4 Tips Parents Should Consider to Get the Most Out of Their Dental Insurance for Children

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, children should have their first dental check-up within six months of their first tooth erupting from their gums or by the time they turn one, whichever comes first. Additionally, it's important to note that children require regular dental care. Hence, we'd advise you to schedule a routine check-up every six months. After all, don't we all want the best for our children? But the thing is – from basic examinations to preventive care to fluoride treatments to sealants, it's a must to have good insurance for your kid to make dental care more affordable. Most employers offer dental insurance to their employees. However, we've noted that not many people use these benefits to their fullest. Think of it as signing a one-year gym membership and heading over to the gym once every few weeks or months. And if your kid is covered under your dental insurance plan, you can maximize his/her coverage to get the most out of it. Doing this will help you maintain your child's oral health at an affordable cost. We want to help you get the most out of your dental insurance and at the same time ensure that there's a healthy and happy smile on your child's face. That's the reason we've put together this blog post – where we will be discussing the four important tips parents should take into consideration to get the most out of their dental insurance plan. Let's have a look at these tips.

4 Tips Parents Should Consider to Get the Most Out of Dental Insurance for their Children

The following are four important tips we'll be discussing throughout this blog post:

Familiarize Yourself with the Motivation of the Insurance Company
Make the Most Out of Your Kid's Maximum Annual Limits
Avoid Paying Deductible Every Year
Take Full Advantage of Dental Check-ups

Familiarize Yourself with the Motivation of the Insurance Company

Dental insurance plans are structured in such a way that helps the insurance companies save money in the long term. That is why most insurance companies pay 100% for preventive care. What this means is – you often won't have to pay a dime for check-ups, x-rays, or cleanings. Furthermore, it includes specialized preventive dental procedures for children like sealants and fluoride treatments. Therefore, we recommend you thoroughly review your dental insurance plan or contact the insurance provider to gain deeper insights. We would be happy to help you navigate your plan.

Make the Most Out of Your Kid's Maximum Annual Limits

Most dental insurance plans have an annual limit of about $1,000 or $2,000 per child. This includes preventive care and procedures as well. Anything above this limit, you'll have to pay out of your own pocket. However, we've noticed that most parents don't fully utilize their kid's annual limit. So, let's say the maximum annual limit is $2,000 per child. We'd advise you to completely utilize the $2,000 because if you don't, the extra money that wasn't used will not carry over to the next year. All unused benefits are lost. Dental insurance plans are structured such that the benefits restart at the beginning of the new calendar year. As of this writing, it's February already. So, if you haven't had a checkup and cleaning yet this year, it may become more difficult to utilize the maximum annual limit. We'd advise you to schedule an appointment with us today:

Avoid Paying Deductible Fee Every Year

Typically, you are required to pay a deductible – which typically stands at $50 to $100 – the first time you get dental treatment during a coverage year before insurance will kick in. A deductible is separate from co-pay. And you need to pay it only once a year. But – it's important to note that you only need to pay the deductible for restorative work. Preventive care is not subject to deductibles. This means – if you are using your dental insurance plan for your child's preventive oral care, you don't necessarily need to pay the deductible. If restorative work like tooth-colored fillings and crowns aren't completed during the year, you don't have to pay any deductible.

Take Full Advantage of Dental Check-ups

Most dental insurance plans usually cover two dental exams and cleanings each year at around 90-100% – based on your dental insurance plan. Therefore, we'd advise you to fully utilize them. As we mentioned before, it's a good practice to schedule a routine dental check-up every six months. Preventing cavities is easier the treating them, and the earlier something is recognized, there are more simple options. So – if your plan covers two dental check-ups each year, you should use them to ensure your child has a happy and healthy smile. If you have any questions related to your child's dental care, we'd love to help address your queries. Feel free to reach out to us – and our experts will help you review your options and maximize your benefits to help you get the most out of your dental insurance plan.

Have Any Questions? Reach Out to the Best-in-Class Pediatric Dentists Today!

At Front Row Pediatric Dentistry, we believe in putting the needs and well-being of children above everything else. At the same time, we are willing to go great lengths to help parents get affordable dental care for their children. From comfortable virtual consultations to best-in-class in-person office visits, our services are highly flexible. We take great pride in community involvement as well as care for our families and neighbors. We're motivated to be the best pediatric dental practice in Columbia, Ellicott City, Clarksville, River Hill and the various communities around Howard County. And we would love nothing more than to help your child lead a happy and healthy life. Feel free to reach out to us today:

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