Orthodontists Which Accept Medicaid

Everyone has teeth when they are young which fall out and make way for your adult teeth. This can happen at a very young age and the adult teeth which replace them will need to last you for the whole of your lifetime. The only way you can attempt to ensure that they will last this long is to take the best possible care of them. Brushing and flossing everyday is a great place to start but you should also have regular check-ups to ensure there is no build up of plaque, gum disease or other issues. Treatment methods are constantly being improved and technology is making it easier for dentists and orthodontists to assist you to look after your teeth.

The Orthodontist

Even teeth which are brushed and flossed regularly may have problems with plaque and gum disease. Alongside these issues many people will need to see an orthodontist to ensure their bite and teeth alignment is correct. Orthodontists are experts in dentistry and focus exclusively on badly aligned bites and badly positioned teeth. There work will helping anyone to have a perfect smile.

To qualify as an orthodontist you must first qualify as a dentist with the equivalent of a DDS. They are then required to obtain a pace on an approved orthodontics program. These can be exceptionally competitive and only the best get into each program. Each program lasts approximately two to three years and participants must pass an exam which has been approved by the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO). This is not the end of the educational journey. Passing the course and final exam will allow you to practice as an orthodontist but not to state that you are "board certified". To achieve this status you must work in a practice and you will need to present six cases to the ABO which has been dealt with exclusively by you. It is also essential to be able to justify why you took the treatment options you did, if you pass this then you will be board certified; although this will need renewing every ten years. If you are looking for the best orthodontist to assist you in creating your perfect smile then make sure they are board certified.

Techniques

Different orthodontists use different methods and techniques to achieve this result. Correcting a smile can be seen, by some insurance companies, as cosmetic work and not essential; this means it may not be covered by your insurance and you should check this before embarking on any procedure. Many procedures are covered as creating a perfect smile is a side effect from realigning your teeth and preventing health problems in the future.

Medicaid

With this in mind it may not be possible for many people to afford to have their smiles straightened or their bite improve. If the insurance will not pay then the regular dental visits will quickly add up and this may simply not be feasible for many people. Fortunately the government has a managed health care coverage (also known as Medicaid) to help those who need treatment but are unable to afford it. Approval to be on this coverage is dependent on your financial situation and you need to go to an orthodontist which accepts the Medicaid card for a free consultation. The orthodontist will advice whether he thinks it is likely that you will receive a Medicaid card or not; if they believe you will they will send all the correspondence needed to the Illinois state department at no cost to yourself!

An Example Practice

One orthodontic practice which has been in business for several years is Orthodontic Experts; their website is MedicalCardBraces.com. They have two practices, both based in Illinois; one in Arlington Heights and one in Chicago. The firm has been successfully trading for many years and is owned and run by Dr. Yarmolyuk and Dr Arboleda-Lopez; both of them are extremely well qualified. They are supported by a team of eighteen helpers ranging from administrative roles to orthodontist assistants. The practice always has a friendly feel and each of the staff will go out of their way to ensure you are well looked after.

Accepting Medicaid

Whether to sign up to the government and state backed coverage is entirely up to the orthodontist; there is no pressure or bad feeling if any practice does not want to join the coverage. The orthodontist cannot charge any additional cost to the government under this coverage which means there is no significant financial benefit to being a member. If anything, it will be more work for the orthodontist as there will be additional paperwork to deal with. Should an orthodontist wish to participate in the coverage they will need to apply to the state and fill in the relevant forms before waiting to be approved. To become a part of this coverage a practice must want to help those who cannot afford decent dental care.

Using the Coverage

The Medicaid coverage is a lifesaver, literally, for many people who would, otherwise, be unable to afford dental treatment. Untreated issues can lead to abscesses and the poison generated by this infection can make its way into your blood stream causing you to feel unwell, or in extreme cases Septicaemia. An orthodontist who accepts Medicaid is dedicated to ensuring everyone has the specialized treatment they need, regardless of status or cost.

As with any coverage there are conditions and these should be read and adhered to prior to starting your treatment. You would not wish to be saddled with a large bill half way through treatment just because you have not respected the terms and conditions!

The coverage will never pay for fees arising from missed appointments or those that were cancelled with less than twenty four hours notice. It will not cover the cost of replacing lost or broker appliances, these will have to be remade and paid for from your own finances. Whilst the coverage will pay for braces it will not cover the cost of porcelain braces or clear braces. These are seen as cosmetic as opposed to simply corrective. Any fees arising from not arriving at an appointment or charges for not paying a bill on time will not be refunded by the Medicaid coverage.

I write on many diffrent topics. Follow me to read all great articles.