Dental insurance can be helpful to patients in defraying the costs when paying for dental treatment. Insurance, however, can sometimes be a double-edged sword and it is important for consumers to investigate what plans will keep them and their families smiling in the future, advises the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).

Oral health care is extremely important and coverage is typically available to individuals and families through their employers, who will pay a premium to have them covered. Individuals may also choose to seek out alternative dental insurance plans and pay a monthly premium that would provide basic coverage for exams, hygiene cleanings, root canals, orthodontics, etc.

The down side of dental insurance is that it may limit which dentists a patient can visit and the coverage may not cover costs of all the treatment that needs to be completed.

It is important that the insurance company not interfere in the doctor-patient relationship by dictating treatment to the dentist or the patient. The patient should understand that the dentist, not the insurance company, is trained in diagnosing and treating dental disease. When insurance companies interfere in the diagnosis and treatment planning by dictating treatment, optimal oral health care can be reduced.