3 reasons why you need affordable dental insurance for seniors

The elderly population of Spain is growing at an increasing rate. According to Caixa Bank Research, as of 2019, one in every five Spaniards was aged 65 or over, and in 2050 this age group is expected to account for one in every three. If you’re part of what are called the “golden-agers”, you may already know that dental problems can be common among this age group. If you’ve begun to experience dental problems, or you just want to make sure you’re covered in the event that something happens, continue reading to learn about the top 3 reasons why you need affordable dental insurance for seniors. 

1. Older adults suffer greater oral health problems

Dental problems that are most common among golden seniors include:

• Tooth loss and decay. Missing teeth can cause an uneven jawline can cause teeth to shift, affecting speech and eating.
• Root decay, caused by exposure to acids
• Gum disease, caused by plaque or leftover food, use of tobacco products, poor diet, certain diseases, and sometimes dentures or dental implants. 

• Oral cancers, which if left untreated, can spread to other areas of the body and cause serious injury or death. 
• Dry mouth caused by prescriptions or other medications.
• Cavities caused by reduced saliva flow or poor oral health. 
• Darkened teeth, caused by changes in dentin, the bone-like tissue under thinning tooth enamel. 
• Thrush, a fungal infection that, if left untreated, can cause irritation, burning, redness of the mouth, and loss of taste.
• Weakened sense of taste.

Furthermore, an older person’s state of health can be complicated by chronic diseases such as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc., possibly making them more likely to develop gum disease.

Adults who use prescriptions or medications are more vulnerable to adverse reactions or interactions when undergoing dental procedures, given the use of drugs in dentistry such as local anesthetics and analgesics.

Finally, certain impairments associated with aging, such as arthritis of the hands and fingers or cognitive decline, may make regular dental hygiene more difficult to carry out. All of these factors add up to a more precarious state of dental health.    

2. Spain does not offer public dental coverage

According to respected Spanish news journal El País, Spain is unfortunately one of the few EU countries without public dental coverage. El Periódico de España highlights that out of the 40,000 dentists who work in Spain, only around 3,000 work in public health. That’s what makes it more important than ever to find affordable dental insurance for seniors living in Spain.

In the case of dental benefits, the Spanish public health system focuses mainly on planning education programs for the population and on emergency care related to oral health. 

The most common pathologies that constitute dental emergencies include:

• Acute infections.
• Severe inflammations.
• Injuries that cause pain or obvious damage to the teeth/mouth.
• Lesions of the oral mucosa, which have a high risk of being cancerous.
• Acute pathologies in the jaw joints.

What this means is that if you have a persistent dental problem, but the state doesn’t view it as an emergency, it is your responsibility to find proper care for yourself (and pay out-of-pocket). This often leads to people delaying taking action on their dental problems until they become very serious. For this reason, private dental insurance remains of the utmost importance for people living in Spain. 

For pensioners and the elderly, Social Security dental coverage may include regular check-ups to detect cavities, periodontal diseases, cancerous and pre-cancerous oral lesions, as well as education on oral care and prevention of oral diseases. Dental coverage exclusions from Social Security include aesthetic care, orthodontics, and dental prosthesis coverage: 

• Temporary denture repair for pediatrics.
• General orthodontics.
• Extraction of healthy teeth.
• Oral aesthetic treatments.
• Financing of dental implants.
• Additional dental tests. 

3. Out-of-pocket dental care can be expensive

The good news is that Spain’s dentistry offerings have a reputation for being high quality and lower in cost than similar services in Northern Europe or the United States. However, that doesn’t mean that you should risk having no dental coverage. Out-of-pocket dental costs in Spain will still set you back a pretty penny if you have serious or recurring oral health issues. 

While initial consultations or examinations tend to be free, other treatments will need to be paid out-of-pocket. Prices will vary depending on the practice, location, and treatment, but an average cost list can be found below: 

• Check-up: €20
• Tooth extraction: Around €30 per tooth (€90 for a wisdom tooth)
• Teeth whitening: €80 – €300
• Fillings: €50 – €80
• Dentures: €400 – €650
• Implants: Over €1,000 per tooth

If you are experiencing tooth loss, discover whether dentures vs. implants are the right solution. 

One tip is to always ask for a written quotation before agreeing to proceed. This will let you shop around to find the best price point. You can also decide whether to pay upfront (often getting a discount) or in installments (usually with interest associated). However, our top tip is to take out an affordable dental insurance.

Caser dental insurance in Spain

Caser Expat Insurance understands the realities that the aging population faces in terms of their dental health and has created two unique dental plans with varying levels of coverage: 

• Essential Smile: This is our family dental plan with coverage at an affordable price. 
• Perfect Smile: This is our full coverage dental insurance.

What are the advantages of Caser dental insurance? 

• No grace periods
• No co-payments
• No medical history questionnaire
• No age limits

Our dental insurance is built for expats and tailored to your unique needs. Many of our clinics have English-speaking professionals, especially in the larger urban areas of tourist destinations. Whatever you’re looking for, Caser has a plan that works for you!

It’s important to note that dental problems can happen to anyone, but poor oral health tends to disproportionately affect those who are smokers, economically disadvantaged, ill or disabled, or lack dental coverage. If your healthcare plan does not include dental care, you may also put yourself at risk for high out-of-pocket expenses or painful, recurring health problems. Don’t let it come to that! Discover our dental plans below: