A person's oral health is indicative of their overall health. Although dental care is important to prevent increased risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes, many Americans are not getting the proper dental care they need. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 57% of children from 12-19 years old have had a cavity in their permanent teeth, ​90% of adults aged 20 and older have had at least one cavity, and 46% of all adults aged 30 years or older show signs of gum disease with 9% suffering from severe gum disease.​

 

Dental insurance has benefited many patients and dental offices over the past 60 years. It has allowed thousands of people to take better care of their teeth and has brought many new patients into dental offices. But now, we are seeing a significant increase in managed health care companies that decrease the patient's freedom of choice and many believe decreases the quality of care. Most dental insurance plans will only fully cover two preventative care visits a year. These services include routine cleanings, oral exams, and x-rays. Next, are the basic procedures such as fillings, root canals, and extractions. Most dental insurances will only cover a small percentage of these services after the plan's deductible is met. Finally, there are major dental work like crowns, bridges, and dentures. Usually, dental insurance covers an even smaller percentage of these restorations, so as a patient, you will be responsible for a larger portion of the bill. There are also annual maximums, where the insurance plan will pay up to a set amount of work each year. When the cost of the procedure is greater than the annual coverage, as the patient you are responsible for paying the difference. 

The maximum annual benefit on dental insurance plans have remained the same for over 60 years! Today's dental insurance covers approximately $1,000 to $2,000 of expenses annually. Adjusting for inflation, this value should be over $10,000 today! Meanwhile, the expenditures for dental services continue to rise, at an average rate of 1.35% annually. Given that the average cost of a root canal is $600 to 1,600 depending on the tooth, and the average cost of a crown is $1,200 to $2,000 depending on the type, you can quickly exhaust your annual dental allowance. Leaving the only drastic option for some, to extract the damaged teeth, permanently affecting their smile and possibly their confidence.

 

Everyone should be able to feel healthy and confident in themselves and not be limited to the health services they receive. New Jersey Smiles Back allows those with a less privileged circumstance to receive the dental services they need. If you know of someone in need of dental assistance, feel free to reach out to njsmilesback@gmail.com for a potential sponsorship!