When should I add my new baby to my dental insurance plan?
Wednesday, April 22nd, 2009 at
7:39 am
jen asked:
I add her to my health insurance within 30 days of her birth. (She’s due September 2nd).
The next “open enrollment” (when I can add her to dental) will be January 2009. Should I add her then, since that will cover the year she turns one, or wait till the following January?
I guess my main question is: I don’t need to add her to dental when she’s born, like I do for health, right?
Tagged with: Dental Insurance Plan • Need Dental • New Baby
Filed under: Newborn & Baby
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Babies generally don’t go to the dentist before age 2. If it is just a couple dollars a month you could add her at birth, otherwise wait till Jan 2010 or 2011…
My dentist and Pediatrician both told me that they can go start going to the dentist at 3 yrs unless you have a concern before then.
okay this is how it was explained to me!
you child who likely will only be in for cleanings right at least that young when they are about 2 is when they start their routine at the dentist! Well dont insure her until then and if her teeth are okay usually it is cheaper to pay out of pocket for the cleanings then to pay the monthly premium!!!
As an office administrator, I always encourage people to add the children to their health and dental as soon as possible. You never know when something unexpected will come up, so it’s best to be covered.
For example, someone I know had a baby of about 8 months with several teeth. The baby fell and broke one of his teeth and had to be seen by a dentist, therefore dental insurance came in very handy.
Good luck with your upcoming arrival!!
I would add her at the next open enrollment in 2009. You never know what can happen with kids! Most children in our office are seen around 3 for their first checkup and cleaning. But actually the American Dental Association is recommending sooner due to the high rate of decay in young children’s teeth. So, if it is pretty inexpensive, I would just add her to be on the safe side. Also, you never know with when they start walking and they fall all the time, sometimes, their teeth or mouth can get injured.
I’d call your dentist and ask them generally when he or she starts to see children, then plan around that age.
My dentist starts seeing childen at 3, unless there is some concern. So, my plan has been to wait until the open enrollment that falls closest to my babie’s third birthday and then I’ll add him or her to our policy at that time. Then once they turn 3 I’ll call and schedule up their first cleaning.
You can definitely wait until next January. Typically, “the experts” recommend that you take your baby to the dentist when he/she starts getting their teeth in, but you can really wait until they are about a year old or so. Just make sure that when your baby does grow in some new chompers, to take a soft cloth, dampened with water, and clean the teeth and gums with it 1) so they get used to that so when it comes time for a toothbrush, they won’t freak out or anything and 2)it promotes heathly teeth and gums!
Good Luck!
Yes you should add her when she is born.
Rarely babies teeth come in before 2 months of age, in this case the enamel is not formed properly and they need to see a dentist ASAP.
Even if that doesn’t happen the latest a baby needs to see a dentist is 6 months after their first tooth erupts OR 12 months whichever is FIRST. And some will need to go sooner than that.
I had to go through public insurance for dental and because of the delay it took 4 months. That delay made the problem far worse and my son ended up having a tooth pulled and then I had to pay for a permanent denture to prevent potential problem which all came out of my pocket. He’s two and between insurance and out of pocket expenses its up over $3000
Scheduling the child’s first dental visit. It is advantageous for the first visit to occur within six months of eruption of the first tooth and no later than 12 months of age, and
I was told that by the time they are three would be a decent time to start taking them into the dentist. Cause they can speek better and they will by then start really needing to take on tooth brushing by themselves.