Children enjoy riding their bikes, playing outside, engaging in sports, and simply doing things that contain a level of risk. Unfortunately, these activities can also lead to dental emergencies, like a cracked or knocked-out tooth. Although a visit to the dentist’s office may not be what you planned, you want to make sure your child gets the care they need. But what about the cost? Will dental insurance help cover it? Keep reading to find out.
What is Considered a Dental Emergency?
Most dentists recommend that any injury that causes your child to experience pain warrants a visit. They often include cracked or chipped teeth, a knocked-out tooth, soft tissue lacerations, a lost dental filling or crown, an infection (abscess), or a bothersome toothache.
Although some of these injuries are more serious and require timelier treatment than others, all need the help of an emergency dentist to fix them.
Will Dental Insurance Help Cover the Cost?
When reviewing your dental insurance plan, you may or may not find much information about emergency care. Many insurers provide one free emergency exam each year; however, that is not where the majority of the cost will come from.
The bill will consist of the type of treatment your child needs. This might include:
- A dental filling
- A dental crown
- Pulp therapy
- Tooth extraction
- Antibiotics
- Pain management
Depending on your plan and its coverage levels, you may find that your insurance will agree to cover 50-80% of the total as long as you’ve met your deductible for the year. It’s possible for there to be a designated limit on how much your insurance company will pay for emergency treatment, so you or a member of your child’s dental team will need to review the policy beforehand.
What if You Don’t Have Dental Insurance?
If you are without dental insurance, you will be required to pay for your child’s emergency treatment out of pocket. Fortunately, many dentists offer financing options that make it easy to enroll and sign up for a low-or-no-interest payment plan.
Third-party companies, like CareCredit, help reduce the out-of-pocket expenses of these restorative treatments by allowing you to pay off your child’s care over time instead of all upfront. This makes it easier to stay within your budget.
Getting your child the care they need is most important. The cost associated with treatment shouldn’t have to be an additional concern. By reviewing your dental insurance policy before an emergency happens, you can ensure you’re better prepared should one suddenly occur.
About the Author
Dr. Ryne Paulson and the team at Casper Children’s Dental Clinic are here to provide immediate treatment should your child experience a dental emergency. Offering same-day appointments for those in need, we will not only administer timely care but also make sure you understand the details of your dental insurance plan so that cost doesn’t become a worrisome factor. If you need help to better understand the details of your policy, visit our website or call (307) 266-1997.