Families sometimes find themselves rushing to use their remaining dental benefits before they reset as the year comes to an end. The time is running out, and since insurance policies are ‘use it or lose it,’ now is the ideal moment to make sure you’re not losing money.

Thankfully, maximizing your advantages and avoiding needless out-of-pocket expenses is simple. Before the year ends, we’ll go over a few clever ways to help your family make the most of your dental coverage in this blog.

Don’t Wait—Schedule Routine Check-ups Now

Routine dental check-ups and cleanings are essential for maintaining healthy smiles and preventing costly procedures down the road. Most insurance plans cover these services, which means that if you don’t use your dental insurance benefits for these preventative appointments, you risk losing them.

Why it Matters:
By scheduling your routine check-up and cleaning now, you’re making sure that your family’s dental health stays on track. Early detection of issues like cavities, gum disease, and other oral health concerns can save you from more expensive treatments later on. Best of all, these services usually don’t require any out-of-pocket costs, allowing you to fully “use it or lose it” with zero added expense.

Action Step:
Contact our dentist today and get those appointments on the calendar before the year ends.

Take Care of Small Issues Before They Get Worse

If you’ve been putting off filling a small cavity, now’s the time to act. Small dental problems left untreated can lead to major procedures, such as root canals or crowns, which are significantly more expensive. You’ve already paid for your insurance benefits this year—don’t let them go to waste by delaying necessary treatments.

Why it Matters:
It’s far cheaper to treat cavities early rather than wait for them to grow into bigger problems. Your dental insurance likely covers fillings at a high percentage, so you won’t need to pay much out-of-pocket. By addressing minor cavities now, you’ll be using your benefits to prevent future, more expensive treatments.

Action Step:
Schedule an appointment for a filling before the year resets to take full advantage of your benefits.

Get Major Treatments Started Now—Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

For families needing extensive dental work—such as crowns, root canals, or even bridges—starting the process before the year ends can save you money. Many insurance plans only partially cover these major procedures, but they can still significantly reduce your out-of-pocket expenses. If you start treatment now, you can use this year’s benefits and save yourself the financial strain when the benefits reset.

Why it Matters:
By starting major treatments now, you’ll spread out the costs and utilize more of your benefits. Delaying until the new year could mean paying full price for procedures that were only partially covered in the previous year.

Action Step:
Talk to our dentist about starting any necessary procedures before the year ends, so you can minimize costs and maximize insurance coverage.

Maximize Your Benefits with X-rays

X-rays are an essential part of dental care, helping to detect hidden issues like cavities beneath the surface, early signs of gum disease, or even potential oral cancer. Many insurance plans cover X-rays as part of routine care, but if you haven’t had one yet this year, you could be missing out.

Why it Matters:
X-rays are a simple yet highly effective way to detect problems before they become bigger, more expensive issues. If your family’s dental insurance plan covers X-rays, make sure to use them before your benefits reset. You’ve paid for these benefits, so why let them expire unused?

Action Step:
Request an X-ray at your next dental appointment to help spot any hidden problems and ensure you’re fully using your benefits.

Use Your Benefits or Lose Them!

Dental insurance is a valuable tool for families to maintain good oral health, but many don’t take full advantage of it before the year ends. Following these simple steps will determine your family gets the most out of your dental benefits before the “use it or lose it” deadline. Whether it’s scheduling check-ups, treating small issues, or starting major procedures, contact Prairie Garden Dental today before this year resets and your benefits expire.