Are you currently trying to decide whether or not to get dental insurance? You should do it. Those who claim dental insurance isn't worth anything may not have realized that there are many different plans out there, all offering different levels of coverage. If you're still not sure if you should get the coverage, take a look at what a policy could do for you.

The Premiums Save You Money

Dental insurance does cover some costs -- even the most basic policy will cover things like cleanings. One question to ask yourself is: how do monthly premiums compare to out-of-pocket expenses? With the growth in medical costs over the past several years, a cleaning and a set of x-rays alone could easily top what you paid in premiums. Add in a second cleaning, a couple of exams, and potential dental emergencies, and the premiums turn out to be comparatively cheap.

You Have Last-Minute Breathing Room

And speaking of emergencies, having the insurance if you suddenly need dental help is valuable. Some dentists will only treat emergencies if you have after-hour or urgent care coverage. Also, dental offices don't always work out payment plans like doctors' offices do. Some have special loan-type programs, but others want the full cost paid up front or within one month after they bill you. If you don't have coverage, you could end up with a hefty bill. But coverage that takes care of even half the cost can really make it a lot easier for you to handle your portion of the bill.

You'll Increase the Quality of Treatment

Even if your dentist doesn't take insurance, you can still get partial coverage and reimbursement by sending the invoice to the insurer yourself. Having even half or a quarter of the cost of a procedure covered gives you more treatment options that work with your budget. For example, if you need to get a filling, without insurance all you could afford would be a silver mercury filling. But with insurance, you might be able to put your money toward a white composite filling instead, because the insurance was chipping in part of the cost.

Dental insurance might not be perfect. But it is meant to supplement payments for dental work, and supplement it does. There are many different plans with higher limits and different benefits. You could talk with HMBD Insurance Services to learn about more options. It might take some searching, but you can find very good plans that cover a lot for a reasonable price.