Children's dentistry
Children's dentistry: treatment options and what affects the cost
Children's dental care includes first visits, cleanings, fluoride and sealants, fillings and crowns for baby teeth, nerve treatment, space maintainers and extractions. Many services are covered for eligible children by Texas Medicaid and CHIP.
No public price is listed for this treatment. Fees depend on your exam, and offices confirm whether they provide it.
What the treatment is
Baby teeth hold space for adult teeth and help with chewing and speech, so cavities in them are usually treated. Children can be seen by general dentists or pediatric dentists, who have extra training in children's care.
A first dental visit is commonly recommended by age one or within six months of the first tooth.
Why it may be recommended
- Routine checkups and prevention.
- Cavities in baby or new adult teeth.
- Injuries to teeth.
- Early loss of a baby tooth.
Treatment types and variations
Tap a type to see when it is used and what to weigh. Your dentist recommends options after examining you.
Prevention
Exam for children under threeIncludes counseling for parents.
- Codes to ask about
- D0145
Child cleaningRoutine cleaning.
- Codes to ask about
- D1120
Fluoride varnishStrengthens enamel.
- Codes to ask about
- D1206
SealantsProtect molar grooves.
- Codes to ask about
- D1351
Silver diamine fluorideCan stop cavities without drilling; stains them black.
- Codes to ask about
- D1354
Treatment
FillingsTooth-colored fillings in baby or adult teeth.
- Codes to ask about
- D2391
Stainless steel crownA durable cap for a badly decayed baby molar.
- Codes to ask about
- D2930
Tooth-colored crowns for baby teethPrefabricated ceramic or coated steel crowns for appearance.
- Codes to ask about
- D2929, D2934
PulpotomyRemoving the inflamed top part of the nerve in a baby tooth.
- Codes to ask about
- D3220
Space maintainerHolds space when a baby tooth is lost early.
- Codes to ask about
- D1510
ExtractionRemoving a baby tooth that cannot be saved.
- Codes to ask about
- D7140, D7111
SedationNitrous oxide or other sedation for some children. See the sedation guide.
- Codes to ask about
- D9230
Materials and techniques
- Stainless steel and zirconia crowns
- Prefabricated crowns sized for baby teeth.
Benefits, limitations and possible risks
Benefits
- Prevents pain and infection.
- Keeps space for adult teeth.
- Builds good habits early.
Limitations
- Young children may need several short visits or sedation.
- Some treatment is planned around when baby teeth will fall out.
Possible risks
- Same as for adults, plus behavior management needs; ask how the office handles anxious children.
What happens during treatment
- 1
Exam
With X-rays when needed.
- 2
Prevention
Cleaning, fluoride, sealants.
- 3
Treatment
Planned around your child's comfort.
Recovery and maintenance
- Watch that your child does not bite their numb lip or cheek after treatment.
- Brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, with help for young children.
What affects the cost
- Type of treatment
- Prevention is low cost; crowns, nerve treatment and sedation cost more.
- Number of teeth
- Fees are per tooth.
- Sedation
- Separate fee.
Common additional charges
These are billed separately at many offices. Not every patient needs them.
| X-rays | Taken when needed. |
|---|---|
| Sedation | If needed. |
Procedure fee or total case cost?
Many children's visits are covered preventive care. Treatment plans list fees per tooth; ask which teeth are most urgent.
Paying with insurance or without insurance
Texas Medicaid (Texas Health Steps) and CHIP cover checkups, cleanings, fluoride, sealants and medically necessary treatment for eligible children. Private plans usually cover children's preventive care. The office verifies eligibility.
Alternative treatments
Alternatives depend on your teeth and health. Ask your dentist to explain the trade-offs of each option, including doing nothing.
- Monitoring
- For small cavities in baby teeth close to falling out.
- Silver diamine fluoride
- To delay or avoid drilling in some cases.
Codes to ask your insurer about
Insurers price treatment by ADA CDT procedure code. The office confirms the exact code for your treatment; labels here are plain-English summaries.
| D0145 | Oral evaluation, patient under three |
|---|---|
| D1120 | Prophylaxis, child |
| D1206 | Fluoride varnish |
| D1351 | Sealant, per tooth |
| D1354 | Caries-arresting medicament |
| D2930 | Prefabricated stainless steel crown, baby tooth |
| D2929 | Prefabricated porcelain/ceramic crown, baby tooth |
| D2934 | Prefabricated esthetic-coated stainless steel crown, baby tooth |
| D3220 | Pulpotomy |
| D1510 | Space maintainer, fixed, one side |
| D7111 | Extraction of baby tooth remnants |
Questions to ask your dentist
- Is this baby tooth worth treating, given when it should fall out?
- What sedation options do you offer for children?
- Does Medicaid or CHIP cover this?
Frequently asked questions
Why fix baby teeth if they fall out?
Untreated cavities can cause pain and infection, and losing baby teeth early can lead to crowding of adult teeth.
Related procedures
- Fluoride, sealants and other preventive treatmentsFluoride treatments, sealants and cavity-arresting medicines help prevent or slow tooth decay. They are usually small, per-visit or per-tooth fees.
- Dental exam and cleaningA full exam checks your teeth, gums, bite and mouth tissues. A cleaning removes plaque and tartar that brushing misses. X-rays and the type of cleaning you need affect the total.
- Tooth-colored fillingsA tooth-colored filling repairs a cavity or small fracture with composite resin that matches your tooth. The fee depends mainly on how many surfaces of the tooth the filling covers.
- Sedation and anesthesiaSedation helps anxious patients or those having longer procedures stay comfortable. Options range from laughing gas to IV sedation and general anesthesia, each with its own fee and safety requirements.
- Braces and orthodonticsBraces move teeth into better alignment over months to a couple of years. Treatment is usually priced as one total fee that covers the whole course of visits, with retainers sometimes extra.