Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

1

What are the benefits of dental surgery?

Dental surgery can help alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in young patients so that they no longer fear going to the dentist. It can also improve safety, as it’s important for patients to sit very still during dental procedures in order for dentists to use instruments and mechanical equipment safely. If children are unable to remain still and calm, then dental surgery may be the best option. The safety of children is always our priority—our anesthesiologists are state- and board-certified. We also have RNs present in the room at all times while patients are in surgery.

2

Why fix baby teeth at all if they aren’t permanent?

There are several reasons to fix primary, or baby, teeth:

• Primary teeth are important because they help guide proper eruption of the permanent teeth.
• Untreated primary teeth can affect the development of the permanent teeth.
• Primary teeth help maintain good nutrition with proper chewing.
• Primary teeth help with the development of speech.
• Every child’s smile affects their sense of self-esteem and confidence in life.
• Not treating the teeth can result in a patient becoming in serve pain and possibly developing an abscess. An Abscess is a collection of pus that has accumulated in a cavity formed within a tissue because of an inflammatory process in response to either an infection process, usually caused by bacteria. An abscess can be very dangerous and lead to swelling and severe pain.

3

Will insurance cover my child’s procedure?

The proposed dental work that your child needs will be submitted to your dental insurance company to determine how much your dental insurance will cover. The following is a general breakdown of how dental insurances typically reimburse:

• If your child is covered under Medicaid: there is no financial responsibility on the part of the patient.
• If your child is covered under a commercial dental plan: frequently these insurances break dental work into procedure types that require you, as the dental insurance holder, to be responsible for a percentage of the work completed. For example, if your child needs a filling, the insurance company may pay 80% of the reimbursable rate and you will be responsible for 20%. We are happy to work with you on navigating specific procedure costs.

For a list of our accepted insurance providers visit our Insurance & Financing page.