Dental Healthcare Cover & Insurance

In Australia, healthcare cover and insurance generally offer dental in policies or as an add-on. Unfortunately, many choose not to use their included dental cover, consequently letting included check-ups and treatments to go to waste.

What type of health or dental insurance do I need?

In Australia, there is no such as thing as just dental insurance. You will need to take out private health insurance that includes dental coverage. Health insurance generally comes with two types of dental coverage: General and Major.

General dental covers your basic dental needs such as check-ups, cleanings, and fillings.

Major dental covers further treatments such as dental surgeries, root canals, veneers and even emergency treatment. This type of coverage also includes endodontic work, which deals with tooth decay and damage, periodontics for gum health, and orthodontic work for braces and other similar treatments needed for bite or jaw correction.

Not all insurance policies are the same. This is generally what can be covered by your insurance, but you will need to check with your provider to know for sure what you are entitled to as part of your policy. Policies may cover all or just partial costs involved.

Are there any limits as to what I can claim?

Many insurers have put a limit on what you can claim due to the costs associated with dental care. The limits will vary per policy and may only apply to certain treatments, make sure you check with your insurance provider as what the limits of your policy are. The lower the limit, the less you are covered.

What benefits come with dental care coverage?

Most health insurers offer free regular check-ups and cleanings as part of their policies. This is often offered twice a year. These services will expire if you do not use them and will not carry over into the next year.

You must use them or lose them.

Other treatments will obviously come at a much lower cost than they would without dental coverage. Major treatments such as orthodontal work can be incredibly expensive, but insurance will help offset that cost, making it more affordable so you don’t have to go without.

Dental care can also cover emergency treatments, so if there was ever an accident involving a tooth or a toothache decided to flare up, your unexpected costs will be at a minimum.

Why are bi-annual check-ups and cleanings important?

Getting your teeth checked and cleaned regularly will help prevent any problems, meaning fewer treatments are needed in the future. Dentists can detect issues early before they turn into bigger problems, like cavities; where left untreated can lead to further tooth decay and major dental work, including tooth extraction.

Calculus (tartar) builds up on teeth from the minerals contained in natural saliva and form a very attractive environment for bad bacteria to grow. So it is also important to have calculus cleaned of your teeth frequently to keep your gums happy and healthy.

These bi-annual check-ups are often free as part of a private health insurance policy, so Australians can really benefit from taking advantage of them to upkeep their good oral hygiene.

JC Dental is dedicated to bringing a superior dental service for the whole family. Whether it is a general six-month check-up or specific treatment and emergencies, our dentists are on hand to help with your oral hygiene needs.

We’re always happy to help with any queries related to your dental care, so give our friendly team a call with any questions or to book an appointment. Alternatively, use our contact form or visit us at our Southport offices to speak with a knowledgeable member of staff.