Life Hack: Organize Your Dental Insurance

Posted on January 27, 2015 in Insurance

*Updated December 2025

Key takeaways on how to organize dental insurance:

• Organizing your dental insurance sets you up for great oral health throughout the year.
• Staying organized helps you make the most of your benefits and reduce out-of-pocket costs.
• Making a checklist, finding an in-network dentist, understanding your coverage, and writing down your appointments are simple ways to organize your dental insurance at the end of each year. 

Taking time to organize dental insurance can help ensure you’re taking advantage of your coverage. The end of the year is an especially great time to get organized, since it allows you to wrap up this year's benefits and get ahead for next year. 

Take just 10 minutes to organize your dental insurance and set yourself up for great oral health all year long.

How to organize dental insurance

The hardest part about organizing anything is getting started. We’ve laid out simple steps that make it easy to get your dental insurance organized.

Make a checklist 

Start with the basics. Make a list of preventive services you need. The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends you visit the dentist twice a year for a cleaning and checkup, however, the number may change based on your needs.

If you know you’ll need additional dental work, like fillings or crowns, pencil those procedures in too. If you have pain, that’s a pretty good indicator that you’ll need more than just preventive treatment.

Find a dentist

The next step to organize dental insurance is to find a dentist who accepts your Delta Dental of Iowa benefits plan. 

The Find a Provider tool on our website can help you find a dentist that meets your specific needs, such as a convenient location near your work or your child’s school, having evening and weekend hours, or specializing in treating kids.

Talk to your family, friends, and neighbors for recommendations of good dentists near you. You can also search for online ratings and reviews to help you decide.

Study your coverage

Once you know what procedures you may need and have a dentist in mind, it’s time to familiarize yourself with your dental insurance plan.

Take a few minutes to understand the details of your plan, including your deductible, annual maximum, copayments, and more. Review your benefits contract so you know what’s covered!

Questions? Our customer service team is a great resource.

Construct a timeline

As the year ends, consider adding one more task to your planning list: Organizing your dental insurance! Write down any procedures that must be done this year. If you have treatments that may be expensive, consider spreading them out accordingly to accommodate your budget and plan coverage, if you’re able. 

Note: Always listen to the advice of your dentist when it comes to timelines for procedures.

Write it down 

A lot can happen in a year! The top way to organize dental insurance is to keep track of upcoming appointments in a calenda. It’s also a good idea to keep track of any insurance victories or speed bumps. This will keep your mind fresh if you want to adjust your plan next open enrollment season.

Organize dental insurance to get the most out of your coverage

Organizing your dental insurance can help you avoid unnecessary stress and make the most of your benefits. And if you're heading into the end of the year, it's the perfect time to take a look at your coverage and start the new year feeling confident and prepared.

A little planning goes a long way toward ensuring a healthy smile and minimizing out-of-pocket costs. Follow these steps to stay on top of your dental insurance and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with a well-organized plan!