Why buy dental insurance? 

Ninety-three percent of Americans believe oral health is very or extremely important to their overall health, according to Delta Dental’s State of America’s Oral Health Report, and 90 percent who have dental insurance indicate that having coverage allows them to maintain good oral health and is worth the cost.

When you consider the overall value of dental insurance, it's easy to understand why: Americans with dental benefits are more likely to go to the dentist, receive preventive care, and experience greater overall health.

Here’s how preventive dental care, good oral health, and dental insurance go hand-in-hand: 

It makes dental care more affordable

While it’s important to brush and floss well, regular visits to the dentist are also necessary. Because dental insurance focuses on prevention, many services like exams, cleanings, and X-rays are covered at 100 percent.

Dental insurance also helps reduce out-of-pocket costs for many procedures by cutting down on what you pay. Without dental insurance, you would be responsible for the full cost of treatment.

Delta Dental helps you save even more because we negotiate lower fees with our in-network dentists. With 96% of South Dakota dentists in our network and the largest network of participating dentists nationwide, we make it easy to find the right dentist for you and cost-saving dental care wherever you are.

The savings can add up

Here’s an example of the value of dental insurance for a family of four – each who visit the dentist twice for preventive care and have a cavity filled: 

*Plan premium and dental service fees are for illustrative purposes only. Premium rates are dependent on your plan. ** Check your specific plan details, as preventive coverage may vary.

You’re more likely to get the care you need

Families and individuals with dental insurance are significantly more likely to seek preventive care than those without coverage. And people who develop more complicated oral problems are more likely to skip needed treatments due to cost if they don’t have dental insurance. Mostly untreated and often preventable oral diseases result in more than 2 million emergency room visits nationwide each year. 

You’re more likely to avoid future dental problems

When you schedule regular preventive checkups, your dentist can detect problems early. This can help you avoid more costly and complex procedures, like crowns and root canals. In fact, for each dollar spent on preventive services, it is estimated that $50 or more is saved on more expensive procedures down the road.