Keeping your child’s smile healthy is important. Saving money when it comes to helping them maintain cavity-free teeth is equally crucial. Most dentists want to help parents achieve these two goals, which is why it’s recommended that you consider these three ways you can help your child enjoy a healthier smile by maximizing their available dental insurance benefits.
Make Sure They See Their Dentist Twice Each Year
Six-month dental checkups and cleanings are essential when it comes to maintaining a healthy smile. For young patients, cavities are increasingly common because of their novice brushing habits. Fortunately, with twice-annual visits to the dentist’s office, their teeth and gums can remain better protected throughout the year with early detection and discussions about improved oral hygiene habits at home.
What makes these appointments even better is that most dental insurance companies will pay for them in full. Although that is not always the case, a majority of plans offer 100% coverage for preventive checkups and cleanings, so your child’s smile will remain healthy, and you’ll avoid paying out of pocket for their care.
Move Forward with Restorative Care
If your child’s pediatric dentist suggests a dental filling, crown, or another form of restorative care, don’t wait until next year to move forward with treatment. There are a few reasons for this:
• Putting off necessary dental care can leave your child vulnerable to further decay and damage.
• Many dental insurance plans will provide 50-80% coverage for major or minor restorative services.
Depending on the type of care your child needs as well as whether you’ve met your deductible, it’s possible to save on their treatment by agreeing to let the dentist complete the work now instead of later. While fillings may only have you pay 20 or 30% of the total cost, dental crowns may require you to pay half.
However, waiting until next year will require them to meet their deductible once again before your insurance company will agree to pay more for treatment.
Protect Their Teeth with Fluoride and Dental Sealants
Similar to dental checkups and cleanings, fluoride treatment and dental sealants are often viewed as preventive services by many dental insurance companies. As a result, these additional offerings may not require you to pay when bringing your child in for a visit.
These two specific services are designed to reduce the chances of dental decay and cavities, so you’ll be able to better protect your little one’s growing smile throughout the year. Not only will this mean that they’ll spend less time in the dentist’s office, but you’ll get to save more money and enjoy greater peace of mind because their smile is continuously fighting off bad bacteria.
Knowing your child has a healthy smile is a wonderful feeling but so is being able to save money. Don’t let your child’s available benefits go to waste. Use them before the end of the year so that your little one can enter 2025 on the right track.
About the Authors
Dr. Justin Chan and Dr. Sage Yoo are board-certified pediatric dentists and fathers. They care about giving young patients the best chance to enjoy healthier smiles and bodies, which is why they offer many different services that are designed to prevent oral health problems as well as address them. Knowing these developing smiles need regular care, they encourage parents to use their available dental benefits to ensure the health and longevity of their child’s smile. If you want to learn how you can save on your little one’s oral healthcare, visit our website or call (972) 987-0787.
