Back-to-School Dental & Vision Checkups

After the slow, lazy days of Summer vacation, it is back to school time. For me back to school was always a favorite time of the year for me. I loved the smell of brand new books, the excitement of new classes before the work got too hard or I was pressured by exams and paper deadlines, and here in the U.S. Northeast--a touch of Fall in the air. Along with the start of the school year will be those appointments for health, dental, and vision exams for your children. This may also be a good time to check out your family’s health and dental plans.

Along with making sure that your children have all of their school supplies, schedule those physical, dental, and vision exams before the actual start of school. Dental Checkups are increasingly becoming mandatory in many states and should become an important part of back-to-school preparations. Tooth decay is one of the most common diseases in children and can interfere with learning and lead to more serious complications. A child who is in pain from tooth decay will have trouble focusing in school. Especially with young children, find a good pediatric dentist or a general dentist who is known for his ability to work with children. This will help encourage life long good dental habits.

In addition to treating tooth decay, the back-to-school dental visit can focus on dental hygiene and prevention. The parents and school must also play a role in good dental health by making sure that healthy and nutritious drinks and snacks are available both at home and at school. According to Dr. Cindy Harms, consumer advisor for the American Dental Association, "When teeth come in frequent contact with sweetened soft drinks and other sugar-containing substances, the risk of tooth decay…is increased as is the potential for erosion of tooth enamel.”

Equally important is the vision exam. A child needs to be able to see the words clearly on the blackboard or on the printed page in order to learn effectively. According to the College of Optometrists in Vision Development (COVD), “This year alone, 10 million children will return to school with a vision problem that could interfere with their learning ability, contribute to disciplinary problems and put them at risk for permanent vision loss.” These problems can easily be corrected with good vision care. If your child shows any delays in language development, a hearing test with an audiologist is also in order.

Back-to-school season may also be a good time to check out your family health and dental plans. Hopefully your child will not need anything beyond a dental exam and cleaning. However, if tooth decay is found or orthodontic treatment is necessary, you will want a good dental plan to reduce your costs. A good dental plan will offer substantial discounts on all dental services with no limits on age, visits, or treatment costs. Coverage should be provided for orthodontia and cosmetic dentistry. After all, an attractive smile is very important to your child’s confidence and orthodontic treatment can prevent more serious conditions caused by misalignment of the teeth. All ongoing conditions should be covered by the plan.

Many dental plans also offer discounts on vision care with significant discounts on eye exams and eyewear. If your child must wear eyeglasses, being able to purchase attractive eyewear will make her feel very special.

Check out the AmeriPlan Dental Plus program for an affordable dental plan with significant savings on all dental procedures plus substantial discounts on ophthalmology eye exams, contact lenses, frames, lenses, LASIK eye surgery, and even non-prescription sunglasses. The plan also includes a prescription drug card as well as discounts on chiropractic treatment. Feel confident with a 16 year old company that is a member in good standing of the Consumer Health Alliance, the National Association of Dental Plans, and the National Association of Health Underwriters.