Dental subscription plans come in all shapes and sizes.
Understanding which plan is the best for you is a really important first step to securing your oral health for the long term.
What Makes a Good Plan?
Some things to consider when you're looking at accessing a dental care plan are the following:
1. Actual access to care
It's one thing to pay for a plan and be promised checkups and treatment; it's another when there are long waiting lists, and you can't get an appointment. Understanding from your practice how long the waits are and how likely you are to be seen quickly if you need to be seen quickly is an important part of a plan's value.
2. Emergency service at a high level
One of the things everyone wants as part of the dental plan, is care in case of an emergency, making sure you're aware of what is covered under your emergency care and how that will work when you are able to be seen and who is likely to see you, are absolutely essential parts of understanding your subscription service or your dental plan. Many practices, for example, are part of a rota, so they only have to be on call a very small amount of the time; the problem with that is that you may have to travel to another practice if you have an emergency and you won't know that until the emergency occurs. Understanding who will provide your emergency care, how often it is provided and what is covered (some practices exclude certain things from emergencies) is essential to understanding your plan.
3. Clear inclusions of treatment
There is almost no plan that includes every single aspect of treatment entirely. Understanding what is included and what is not included and having a clear explanation that you can understand is essential before you undertake an arrangement at any time.
4. Unlimited hygiene
Having the ability to attend hygiene appointments when it suits you and when you want is an amazing way to secure your oral health in the long term. Well-trained hygienists can spot disease and early problems, bringing in the dentists as required. They can also keep your teeth beautifully clean and polished and your gums healthy and sound for a better oral health future.
5. Unlimited whitening
If you decide to whiten your teeth when you're in a stable dental situation, you may wish to continue to do so for the rest of your life. Being able to do that as part of your dental plan at no additional charge is an amazing way to keep you feeling good and looking good for all the things you want to do.
6. Stability of Your Dental team
Everyone wants to build relationships with their health care professionals, no one wants to see a different person every time they come. Understanding that the team that you're going to see is stable and is invested for the long term and for the provision of your care, is an important part of building trusted dental care.
