Little Elm TX family dentist answers: “Does Medicaid Cover Dental Care?”

The search is over! The hardest part is done – you’ve finally found a dentist who accepts Medicaid and, at that, a dentist who is compassionate and whose team truly cares about you and your family. This is no small feat, considering that the American Dental Association’s Health Policy Institute reports that fewer than half of dentists in the U.S. – at 38% — accept Medicaid or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Frisco Elm Dental is proud to accept many different types of insurances, including both Medicaid and CHIP. Due to our familiarity with navigating the insurance process, we’re happy to answer any questions you may have about coverage including the No. 1 thing our Medicaid-insured patients need to know: Does Medicaid Cover Dental Care in Little Elm, TX?

Medicaid does cover dental services in Little Elm, as long as you get those services from a provider who accepts this health insurance program, like Dr. Vidya Suri. Now that you have a “home” for all your dental care needs at the Frisco Family Dentist office of Dr. Suri, you are no doubt wondering how Medicaid and CHIP can help reduce the financial burden associated with the services you and your loved ones need to stay healthy. If financial concerns have kept you and your family from getting necessary treatments, breathe easier knowing that many dental services are covered for Medicaid- and CHIP-enrolled patients, and so are many of the other costly expenses that stand in the way of patients getting the care they need; for instance, transportation to and from those visits that are covered by Medicaid or CHIP.

Making oral health a priority

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services understand that the health of your teeth and gums is an important part of your overall health. Your teeth and the gums that support them serve a critical purpose; when they don’t function as they should, your ability to chew efficiently and properly suffers. When nutrition suffers, you are at greater risk of developing deficiencies that lead to further life-altering problems, such as osteoporosis, anemia, and abnormal heart rhythms. Much has also been made of the connection between certain types of bacteria associated with advanced gum disease and serious medical conditions such as heart disease that require extensive and expensive treatment.

Due to the many threats to your health and well-being that stem from dental conditions, Texas and other states are required to provide dental benefits to kids who are enrolled in Medicaid and CHIP. In Texas, kids and young adults aged 20 or younger get dental services through two managed care dental plans, DentaQuest, and MCNA Dental, of which Dr. Suri is a member-provider. States can also choose to extend dental benefits to adults who are covered by Medicaid. Texas is among those states that extend dental benefits, but the type of coverage depends on where the enrollee lives and his or her specific health issues. Generally, emergency services are covered for all Medicaid patients, whereas preventive, restorative, periodontal, and oral surgery services coverage may be limited to physically- and developmentally-disabled recipients, as well as senior enrollees (aged 65 and older).

Children and young adults are eligible for comprehensive dental benefits that relate to early and periodic screening, diagnostics, and treatment. These benefits largely include:

• Check-ups starting at age 6 months
• Cleanings at the dentist’s office
• Sealants, fluoride, and other preventive treatments
• Fillings, crowns, root canal therapy, extractions, and other restorative treatments

DentaQuest Texas and MCNA Texas also offer extra benefits to help with expenses, such as gift cards and dental care kits that are rewarded to parents should children see the dentist within 90 days of enrollment, or include products like toothbrushes, toothpaste, and a brushing chart respectively.

All Medicaid recipients and/or their parents or guardians are eligible for rides to and from any covered or medically-necessary services, and that includes trips to and from the drugstore to get prescriptions, and to and from offices for lab tests and other diagnostic services. Medicaid may also help to pay for employer-sponsored insurance premiums should someone in your family, including a spouse or child, get Medicaid.

It’s important to be aware of all the benefits that may be due to you, and Frisco Elm Dental is happy to be a knowledgeable partner on your dental journey. Call (214) 705-7100 with questions, or to schedule an appointment with Little Elm Family Dentist, Dr. Vidya Suri.

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Frisco Elm Dental

Dr. Vidya Suri

A graduate from University of California San Francisco School of Dentistry, Dr. Vidya Suri is an established dentist who prioritizes her patients and strives to provide them with the best possible dental care. She brings to the table a wealth of knowledge and skills including her ability to pay close attention to the details to provide her patients with the most optimal outcomes that exceed their expectations.

Dr. Suri treats patients of all ages. In order to ensure that she is doing her best, she regularly participates in continuing education courses to stay abreast of new practices, technology, and advancements in the industry. Dr. Suri is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry and the American Dental Association.