Cigna Insurance is Accepted at Our Pediatric Dental Clinic
Going to the dentist shouldn’t be a traumatic experience for kids, and at Big Grins in Fort Collins, Colorado, it never will be. We have designed our office with kids in mind, providing them with fun places to play while they wait for their appointment.
As long-time pediatric dentists, Dr. Greg Evans and Dr. Rachel Ecker know that children should not be expected to act like small adults. This is especially true when they are visiting the dentist for the first time or have anxiety about the appointment.
Besides placing furniture at a child’s eye level and providing plenty of opportunities to pass the time, our dentists explain everything they are about to do. Your child is welcome to inspect our instruments first to gain a better understanding of what they do and why we use them.
Dr. Evans, Dr. Ecker, and our dental hygienists and assistants are always happy to answer any questions from either you or your child. You have come to the right place if you need a new pediatric dentist in Fort Collins, Colorado.
Insurance and Payment Information
Cigna Insurance is just one of the many providers we work with here at Big Grins. Iris, our new patient insurance coordinator, can provide you with more information about the types of dental insurance we accept. She can also help you navigate questions with your insurance carrier if you’re uncertain which services it covers. Other insurance providers we work with include Anthem, Delta Dental, and United.
If you are paying the full or partial balance out-of-pocket, you want to speak to Beverly, our financial administrator. She can assist you with determining the most appropriate payment method to use as the guarantor for your child’s expenses.
You may want to check into opening an account with CareCredit if you don’t want to put the balance of your child’s visit on a major credit card or pay cash for it. CareCredit offers low or no-interest financing options for medical and dental expenses not covered by insurance. Big Grins also accepts all major credit cards, cash, and checks for your convenience.
Special Needs Pediatric Dentistry
Children with special needs can experience considerable anxiety at the dentist. The anxiety may become so overwhelming that parents decide it’s easier not to visit the dentist than deal with their child’s tantrum, meltdown, or other display of fearful behavior. Our team understands, and we are here to make visiting the dentist a comfortable experience for children with special needs.
Although we have the experience and equipment necessary to work with children with all types of special needs, we see patients with the following health conditions the most often:
- Autism spectrum disorder, which includes Asperger’s syndrome
- Cancer
- Cerebral palsy
- Down syndrome
- Heart conditions
- Hemophilia
- Sensory processing disorder
We set aside extra time in our daily schedule to serve children with special needs and their families. Both of our dentists, as well as our hygienists, assistants, and office support staff, understand that kids with special needs often just need extra time during their appointments to feel comfortable with us. We are fine with this, especially since it also provides parents with extra time to get answers to their questions in a private manner.
Certain special needs can make oral health issues more challenging to care for and can result in problems like grinding teeth, misaligned teeth, and delayed eruption of teeth. Our dentists are prepared to diagnose and treat any oral health issue exacerbated by a chronic health condition.
Nitrous Oxide (Laughing Gas)
Most children want to be brave and please their parents, but talking about it at home and sitting in the dental chair receiving treatment are two entirely different things. Because we care about our patients and want them to feel comfortable, Big Grins offers the option of giving your child nitrous oxide at the start of the appointment.
How Does Nitrous Oxide Work?
Once your child feels comfortable in the dental chair, we place a plastic shield on their face that holds nitrous oxide underneath it. All your son or daughter needs to do next is introduce nitrous oxide to their system by taking a few deep breaths. The sedative properties of nitrous oxide travel to the brain quickly, allowing your child to feel relaxed during the procedure. Your child doesn’t fall asleep and remains conscious the entire time.
Dr. Evans or Dr. Ecker supervises your child throughout the entire visit until the mask comes off and you’re free to go home. We recommend considering laughing gas if your child has special needs that makes cooperation unlikely, has expressed anxiety about the procedure, or needs to undergo a procedure that is longer than a typical dental cleaning.
Mouth Guard for Kids Who Play Sports
Playing competitive sports at a young age teaches kids teamwork, goal setting, and sportsmanship, not to mention it’s fun and good exercise. Unfortunately, playing a sport individually or with a team also increases your child’s chances of injury to the mouth and/or teeth. Wearing a mouth guard consistently is a simple way to reduce that risk and keep your child’s teeth intact. Playing contact sports without a mouth guard can be especially dangerous for children who wear braces.
How to Get a Sports Mouth Guard for Your Child
If you think your child could benefit from a mouth guard while playing sports, the first step is to schedule an appointment with Big Grins for a fitting. Dr. Evans or Dr. Ecker uses dental putty to obtain an impression of your child’s top and bottom rows of teeth. Wearing a customized mouth guard is critical because it may fit too loosely or not fit at all otherwise. As your child grows, be sure to come in periodically to see if the mouth guard still fits or requires adjustments.
Bi-Annual Preventive Cleaning
Of all the services we provide at Big Grins, the standard dental check-up is the most common. During this visit, we inspect your child’s teeth for plaque and tartar and gently remove it using special dental instruments. For children who don’t have many teeth yet, the visit consists mostly of noting any potential issues that would require future treatment. We also instruct parents on proper oral healthcare based on their child’s age, developmental stage, and whether they have special needs.
We Want to Be Your New Pediatric Dentist in Fort Collins, Colorado
Finding a dentist your children like and trust isn’t always easy. We invite you to contact Big Grins to learn more about our many other services or to schedule an appointment.
