Do you want to know which is the best insurance for dental braces because you don’t know which one to choose and you want to reduce the costs of the dentist ?
At Doctor Dentist we know that it is sometimes difficult to choose between different dental policies. That’s why we wrote this article. We update you on everything you need to know about orthodontic insurance and how to recognize a good dental insurance that covers these types of expenses.
We also list the best insurance policies that cover the costs of dental braces and analyze them to make your search easier.
Does the NHS cover orthodontics?
The answer is: “it depends”.
The National Health Service, in fact, covers orthodontic treatment only in very special cases. Specifically, to children under the age of 14 and suffering from serious problems (indicated as grade 4 and 5 of the Orthodontic Treatment Need Index) and especially in cases where the child comes from a socio- problematic economy, as reported by the website of the Ministry of Health .
If the patient is a child who does not fall into this category or is already an adult then it will be necessary to consult a private dentist and the only way to pay less for orthodontic treatment is to rely on dental insurance that includes this kind of dental treatment and dental expenses.
Orthodontic dental care: average costs
Prices may vary depending on the clinic you go to, even within the same city. The costs of dental and orthodontic care also vary according to the materials used, the experience of the professional and whether the dentist is a private individual or works in a franchised clinic. You must take care that you are not charged for any unsolicited additional services.
When you are presented with an estimate for orthodontic dental care, a professional should always explain it to you in detail and explain the various stages to you. Request that the procedures that will be performed after the treatment also be included in the budget and inquire about the possibility of paying in installments .
Invisible orthodontics is comfortable, allows for better oral hygiene and is able to solve 90% of malocclusions and imperfections such as the space between the teeth (diastema). If you want to know if it’s right for you, it’s important to visit a specialist who can advise you if he’s right for you.
Brace insurance: how it protects you from a big expense
Dental insurance usually includes more routine treatments such as checkups, dental cleaning or hygiene, dental care in the event of an accident or emergency, and other types of procedures, including surgery.
More expensive treatments such as implantology or orthodontics are often not included or the policy covers them only partially (if you want to know more about the best dental insurance for implantology , read our article). It is therefore necessary to pay close attention to the clauses of the policy and to be clear what it includes and what it does not before stipulating it.
Other points to take into consideration are:
- the ceiling : i.e. the maximum amount, usually annual or relating to a specific treatment, which will be reimbursed by the insurance (find out more about dental insurance without ceiling in our article),
- the reimbursement which can be direct or indirect depending on whether the policy pays the dentist directly for your treatment or asks you to advance the expense to then reimburse you (and in this case, it is good to be clear about the repayment times and whether they will be 100% cost of care),
- the deductible , i.e. an amount that in some cases is borne by the insured since the policy will only cover the expenses starting from a certain amount,
- The shortage , i.e. after how long you can take advantage of insurance reimbursements for dental care. You can’t always take advantage of it as soon as you have signed it. Sometimes, after activating a policy you can enjoy 30% coverage only after 6 months, for example.
Dental care: how much does dental insurance cost?
This question is not easy to answer as the cost of dental insurance can vary depending on many variables. On average it is between €200 and €1,000 per year.
As we have already mentioned, characteristics such as the ceiling, deductible, number of insured persons and the possibility of using the insurance abroad also affect the price of the insurance.
To find out the precise cost of insurance, be it dental or health in general, it is therefore advisable to contact the insurance company directly.
Dental braces insurance: how much does it cost?
Analyzing the policies found online, it is not easy to trace the price since it is usually communicated to the person concerned after having understood his situation and the type of insurance and coverage he needs.
UniSalute offers a policy for minors which provides coverage for dental braces and costs €160 per year. However, it must be kept in mind that it allows access to a network of approved dentists who will offer orthodontic treatment at a discounted price.
Dental insurance for children: when is the best time?
In general, dental insurance is recommended for anyone at any age. No one is free from oral health problems or unforeseen emergencies.
The insurance allows you to quickly solve any dental problem in an economic way and by facing lower costs. Furthermore, many of the treatments included in the policy are preventive, so it is advisable to have them done as soon as possible and thus avoid having to undergo more complex and expensive dental treatments in the future.
During childhood, the mouth is involved in a constant process of change and special care may be required, so that the oral health of the little ones is not affected.
During childhood and adolescence, therefore, the orthodontic appliance not only has the objective of correcting misalignments for aesthetic reasons, it is often necessary to correct malocclusions and problems that can have consequences on the child’s health.
From 6 to 12 years , the so-called mixed dentition occurs, i.e. the milk teeth coexist with the permanent ones. During this period, various dental problems appear in a high percentage of children.
This is why it is advisable to have dental insurance that includes a comprehensive plan for children as well, which provides the best coverage for each of the stages of childhood and also for orthodontic dental care.
