Every child is unique, and so are their teeth! They are one of a kind, and should last a lifetime. And they can, with good preventative care. Show
Just as you teach your children to walk, it is important to teach them to take care of their teeth until they are old enough to do it on their own. Dental problems uncovered in childhood are usually easier and ultimately less expensive to treat with early discovery. That’s just one reason that the Canadian Dental Association recommends starting visits to a dentist early and continuing them regularly throughout your child’s growing years. Want more information? Read this blog: Encouraging Good Dental Habits In Children https://sbis.ca/encouraging-good-dental-care-habits-in-children.html The risk: ECTDIf you don’t start a child’s professional dental care soon enough, he or she may experience Early Childhood Tooth Decay (ECTD). The good news is that it is preventable, and the bad news is that, unchecked, it can lead to these health problems:
Pulling baby teeth early is not the answerIf ECTD isn’t in check, your child may have problems with their baby teeth. Don’t be fooled into thinking that those baby teeth are ‘disposable,’ and only adult teeth are important to maintain. Pulling baby teeth too early causes problems with
Regular dental check-ups are the answerFrom wiping and cleaning baby’s gums with a cloth after they are born, to brushing twice a day as soon as that first tooth appears, you are busy doing your part to care for your child’s teeth. But regular dental check-ups play an important part in oral health care. Your dentist can monitor your child’s teeth and identify problems that you can’t see, such as a tiny crack in the tooth that could grow and require hundreds of dollars’ worth of treatment. You can consult with your dental professional for guidance about the risks your child faces for ECTD. How Does Dental Insurance Help?Dental insurance is there to help offset the cost of your child’s oral care. A regular check-up can cost hundreds of dollars, but with insurance you would only be paying a small portion of the total. It’s also a great way to keep track of how often you need to see a dentist. You can schedule your appointments according to what your dental plan dictates. One thing to keep in mind is that your dental insurance plan will have a yearly maximum. By monitoring your child’s oral health regularly, your costs will likely stay well within that maximum. Without regular dental check-ups, ECTD can get so serious that a child may need to have dental surgery to have damaged teeth taken out or repaired, sometimes even in the hospital and under anaesthetic. Orthodontic services may or may not be covered under your dental insurance. For those with growing families, it is a good feature to consider to offset the high costs of specialized dental care. Keep your family smilingThe best thing you can do for a child’s oral health is to get dental insurance and schedule visits based on the dentist’s recommendations. Talk to us today about your dental insurance coverage needs. We will work with you to find the best possible coverage within your budget for your healthcare needs.
Welcoming a newborn into the family is a time filled with lots of joy and more than a little stress. Dealing with a baby’s day-to-day needs can keep you plenty busy. But you also want to take early steps to ensure your child’s future, and smile, is bright. While your child doesn’t need dental care immediately, you do want to set them up for a lifetime of great oral health. Dental insurance can help make dental care affordable for adults, but is it a good option for children? Let’s take an in-depth look at dental insurance and other potential ways to save on dental care for children. Will My Employer-Based Dental Insurance Cover My Child?If you have dental insurance, the chances are good it’s connected to your job. Among those with dental insurance, a whopping 90% have policies provided by their employers or other large organization like AARP. Just 7% of people with dental insurance purchased an individual policy. Generally, employer-based dental insurance will cover either the employee, the employee and a spouse, or an employee, spouse and children. Changing coverage options can typically be done either during the annual enrollment period or after a major life event such as marriage or the birth of a child. Dental insurance coverage can vary significantly. Some policies provide no coverage for children. Others do but require the child to be signed up at birth. Still, others let you enroll your child at any age. Your employer’s HR department is typically equipped to help you determine the specifics of your plan. But even if your dental insurance covers your child, do you want to enroll him or her in your plan? How Will My Child Benefit from Dental Insurance?Dental insurance can help reduce dental costs. Coverage levels vary based on the type of procedure performed. While policy specifics vary, generally:
You’ll still have to pay premiums, deductibles, and co-pays. Typically adding a family member to an existing policy is pretty reasonable. But you’ll still want to weigh the costs and benefits before committing to any insurance plan. When Should I Enroll My Child in a Dental Insurance Plan?If you decide your child will be well-served by dental insurance, you’ll want to enroll in the plan as early as possible. Most dental insurance requires a waiting period between enrollment and the start of coverage. The average wait time is about six months. Your child’s first dental visit should occur either after their first tooth appears or by their first birthday, whichever occurs first. Most teeth first appear between six and 12 months. If you enroll your child in a dental insurance plan at birth, it’s entirely possible they’ll need to visit the dentist soon after coverage goes into effect. At the very worst, you’ll pay for about six months of coverage you might not use. Another benefit to early enrollment is you’ll potentially limit restrictions on pre-existing conditions. Most insurance plans don’t cover dental problems which existed before enrollment. The longer a person goes without dental insurance, the greater their chance of developing a pre-existing condition which won’t be covered later. What if I Don’t Have Employer-Provided Dental Insurance?Don’t worry. Many people are employed (or unemployed) without dental coverage. Other options are available for affordable dental care. Children’s dental benefits are provided through Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. As part of the Affordable Care Act, CHIP enrollees are being transitioned into Medicaid. Applications for Medicaid and CHIP are accepted all year long. Children enrolled in Medicaid are eligible for a variety of minimum services including pain relief, tooth restoration, and overall dental health maintenance. Medicaid / CHIP dental providers and benefit packages vary by state. The website insurekidsnow.gov provides a complete list of options. What are Dental Savings Plans?Another option is a dental savings plan. Available for everyone, including children, dental savings plans provide members with immediate discounts of 15% to 60% on dental care. A wide variety of potential discounts are available including savings on many preventative, minor and major procedures. Plans are accepted at over 100,000 dental professionals nationwide. Unlike dental insurance, dental discount savings apply to dental problems you had before purchasing the plan, so you don’t have to worry about restrictions on care. Plans activate within 72 hours after purchase. You can get the dental care you need right away. While children do benefit from dental insurance in some situations, it’s not the only option. Medicaid, CHIP and dental discount plans also help make dental care affordable for your children. Early dental care planning for your children will lead to a lifetime of healthy smiles! Save 10% to 60%* at the Dentist!With a Dental Savings Plan.Start Saving Now |