How to Find a Pediatric Dentist Who Accepts Medicaid

Pediatric dentists provide oral care for children beginning in infancy and extending through adolescence, according to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Medicaid is a state-based program that receives federal funds to provide health care to low-income Americans. Medicaid provider lists change frequently, and Medicaid fees can be as low as one-third of the fees dentists normally receive, according to a 2007 article in Slate magazine. With the help of diverse resources and a dedicated effort, you can find a pediatric dentist who accepts Medicaid.

Instructions

• 1

  Search federal government resources. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) maintains a national list of health care providers who accept Medicare or Medicaid, which is searchable online. By searching for "Physician" with a specialty of "Dentistry" and entering your zip code, you can find nearby dentists who accept Medicaid. Because CMS does not separate general dentists from pediatric dentists, you will need to call the offices of the nearby dentists listed in the directory and ask if they specialize in pediatric dentistry.

• 2

  Use state government resources. Because Medicaid is a program that runs through state health departments, you may search for a pediatric dentist that accepts Medicaid through your state health department. States that offer dental benefits through their Medicaid programs maintain provider directories; these are searchable online or through a visit to your local health department. For example, North Carolina's health department maintains a list of dental providers organized by county.

• 3

  Rely on professional association resources. Professional associations that represent pediatric dentists maintain searchable directories of pediatric dentists on their web sites. For example, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry offers patients a searchable tool that finds pediatric dentists within 10 miles of your zip code. Do note, however, that although these tools will help you find nearby pediatric dentists, you will need to call each dentist's office to make sure they accept Medicaid.

• 4

  Research online dental network resources. Online dental health sites will gather information from a variety of state, federal and professional resources and provide them as a centralized resource for patients. For example, the Dental Health Network, an online dental health site, offers a tool to help patients find Medicaid dentists across the U.S., as well as additional resources to find dental treatment if you cannot locate a Medicaid dentist in your community.