Dental insurance is an excellent way to make sure that you and your family’s preventive oral health care needs are met each year. This type of insurance typically covers care like your biannual exam and cleaning and may offer discounts or partial coverage on restorative treatment.
When many parents are faced with getting their children braces, one of their first questions is “will my dental insurance cover orthodontic treatment?” Here’s what you can expect from some plans, and why it’s always best to get orthodontic care while your child is under 18.
Dental Insurance and Orthodontics
When it comes to dental insurance, children’s coverage can often vary from their parent or guardian’s coverage, even if they are on the same policy. For orthodontic coverage, you should expect your plan to pay for some if not all your children’s treatment, but unfortunately that is typically not true for adults. Adults may receive partial coverage depending on their plan, but typically it will not cover as much as children’s coverage does.
Other Benefits to Early Intervention
In addition to your insurance plan covering more of your child’s treatment when they are under the age of 18, another major benefit to seeking orthodontic care early is that it is often much faster and easier to move your child’s teeth when they are young. Older bones have had a longer time to settle into place and thus may be stubborn during treatment, which is why adults tend to need to wear braces longer than kids.
Remember, while individual policies and coverage will vary depending on the patient, it is generally a better idea to get your child orthodontic treatment while they are still under the age of 18. If you are an older patient, it is still possible to move your teeth, and your plan may even provide some orthodontic coverage but speak to your orthodontic team to help confirm exactly what yours offers.
About Our Practice
Serenity Orthodontics is proud to provide orthodontic treatment for patients of all ages, from childhood to adulthood. If you are interested in learning more about how braces can help align your smile, and for assistance confirming your orthodontic coverage, please visit our website and schedule a consultation today.