Dental Insurance Articles
How Dental Hygiene Affects Insurance Quotes
2010-06-28
Insurance companies evaluate each applicant based on the risks they present. The process of getting an insurance quote sometimes requires one to obtain a physical exam and provide the results to the insurance company. This may be the case whether you are requesting medical, life, or dental insurance quotes. Oftentimes, insurance companies require a dental check up in addition to a physical so that they can have an idea of the potentially insured's dental hygiene. This is required because, while the applicant may be in good health, the care one gives to their hygiene can speak volumes to future health. The evaluation of these risks and how each applicant ranks among them is the process by which the insurance company determines the premium the applicant will pay, or if the insurance company would even like to insure that person.
Some examples of poor dental hygiene that insurance companies take into account are cleanliness of the mouth, healthiness of the teeth, and frequency of past visits. The general rule for caring for one's teeth is brushing twice a day plus regular flossing and consistent use of mouthwash. While this won't always prevent cavities, it does maintain a generally healthy mouth, and a dental hygienist can always tell when a patient is dishonest.
Cavities, broken teeth and other problems are part of every day life, and insurance companies realize this. Healthiness of the teeth and frequency of visits go hand in hand in the insurance realm of dental hygiene care. If one does have a cavity or has had another type of tooth problem in the past, the insurance company takes into account how quickly that problem was realized and then solved by the patient, but also how often it has happened. They take into account if the problem was self-induced or happened naturally, and if it has been a recurring problem.
Once the insurance company receives the feedback from the health care provider, they can determine from the information received if the applicant has good dental hygiene or not. If the applicant takes great care of their mouth, chances are they take good care of the rest of their body. However, if the applicant shows some tell-tale signs of poor dental hygiene, he is putting himself at more risk for problems down the road, whether or not those problems relate to dental care. The insurance company makes their decision to insure based on these findings, and then sets the premium. The better the dental hygiene, the lower the insurance quotes will be.
If your insurance company requires you to get a dental hygiene screen, be sure to keep those pearly whites in good health.