In this economy, a job with dental benefits is a rare find. So what happens when you start a new job that doesn’t offer dental benefits? Or what if you decide to become self-employed? Or you are in-between employers? Having dental benefits isn’t something that should be overlooked. Dental benefits help make necessary and sometimes costly procedures more affordable.

So if you find yourself (or your family) without dental benefits, what should you do? Consider an individual dental benefits policy. An individual policy is a benefit that you pay for out-of-pocket and is not associated with benefits offered from your place of employment. Many different companies offer an affordable option for individual coverage.

Since there are so many options to choose from when it comes to individual policies, the factors to take into consideration are deductibles, network dentists, services covered, and cost to you.

If you have good oral habits, look for a dental plan that covers 100% of preventive care. Chances are that you won’t need a lot of extra work if you brush twice a day and floss daily.

The size of the network of dentists is also an important factor. If you had dental benefits with your previous employer, you probably already have a dentist that you and your family are comfortable with. If you choose a dental plan with a large network of dentists, you can probably keep your same dentist with an individual policy.

Whatever you choose when you decide on a benefit carrier, just remember, oral health affects overall health so it is in your best interest to continue taking care of your mouth!