If you’re planning on retiring in the next 5 years, congratulations! This is the perfect time to start prioritizing your dental care. Many people wait until they’re about to retire to try and squeeze in needed dental work.This can be a bad financial strategy, as many dental procedures take a length of time, and require a bit of planning. If you’re within the 5 year range, it’s a great idea to let your dentist know so we can create a functional treatment plan that utilizes your dental insurance benefits while you still have them.
If you have older amalgam (silver) fillings that are starting to cause the teeth to crack or crowns with failing margins, now is the perfect time to start updating them. If you have diagnosed crown treatments, getting the processed started early is financially ideal. This way you are able to spread the cost over time.
After retirement many folks will lose their dental insurance benefits. You may be unaware that Medicare plans often do not cover dental. Some Medicare Advantage plans give options for dental coverage, but have many limitations and cover very little towards major procedures. If you need treatment it will often be out of pocket on your part and may be costly.
This is also a great time to reevaluate your home care habits. An ideal homecare routine is to brush twice a day for two minutes with a fluoridated toothpaste and use an interdental cleaning aid such as dental floss or a water flosser once a day. The best preventative practice is to have good home care, this will decrease the likelihood that you will need dental treatment in retirement.
With retirement in your near future this is the best time to strategize your treatment plan and maximize your dental insurance benefits. Be sure to mention your upcoming retirement to us so we can help ensure an easy transition. We want everyone to enjoy a worry free retirement, and planning ahead is the best strategy.