Reduce Holiday Season Stress this Year by Using 2017 Benefits Today

(Oct. 05, 2017) – Less stress should be on the top of everyone’s holiday wish list. A whopping 69 percent of Americans were stressed while holiday shopping due to feeling “a lack of time,” according to a recent survey by the American Psychological Association. Great Expressions Dental Centers (GEDC), a leading dental support organization, wants patients to avoid added stress by using up their 2017 medical and dental benefits today, so that they’re not rushing around to use them during the holidays, when free time feels nonexistent.

Data from the same survey found that 69 percent of Americans also felt stressed around the holidays due to “a lack of money.” To alleviate those fears, GEDC encourages patients to review their 2017 benefits to determine how much money they have left. This is also beneficial if they’ve reached their annual maximum, as they will know to delay any non-critical services into the New Year to avoid spending extra money around the holidays.

“Benefits and contributions to flex spending accounts come straight from hard-earned money,” said Richard Beckman, CEO of Great Expressions Dental Centers. “We never want to see patients lose money because they didn’t use their benefits before annual deductibles reset or annual maximums were met. Our research tells us that nearly 70 percent of patients don’t know how much money they have left, meaning they also don’t know how much they are losing.?

As patients plan for the remainder of 2017, GEDC shares the following advantages to using remaining dental benefits and flex spending dollars by the end of the year:

• Improve overall health. Individuals without dental benefits are more likely to face dental trouble and less likely to seek the care they need. Furthermore, those not visiting the dentist are 67 percent more likely to have heart disease and 50 percent more likely to have osteoporosis.
• Receive a treatment that has been put off. Eighty-two percent of patients surveyed do not know what they can use their unused benefits for. Cleanings, X-Rays, and fillings are all covered under flexible spending account benefits.
• Prepare for the holidays. Prep the perfect smile for holiday parties and events by scheduling a visit with a dentist.

Use all remaining benefits by making an appointment with a dentist no later than December 31, 2017. To find out how much money is available in unused benefits or a flex spending account, call the dental insurance company’s customer service number, typically located on the back of an insurance card.

To schedule an appointment or for more information, call 888-SMILE-80 or visit greatexpressions.com.

About Great Expressions Dental Centers

For nearly 40 years, Great Expressions Dental Centers has been a leader in preventative dental care, orthodontics and specialty care with offices in Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Texas and Virginia. Great Expressions is consistently recognized for contributions to improving oral health through quality and safety initiatives, affordable dental care services, patient convenience, research and more. Great Expressions Dental Centers branded practices are independently-owned and operated in specific states by licensed dentists and their professional entities who employ the licensed professionals providing dental treatment and services. ADG, LLC provides administrative and business support services and licenses the Great Expressions Dental Centers brand name to independently-owned and operated dental practices. ADG does not own or operate dental practices, or employ the licensed professionals providing dental treatment and services. For more information, please visit www.greatexpressions.com.

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Contact:
Megan McCarl, on behalf of Great Expressions Dental Centers
Lambert, Edwards & Associates