Checkups at the dentist’s office are an integral part of the preventive maintenance of teeth. However, many patients are concerned about the dentist checkup cost. How much is it? Will it be covered by insurance? This article will focus on the costs and what to expect during a routine dental checkup.
What happens at a dental checkup?
This type of checkup is done to make sure that your mouth is healthy. Your dentist will make sure that you would be free of any oral diseases, they will also make sure to take preventive steps so that tooth and gum diseases can be prevented from developing.
The frequency of visits to the dentist may vary per patient, some may need to go every six months, and others may need to go more or less frequently, but then the schedule set by the dentist must be followed.
How much does a dental checkup cost?
A routine dental checkup will set a person back anywhere from $80 to $200 for a cleaning performed by a dental hygienist, and rates can go as high as $114 to 320 if the appointment will include other dental services like dental Xrays and oral exams conducted by the dentist. Prices for various services may vary with each dentist, so it would be a good idea to verify just how much out-of-pocket expenses you will incur.
How much will insurance cover?
If you have dental insurance, there is a chance that all or a fraction of the cost will be covered by your insurance company. The general guideline you have to take note of would be that as long as the procedure would be medically needed, it would most likely be covered by dental insurance.
You will have to verify with your dentist as well as your insurance company before you can be sure of your exact out-of-pocket cost, but then most dental insurances would cover preventive dental procedures such as cleanings, exams and other needed procedures like Xrays, but then those might have a limit of one or two per year to be included in the coverage.
Insurance may also cover needed treatments such as fillings, root canals, and extractions. However, more often than not, insurance would only help lower the cost for these treatments, and you would still have to pay some expense.
Why you need to visit the dentist
Even if you think you have good oral hygiene habits, it would be a good idea to keep regularly scheduled visits to your dentist. Your mouth will not only be checked for the general health of teeth and gums but at the same time, the dentist will also monitor your mouth for any early warning signs of problems like gum disease, tooth decay, and oral cancer.
Do not worry about the cost, and visit your dentist often. It is more important to have healthy teeth and gums because a healthy mouth is a reflection of overall health. Do not dwell too much about the monetary expense because you cannot put a price on good oral health.
