Table of Contents

• What Dental Benefits Expire at the End of the Year? 
• What Dental Care Should You Schedule Before the Year Ends? 
• How to Check Your Dental Benefits Before Scheduling Treatment
• Why Early Scheduling Gives You More Options
• How Your Dental Team Can Help You Maximize Your Benefits
• Schedule Your Dental Care in Henderson County Today

The last few months of the year are incredibly fast moving. With so many responsibilities on your plate, the days seem to fly by. While this often includes holiday parties and gatherings with your loved ones, this may also mean that by the end of the year, you might realize that you haven’t put your dental benefits to good use. 

If you aren’t careful, you may end up losing out on thousands of dollars in essential dental care before the year and your benefits reset. However, it doesn’t have to be this way. With a little bit of planning ahead of time, you can ensure you get the most out of these benefits. But what exactly should you be doing to get your money’s worth out of them? 

In this blog, our team will help you determine what appointments to schedule before the end of the year to ensure you get the most out of your dental benefits. 

What Dental Benefits Expire at the End of the Year? 

Before you even reach out to your dental team to schedule your next appointment, it is important to determine which dental benefits actually expire at year’s end and which will rollover. If you are planning to focus on your dental care before the end of the year, this is what you can expect out of your benefits: 

• Annual Maximums & Deductibles: When it comes to your dental insurance, both your annual maximums (the amount your insurance contributes to your dental care each year) and deductibles (how much you pay out of pocket before insurance begins paying) will reset, making it important to use it before you lose this coverage. 
• Health Savings Accounts (HSA): Your health savings account, which is an independently funded account, will not expire when the year comes to an end. Instead, this account continues to grow, allowing you to cover a variety of more extensive dental expenses, including those for fillings, periodontal treatment, root canals, and more.
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA): Your flexible spending account is designed to help you cover a variety of healthcare expenses. However, these accounts follow a “use it or lose it” rule. If you don’t use the funds from your FSA,  you will lose these benefits when the year comes to an end. 

What Dental Care Should You Schedule Before the Year Ends? 

To ensure you’re getting the most out of your dental benefits for the year, it is important that you schedule an appointment with your dentist. But, there may be some treatments you’ll want to prioritize to ensure you’re getting the most out of your benefit plan. The following are the most common services patients will schedule to get the most out of their dental benefits: 

• Preventive care, including cleanings, X-rays, routine exams, and oral cancer screenings.
• Recommended treatments, like fillings, crowns, root canals, and periodontal treatment.
• Some covered cosmetic treatments, including teeth whitening and composite bonding. 
• Long-term treatments, like orthodontic care, implants, and multi-step restorations. 

If you’re unsure where to begin getting the most out of your dental benefits, it is always best to start with an exam. During this appointment, your dental team will examine your teeth and determine what the best next steps are to help you achieve your dream smile. 

How to Check Your Dental Benefits Before Scheduling Treatment

If you have already begun utilizing your dental benefits for the year, you want to ensure that you have adequate coverage before heading into your next appointment. But you may be unsure of how to check your benefits. The first step is to log into your dental insurance’s online portal. This should give you an outline of your deductible and annual maximum, and what benefits remain. 

You should also log into the online portals for your HSA and FSA. You may also call the customer service number of your HSA card to speak to a representative who can verify your balance. With all of this information available, you can go into your upcoming dental appointment feeling confident that your treatment will be properly covered. 

Why Early Scheduling Gives You More Options

When it comes to getting the most out of your dental benefits, it isn’t just important to consider what treatments you want to get done. It is also essential that you schedule these appointments in a timely manner. Choosing to schedule your appointment too late in the year can create more of a headache than you realize.

If you put off scheduling, there is a risk that you won’t be able to schedule all of the essential dental treatments before your benefits reset. Instead, you may only have an opportunity to go in for your exam before the start of the next year. This leaves you potentially paying more for your dental care than if you get all of the essential treatments done before year’s end. 

By proactively booking your appointments now, you ensure enough time for multi-stage procedures like crowns or implants to be completed. Avoiding the end-of-year rush not only secures your preferred time slots but also guarantees that your dental benefits are fully utilized, preventing you from missing out on coverage you’ve already paid for.

How Your Dental Team Can Help You Maximize Your Benefits

Many patients assume they can schedule their dental appointments during the last few weeks of December, only to discover that appointment availability is limited. As the end of the year approaches, dental offices in Henderson County often experience an increase in patients trying to use their remaining benefits before they expire. 

Scheduling your visit early gives you more flexibility and enough time to complete any recommended treatment before your annual maximum resets. By planning ahead, you can:

• Choose appointment times that fit your schedule.
• Complete multi-visit treatments before December 31.
• Avoid the stress of last-minute scheduling.
• Have time to coordinate with your dental insurance provider if questions arise.
• Maximize your remaining annual benefits before they expire.

Even if you aren’t experiencing tooth pain, scheduling an exam now can help identify concerns early and ensure you don’t leave valuable dental benefits unused at the end of the year.

Schedule Your Dental Care in Henderson County Today

If you want to ensure you’re getting the most out of your dental benefits before the year comes to an end, turn to our team at Hendersonville Family Dental for support. Whether you’re scheduling a dental cleaning, fillings, periodontal care, or cosmetic procedure, our team has the tools and training to help you achieve the smile of your dreams. With our team on your side, you can go into your upcoming dental appointments feeling confident that you’ve made the best decision for your short-term goals and long-term oral health.

When you are ready to learn more about our services and schedule an appointment, contact our team today by filling out an online contact form or call us at 828-222-7878.