How To Build The Best Dental Plan For Your Child

When considering your child’s health, health often doesn’t top the list. 

The result is thousands of dollars down the drain because your child has a cavity. 

Most health insurance plans in America do not cover dental costs of filings, cavity removals, braces, etc. When a dental emergency strikes, parents have to pay out of pocket. 

That’s where a dental insurance plan fills the gaps. Many top insurance providers in the US provide inexpensive dental procedures ranging from $25 to $100 per month. 

The most obvious perk of getting dental insurance for your kid is that you are more likely to visit the dentist regularly. This is because all insurance companies cover two or three dental checkups for free each year. 

Let’s explain why caring for your child’s dental health is essential and how you can safeguard it through the right dental insurance plans. 

Understand Why It’s Key to Care for Your Child’s Teeth

Did you know that at birth, children already have their baby teeth inside their gums? Yes, it’s true! Thus, dental care for children should start earlier than you think!

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, on average, kids 2 to 11 suffer from 1.6 primary tooth decay and 3.6 primary teeth decayed surfaces. 

Children are the sweetest of creatures that exist on the planet. In response, everyone is tempted to give them chocolates and sweets. However, an excessive amount of that might end up giving them a decayed tooth that is not their fault. 

Children do not understand that sweets can lead to severe pain unless they experience it. So, ensuring that your child has proper oral health and that everything is safer becomes an essential part of parenting. 

With all of this in mind, let us look at some essential pointers that will help us understand how to care for children’s baby teeth!

Things To Keep In Mind When Taking Care Of Your Child’s Dental Health

#1. Avoid Using pacifiers and Thumb Sucking

Thumb Sucking is not a significant problem until your child has not reached the stage when baby teeth start to fall off and permanent ones grow. That usually happens when they cross the two-year mark. 

Pacifiers might be handy if you want to prevent your child from sucking their thumbs, but they disrupt the alignment of the permanent teeth. The sucking mechanism of a pacifier is not ideal. Pacifiers also increase the risk of otitis media and dental issues.

#2. Take Care of Gums from Day One

Gums are the most sensitive part of the body. Not just tooth decay and cavities, but gum disease as well. So, before your child turns 3, the most effective way to take care of their teeth is by soaking a soft piece of cloth in water (making it damp and not wet), taking a grain size amount of toothpaste, and cleaning the teeth and gum with the piece of fabric.

#3. Brush Your Child’s Teeth Twice a Day

Until your child is capable enough to take the matter of brushing their teeth twice daily in their hands, you are responsible for fulfilling the responsibility! As parents of infants and toddlers, ensure that you brush their teeth twice daily. 

This will ensure that they get a habit of it so that in the future, they will follow it as a routine without fail.

#4. Start Flossing When Teeth Touch

Everyone with teeth that stick to each other should floss their teeth. Understand that food particles stuck between teeth are inclined to decay and spread infection, considering age. So, take a gentle thread, and floss very gently from between teeth once a day!

#5. Be on the Lookout for Dental Issues

Who says you need an appointment with the dentist only when you know your child has a damaged tooth and is in incredible pain? A slight swell in the gums is also a matter that an expert on time should address. People who experience conditions like periodontitis and lose teeth at the age of 40 are those who were ignorant in the early stages. 

Common Dental Problems In Kids And How To Prevent Your Kid’s Tooth Decay?

From tooth cavity and gum disease to misaligned teeth, there are multiple dental issues that a child can develop over time due to improper oral hygiene routine, diet, and other such factors.  

Here is a list of common dental problems faced by kids: 

#1. Tooth Decay 

As per reports, most children between two and five have at least one cavity. Tooth decay is one of the most common problems kids face due to improper brushing and irregular flossing. That ends up accumulating bacteria that results in tooth cavities. 

#2. Gum Diseases 

Not many children face the problem of gum disease, as that happens more in later stages like adolescence. However, early gum diseases like gingivitis can attack kids. The first stage of gum disease is gingivitis, where the situation is in a reversible stage. Common symptoms include swollen gums, bleeding, and bad breath. When untreated and ignored, it can convert to periodontitis, an advanced stage of irreversible gum disease. It happens because of plaque build-up because bacteria accumulate on the teeth’ surface. 

#3. Misaligned Teeth 

As their baby teeth start to fall and permanent teeth grow, they can grow with missing alignments, which could be genetic. However, excessive sucking and usage of pacifiers can also be a reason. The best part is that this can be treated naturally at an early stage with an orthodontist’s help.  

#4. Sensitive Teeth 

Tooth sensitivity is enamel loss due to an improper diet that includes many sugary items. In this condition, the dental roots become bare, leading to loose gums pulling downwards that sensitize when something hot or cold is consumed, especially when finishing.

Children tend to indulge in such diets and damage their enamel, eventually leading to tooth sensitivity. As parents, this needs to be checked out on time as at a later stage, it can lead to tooth loss and gum problems. 

Things To Keep In Mind When Choosing The Right Pediatric Dentist 

#1. Check Qualifications

A pediatric dentist receives two to a year of extra schooling beyond dental school, especially in children’s dentistry. Beyond that, many dentists have board certifications, like the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry (ABPD) and the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO).

#2. Does the dentist accept insurance? 

Dental visits are costly. It is better to check beforehand whether the pediatric dentist covers the insurance to avoid challenging surprises later. 

#3. Do they have a safe environment for your child? 

Most pediatric dentist offices are warm and welcoming so that the child does not feel afraid. They also have concern for children and understand what they might be going through. An excellent pediatric dentist would soothe a child rather than scold them to stop crying or sit still. 

#4. What’s the location? 

Children become anxious during long rides. The nearer your dentist is to your home, the better it will be. 

Does My Kid Need Dental Insurance?

Yes! The kid needs dental insurance too! But why? 

It’s because even if your baby has one tooth, they can get cavities too. You are wrong if you think only grown adults get cavities! Not every child has strong teeth to repel cavities and tooth infections. According to research, children aged 2 to 5 had untreated cavities. Having dental insurance will save you from costly dental checkups and procedures. 

Top Companies to Consider To Get Kids Dental Plans in the USA?

#1. Cigna 

• Types of policies: 3
• Coverage Limit: Up to $1,500
• States Available: 50

Why Choose Cigna for your dental plan?

Cigna provides a broad network of up to 92,000 dentists. Moreover, they have several plans to fit your budget. Also, dental insurance for individuals comes with no copays and no deductibles for preventive care with in-network dentists. 

#2. Spirit 

• Policy Types: 16
• Coverage Limit: $5,000 after three years
• States Available: 50

Spirit Dental is one of the best dental insurance providers with no waiting period. Moreover, the plan covers all three cleaning and two checkups per year. There is only a $100 one-time deductible, whereas almost all other plans cut the deductible each year. The best thing about Spirit is that it has higher acceptance rates and an option to choose your own dentist through their choice plans.

#3. Delta Dental 

• Policy Types: 5
• Coverage Limit: $1,000 to unlimited 
• States Available: 50

Delta Dental is one of the largest dental insurance providers in the US and offers several insurance plans in all the states, Puerto Rico, and the united territories. The company currently serves over 80 million customers through a network of 150,000 dentists. 

#4. Renaissance Dental 

• Policy Types: 4
• Coverage Limit:$1,000
• States Available: 50

Renaissance Dental serves 13 million consumers worldwide. Although it might not have comprehensive coverage like Cigna, it does have a network of 300,000 dentists in the US. It has an excellent reputation for customer service, with a guarantee of answering almost 99{ac2a009b1ab48831539664612c3590d3a3d8d03cf5106270341ad20ec3b355a9} of customers’ calls in the 1st year. Annual maximum benefits are capped at $1,000. 

Best Dental Insurance Comparison

Company	Coverage Limit	Network	Plan	Deductible	States Available
Cigna	$1,500 for restorative care $1,000 for orthodontic	92,000	3	$50 for individuals $150 for families $0 for a preventative plan	50
Spirit Delta	$5,000 after 3 years	111,500	16	One-time $100 deductible	50
Delta Dental	$1,000 to unlimited	152,000	5	$50 for PPO plans	50
Renaissance Dental	$1,600	300,000	4	$50 for individuals or families	50

What Does Kid’s Dental Insurance Typically Cover?

Dental insurance for kids varies from state to state. However, some of the everyday things most dental insurance covers are: 

1. Dental examination – Almost all dental insurance providers foot all the bills for two dentist visits per year. So, make the most of it. 

2. Basic Dental Care – Essential dental exams and cleaning include tooth extractions and fillings. The majority of providers pay up to 50% of tooth extraction costs after a six-month waiting period. Coverage of filling may depend on the filing your child needs. For example, silver amalgam filling is less expensive than porcelain tooth fillings. 

3. Dental X-rays – If you visit a new dentist for the first time, they will need an X-ray of your teeth to get to the issues. The majority of X-rays are done twice a year unless, of course, your child has some dental emergency that needs new X-rays. Insurance providers foot the total costs of x-rays, set one every two years. 

What to Look for in a Dental Insurance Plan – Best Tips

Here are a few things to consider when choosing a dental insurance plan for your children. 

#1: What dentist does the insurance cover? 

If you stay with your current dentists, selecting a dental insurance plan that covers your dentist is essential. Most dental insurance providers have an extensive network of providers. However, they may want you to switch to their dentist. You want to avail the coverage. 

#2. Know what the policy covers? 

It’s essential to understand what the dental policy for kids covers. 

For example, 

Top dental insurance plans like AARP Delta PPO Plan B include exams, cleaning, X-rays, filling, tooth removals, root canals, gum cleaning, and denture repairs. 

But, with this plan, you will need to wait till the second year from the date of the policy to apply for dental implants, gum disease, or TMJ treatments. Even these benefits are limited to the total costs incurred. 

So, before going forward, check whether there is a waiting period to get the coverage. Moreover, some policies may cover only limited treatments, so you will still need to pay a hefty amount from your pocket to clear the treatment. 

#3. Can you wait for 6 to 12 months for complete coverage to kick in?

Most dental insurance plans often have waiting periods to cover expensive procedures like braces and dentures. Suppose you don’t want to wait to get coverage for expensive treatment. In that case, you can go for expensive dental insurance plans to start with benefits immediately. 

#4. Does your kid require cosmetic procedures?

Cosmetic dental procedures are teeth whitening, veneers, fillings, crowns, gum lifts, etc. The majority of dental insurance plans do not cover cosmetic procedures. 

Suppose you want to get a cosmetic dental procedure. In that case, it is better to go ahead with discounted services from a network of dental providers rather than insurance plans. Plans that cover the procedures will have a limited network or pay only a small percentage, like 20% of the total cost.

Conclusion

Before choosing a dental plan for your child, ensure you have done enough research so you don’t leave money on the table! Go through our list of top dental insurance providers to choose the best dental plan for your child.

If you have enrolled in a dental program of FDA insurance, keep a tab on the benefits they provide to get full benefits. 

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