Before December 31
Use your dental benefits before they reset.
Most dental plans start over on January 1. Coverage you have paid for all year and not used is simply gone, so the next few weeks are the time to put it to work.
Most plans reset on January 1.
What Expires
Three things that start over in January.
Check your own plan: most follow the calendar year, but some run on a different benefit year set by the employer.
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Your annual maximum
The most your plan will pay toward care this year. Whatever is left on December 31 does not carry over.
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Your deductible
If you have already met it this year, that progress is wiped clean in January and you start paying toward it again.
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Your FSA balance
Flexible Spending Account money is often lost at the end of the plan year. Dental care is a common qualified expense.
Make a Plan
Three steps before the year runs out.
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Find out what is left
Your plan’s member portal, or the phone number on the back of your card, will tell you how much of this year’s maximum remains. Our team is happy to help you make sense of it.
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Book while there is room
We see patients Monday through Thursday, so there are fewer appointment days left in the year than the calendar suggests. Booking early leaves you a choice of times.
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Finish care you put off
If recommended treatment takes more than one visit, starting now leaves time to complete it while this year’s benefits still apply.
No Insurance?
Nothing to lose on January 1.
Our in-house membership plan is $599 a year for two cleanings, X-rays and 15% off other treatment, with no annual maximum to run out. For larger treatment, CareCredit and Sunbit spread the cost over time.
From the Journal
More on your benefits
Dental Tips
Why Your Dental Insurance Covers So Little, and What Changes in 2027
California signed a new dental insurance law in September that takes effect January 1, 2027. What your annual maximum really covers, and what is changing.
Dental Tips
Navigating Dental Insurance: A Patient's Guide to Maximizing Benefits
Dental insurance can be confusing, with deductibles, maximums, and coverage tiers. This guide helps you understand your plan and maximize your benefits.
Book Today
Finish the year with a visit.
Book online or give us a call. We'll find a time that works before your benefits reset.