Time is Running Out! Don’t Forget to Use the Balance of Your FSA!

This is the time of year in which you’re probably busier than ever! From planning holiday family gatherings to buying presents to making travel plans, it’s easy for some things to slip your mind. But if you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) through your employer’s health plan, don’t forget to use the remaining balance of your funds for this year if you haven’t already done so! If you’re considering a visit to your dentist, this is an ideal opportunity to schedule an appointment for a checkup or treatment covered by your plan.

Some FSA plans end on December 31, while others may extend a grace period to use the remaining amount left in your account or allow for a maximum carry over amount for the next year.

Other types of insurance plans typically have a maximum amount of annual benefits after the deductible has been met. If you’ve met your plan’s deductible for dental expenses this year, you may be eligible for certain services to be covered for free, or at reduced cost. If you need a treatment that meets your plan’s eligibility, scheduling it now - rather than next year, when you’ll have to meet your deductible again - makes much more sense!

What Types of Dental Expenses Does an FSA Cover?

The basic guideline is that any procedure that treats or prevents a dental disease is eligible for FSA coverage. However, FSAs can differ depending on your employer’s plan sponsor. To confirm that a procedure is covered, contact your company’s HR department or the sponsor and carefully go over your plan. Insurance plans can be confusing, so it’s better to ask instead of mistakenly assuming that a procedure is covered, then be billed for it! The same is true for other types of dental insurance plans. Our blog post - “Your Flexible Spending Account – Time to Use It or Lose It” - covers this topic in greater detail.

Generally, FSAs cover expenses for the following services:

All diagnostic and preventative services.
Teeth cleaning.
Fillings and sealants.
Fluoride treatments.
Bridges.
Crowns.
Bonding.
Dentures.
Tooth extraction.
Inlays and onlays.
Treatments for gingivitis, temporomandibular joint syndrome and disorder, gum recession, and necessary oral surgery.

Crowns and bonding are covered, but only for restorative purposes - such as to protect a tooth that has had root canal treatment, or a chipped or cracked tooth. Crowns and bonding (as well as veneers) performed for cosmetic purposes are not covered, so if you’re considering a smile makeover, discuss financing options with your dentist for a payment plan that best suits your budget.

Know Your Dental Insurance Benefits

Understanding your dental insurance benefits is essential to making the most of them. First, get information on your maximum benefits available (MBA) and your explanation of benefits (EOBs). To do so, locate the full explanation of your dental benefits - whether online or on paper. Before looking over everything in your EOBs, search just for your MBA, which is the maximum amount of money your dental insurance will pay for a variety of dental work in the span of a year - keeping in mind that anything not used by the end of the year does not roll over into the next year, and is lost.

Next, collect your EOBs sent from your dental insurance carrier after all of the dental work you have had performed over the year, and review them to see how much your dental insurance has paid. Totaling this amount and comparing it to your MBA will reveal how much is left that you can use toward dental work by the end of the year. EOBs and other insurance documents can often be unclear, however, so you may want to save yourself the trouble and simply call your dental insurance carrier to ask how much of your MBA is left.

How to Get the Most From Your Plan

No matter what type of employer-provided dental insurance plan you have, be sure you use all of the benefits you’re entitled to by the end of the year to avoid having to pay for the same service(s) at the start of the new year, when - for many types of plans - you’ll need to pay through the deductible first. This is also an opportune time to plan and schedule your visits for next year. Consider these options to make the most of your dental plan:

Visit your dentist for one of your semiannual dental appointments to receive a teeth cleaning and other preventive dental work. This is one of the easiest ways to maintain your oral health and to take advantage of your dental benefits, as most insurance plans will completely cover preventive dental appointments.
Discuss dental plans for the remainder of the year at appointments in the summer or fall months, so you can plan and know what to expect. This helps ensure that there won’t be a scramble to use up your insurance benefits come December, along with everyone else.
Make sure you know what’s covered by your dental insurance and which treatments are not covered. This will help you determine how to effectively plan out your appointments for the rest of the year and into next year. Your dentist office should be able to provide information about what your insurance plan covers, but you can also directly call your insurance provider or visit its website to learn details.
Talk to your dentist, who is your partner in oral health! Knowing what treatments to expect over the coming year can help you get the most benefits from your insurance plan, no matter what type you have!

The Take-Home Message

For those with an FSA, it’s time to use your benefits, or lose the money you’ve put into your account for this year. For those with other types of dental insurance, be sure to schedule your last checkup of the year now (if you haven’t already) so your insurance will pay for (or toward) any covered treatment that may be necessary before the end of the year. Otherwise, you’ll need to start meeting your deductible again at the start of next year. You have dental insurance, so use it wisely to save money for a healthy, great smile all year ‘round!

At NK Family Dental, it is our mission to provide the highest quality and most compassionate oral care to our Chicago patients, including both dental and periodontal services. Our practice is trusted for advanced oral surgery procedures and comfortable root canal treatment.

Our dental specialists include our general dentist, Dr. Nilofer Khan, our endodontist, Dr. Sabek, and our periodontist, Dr. Amir Danesh. Dr. Danesh is a board-certified periodontist and Diplomat of the American Board of Periodontology. He has contributed to the publication of two books, as well as published over 20 papers in prestigious dental research journals.

We understand that the main concern you may have is cost, which is why we accept all major PPO plans for dental insurance and also offer our in-house dental plan. Please see our financing page for more information.

We serve the neighborhoods of Logan Square, Bucktown, Humboldt Park, and Wicker Park with the dedication that’s earned us the reputation as the Best Dentist in Chicago!

Schedule your visit through ZocDoc, or contact us directly. We look forward to treating you soon!

How Painful Are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a common procedure designed to improve the functionality of your teeth with artificial replacements. While they are similar to dentures or dental bridges, dental implants provide more comfortable and secure options for those who may not have enough remaining roots for damaged or lost teeth. All surgeries involve varying periods of discomfort during the recovery process, but improvements in oral surgeries like dental implants have greatly reduced the amount of pain and discomfort patients may experience. To help you prepare for the recovery process after receiving an implant, let’s take a closer look at why it may be the best restoration option, what to expect during the procedure and a general recovery timeline.

Why Dental Implants Are Performed

Dental implant procedures are performed in order to improve oral functionality as a result of tooth loss, damage, or decay. Titanium implants are inserted into the jawbone to replace and function as roots to the removed teeth. While dentures and bridges have the potential to cause bone damage, slip or make noise, implants stay secure and will not decay over time. Dental implants look and function just like natural, healthy teeth.

Candidates for dental implants should meet all or most of the following criteria:

Have one or more teeth
Have a fully developed jawbone
Have healthy tissues within the mouth
Have enough bone mass to secure implants or are able to receive a bone graft
Be unable to wear dentures
Do not have health conditions that could interfere with bone healing
Are prepared to undergo several months of dental implant procedures and care
Do not smoke or use tobacco products

What to Expect

Unlike many quick dental procedures, getting dental implants is a process that will take several months. This is why it’s especially important to be fully prepared and know what to expect during the recovery period. The good news is that the implant procedure itself should cause no pain, but the recovery process may involve some discomfort. Ask the Dentist lists and describes the six main steps of the dental implant journey.

X-rays — Your dentist will take a set of x-rays for evaluative and prognostic purposes. X-rays, panoramic X-rays or a 3D CT scan will be used to determine bone and gum condition.
Impressions - The next step will be for your dentist to make an impression of the inside of your mouth to be used for a replica model for further assessing treatment. Impressions are made by biting down on a U-shaped plastic or metal impression tray filled with soft liquid, which will then form into a rubber mold.
Extractions - Before an implant can be performed, tooth extraction may be necessary if the problem tooth is still in place. Generally, extraction can be performed during the same procedure as a dental implant. You may feel a small amount of pressure or tugging during the extraction, but the anesthetic administered by your dentist will prevent pain.
Implants - Finally, the implant procedure will begin. Once again, the anesthetic will prevent any pain during the procedure, although you may feel some slight pressure. Your dentist will first drill a hole in your jawbone and then place the implant deep within to act as solid root for the artificial tooth. Bone grafts (of either natural or synthetic material) may be necessary to ensure the jawbone is strong enough to secure the implant. After the implant comes a waiting period while your jawbone grows and attaches to the dental implant (known as osseointegration). This can take from several weeks to several months. In the meantime, a partial, temporary denture may be placed in the open space.
Abutments - An abutment is a piece where the dental crown will be attached to the implant. Abutment placement will generally require a separate procedure once the jawbone as grown enough around the implant. While they can also be placed during the implant procedure, you may prefer to wait until the crown can be placed so that the abutment will not be visible while you wait for your bone to grow.
Dental Crowns - The last step of a dental implant process is to receive your new permanent crown. More impressions may be made of your mouth to help mold a natural-looking tooth. Depending on your individual situation, you may be able to choose between removable crowns, fixed crowns or a combination of the two.

Of course, the best way to prepare for receiving dental implants is to discuss the process in detail with your dentist and his/her staff. It’s important to take notes, ask questions, request written informational material from your dentist’s office and talk to a previous dental implant patient from the same dentist, if possible.

Recovery Timeline

Recovering from dental implant procedures will be different for every patient. More implants will typically mean a longer recovery and increased post-procedure discomfort. There is a likelihood of some pain initially after receiving implants once the anesthetic wears off, but your dentist will provide prescriptions for medications and other post-procedure instructions on how to best manage any pain or discomfort.

While every patient experiences recovery in his or her own unique time, a general timeline of recovery after dental implants will look like the following:

For up to 10 days after the procedure, you can expect some pain and discomfort. Take pain medication only as prescribed and follow your dentist’s instructions for oral care post-surgery. Any swelling should recede within three to five days.
After two weeks, you should contact your dentist immediately if you are still experiencing pain. This could be a sign of an infection.
Within three to four months, any pain from your dental implant may be caused by any number of factors including autoimmune disease, inadequate blood supply, medication side effects, poor overall health, infection, allergic reaction, a complication known as overloading, tissue or nerve damage, infection, or rejection of the implant. Do not wait to see if the pain goes away - contact your dentist as soon as possible if pain is still occurring months after receiving implants.
Experiencing pain after a year from the implant procedure could be caused by smoking, poor oral hygiene, infection, lack of gum tissue or bone in the jaw, bruxism (teeth grinding or clenching), or radiation treatment to the head or neck.

The best way to minimize pain immediately following your procedure is to take medication as prescribed, closely follow any instructions from your dentist, use ice or a cooling pad to reduce swelling, rinse your mouth with warm salt water, consumer primarily cold and soft foods, and - most importantly - maintain good oral hygiene.

Any pain lasting longer than up to 10 days after dental implant surgery is cause for serious concern. Contact your dentist immediately if pain persists.

Chicago Dental Implants

Dental implants are an ideal treatment that helps improve your appearance, your ability to eat and enjoy a wide variety of food, and your overall confidence. Look no further than NK Family Dental for safe and reliable dental implant services in Chicago. Our founder and owner, Dr. Nilofer Khan and our partner periodontist, Dr. Waeil Elmisalati, both provide the highest-quality dental, orthodontic and periodontic care, backed by many years of education, certifications, and ongoing training. Learn more about our other dental services, including oral surgery and periodontics treatment. Then, contact us to schedule an appointment.

Use It or Lose It: Three Things You Need to Do to Get the Most Out of Your Dental Insurance

The end of the year is a time to reflect on all you have accomplished in the past 12 months and remember what you still have left to do - like use up your dental insurance benefits! Some dental insurance plans require you to use up your benefits throughout the year or risk losing them in the next. That’s why December is an excellent time to visit the dentist. While we previously discussed what to do if you don’t have dental insurance, today we’re taking a look at how to get the most out of your dental insurance benefits.

Know Your Benefits

How do you know if you have “use it or lose it” insurance benefits? Get the most out of your dental insurance plan by gathering information on your maximum benefits available (MBA) and your explanation of benefits (EOBs).

First, you will need to locate the full explanation of your dental benefits, whether online or on paper. Before looking over everything in your EOBs, search just for your MBA , which is the maximum amount of money your dental insurance will pay for a variety of dental work in the span of a year. Anything not used by the end of the year is lost and does not roll over. You’ve already paid for your insurance benefits, so you might as well use them!

Next, collect your EOBs sent from your dental insurance carrier after all of the dental work you have had performed over the year, and examine them in detail to see how much your dental insurance has paid to cover it. Totalling this amount and comparing it to your MBA will reveal how much is left that you can use towards dental work by the end of the year. EOBs and other insurance documents can often be confusing, however, so it can be useful to directly call your dental insurance carrier for assistance and to ask how much of your MBA is left.

Make the Most of Your Plan

So, it’s nearing the end of the year, and you want to make sure you get the most out of your dental insurance plan. What are the best ways to use your dental benefits so you don’t lose them? Consider these options:

Visit your dentist for one of your semiannual dental appointments to receive a teeth cleaning and other preventive dental work. This is one of the easiest options to keep up your oral health and to take advantage of your dental benefits, as most insurance plans will completely cover preventive dental appointments.
Discuss dental plans for the remainder of the year at appointments in the summer or fall months, so you can plan and know what to expect. This helps ensure that there won’t be a scramble to use up your insurance benefits come December, along with everyone else.
Make sure you know what’s covered by your dental insurance and which treatments are not covered. This will help you determine how to effectively plan out your appointments for the rest of the year and into next year. Your dentist office should be able to provide information about what your insurance plan covers, but you can also directly call your insurance provider or visit their website to learn details.

If you have a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) through your employer rather than dental insurance, the steps to take to get the most out of your plan are similar. Some FSA plans end on December 31, while others may extend a grace period to use the remaining amount left in your account or allow for a maximum carry over amount for the next year. Only put as much as you expect to spend through your FSA for dental work, discuss treatment coverage with your dentist and FSA administrator, and plan your dental appointments in advance.

Call and Schedule an Appointment

If you need to use up your dental insurance benefits by the end of the year, consider NK Family Dental for your top Chicago dentist and periodontist. See our list of accepted PPO insurance plans and other financing options, along with our many services. Then, call us to schedule your appointment ASAP before December 31! We look forward to treating you in this year and the year to come.

Need a Dentist, but Don’t Have Insurance?

While it is known that oral health greatly impacts your overall health, most Americans unfortunately do not have dental insurance. Because of this, many people often forego visiting the dentist for as long as possible until an emergency occurs or until severe oral/dental conditions arise. Skipping the dentist because of a lack of dental insurance can lead to an increased risk for many oral and overall health conditions, including gum disease, tooth loss and heart disease. While you can still receive treatment in the event of a dental emergency, the extra expenses will burn an even deeper hole in your wallet. This is why it’s important to have a plan in place and know your options for both urgent and general dental care services.

Let’s discuss the different levels of severe and urgent dental needs, how to prepare for emergencies, what preventive measures you can take and what affordable options are in place for individuals and families without dental insurance.

Know What Is Urgent, and Have a Plan

As we discussed in our previous blog, “How to Know if It’s a Dental Emergency,” it’s important to know the difference between urgent dental matters and dental emergencies that require immediate attention.

Dental emergencies that require immediate treatment include:

A cracked tooth
A broken tooth
The sudden loss of a permanent tooth not caused by injury

Other dental issues that may only require an urgent appointment with your dentist include:

Dull toothaches
Lost or loose fillings, crowns, or bridges
Damaged retainers

Because dental emergencies can happen anywhere and at anytime, having a plan in place can greatly reduce stress and the potential for long-term damage. No matter the level of pain or discomfort, visiting your dentist or hospital (according to the severity of your condition) as soon as possible is crucial to maintaining overall health. Don’t let a lack of dental insurance cause further dental and medical conditions to arise or worsen.

What Are Your Options?

A thorough oral care routine does not replace the need for semi-annual check-ups at the dentist, nor can it completely keep dental emergencies at bay. The best preventive measure you can take is to have dental insurance if possible, as this makes regular dental care more accessible. However, many families, young adults and senior adults do not have a dental insurance plan.

However, there are options available to uninsured individuals who are not able to pay dental fees at the time of treatment. When you don’t have dental insurance, you can:

Join a membership or payment plan with a dentist. - Memberships with your dentist’s office (if available) allow you to receive many basic dental care services at no additional cost or at a greatly reduced cost when you pay an annual fee up front or over time. These options provide no financing or interest, and they are a great way to receive affordable dental care that fits your budget better.

Look for charity events - Many non-profit dental organizations provide free or low-cost dental care through regular local charity events such as free service days. While they may serve as volunteers with the non-profit organization, the individuals who provide services at these charity events are licensed dentists and dental professionals, which means you will receive dental care you can trust.

Visit free or government clinics - Free or government dental clinics in your area work similar to charity events, in that dentists and professional dental staff volunteer their time to provide necessary and basic dental care to patients who could not otherwise afford it.

Try a dental school - Receiving dental treatment at a dental school clinic is another more affordable option. Dental students perform work under the careful supervision of licensed dentists. The main downside to this option is that getting an appointment may take longer compared to a traditional dentist’s office.

Avoid chain dental offices - Advertisements of chain dental offices can be deceiving. While they may claim to offer free and reduced services for new dental patients, these typically only apply to patients who already have dental insurance.

Be proactive - One of the best ways to reduce your need to go to the dentist beyond semi-annual checkups is through taking your own preventive measures. Maintain good oral health by brushing twice daily between two to three minutes each time, floss at least once a day and use an antibacterial mouthwash. You can improve your daily oral routine by using an electric toothbrush and in the evening using a fluoridated mouthwash.

We Have You Covered

If you don’t have the means to obtain dental insurance right now, there’s no need to panic. Many dental practices offer dental discounts with membership plans for individuals and families without dental insurance. Dental membership plans work by offering a variety of services included in the cost for an annual membership, combined with discounted rates for additional dental services. These plans ensure that you will still be able to maintain good oral health throughout the year, even without insurance.

For the best dental discounts with the best quality dental care in the heart of Chicago, look no further than NK Family Dental! Your NK Membership will include two general cleanings, exams, and X-rays at no additional charge to your annual membership. Additionally, you and your family will receive 25% off standard office fees, 10% off porcelain veneers cosmetic treatment, and a waived fee for the limited exam during an emergency visit if definitive treatment is completed on the same day as the exam. Members can also enjoy no yearly maximum and no deductibles or copays.

To learn more about our membership discount plan or to schedule your next appointment, contact NK Family Dental today!