| It's now official. Statistics on the morning news | | | | flouride treatments, they may not ever have any |
| stated that one out of every three children in the | | | | major dental expenses at all. |
| United States has no form of dental care. This | | | | There are other options available for individuals, |
| situation was brought to light by the unfortunate | | | | families and groups to see a dental care provider. |
| death of a twelve year old boy in Maryland, who | | | | These are known as Discount Dental Plans. These |
| actually was covered by Medicaid, but couldn't find | | | | plans are not dental insurance, therefore you |
| a dental care provider that would accept him. He | | | | must still pay for your procedures at the time of |
| had a tooth abscess that eventually spread | | | | your appointment, but by being a plan member |
| infection to his brain. Apparently, the amount that | | | | you'll receive a substantial discount off of the |
| Medicaid reimburses for the procedure that this | | | | services performed. Most major discount plans |
| boy needed wasn't adequate enough for those | | | | save you anywhere from 10-60% on things like |
| dentists that were contacted. | | | | cleanings, fillings, extractions, root canals and more. |
| It's a tragedy any time something like this | | | | Some plans even allow for discounts on things like |
| happens, but especially in this modern era. The | | | | teeth whitening and cosmetic dentistry. |
| United States has really dropped the ball on | | | | Also, some local colleges allow their dental |
| providing medical coverage to its citizens and the | | | | students to "practice" basic dental procedures for |
| actual dental insurance policies available for sale | | | | very low cost to the general public. These |
| here are either not adequate themselves or | | | | students are carefully monitored by qualified |
| simply too expensive for many people to pay for. | | | | dentists while they perform these procedures. |
| Private dental insurance for some families can run | | | | Lastly, if you do receive state or federal |
| as much as $100.00 per month or more and for | | | | assistance, such as Medicaid, make it a priority to |
| someone trying to support their family on under | | | | find a dental care provider that will accept your |
| $20,000.00 a year, that's a lot of money to put | | | | plan BEFORE it becomes an emergency. You |
| out, especially if there's not an immediate need. | | | | should always have a list with phone numbers for |
| Most dental insurance plans do not cover existing | | | | your primary care doctor, dentist and any other |
| conditions either, unless you've owned the policy | | | | emergency numbers. |
| for more than a couple years and even then you | | | | What happened to this young boy recently is a |
| still must pay a deductible and will have a | | | | terrible tragedy and really tugs at my heart, |
| maximum allowable annual benefit. | | | | especially because it just didn't have to happen. |
| Most people don't think of things like seeing a | | | | As a father of four children, I want everyone to |
| dentist unless there's an actual need that occurs | | | | be aware that there are inexpensive alternatives |
| either personally or within the family. If they | | | | to traditional dental insurance that you can take |
| would change their thinking and get in to see a | | | | advantage of in order to make certain that your |
| dentist for routine maintenance like cleanings and | | | | child gets the dental care that they need. |