Pearly Whites

We have fabulous health insurance.  I really have no complaints about it.  I gave birth to Spencer, in a hospital, and stayed for 2 days and we owed $0.  Nada.  Not even a co-pay.  Not even a penny.  We got all the statements showing what insurance covered and it was in the tens of thousands of dollars.  And we paid nothing.  Now with Elliott I paid $10 for my first visit and every visit since has been covered by the original $10,  since they are considered follow-ups. 

Our dental insurance, on the other hand, is terrible.  It sucks.  It's ridiculous.

Way back when Spencer was a baby our dentist told us that he should start going when he was 2 1/2 to 3 years old.  We had an open enrollment when Spencer turned 3 so we added him last year.

Problem?

Our insurance covers no pediatric dentists.  None.  Not a single one.  They will not pay for anything.  I called around and found that the cheapest we could self-pay at a pediatric dentist was around $500.  Ouch.

O.K.

Brainstorming.

We thought....we'll just take him to a family dentist.  So I called every office on our plan within 25 miles and found that none of them accept kids under the age of 4. 

Great.

So, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists recommends that kids go to the dentist at age 1 (if not sooner) and we can't get a 3 year old in to see any dentist with our insurance. 

Stupid.

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

You have no idea how frustrated I have been about the whole thing.

But now that 3 year old is 4.  So off to the dentist we went.

The verdict?

No cavities.

Hardly any plaque build-up.

Healthy gums.

We're brushing his teeth correctly.

Hooray.

In 3 weeks we go back to see the orthodontist (who was my orthodontist) for the 2nd time.  We went last year when Spencer turned 3.  They weren't able to take any x-rays or pictures because he wouldn't cooperate.  We're hoping to get both this year.

He's starting orthodontic treatment in a year so we can avoid the catastrophe that was my jaw.  He'll wear a little mask at night that will slowly stretch his bones as he sleeps.  Then he won't have to have the same surgery I had.   It's going to be expensive, but avoiding that surgery (in my opinion) is worth about 2.4 BILLION dollars.