Affordable Dental Care with Kool Smiles: Pediatric Dentists That Take Medicaid

Regardless of age and income level, more Americans report financial barriers to dental care than any other type of healthcare. For families with children, it can be especially difficult to maintain a child’s dental health if dentists do not accept Medicaid and other state-run forms of insurance.

Finding a pediatric dentist that takes Medicaid is easy when you call Kool Smiles. Our general and pediatric dentists all take Medicaid. We have over 120 offices across the United States, and we’re always accepting new patients.

Read our information about Medicaid below, where we answer your questions about finding a Kool Smiles pediatric dentist near you. When you’re ready to schedule an appointment, call us at 254-781-0553.

What Is Medicaid?

Medicaid is a health insurance program for low-income individuals and families. It is funded by the federal and state government.

Medicaid covers the following individuals:

• Children
• The elderly
• Blind and disabled persons
• Other individuals eligible for federal assistance

The Early Period Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program was established in 1967, mandating dental care benefits under federal law to children covered by Medicaid. This mandate includes dental benefits beyond emergency dental care.

How Do I Know If Medicaid Will Pay for My Child’s Dental Work?

Medicaid must provide at minimum:

• Relief from infection or pain
• Maintenance of dental health
• Restoration of teeth

Every Kool Smiles location accepts Medicaid. To be certain your child’s dentist takes Medicaid, you can give us a call at 254-781-0553.

What Is CHIP?

CHIP, also known as the Children’s Health Insurance Program, is a state-run insurance program that works with state Medicaid programs. CHIP is an option for children in households where parents/guardians earn too much income to qualify for Medicaid. These families, however, still need low-cost healthcare.

CHIP covers these healthcare procedures and more:

• Routine checkups
• Dental care
• Emergency services
• Prescriptions
• Lab and X-ray services

Insurance Plans Covered by Kool Smiles

Kool Smiles proudly delivers dental care to families from many backgrounds, including those in low-income households. Affordable dental care is a priority.

We accept many insurance plans, including:

• Medicaid
• CHIP
• TRICARE
• State-specific plans, such as Healthy Smiles, Smiles for Children of Virginia, etc.
• Military insurance

If you are struggling to get Medicaid coverage, you can also pay for services at Kool Smiles with cash, credit or CareCredit, which is a healthcare credit card with easy monthly payments. Call 254-781-0553 to speak to our friendly staff members to learn more about available payment options.

Expert Pediatric Dentistry at Kool Smiles

Why should you bring your child to see a pediatric dentist at Kool Smiles? Our offices specialize in pediatric dentistry, and our dentists have supplementary training in treating children. After four years of general dentistry school, pediatric dentists undergo an additional two to three years of training in child dentistry.

There are several ways that Kool Smiles dentists ease your child’s fear of the dentist.

• The office has toys and a play area to keep children entertained and distracted.
• You may join your child in the treatment area for extra emotional comfort.
• Our dentists will explain the process to your child, so there are no surprises.
• Laughing gas (nitrous oxide) or a local anesthesia may be provided to prevent tooth and gum pain.
• The dentist will answer questions that remain after the exam.

Do Kool Smiles Dentists Have Experience With Special Needs Children?

Barriers to dental care can put children with special needs at increased risk for oral diseases. A general dentist may not have the experience or exposure to children with behavioral or developmental disorders, further running their risk for dental problems. The stakes are even higher to find a pediatric dentist that takes Medicaid in your area.

Kool Smiles pediatric dentists have special training for young patients with special needs, and our dentists understand the conditions that are most likely to affect these children:

• Delayed or accelerated tooth eruption
• Tooth decay
• Grinding of the teeth
• Early and severe gum disease
• Teeth discoloration, pits, lines and other developmental irregularities

Your child will feel comfortable in the hands of our dentists. Pediatric dentists are equipped to deal with all age groups, from toddlers to teenagers. Even if your child has difficulties sitting in the dentistry chair, your Kool Smiles dentist will have the compassion and experience to safely and effectively deliver care.

Kool Smiles Pediatric Dentistry Services Covered by Medicaid

Our offices can cover more than routine cleanings and basic dental work. Take a look at the specialties available at certain Kool Smiles locations:

• Endodontics (dentists specializing in the dental pulp in the center of the tooth)
• Orthodontics (dealing with poorly positioned teeth)
• Oral surgery
• Dental anesthesiology

But What Exactly Is Covered by Medicaid?

Medicaid will cover any procedure that is deemed medically necessary by the dentist. The state is required by law to cover procedures discovered during a screening, and this can even include braces. Braces can be very expensive, but they may be covered by Medicaid if crooked teeth interfere with your child’s ability to talk, chew or swallow.

Find an Affordable Pediatric Dentist Near You

You can easily find a Kool Smiles dentist that accepts Medicaid near you. Kool Smiles is currently in the following states:

• Arkansas
• Arizona
• Connecticut
• Georgia
• Indiana
• Kentucky
• Louisiana
• Massachusetts
• Maryland
• Mississippi
• Oklahoma
• South Carolina
• Texas
• Virginia
• Washington

Our hours are flexible to meet the needs of you and your child. Weekend and evening hours at most locations give you the freedom to schedule an appointment without skipping work or taking your child out of school. Just call 254-781-0553 to begin your journey as a new Kool Smiles patient.

Why You Can Trust Kool Smiles

Finding a clean, safe and caring pediatric dentist near you, including one that takes Medicaid, can be a daunting task. Kool Smiles puts those worries to rest.

Our dentistry training extends beyond a four-year degree and dentistry license. Continuing education classes and case review studies are completed each quarter, and in-office training is conducted by senior and regional training dentists. But most of all, Kool Smiles dentists work hard to make your child smile.

For your child’s safety, our dentists, both general and pediatric, closely adhere to the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) guidelines.

Customer Satisfaction

Patients and parents recommend Kool Smiles for pediatric dental care. See what real Kool Smiles patients have to say about our quality of care:

“I love the way Kool Smiles treats my children. What I normally see is that my kids love coming here and they leave happy all the time. My children all want to go back to the dentist. Even I cannot believe it!” – Susana, Brownsville, TX

“Kool Smiles of Fall River [eased] the fears of a parent and [allowed] my son to have what every child deserves—comprehensive dental care.” – Bethany, Fall River, MA

“We were immediately impressed when we walked through the door that morning. The waiting area is kid friendly with many things to keep the children busy. The receptionist was very friendly and efficient.” – Tina, Louisville, KY

FAQ: Children’s Dentists and Medicaid

It’s recommended that children visit the dentist after their first birthday. The following questions and answers can help prepare you for your trip to Kool Smiles.

Q. Do kids have to have a pediatric dentist?

What’s most important is that your child sees a dentist on a regular basis. Routine care prevents more serious problems. A general dentist is well qualified to handle exams, cleanings, Xrays, fillings and crowns.

Many Kool Smiles offices have both pediatric and general dentists on staff. If your child needs to see a specialist, and there isn’t one available in the office, the dentists at Kool Smiles will be able to connect you with the right person.

Q: At what age is my child no longer covered by medicaid or CHIP?

Your child is covered by Medicaid until the age of 21.

Q. What if my child has serious problems with his or her teeth?

When your kids get routine dental care, problems can be detected early or even avoided. For example, if your child’s baby teeth aren’t coming in or falling out properly, a visit to a pediatric dentist might be needed. If that’s the case, we’ll refer you to a pediatric dentist near you that takes Medicaid and make sure your child gets the necessary help.

Q: Will my insurance cover teeth cleanings from Kool Smiles if my child recently saw a dentist elsewhere?

Usually, insurance covers routine teeth cleanings every six months, and insurance may not cover an additional cleaning if you saw another dentist within the last six months. However, we can work with you to determine if an extra cleaning is necessary and financially possible.

Q: Can my entire family use Kool Smiles dental services?

Yes. The entire family can enjoy our care at Kool Smiles.

Q: Do you offer bilingual service?

Yes! We offer free translation services in Spanish and more.

¡Si! Ofrecemos servicios de traducción gratuitos.

Q: Where can I find additional resources for educating my child about dental health?

Kool Smiles provides parents and teachers with lesson plans and materials to maintain your child’s dental health outside of the dentist’s office. You can sign up online to get educational resources.

Get Affordable Care From a Pediatric Dentist That Takes Medicaid

If you’re searching for a Medicaid dentist for your kids, we have the general and pediatric dentists available to make sure your kids get quality care at an affordable price.

Our pediatric and general dentists treat children and teens with compassion and care in a fun and safe environment. So, don’t wait to instill strong dental hygiene habits in your children. Call Kool Smiles at 254-781-0553 and have your dental care covered.

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Sources:

HealthAffairs.org: https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/abs/10.1377/hlthaff.2016.0800

Medicaid.gov: https://www.medicaid.gov/

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry: http://www.aapd.org/assets/1/7/Medicaid2017-smallest.pdf

Medicaid: https://www.medicaid.gov/medicaid/benefits/dental/index.html

Healthcare.gov: https://www.healthcare.gov/medicaid-chip/childrens-health-insurance-program/

National Center for Biotechnology Information: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20478802

KidsHealth.org: https://m.kidshealth.org/NCChildrens/en/parents/braces.html

WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/childs-first-dental-visit

InsureKidsNow.org: https://www.insurekidsnow.gov/coverage/questions/index.html