If you’re planning ahead on retiring within the next 5 years, congratulations! Also, it’s time to start thinking about making sure your dental needs are taken care of. Many people wait until they’re about to retire to try and get all of their dental work completed. Most patients are not aware that dental work can sometimes take multiple appointments to complete, depending on the procedure. We always recommend regular checkups as a preventative measure for further treatment. If you’re within the 5-year range, it’s a great idea to let your dentist know so we can create a functional treatment plan that utilizes your dental insurance benefits while you still have them. We can help create a timeline and a game plan to keep your teeth healthy.
If you have older fillings that are starting to cause the teeth to crack or crowns with failing margins, now is the time to start updating them. Some of your teeth may require crowns and by starting to update them sooner than later, you’re able to spread your cost out over time.
Medicare does not have dental coverage, so many retirees lose their dental insurance benefits after retirement. Some medicare advantage plans do include dental insurance but are often limited to preventive coverage. If you need treatment it will often be out of pocket on your part and may be costly.
This is also the time to improve your oral home care habits. An ideal homecare routine is to brush twice a day for two minutes with fluoridated toothpaste and use an interdental cleaning aid such as dental floss or a water flosser once a day. Ensuring you’re doing your part will decrease the likelihood that you will need dental treatment in retirement. Consult with your dentist to figure out the best homecare treatment for your needs.
If retirement is in your near future it’s a good time to be thinking about how you’re going to spend your remaining years of dental benefits. Let us know so that we can help you maximize your coverage over the coming years and sail into retirement without worrying about your teeth. You can relax and enjoy retirement without worry!