The Limited List of Dentists that Accept Medicaid

For many families, it can be hard to find a list of dentists that accept Medicaid in their area. Even in states that choose to expand coverage, some dentist offices restrict the number of patients they accept per day, making it difficult to access quality dental care.

At Kool Smiles, we never limit the amount of Medicaid patients we see. If you’re looking for dentists that accept Medicaid near you, call us at 254-781-0553 to schedule an appointment or a no-cost dental consultation today.

Where Can I Find a Dentist that Takes Medicaid?

Finding a local dentist that you trust to perform dental service on your child is not always an easy task, and trying to locate one that also accepts Medicaid makes the search even harder.

When you come to Kool Smiles, our kid-friendly dentists are happy to accept Medicaid coverage plans. We can also help parents understand exactly what dental services their children are eligible for at low or no costs.

Our mission at Kool Smiles is to provide quality dental services for children and families that have trouble finding affordable oral health care. That’s why we have placed our office locations in specific communities that can benefit from our dentists that accept Medicaid. Even if you don’t have insurance, feel free to contact your local Kool Smiles office where our helpful staff can discuss pricing or answer any questions you may have about our services.

Dental Care Access to Medicaid Patients

After the Affordable Care Act was passed in 2010, one of the law’s goals was to expand access to Medicaid. However, it was left to individual state governments to decide if they will allow families to have affordable health and dental care.

Because of this, only 30 states (including Washington, D.C.) decided to expand Medicaid. Yet even within those states, individual physician and dentist offices have limited the number of Medicaid patients who can receive care from their clinic.

As more restrictions go up for Medicaid recipients, Kool Smiles has been working to provide all families access to affordable, quality dental care for their children since 2002. Your child will love visiting us, and you’ll love how affordable dental care can be for them.

We encourage you to read our patient reviews to see what our patients have to say about us.

Why Is It Hard to Find a Dentist that Accepts Medicaid?

According to the American Dental Association, only 38% of dentists accept Medicaid or SCHIP coverage for patients in the United States. Dental offices are starting to see fewer and fewer people with serious dental issues just because they have Medicaid coverage.

But why does this happen?

On average, dentists get more money from privately insured patients. Medicaid pays for only about half the cost of what other insurance providers pay for general dentistry services, like cavity fillings and crowns. Because of this, it is more profitable for dentists to prioritize appointment scheduling for privately insured patients. This makes it difficult to find a comprehensive list of dentists that accept Medicaid, but you won’t have to worry about these issues with Kool Smiles. All of our dental offices accept Medicaid and make sure that patients receive necessary dental care, including:

• Restoration of teeth
• Maintenance of dental health
• Relief of pain and infections

What Kind of Dental Services Can I Get with Medicaid?

At Kool Smiles, we will perform any medically necessary dental services for children under the age of 21 that have Medicaid.

Do I Need to Take My Kid to the Dentist?

Yes! No matter your financial situation, it is extremely important for children to receive quality dental care. Tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease, and affects one out of every four kids before they reach age 5.

Cavities and tooth decay can be prevented, especially with frequent dental checkups. This will allow for the dentist to properly clean young teeth and remove any built-up tartar, which could lead to gum disease or decay if left untreated. Routine dental visits can also solve any present dental health problems before they turn into more serious issues. The more severe an oral health concern is, the more expensive it is to fix.

How Can I Keep My Child’s Smile Healthy Between Dental Visits?

Our Kool Smiles dental staff does more than just clean teeth—they also provide parents and children with helpful information about proper brushing and oral health care practices.

Here are a few tips on how to take care of your kids smile at home:

• Use a fluoride toothpaste—This ingredient is particularly important, since it strengthens tooth enamel and stops tooth decay from developing. Fluoride toothpaste is safe to use on kids’ teeth; just make sure that your child does not swallow the toothpaste.
• Brush teeth twice a day—Making sure that your child brushes their teeth twice a day is critical for ensuring good dental health. Sticky plaque left on teeth for too long hardens into tartar, which then must be removed using special dental tools. If children fall asleep without brushing their teeth, they are at a higher risk of developing cavities since the enamel of a baby tooth is weaker than the enamel of an adult tooth.
• Brush for two minutes each time—Brushing teeth for two minutes gives the fluoride a chance to break down plaque that has accumulated since the last time the teeth were brushed. Two minutes is also a good amount of time to reach all of the teeth, on all sides, to accurately remove any harmful acids.
• Floss once a day—While brushing your teeth is important, flossing is just as necessary to maintain a healthy smile. Many people forget to floss, but it helps remove food particles and plaque between teeth, where it is hard for toothbrush bristles to reach. Flossing also helps improve gum health, and has been proven to reduce the risk of gum diseases like gingivitis.
• Change your kids’ toothbrush often—The American Dental Association recommends replacing your child’s toothbrush every 3–4 months, or even sooner if the bristles look frayed. Brushes are less effective at removing plaque and acidic byproducts if their bristles are worn out, so frequently check your child’s toothbrush to make sure that it is in good condition.

Kool Smiles Is Your Medicaid Dentist

What separates Kool Smiles from other children’s Medicaid dentists is our Kool Experience. We cater to the needs of kids in many different ways, including:

• Our waiting rooms are specially designed for kids with bright colors, filled with games, books and activities to keep your child occupied. Some of our locations even have a full playground set for younger kids. When your child leaves a Kool Smiles dental office, they will have a happy, healthy smile since they enjoyed their visit to the dentist.
• Parents will also love our viewing areas where they can watch their children as our skilled general dentists work on their teeth. We also provide the option to sit-in on appointments, especially with younger children that may not be comfortable going in alone for a dental checkup or cleaning.
• Our dentists are trained in behavioral guidance techniques to help kids have an informative and pleasant dental experience. They also use the latest technology, and particular tools designed specifically to fit into small mouths and work on baby teeth.
• Kool Smiles has convenient scheduling hours, and most of our locations are open on Saturdays. We wanted to open our doors on weekends to give parents the chance to bring their children to the dentist. Parents that work full-time may have difficulty making an appointment during a regular work week, so we’ve made it easier for you to take your child to the dentist at other times.

Get a List of Kool Smiles Dentists that Accept Medicaid

You’ll never have to worry about searching for the right dentist for your child when you visit Kool Smiles. All of our dental providers are happy to accept new patients with Medicaid coverage, and our skilled dentists are specialized in working with kids of all ages.

For a list of our dentists that accept Medicaid, give us a call at 254-781-0553 to learn more about our insurance options and services.

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Sources:

Medicaid: http://www.medicaid.gov/Medicaid-CHIP-Program-Information/By-Topics/Benefits/Dental-Care.html

KFF: http://kff.org/health-reform/slide/current-status-of-the-medicaid-expansion-decision/

American Dental Association: https://www.ada.org/en/science-research/health-policy-institute/dental-statistics/dental-benefits-and-medicaid

USA Today: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2015/02/15/medicaid-patients-struggle-to-get-dental-care/23315811/

Children’s Dental Health Project: https://www.cdhp.org/state-of-dental-health/pregnancy-early-childhood

Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cavities/symptoms-causes/syc-20352892

National Center for Biotechnology Information: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0032936/

American Dental Association: https://www.ada.org/en/about-the-ada/ada-positions-policies-and-statements/statement-on-toothbrush-care-cleaning-storage-and-