According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, did you know that one in every 33 kids in America is born with some form of a congenital anomaly or disability? It can affect everything from their appearance to proper growth and development. What’s worse is that most insurance companies won’t work with families facing treatment from their Woodlands dentist or physician.
The Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA) is new legislation recently introduced that would require all private insurance groups and individual health care to provide coverage for all necessary treatments to fix congenital abnormalities. This means services for any missing or abnormal body part would be covered to help finally improve any issues — including dental-related problems with the mouth or teeth.
Why is ELSA So Important?
Why does your dentist in the Woodlands care so much about this? Because little ones are born with a condition is known as ectodermal dysplasias, leaving them without the ability to develop teeth properly. Sometimes their teeth are:
- Missing or misshapen
- Completely absent
- Left with enamel that’s ineffective
It’s easy for a family to spend a significant amount of time and money trying to get the proper dental and medical care for someone struggling with ectodermal dysplasia. What’s sad is many people avoid seeking a solution because they aren’t in the best position to afford it. As it turns out, someone who loses their teeth because of an accident can generally count on dental benefits to help them. However, ectodermal dysplasia patients get no coverage. ELSA has the power to change all of that and the lives of so many patients and their families.
What Happens if Teeth Aren’t Repaired?
Your Woodlands dentist will be the first to tell you that if teeth go unrepaired, it could lead to unwanted health issues such as problems with:
- Chewing
- Swallowing
- Speech
- Self-confidence
The good news is, most surgeons and Woodlands dentists can fix most of the medical issues, even though insurance companies deny access because solutions are thought of as “cosmetic.” Do you have questions about your dental care for your child or your family? Talk to one of these trusted Woodlands dentists today:
Dr. Robert Dernick (General, Cosmetic, Implant Dentistry, and TMJ)
Dr. Mike Freeman (General, Cosmetic, Implant, Sleep Apnea, and TMJ)
Dr. Alisa Reed (General, Cosmetic, Implant, Laser, Sleep Apnea, and TMJ)
Dr. Wade Williams (Orthodontics)
Dr. Nikita Vakil (General, Cosmetic, Implant Dentistry)
Dr. Leslie Blackburn (Pediatric Dentistry)