Children’s Dental Insurance Coverage: How It Works and How to Get the Most Out of It

As a responsible, caring parent, you are concerned about your child’s health, but you also worry about finances. Every dollar counts, and you don’t want to waste anything. Did you know that you can make sure your child has a strong smile and make the most of your insurance dollars at the same time? In this post, you’ll learn more about how children’s dental insurance coverage works and how to maximize your benefits to help your little one stay healthy.

Why Prevention and Early Treatment Matter

Some parents think that their child only needs the dentist if something goes wrong, such as a toothache or a cracked tooth. While many pediatric dentists are happy to treat emergency patients, the best approach is to prevent these issues in the first place. You can spare your child from having to experience unnecessary tooth pain, and you from the expense, by taking the essential preventive steps (i.e., regular dental visits).

What Dental Insurance Covers

As your child grows, you likely take them to see the pediatrician on a regular basis (at least once annually as covered by your medical insurance) to make sure they are healthy and strong and to get them the vaccinations they need for school. You should also be taking advantage of your dental insurance, which provides two visits per year for your child at usually a low or even no additional out-of-pocket cost. During these appointments, hardened plaque is removed from your little one’s teeth, and the pediatric dentist examines them to make sure they are cavity and infection free.

If something requires treatment, such as a cavity, these semi-annual visits are an opportunity for your pediatric dentist to catch the issue sooner rather than later. Why is this important? Dental insurance tends to cover less of the cost when treating more severe cases. For example, specific coverage may vary, but your dental insurance may cover 70 to 80 percent of the cost of fillings but only 50 percent of the cost of crowns. In other words, you pay less when your child needs more conservative treatment.

How to Optimize Your Child’s Oral Health and Your Benefits Simultaneously

The good news is that you can get the most value out of your insurance benefits and take the best care of your child’s smile by doing the same thing. Taking them in for two checkups and cleanings per year goes a long way to protecting their teeth from costly decay. These covered visits also allow your pediatric dentist to keep a close eye on their oral development. It’s a clear win-win for you!

Ultimately, you don’t have to choose between keeping your child healthy and saving money. You can do both by making sure your child sees a pediatric dentist at least twice every year for preventive care. That way, when you see them smile, you can have more peace of mind!

About the Practice

Chicago Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics is proud to have five providers on staff, three of whom are board-certified pediatric dentists. With various backgrounds, they share a deep passion for taking the stress out of dental visits for both children and parents. We accept and are in-network with several PPO dental insurance plans, and our team will do our best to answer your insurance questions and help you maximize your benefits. If you have questions about using your insurance at our practice, you may contact us through our website or by calling 312-766-0995.