Most dental insurance plans operate on a calendar year basis, which means your benefits reset on January 1st. If you don’t use them before the year ends, those dollars vanish. Using your benefits now can help maximize these benefits and save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars on necessary dental care.
At Brilliant Dental Care in Houston, we help patients navigate their insurance benefits to make the most of every dollar. Dr. Kevin Freeman and our experienced team work with most major insurance plans, and we use advanced technology to provide efficient treatment that fits your schedule. Whether you need cosmetic dentistry treatments or basic preventive care, we’re here to help you use your benefits before they disappear at year’s end.
How Dental Insurance Benefits Work
Understanding the structure of your dental insurance helps you make smarter decisions about when to schedule treatment. We work closely with you to better understand your coverage and develop a plan that fits your budget to avoid surprises down the road.
Annual Maximums and Deductibles
The annual maximum is the total amount your insurance will pay for covered services in a calendar year, usually ranging from $1,000 to $2,000. Once you reach this cap, you’re responsible for 100% of any additional costs until the next year begins. The deductible is what you pay out of pocket before your insurance starts covering services, typically between $50 and $150 per person.
Coverage Tiers
After you meet your deductible, your insurance begins paying according to coverage tiers. The following tiers determine what percentage of each procedure your plan covers:
- Preventive care like cleanings and exams are 100% covered.
- Basic procedures like fillings likely have 70-80% coverage.
- Insurance plans usually cover 50% of major services like crowns.
If you’ve already met your deductible this year, completing any recommended treatment before December 31st means you won’t have to pay another deductible in January. This alone can save you $50-$150 per person in your family.
The Cost of Waiting Until Next Year for Dental Care
Postponing dental treatment may seem like a way to save money, but it often leads to higher costs and more complex procedures down the road. Other potential risks of waiting until the new year to use your dental benefits include the following:
How Small Problems Become Big Expenses
A small cavity requiring a simple filling today may progress to the point where you need a non-surgical root canal or extraction if left untreated. The difference in cost can be substantial, potentially hundreds or thousands of dollars more. Your insurance benefits also reset in January, meaning you’ll have a fresh annual maximum and deductible to work with.
The January Appointment Rush
Many patients wait until after the holidays to schedule appointments, creating a rush in January and February. Dental offices fill up quickly during these months, which may mean waiting weeks or even months for an available appointment slot. By scheduling now, you have better flexibility to choose convenient appointment times before the end-of-year rush.
If you need extensive dental work, using this year’s benefits now and next year’s benefits for additional treatment allows you to spread out the financial burden. This strategy is particularly helpful for major procedures like dental implants, which take multiple appointments to complete.
Common Procedures to Complete Before Year End
At Brilliant Dental Care, we want you to make the most strategic use of your remaining coverage. This may involve priortizing the following treamtments before your benefits expire:
Restorative and Major Services
Restorative work like crowns, bridges, and inlays & onlays often fall into the major services category with 50% coverage. If you need any of these procedures, completing them before December 31st maximizes your insurance contribution. Modern CEREC technology allows for same-day crowns and restorations, making it easier to fit treatment into your schedule before the year ends.
Cosmetic and Preventive Care
Cosmetic improvements may qualify for partial coverage under certain circumstances. Some insurance plans provide benefits for procedures that improve both function and appearance.
Preventive care should always be your first priority. If you haven’t had your routine cleaning and exam yet this year, schedule it now. Most plans cover 100% of these appointments and help catch minor problems before they become bigger, more expensive issues. We can also identify areas of concern that might benefit from treatment while you still have insurance benefits available.
Get the Most From Your Benefits With Brilliant Dental Care
The end of the year approaches quickly, and with it, the opportunity to use dental benefits that won’t carry over into 2026. Taking action now means you can address dental concerns before they become more serious and expensive, all while maximizing the coverage you’ve already paid for through your insurance premiums.
Dr. Kevin Freeman and our team understand that dental insurance can be confusing, which is why we’re here to help you navigate your benefits and make informed decisions about your oral health. We accept most major insurance plans and work directly with your provider to maximize your coverage. Our office uses cutting-edge technology to provide efficient, high-quality care that respects both your time and your budget. Contact us today to schedule an appointment and put your insurance benefits to work before the year ends.
