⚠ Time-Sensitive · Seattle
Your dental insurance benefits reset on January 1 — and whatever you haven't used simply disappears. Here's how to make sure you're not leaving hundreds of dollars on the table this year.
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Moritis & Shin Dentistry, Downtown Seattle
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5 min read
Every year, millions of Americans with dental PPO insurance let their annual maximum expire unused on December 31. The money doesn't roll over. It doesn't accumulate. It doesn't get refunded. It simply disappears — reset to zero on January 1 whether you used it or not.
In Seattle, where Delta Dental PPO, Cigna PPO, Aetna PPO, and Regence PPO are among the most common employer dental plans, this happens constantly. Patients pay premiums every month, build up their deductible early in the year, and then don't come back for the treatment they've already paid to cover. By January, the coverage window is closed.
If you have dental work you've been putting off — a filling, a crown, a cleaning you missed, anything that's been sitting on a treatment plan — the next three months are the most financially advantageous time to get it done.
The bottom line up front
When does dental insurance expire in Seattle?
Most PPO dental plans — including Delta Dental PPO, Cigna PPO, Aetna PPO, and Regence PPO — reset their annual maximum on January 1. Any unused portion of your annual maximum, and any deductible you've already met, does not carry over to the new year. If you have treatment recommended and benefits remaining, September through November is your window. December appointments fill up quickly — book now.
Don't let your benefits expire unused — book before December.
Moritis & Shin Dentistry is in-network with Delta Dental PPO, Cigna PPO, Aetna PPO, and Regence PPO in Downtown Seattle. We verify your remaining benefits before your appointment and help you plan treatment to maximize what you've already paid for.
✓ Delta Dental PPO
✓ Cigna PPO
✓ Aetna PPO
✓ Regence PPO
How dental insurance annual maximums work — and why so many Seattle patients lose them
Most PPO dental plans work like this:
| Annual maximum | The most your insurance will pay toward dental care in a single calendar year — typically $1,000–$2,000 for most Seattle employer PPO plans. Resets to zero on January 1. |
| Annual deductible | The amount you pay before insurance starts contributing — typically $50–$100 for individuals. Once met, it's gone. If you met yours earlier this year, every covered procedure from now until December 31 is covered at the plan's full rate. |
| Preventive benefit | Cleanings, exams, and X-rays — covered at 100% and typically don't count against your annual maximum. Most plans cover two cleanings per year. If you haven't had your second cleaning, you're leaving free care on the table. |
| Basic restorative | Fillings — covered at 70–80% after your deductible. Every filling you delay costs you the same out of pocket but risks becoming a more expensive crown or root canal next year. |
| Major restorative | Crowns, root canals, bridges — typically covered at 50% after deductible. These are the highest-cost procedures and the ones where your annual maximum makes the biggest difference. |
| Rollover | None. Unused benefits do not carry over. January 1, the clock resets. |
The average PPO dental plan annual maximum is around $1,500. Studies show the average American uses less than $400 of that maximum per year — meaning most patients are leaving over $1,000 of pre-paid coverage unused every single year.
What treatment to prioritize before December 31
If you have any of the following sitting on a treatment plan or on your radar, now is the time to act:
Your second cleaning of the year — if you haven't had it
This is the easiest win. Most PPO plans cover two preventive cleanings per year at 100% — and this benefit does not roll over. If you've only had one cleaning this year, scheduling your second before December 31 costs you nothing and prevents the tartar buildup that leads to more expensive problems in 2026. Call now — December slots fill fastest.
Fillings that have been recommended but not scheduled
A small cavity treated with a filling today costs significantly less than the same tooth treated with a root canal and crown next year. Decay doesn't pause between December 31 and January 1. If you have fillings on a treatment plan, getting them done before your annual maximum resets uses this year's coverage and prevents a much larger expense next year.
A crown that's been put off
Crowns are typically covered at 50% under major restorative — meaning a $1,500 crown costs you around $750 in-network with your PPO. But if you wait until January, your deductible resets and you may be starting fresh. Getting a crown started before December 31 locks in this year's deductible and annual maximum. For larger cases, we can sometimes split treatment strategically across the year-end boundary to use both years' benefits.
A root canal that's been recommended
Root canals are typically covered at 50–80% depending on your plan and tooth location. Delaying a recommended root canal doesn't just cost you unused benefits — it risks the infection spreading, which can turn a straightforward procedure into an extraction and implant situation. If a root canal has been recommended, acting before year-end is both financially and clinically urgent.
Periodontal treatment (deep cleaning) if your gums need it
If you've been told you need a deep cleaning (scaling and root planing) for gum disease, your PPO typically covers this at 70–80% when it's periodontally necessary. Gum disease doesn't improve without treatment — and delaying means more bone loss, more recession, and more complex treatment down the road. Use this year's periodontal benefit before it resets.
Not sure how much of your annual maximum is left?
Call us or book online — we verify your remaining Delta Dental PPO, Cigna PPO, Aetna PPO, or Regence PPO benefits before your appointment and tell you exactly what's left to use before December 31. No guesswork, no surprises.
The smart way to use two years' benefits — the year-end split strategy
For patients who need significant work — multiple crowns, a root canal plus crown, periodontal treatment followed by restorations — there's a strategic approach that can cut your out-of-pocket cost substantially.
Because your annual maximum resets January 1, treatment that spans the year-end boundary uses both this year's and next year's benefits. For example:
| Scenario | Without year-end strategy | With year-end split |
|---|---|---|
| Root canal ($900) + crown ($1,200) — both in January | One year's $1,500 maximum covers ~$1,050. Patient pays ~$1,050 out of pocket. | Root canal in December (this year's max) + crown in January (next year's max). Two maximums cover ~$1,800. Patient pays ~$300 out of pocket. |
| Two crowns needed — $1,200 each | Both in one year: maximum covers $1,500 of $2,400. Patient pays ~$900. | One crown before Dec 31, one after Jan 1. Two maximums cover $3,000 combined. Patient pays ~$0–$400 total depending on plan. |
At Moritis & Shin Dentistry, when we review your treatment plan in the fall, we always look at whether sequencing treatment across the year-end boundary makes financial sense for your specific situation. Sometimes it does. Sometimes completing everything now is better. We'll tell you honestly which approach saves you more.
Why December appointments fill up — and why you should book now
Every dental practice in Seattle experiences the same pattern: October and November are manageable, and then December becomes nearly impossible to get into. Every patient who realized in November that they have benefits expiring is calling in December. The practices that serve them best are the ones that planned ahead in September and October.
If you wait until December to book, you may find:
- No available appointments before December 31
- Long wait times at other practices in the same rush
- Treatment that can't be completed before year-end even if started
- Benefits that expire before the work is done
The patients who use their benefits most effectively book in September, October, and early November — when there's still time to complete treatment before December 31.
What your PPO covers — a quick reference for Seattle patients
| Treatment | Typical PPO coverage | Counts toward annual max? |
|---|---|---|
| Exam + X-rays | 80–100% | Typically no — preventive benefit |
| Cleaning (prophylaxis) — 2x per year | 100% | Typically no — preventive benefit |
| Deep cleaning (scaling & root planing) | 70–80% | Yes |
| Fillings | 70–80% | Yes |
| Root canal | 50–80% | Yes |
| Crown | 50% | Yes |
| Bridge | 50% | Yes |
| Night guard (bruxism) | Varies by plan | Yes |
| Teeth whitening | Not covered — cosmetic | No |
| Invisalign / orthodontics | Separate ortho lifetime benefit — varies | No — separate benefit |
Coverage percentages are typical for Delta Dental PPO, Cigna PPO, Aetna PPO, and Regence PPO in-network at Moritis & Shin Dentistry. Actual coverage depends on your specific plan. We verify your exact benefits before every appointment.
Frequently asked questions about year-end dental benefits in Seattle
When do dental insurance benefits expire in Seattle?
For most PPO dental plans — including Delta Dental PPO, Cigna PPO, Aetna PPO, and Regence PPO — benefits reset on January 1. Unused annual maximum and met deductibles do not carry over. A small number of plans use a different benefit year (some fiscal year plans reset on July 1 or October 1 — check your plan documents or call your insurer to confirm).
What happens to unused dental benefits at the end of the year?
They expire. Unused portions of your annual maximum — whether that's $200 or $1,400 — simply reset to zero on January 1. You do not get a refund and the unused amount does not roll over to next year. The only way to capture that value is to use it for covered treatment before December 31.
How do I know how much dental insurance I have left?
You can call the member services number on your insurance card, log into your insurer's patient portal, or simply call your in-network dental office. Moritis & Shin Dentistry verifies your remaining benefits before every appointment — we can tell you exactly how much of your annual maximum is left and what treatment it would cover.
What dental work should I prioritize before my insurance resets?
Start with anything your dentist has already recommended — fillings, crowns, root canals, deep cleanings. Then make sure you've had both preventive cleanings for the year (covered at 100%, don't count against your maximum). If you have significant work needed, ask your dentist about splitting treatment across December 31 to use two years' benefits for the cost of one.
Is Moritis & Shin Dentistry accepting new patients before year-end?
Yes. We are accepting new patients at our Downtown Seattle office at 509 Olive Way, Suite 1520 and are in-network with Delta Dental PPO, Cigna PPO, Aetna PPO, and Regence PPO. We recommend booking as early as possible — October and November appointments are available now, but December fills quickly. Call us or book online to get on the schedule.
Can I start treatment now and finish after January 1 to use two years of benefits?
Yes — in many cases this is the smartest financial strategy for larger treatment plans. Starting a root canal or crown preparation before December 31 uses this year's remaining maximum, and completing it after January 1 uses next year's. At Moritis & Shin, we review your treatment plan and benefit calendar together to find the sequencing that minimizes your out-of-pocket cost.
The bottom line
Your dental insurance premium comes out of your paycheck every month — whether you use your benefits or not. The only way to get the full value of what you've been paying for is to use it. Between now and December 31, you have a window to complete recommended treatment at the lowest possible cost, using benefits that will simply vanish if you don't.
September, October, and November are the time to act. December is when everyone else realizes the same thing — and by then, the schedule is full.
If you have treatment that's been recommended, or if you simply haven't been in for a while and want to know what's on the table before the year ends, call us. We'll check your benefits, review what's covered, and build a plan that makes the most of what you've paid for.
Moritis & Shin Dentistry — Downtown Seattle
509 Olive Way, Suite 1520, Seattle WA 98101
Accepting new patients · Benefits verified before every appointment · Year-end treatment planning
In-house payment plans and interest-free financing — no credit score impact
Serving Downtown, Capitol Hill, Belltown, South Lake Union & Pioneer Square
✓ Delta Dental PPO
✓ Cigna PPO
✓ Aetna PPO
✓ Regence PPO
