Maintaining oral health

It’s important to get a dental exam every six months. These regular visits to the dentist can be good for your overall health.

Regular dental exams can:

• Find problems with your teeth and gums before they cause you or your children pain and are costly to treat
• Help you maintain your dental health
• Spot warning signs of medical conditions in the mouth unrelated to your teeth
• Establish a place to go if you have a dental emergency

For these reasons, it’s important to see your dentist twice a year. That’s true even if there are no obvious problems or you no longer have your natural teeth.

Make it a habit to schedule and keep regular appointments with your dentist. Taking action now will help you avoid major issues in the future.

Dental services are a covered benefit for Healthy Michigan Plan members and pregnant members 21 years and older. For help finding an in-network dentist in your area, visit Find a Doctor, then click Find a dentist.

If dental services aren’t a covered benefit for you, here are some options to help you access care:

How to access dental services

Healthy Kids Dental

It’s important to get annual dental checkups for your kids, starting at age 3. These visits will help protect their teeth and keep them healthy.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Delta Dental of Michigan provide Healthy Kids Dental services for children and adolescents through age 20. You’ll be enrolled automatically. You’ll get an identification card from the dental plan. The benefit covers services such as X-rays, cleanings, fillings, extractions and sealants at no cost to families.

To select a dental provider, call Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan at 1-800-936-0935 or visit bcbsm.com/healthykids. Or, call Delta Dental of Michigan at 1-866-696-7441 or visit deltadentalmi.com. 

To check your dental plan, call Blue Cross Complete of Michigan’s Customer Service at 1-800-228-8554. TTY users should call 1-888-987-5832.

Need transportation to your dental appointment?

If you’re part of Healthy Kids Dental, you can get a ride to and from the dentist. If you live in Wayne, Oakland or Macomb counties, call ModivCare at 1-866-569-1902 to schedule transportation. If you live in any other county, contact your local MDHHS office.

Dental emergencies

When you have a toothache or other dental problem, your first thought is to get it fixed — and fast. Fast treatment means the emergency room, right? Not when it comes to problems with your teeth or mouth. The emergency room can handle just about anything, but for mouth-related issues, your dentist is the better option. Dentists have the specialized equipment and training to figure out what’s wrong and how to fix it.

To avoid a dental emergency:

• Visit your dentist twice a year for cleanings and checkups.
• Brush your teeth with a fluoride toothpaste twice a day.
• Floss daily.
• Don’t use tobacco and avoid heavy drinking.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Wear mouth guards when playing sports.
• Replace your toothbrush every three to four months.