Have you been searching for a pediatric dentist near you who accepts Medicaid? It is an unfortunate fact that many dental offices do not accept Medicaid, which makes it very difficult for parents to give their kids the care that they need in a timely manner. Fortunately, we not only accept Medicaid, but all major insurance policies – and if you have neither – feel free to pay via cash or credit card!
You can learn all about out different modes of payments and how we treat our Medicaid patients, by giving one of our Kool Smiles Kids Club partner dentists a call today.
This may come as a shock to you, but it is a fact that at least 40% of all kids have some kind of tooth decay by the time they’re getting ready for kindergarten. According to the Centre for Disease Control, one in every five kids suffers from caries, or tooth decay. Most of these cases are seen in families with a low socio-economic background because of limited Medicaid coverage and the high costs of dental treatments in the country.
However, it is important to remember that with or without insurance, it is crucial to take your child to the dental office at least twice a year for routine check-ups. We’ll help you decide how you can pay because we accept multiple modes of payments, and also offer dental treatment discount plans.
Routine dental visits and oral health checkups are recommended by dentists for many reasons, including:
Prevention of oral health issues—Routine visits to the dental office can prevent many harmful infections from ever developing in the mouth through proper cleaning, education, awareness and screenings. We demonstrate proper brushing and flossing techniques to kids so they can maintain optimal oral hygiene at home.
Restoration of teeth—Early diagnosis and restoration of the teeth is only possible if you bring your child to the office for routine visits. This way, we can detect a problem when it is still an early stage and treat it before any complications develop. Early diagnosis and treatment are also important to save and preserve the natural teeth.
Better eating and speaking functionality—Issues associated with bite, jaw or tooth alignment can prevent kids from speaking or eating their food normally. This often constitutes, on medical grounds, the need for braces – which in this case are covered by Medicaid.
Improvement of overall health—Untreated dental conditions and overall poor oral hygiene can make the mouth a breeding ground for harmful bacteria. These bacteria can cause infections of the teeth and the soft tissues that support them. However, if their activity is not curbed or controlled, they can also lead to other medical conditions such as Diabetes and Cardiovascular diseases.
Our team helps kids understand the important of oral hygiene and health through awareness, education and demonstrations. We believe in helping young minds grasp the concept of oral healthcare and how it needs to be maintained for overall better health.
Although many benefits vary by state, Medicaid entitles all children under the age of 21 to dental care services. The Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic, and Treatment (EPSDT) benefit provides your child with dental services that include:
Relief of pain and infections
Restoration of teeth
Maintenance of dental health
Frequent checkups every six months will help your child develop a healthy smile, and Medicaid dental plans cover the cost of any necessary treatments. Find a dentist near you that accepts Medicaid, so your child can have good oral health, without the worry of paying for expensive dental care services.
When you visit one of our dental offices, we’ll take every measure necessary to give your child the best treatment possible following a thorough oral examination. Some of the treatments that fall under Medicaid coverage for children include:
Routine exams—Routine visits are scheduled for both, kids and adults, at least twice a year, or once every six months. During these visits, we examine the oral cavity and perform screenings if necessary to check for any abnormalities of the teeth or gums.
X-rays—Radiographs play a vital role in diagnosing conditions that cannot be clearly seen by the naked eye. For instance, these diagnostic tools can help determine the extent of a decayed lesion, the position of a retained tooth, any impactions or the health of the root portion of the tooth which is present below the gumline. X-rays are also crucial for the success of orthodontic treatments.
Teeth cleanings—Dental Cleanings are important because long term accumulation of plaque, food debris, and bacteria can lead to serious gingival infections. During in-office cleaning, this plaque is removed from those hard-to-reach places behind the teeth and below the gum-line for optimal results.
Cavity fillings—If you’ve recently noticed an unusual white or brown spot on your child’s tooth, bring them to our office immediately for filling. If left untreated, tooth decay can lead to many harmful complications which in most cases are very expensive to treat – or even impossible to treat when they reach advanced stages.
Root canals—Root Canals can restore a tooth after caries, or decay, has infected its pulp. Pulp is the innermost layer of a tooth which houses blood vessels and nerves that nourish it. Some of its symptoms include sharp or intermittent pain, swelling, and inability to eat from the affected side.
Tooth extractions—You may have to get your child’s tooth pulled out if it has been destroyed by decay, or if it is impacted, or if the extraction is indicated by an orthodontist for space gaining. Rest assured that we will make this a painless, stress-free and comfortable experience for you and your child.
Our Kool Smiles Kids Club partner dentists want every child to receive the dental care they need. That’s why they strive to make it easy for parents to pay for their child’s dental treatment.
Our partners accept several state-specific insurance providers, such as Healthy Smiles, South Carolina Medicaid, Oklahoma Soonercare, Smiles For Children of Virginia, and MassHealth. They accept most types of insurance, including Medicaid along with state health insurance plans (SCHIP) and all forms of military insurance, such as TRICARE.
Our partner dentists also have cash and credit options, including CareCredit. If you have any questions about what your insurance covers, just give a Kool Smiles Kids Club partner dentists a call, and they’ll help you understand your coverage.
If I have no dental insurance, can I qualify for Medicaid?
Medicaid is a health coverage plan that is provided to patients based on their annual income, size of the family, and other related factors. Medicaid has made it easy for your to check whether or not you qualify for coverage – all you have to do is enroll and enter your information on the website and you’ll get a response promptly.
What is the difference between Medicaid and Medicare?
The most prominent difference between Medicare and Medicaid is that the former is a federal insurance plan, whereas the latter is a joint federal and state assistance program. Medicare generally serves patients who may be over the age of 65, or even young individuals with disabilities. Medicaid on the other hand, helps low-income patients pay for the treatments they need to remain healthy.
Are adults covered for dental care by Medicaid?
Medicaid coverage varies from state to state and the best way to determine whether you are covered by the program is by contacted the authority near your location. All children under the age of 21 are covered by the program, but just to be on the safe side, you should ideally check the Medicaid website for details.
Don’t let lack of insurance or Medicaid ineligibility stop you from visiting us. Our partner dentists will make sure you and your child get the treatment you need, when you need it and that you’re able to pay comfortably without feeling stressed out. There’s a reason why 97% of our partner dentists patients keep coming back to us! Give one a call today to learn more!
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Sources:
The Center for Pediatric Dentistry: https://thecenterforpediatricdentistry.com/for-parents-and-patients/why-early-childhood/
CDC: http://www.cdc.gov/oralhealth/children_adults/child.htm
Medicaid: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/epsdt/index.html
WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/plaque-causes#1
Colgate: https://www.colgate.com/en-in/oral-health/procedures/tooth-removal/tooth-removal-tooth-extractions
Healthcare.gov: https://www.healthcare.gov/medicaid-chip/getting-medicaid-chip/
U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: https://www.hhs.gov/answers/medicare-and-medicaid/what-is-the-difference-between-medicare-medicaid/index.html