The odds of becoming too sick or hurt to work are roughly 1 in 4 over a career. For dental professionals — whose income depends on hands-on clinical work — the right disability and income protection is one of the most important financial decisions you can make.
Most dentists underestimate this risk early in their careers and overpay for the wrong coverage later. The goal is straightforward: replace enough of your income, for long enough, with a policy that actually pays when you need it.
The policy you buy in your thirties is the one that matters when you're in your fifties.
What to evaluate
- Own-occupation vs. any-occupation definitions
- Benefit periods and elimination periods
- Cost-of-living and future-purchase options
- Group coverage vs. individual policies
Why "own-occupation" matters
An own-occupation policy pays if you can no longer practice dentistry — even if you could still work in another field. For dentists, this is the gold standard. Generic "any-occupation" policies pay only if you cannot work at all, which is a much higher bar.
Talk to a DNG risk-management member to understand which policy structure fits your career stage and practice setup.
