache with a bill attached to it.
• Crown: $800–$3,000 per tooth • Root canal: $700–$2,000 • Partial denture: $1,000–$2,500 • Full dentures: even more
One cracked molar can cost more than five years of dental premiums .
2 • OmahaInsuranceSolutions.com
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