Donna Krum, president of Paradise Dental Spa, makes a presentation at the Rotary Club of Saipan’s general meeting on Oct. 17 at Crowne Plaza. Behind her is her husband, Dr. Nelson Krum.
AT the Rotary Club of Saipan’s general meeting on Oct. 17 at Crowne Plaza, Donna Krum, president of Paradise Dental Spa and the club’s treasurer, talked about discount dental plans.
She said companies began offering plans about 30 years ago after employer-sponsored dental insurance became too costly, and subsequently was dropped from many companies’ health insurance plans.
She said discount dental plans are a type of agreement between a dentist’s office and a patient and are not insurance.
“[Individuals] pay a low annual fee and then every time you come for services, or you come to buy something, you get a pretty deep discount,” she added.
Krum said there are four dental plans on island.
Paradise Dental Spa offers an Island Smiles Discount Plan. (See https://www.paradisedentalspa.com/insurance/)
For an individual, the plan costs a one-time annual payment of $104. There is also an option to pay the dental plan fee on a monthly basis instead.
Krum said cosmetic dental procedures are also covered by the Island Smiles Discount Plan.
Discount dental plans are a “game changer” for people, she added.
“Quality dentistry is not cheap,” she said. “So if [we] can’t help you come and make it affordable you’re not going to go.”
She said Paradise Dental Spa can offer low rates because, unlike insurance companies, it is not tied to a large amount of staff.
“It’s just me and my assistant,” Krum said of the people who operate the plan. “I don’t have five floors of [accountants or lawyers].”
Krum invited her fellow Rotarians to ask their employers to enroll in a group discount dental plan.
Without dental care, people will lose teeth, she said. Although it is “very simple” to care for one’s teeth, only dental professionals can look into the bones underneath the teeth, which are below the gumline.
