If your dental plan runs on the calendar year, for most plans, benefits you haven't used by December 31 don't roll over. As a Dentist Howell patients have trusted with 5.0 stars from 537+ Google reviews, Riverpark Dental of Howell sees the same thing every fall: people paying premiums all year, then leaving their cleanings, fillings and annual maximum on the table. This guide explains what resets, what's worth doing before it does, and how to book in time.
What actually resets on January 1
Most PPO dental plans follow the calendar year, though some run on a different "plan year" set by your employer. Check your benefits booklet or member portal for the exact date. When the new year starts, three things usually reset:
- Your annual maximum. This is the most your plan will pay toward your care in a benefit year. Whatever you don't use is typically lost rather than carried forward.
- Your deductible. If you've already paid it this year, treatment done before the reset doesn't require paying it again. After January 1, you start from zero.
- Your preventive visits. Many plans cover two cleanings and exams per benefit year. An unused visit doesn't carry over.
Some plans include rollover features or different rules, which is why we check your specific benefits instead of guessing.
Why waiting until next year can cost more
Small dental problems rarely stay small. A cavity that needs a simple tooth-colored filling now can grow toward the nerve and need a crown — or a root canal and a crown — a few months later. Delaying also means paying a new deductible in January for work your current plan could have helped cover.
If your dentist has already recommended treatment, the end of the year is the most cost-effective time to finish it.
A year-end checklist from your Dentist Howell team
Before the holidays take over your calendar, run through this list:
- Book your second cleaning and exam. Preventive care is typically covered at or near 100% on most PPO plans. Our teeth cleaning visits include digital X-rays with up to 80% less radiation than traditional film, an oral cancer screening and an intraoral camera check.
- Finish recommended fillings. Our tooth-colored fillings are usually completed in one appointment.
- Start pending crowns now. A crown takes two visits — the tooth is prepared and fitted with a temporary, then the permanent crown is bonded about two weeks later. Many plans count a crown in the year it is finished, so book early enough that both visits land before December 31.
- Ask about larger treatment. Planning implants, a bridge or a root canal? See the next section — timing can let you use two years of benefits.
- Check your FSA or HSA. Flexible spending account dollars often have their own deadline. Your employer's plan documents will confirm whether you can carry any over.
Split bigger treatment across two benefit years
If you need more work than one year's annual maximum will cover, it often makes sense to start before December 31 and finish after January 1. The first phase draws on this year's maximum, and the second phase draws on next year's — so your insurance pays more of the total.
This works well for multi-step care like dental implants, where bone grafting, implant placement and the final crown happen in separate stages. Before anything starts, we give you a written, itemized estimate showing what your plan is expected to pay in each year and what you would owe.
How we make it easy to use your benefits in Howell
Riverpark Dental of Howell is in-network with 32 PPO plans, including Aetna, Cigna Dental DPPO, Guardian, MetLife, Humana, Ameritas and several Blue Cross Blue Shield plans. You can see the full list on our insurance page. Here's what that means for you:
- We verify your remaining benefits before your visit, so you know what is left this year.
- You get a written estimate first. Nothing starts until you've agreed to it.
- We file the claim for you and only collect your share.
- We're open every Sunday, 9 am to 3 pm, so a weekday work schedule doesn't stop you from using your benefits.
If cost beyond your coverage is a concern, in-house and third-party financing can spread larger treatment into monthly payments.
No dental insurance? Your Dentist Howell options for 2027
If you don't have insurance — or your coverage ends with a job change — our in-house dental membership plan is an alternative. The Adult Complete plan is $295 a year and the Child Complete plan is $199 a year. Both include two exams with routine X-rays, two cleanings and an emergency exam, plus 10% off fillings and other procedures. There are no deductibles, no annual maximums and no waiting for approvals, and benefits start the day you join.
Book before the December rush
The last weeks of the year are when many people remember their benefits at the same time. Booking now gives you more choice of dates and leaves room to finish any follow-up treatment before the reset.
Book online any time, or call (732) 751-4028. We're at 4034 US-9, easy to reach from Farmingdale, Lakewood, Freehold and Jackson.
Frequently asked questions
Do unused dental benefits roll over to next year?
On most PPO plans, no. The annual maximum and preventive visits typically reset at the start of the benefit year, and whatever you didn't use is lost. Some plans offer rollover features, so we check your specific plan for you.
When does my dental insurance reset?
Many plans reset on January 1, but some follow a plan year chosen by your employer, such as July 1. Your benefits booklet or member portal lists the date, and our team can confirm it when we verify your coverage.
Can a Dentist Howell office check how much of my benefits are left?
Yes. Riverpark Dental of Howell verifies your remaining annual maximum, deductible status and preventive visits before your appointment and gives you a written estimate before any treatment.
Is it too late to get a crown before the end of the year?
Not if you start soon. A crown needs two visits, usually about two weeks apart, and many plans apply the benefit in the year the crown is bonded. Book your first visit by early December so the second one still falls in 2026.
What if I have treatment planned but can't finish it by December 31?
Starting before the reset and finishing after it can let you use two years of benefits. We'll show you the expected insurance payment for each phase in your written estimate.
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