Fall is upon us. That means the return of sweater weather and pumpkin spice lattes. It also means there’s only a few months left in the year, which is why now is the perfect time to remind your employees to take advantage of their dental benefits before they renew in the new year. Here’s how you can help your employees maximize their dental benefits before year-end to keep their teeth healthy, white, and bright.

Use It or Lose It

Employees may not realize that their dental benefits renew at the end of the year. That’s right—if your dental plan is on a traditional calendar-year schedule (and many are), your workforce may not understand that their benefits reset as of January 1. In most cases, they can’t carry unused coverage over to the following year, so it’s important to make sure your employees take advantage of their benefits within the next few months. This is especially relevant if you have employees who’ve met their deductible limits, or who still have a majority of their dental maximum left and dental services that need to be done.

Here are some ways you can help:

Encourage Preventive Oral Care

Just like it’s important to see their doctor at least once a year for a preventive care checkup to make sure they stay in good health, employees should also see their dentist every six months for routine, preventive dental care to stave off tooth and gum decay. Most dental insurance plans cover preventive care services, such as exams, cleanings, and X-rays at 100%. That means your employees won’t likely have to pay anything out of pocket to make sure their basic oral health is in top shape. 

These twice-yearly visits are necessary because dental health can go downhill quickly. A small cavity today can turn into a full-blown root canal down the road. In addition, a person’s dental health can provide vital clues about their overall health. That means a dentist may be able to spot potential disease or illness early, while it’s still potentially treatable, through a simple oral exam.

Communicate Opportunities to Save on More Extensive Dental Treatments

If it’s been a while since an employee has visited a dentist and they need more than routine dental care, they should also schedule those treatments before year-end. Your employees may not be aware that if they begin treatment before December 31, it’s like doubling their insurance benefits. That’s because their dental benefits renew on January 1.  

That means the end of the year can be an advantageous time to get implants, crowns, orthodontia, and other non-routine, extensive dental treatments that may require more than one visit to complete. Starting treatment now can help employees make the most of their insurance benefits, and also potentially save money.

For instance, if an employee has reached their dental deductible for the year, but not their annual maximum, their out-of-pocket costs may be significantly reduced. Employees can work with their dentist to create a customized plan to make the most of their benefits by splitting treatments—and any related out-of-pocket expenses—between this year and next. This ensures they use this year’s benefits to their fullest extent and can tap next year’s benefits to help cover the rest.

Remind Employees to Use Their Benefits

Encourage employees to call their insurance carrier to check on their benefits, see what preventive coverages they may have left to use by December 31, and to make the most of those benefits by scheduling an appointment to visit their dentist at their earliest convenience. And be sure to remind parents to schedule dental appointments for themselves and their dependent children—after all, their dental health is important as well. 

When it comes to taking care of your employees’ health, the best cure is prevention. That goes for their oral health, too.

For more information about your company’s dental health plan and how you can help your employees make the most of their benefits before year-end, visit https://www.washingtontechnology.org/services/medical/, contact your broker, or Raven Mencias at rmencias@washingtontechnology.org.