How long is fluoride covered by insurance?

One of the reasons why many patients stop receiving fluoride treatments in adulthood is because, often, their dental insurance company no longer covers them. Unfortunately, the recommended standard of dental care is often subject to insurance company standards, but just because your insurance company doesn't cover something doesn't mean it's not still important. The American Dental Association recommends that everyone over the age of two brush daily with fluoride toothpaste. Look for a therapeutic rinse that specifically states that it contains fluoride to ensure that you're getting the benefit of fluoride protection.

Because fluoride is so important for children at high risk of tooth decay, dentists can prescribe fluoride supplements, such as tablets or liquids. Dental office fluoride is administered in a much higher concentration than that found in toothpaste or mouthwash, providing valuable protection to people who are at greater risk of tooth decay. In the past, fluoride was primarily used to protect teeth during their initial eruption and development, so you probably remember fluoride treatments when you visited the dentist as a child. Today, fluoride is added to most toothpastes; however, there are still some that do not contain fluoride.

At your next preventive appointment at FFD, ask your hygienist about fluoride and which of the fluoride treatments they recommend. Toothpaste is another important source of fluoride, as more than 95% of toothpaste sold in the United States contains fluoride. Modern medicine has allowed us to take advantage of the benefits of fluoride from a variety of sources, such as community water, oral care products, and professional fluoride treatments.