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Preventive (Dental Subcategory)

Preventive dental care focuses on maintaining oral health through regular cleanings, examinations, and minor treatments. It helps detect issues early, reducing the need for major dental work later. Services in this category include exams, X-rays, scaling, polishing, fluoride treatments, and sealants for children.

Most dental plans cover preventive services at a higher reimbursement rate, often 80 to 100 percent, with little or no waiting period. Preventive care is typically available right away after enrollment.

Example:

If a dental cleaning costs $180 and your plan covers preventive services at 100 percent, you pay nothing out of pocket.

What to Watch For:

Preventive benefits often have a recall interval - usually every six or nine months. Submitting a claim too early may result in denial.

Related Terms

Periodontics

Periodontics is the area of dentistry concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of gum disease and supporting bone structures around the teeth. Treatments may include deep cleaning (scaling and root planning), gum grafts, and maintenance therapy.

Dentist

A dentist is a licensed healthcare professional who diagnoses, treats, and helps prevent conditions affecting the teeth, gums, and mouth. Dentists play a key role in maintaining oral health through preventive care, restorative treatments, and patient education. Common services include cleanings, fillings, crowns, root canals, extractions, and oral examinations.

Per Incident

Per incident refers to the way certain insurance benefits are calculated or limited based on each separate event, illness, or accident rather than by year or lifetime. When a benefit is paid “per incident,” it means you are eligible for reimbursement each time a new, distinct occurrence happens, up to the maximum amount specified for that type of claim.

Coverage / Benefit

Coverage, sometimes referred to as a benefit, is the range of health or dental services, supplies, or treatments that your insurance plan agrees to pay for under its terms and conditions. Each benefit represents a category of care, such as prescription drugs, dental services, vision care, or paramedical treatments.

Healthcare Spending Account (HCSA)

A Healthcare Spending Account (HCSA) is a flexible, employer-funded benefit that reimburses employees for a wide range of eligible healthcare expenses not fully covered by their group insurance plan or a government health plan. It allows employees to use allocated funds toward medical, dental, and vision expenses based on their personal needs. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) regulates which expenses qualify under the Income Tax Act, and reimbursements from an HCSA are received tax-free.

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