You only have one set of adult teeth, and they need to last until you are 80, 90, or beyond. The actions you take towards your teeth today will either benefit you or harm you in the future. Of course, good dental care starts with seeing a dentist regularly. You should go in for cleanings and checkups, and any other time you think something might be amiss with your teeth. Education is important when it comes to any aspect of your health, so start reading the articles on this website to educate yourself about dentists and dental care. We promise that when you're 80 and you still have your teeth, you won't regret the time spent.
The Tooth of the Matter: A Dental Blog
Did Your Child Just Get Approved For Medicaid? 4 Children's Dental Care Services They Are Eligible To Receive
Sofia Curtis
Finally getting that approval letter for your child's Medicaid feels good, and you are naturally eager to start arranging for appointments that take care of their health. Children under the age of 21 are eligible for dental care services that are covered by their health plan. Now, you will need to start looking for a Medicaid dentist who can perform these vital services for your child.
Schedule Regular Exams and Cleanings
Your child may already be overdue for an exam. Infants should have their teeth checked by a dentist by the time that they turn one or whenever they get their first tooth. After that, most kids need to be examined on a yearly or biannual basis. Their checkups may also include a dental cleaning, or the dentist may prefer to do that at a separate appointment to minimize how long your child spends in the chair. These exams provide vital insights into your child's oral health that lay the groundwork for a healthy smile in the future.
Ask About Oral Hygiene Education
Many parents forget that they can ask for help with getting their kids to brush their teeth and floss when they visit the Medicaid dentist's office. Children's dentists prefer to prevent dental problems, and your child's provider can make oral hygiene make more sense and keep it fun. They even have cool tricks, such as showing kids how much plaque they have on their teeth before and after they brush.
Treat Cavities With Fillings
Young children can still get cavities in their baby teeth. These can hurt or potentially cause your child's teeth to break or need to be removed. A major service offered by your dental coverage is allowing for the repair and restoration of decaying teeth. With regular exams, tooth decay can be caught in the earliest stages so that less of your child's tooth needs to be removed. During fillings, your Medicaid also covers pain relief and anesthesia that the dentist believes is necessary for their comfort.
Arrange for Extractions as Needed
For the most part, the main goal with children's dentistry is to preserve those precious baby teeth. Yet, there are times when it may be necessary to extract teeth to eliminate pain or make room for the adult teeth to come in. Your child's dental coverage should cover extractions as needed to keep your child's smile healthy. If an extraction is needed, then your child may also be eligible to have a replacement tooth called a spacer put in its place to keep the other teeth from shifting around.
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