Low-Cost Dental Work for Kids

Tooth decay is the most common chronic health problem among both children and adults. That’s why making sure your child receives quality routine dental care from an early age is so crucial. Yet for so many parents and families, finding affordable dental care from experienced, qualified general and pediatric dentists is a huge challenge. Insurance can help, but not every dental practice accepts every kind of insurance.

Most parents find it helpful to have some idea of how much they can expect to pay for their children’s dental care, even if it’s just a basic range of costs. Of course, some services and procedures take more time and skill to perform and, as such, may cost significantly more than basic cleanings and routine checkups. However, when it comes to your child’s dental health, don’t let the cost deter you. Instead, look for low-cost dental practices and dentists who will accept payment plans and other financing options.

How Much Do Common Dental Procedures Cost?

Common dental procedure and treatment fees may fall along a wide spectrum. Exactly how much you can expect to pay will depend on a number of different factors, such as your location, how many dentists serve that area, whether you have insurance, and the extent of the procedure in question:

Routine teeth cleaning: $70–$200
Dental X-rays: $20–$250 (or more)
Cavity filling: $50–$300 (for silver filling) or $90–$450 (or more, for composite that matches the color of the tooth)
Teeth whitening: $300–$1,000 for in-office treatment administered by dental staff or $100–$500 for at-home tray kits
Root canal: $300–$2,000 (depending on the position of the tooth, with molars generally costing more than front teeth or bicuspids)
Dental crowns: $500–$1,500 (for porcelain and metal crowns), or $600 to over $3,000 for gold or all-porcelain crowns
Tooth removal: $75–$450 for simple extraction (surgical extraction may cost up to $650 or more)
Wisdom tooth removal: $75–$200 for removal of a single tooth, up to $600 for impacted wisdom teeth and $1,000 to $3,000 to remove four impacted wisdom teeth in a single appointment

Is Child Dental Care Really Worth the Price?

It might seem as if it’s not really all that important to give a child’s teeth the same level of dental care as an adult. Baby teeth do fall out, after all, so why should you go to the expense and effort of regularly scheduled cleanings, checkups and cavity fillings?

In fact, children should start seeing the dentist as soon as they get their first tooth, or around the time of their first birthday, whichever happens first. From that point on, they should see the dentist twice a year (or every six months) for a professional cleaning and exam. And if they have any cavities or tooth decay, these should be treated as soon as possible to avoid mouth pain, possible infection, and even tooth loss.

Starting your child off on the right foot with good dental hygiene and regular dentist visits helps ensure a healthy, bright smile for life and prevents serious dental issues later on. That’s why the cost of dental care for your child is absolutely one worth paying.

Find Low-Cost Dental Work for Your Child

Many areas of the U.S. are served by a number of dentists, including those who specialize in providing services to low-income households and families. Many of our Kool Smiles partners do, as well as accepting a variety of insurance plans, including Medicaid, and even offering cash or credit card payment plans. It’s one of the best ways to find affordable dental services for your child.

To find low-cost dental work for your child, look for one of our partner dentists near you today.

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Sources:

NIDCR: https://www.nidcr.nih.gov/research/data-statistics/dental-caries

CostHelper: https://health.costhelper.com/dentistry.html

WebMD: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tooth-decay-prevention

CareCredit: https://www.carecredit.com/