Did you/will you buy dental coverage in retirement?

[lsbcal]

Originally Posted by FreeAtLast

Still working 18 hours/week. My employer pays all my insurance.

You are a prime candidate for major dental work!

[pie2008]

My dentist only put crowns on teeth that had multiple fillings that were beginning to disintegrate. Otherwise, he replaced any old smaller mercury fillings with lovely porcelain fillings (at my request). Same treatment for my husband, except my husband had a partial permanent bridge (4 teeth that were knocked out when he was a kid). It broke a couple of years ago, and a surgeon had to remove the old metal posts that held it in place. She inserted new ceramic posts that she said should last the rest of life. Then our dentist fashioned beautiful new teeth for him.

Why does the dentist think you need implants -- are you missing teeth? If so, and you can afford it, I'd go for it.

[Pete]

Originally Posted by outtarentals

Hey Pete.....out of that $46 /month you'd have to pay for dental work anyway. Unless you go 30 years with no visits to a dentist. (Not to hijack this thread, but where can you get 8% after tax guaranteed for 30 years? )

In an earlier post on this thread, I was considering stopping my Delta dental insurance since I pay $46 /month for their $1200 cap.

Looking at the math again - I've decided it is worth it to me to keep it because my 2 free cleanings and free X-rays would cost me close to $300 a year out of pocket without the insurance and it's very likely that I will have at least one other procedure each year that will more than pay for my premiums as long as they don't raise them too much.

Certainly everything is hinged on what your oral situation looks like. The best health insurance is a gym pass the best dental insurance is flossing and what not.

Very few things are guaranteed. A good diversified portfolio should yield 8% over time without too much risk (see the book Work less Live more for details), and 30 years is a good long time.

I have been able to save a bundle of money self insuring for these small risks. This year no dental problems and I only get x rays every two years (46 x 12 = 552 in premiums - 150 in cleanings = 402 in savings) Disclaimer. I get free medical and dental benefits in my retirement package from work.

I do however spend the extra 50 dollars a month to get 2 million in umbrella liability coverage for my home, rentals, motorcycles, and cars(thinking about uping it to 5 mil). Big risks I do want to insure against.

[kyounge1956]

I am planning to pay dental expenses out of pocket. My baby teeth were like swiss cheese but then they started adding flouride to the water, and I haven't had a cavity since I was 11. The dentist never needs to do anything to my teeth but clean & polish and X-rays every few years, which is paid 100% as long as I have my job. I may talk to the dentist about having my few old fillings replaced before I retire as a precaution.

I might have the option of rolling over part of the cash value of my accumulated sick leave into a Health Savings Account (not the use-or-lose kind) when I retire from the City, and may just leave it in there in case of a big dental expense.

[freebird5825]

Originally Posted by hogtied

I've often wondered whether I will buy a dental coverage plan. Right now, I think not. Thought I'd ask others...
So, What are you doing or what do you plan to do about this? Thanks.

i got into a dental plan back in 2004 (age 46) self only plan with Delta Dental thru AARP. my teeth have a bad habit of shearing off in half or worse and i've had to pay out of pocket for 3 crowns prior to getting insurance. i also get 4 cleanings a year to keep periodontal disease in check vs waiting and needing the oh-so-pleasant full scaling method.
my premiums are medium high, but my dental bills were higher. so my cost/tradeoff came out positive. at least for now...
does anyone else out there use this dental plan? any horror stories or kudos?