Best Time to Book a Dental Cleaning in Thunder Bay (Insurance Reset Tips)

Most plans reset on January 1 and unused benefits vanish. Here is how to time your cleanings so you actually use what you pay for.

Dental benefits are use-it-or-lose-it. Most Thunder Bay patients have a plan year that resets on January 1, and anything left in the annual maximum on December 31 simply disappears.

The nine-month rule

Many plans cover recall exams and cleanings every six or nine months rather than twice per calendar year. If your last cleaning was in March, booking in September rather than January means the visit is covered and you stay on schedule.

Avoid the December rush

Our last two weeks of December fill quickly with patients trying to use expiring benefits. Booking your second cleaning in October or early November gets you a better choice of times — including our Saturday morning hours.

Split larger treatment across two plan years

If you need work that exceeds your annual maximum, we can often stage it — part in December, part in January — so two years of benefits apply. Ask us about it when we present your treatment plan.

Quick timing checklist

• —Check your plan year start date and annual maximum in your booklet.
• —Book your next recall before you leave the office.
• —Ask the front desk to check your remaining balance in the fall.
• —Stage major treatment across the December / January boundary where possible.