According to studies it is estimated that one-half to three-quarters of all nursing home residents have their own teeth into old age.  This may be because of greater dental health awareness as well as fluoridated water.  Even though this is good news that seniors today are able to keep their teeth much long, the situation has created a predicament for the residents in nursing homes as caregivers often lack the expertise or time needed to maintain good daily dental care.

Poor dental care can lead to stroke, arterial disease, and pneumonia.   Check to make sure that your nursing home provides on-site professional dental care.  Make sure that the administrator believes that good dental care is important to good overall health care.

Dental Insurance

Many of our dental insurance plans have next day benefits including vision and prescription. Remember, buying dental insurance does not have to be a painful process. Finding the right value in individual dental insurance and family dental insurance is an important step in purchasing affordable dental insurance health care coverage.

Both types of dental plans (dental insurance and discount dental plans) have advantages and disadvantages and one size does not fit everyone. Keeping this in mind is an important rule when you shop for the dental plan that best fits your needs.

Our dental web site is very clear if you are selecting a dental insurance plan or a dental discount plan. We understand that there are many dental plan web sites popping-up all over the internet, claiming to offer “dental insurance” when in fact they do not and are not licensed to offer a dental insurance plan.

Putting aside dental worries of gum disease and tooth decay there are other dental problems that many people are unaware of. Here are three major way how tooth can wear down.

Bruxism or teeth grinding also refer to as attrition: Bruxism can be brought on by stress. You can also grind or clench teeth while you sleep, one way of preventing damage to your teeth is by wearing a night guard.

Tooth Erosion: Dental erosion is caused by acid.  There can be many food and drinks that are highly acidic and can cause the tooth enamel and dentine to brake down or erode. There are also health issues that can use acid such as acid reflux.  To try and prevent tooth erosion you will want to do your best to limit your exposure to acidic foods and drinks. Chewing sugar-free gum can help to dilute acidity by increasing saliva flow.

Tooth Abrasion:  Tooth abrasion can be cause by hard bristle tooth brush but even soft bristled brush can be harmful and cause tooth abrasion. Brushing correctly is recommended in order to reduce tooth abrasion.  Though dentist can repair tooth abrasion damage by dental bonding

Cosmetic dentistry may help you to get your best smile at any age.  One of the most popular cosmetic dental procedures to a perfect smile is bonding.  Cosmetic dental bonding is a fairly painless procedure usually performed in one dental visit by applying an enamel like material to your teeth which is then shaped, hardened with a special light and polished.

For a more dramatic smile, porcelain veneers can make a drastic difference. With veneers, you can control the color, position, shape, and size of your new teeth which can correct crooked, worn, or chipped teeth. This procedure can cost between $1,200 – $3,500 per tooth.

Cosmetic dentistry insurance coverage is not afforded by most dental insurance companies. If you are with a group dental insurance company through your employer, you may want to inquire if cosmetic dentistry insurance coverage is provided under your dental plan.

Cosmetic dental coverage is normally provided by discount dental plans. Discount dental plans usually cover 15 to 20 percent of the cosmetic dental care cost.

A study done of 902 people in nursing home, concluded that oral hygiene was poor. The study was on  the oral health care in nursing home residents with different cognitive status.  Forty per cent of participants in the impaired group were edentulous, significantly higher than the edentulism rate in the demented group (29%, p = 0.01). More than 60% of the participants lost 16 or more teeth prior to examination. Depending on their cognitive status, 82–92% of the participants arrived with one or more caries or retained root. Dentate participants in the impaired and demented groups averaged about six caries or retained roots, significantly more than 4.7 caries or retained roots in the non-impaired group (p = 0.01).

Members can save on all dental charges and procedures including dental restorative cosmetic work (fillings, dental crowns, dental braces, dental implant’s) and dental product related items, etc.), dental hygiene services, preventative work (teeth cleaning, x-rays, etc).  General dentistry, dental hygienist, dental assistant, dental assisting and all specialties where available are covered.

Dental crown is very common in dental care services provided by a dentist.  A dental crown is a tooth shaped “cap” (some people refer to crowns as caps) that is placed over a tooth. The dental crown covers the tooth to restore the tooth shape and size, strength, and or to improve it’s appearance.  The crown, when cemented into place, will fully encases the entire visible portion of a tooth that lies at and above the gum line.

Know that most insurance plans do provide benefits for dental crowns. However, note PPO’s and Indemnity dental insurance plans may have waiting periods on crowns so these types of insurance plans you want to buy before you have any major dental care needs.

Our dental web site is very clear if you are selecting a dental insurance plan or a dental discount plan. We understand that there are many dental plan web sites popping-up all over the internet, claiming to offer “dental insurance” when in fact they do not and are not licensed to offer a dental insurance plan. If you find a site that says they offer dental insurance, they are “required” to show their insurance license information on the web site, as noted at the bottom of this page.

If they don’t, then report them to your local state department of insurance. If you find a dental web site stating they offer “dental insurance” and in fact they don’t, then take the opportunity to report that site to the search engine you found them on. Our entire staff is licensed to offer, sell and service dental insurance. Always ask to speak with a licensed insurance agent. Ask them if they are licensed. Full disclosure is our guarantee on all our websites.

Dental Veneers or Porcelain Laminates are wafer-thin shells that are custom made to cover the from surface of your teeth. dental veneers or porcelain laminates help to change the color, shape, size or length of your tooth. Dental veneers offer a conservative approach to changing a tooth’s color or shape compared to crowns, but the process is not reversible and can be costly.

The dental insurance programs listed are based upon the zip code you entered and their availability. If we are unable to offer a dental insurance plan, we will provide a dental discount plan, if available, and clearly state it. Please be sure to contact the plan dental office to confirm they are accepting new patients and they are accepting the dental plan you have selected. If you have any dental plan questions please feel free to contact our office during regular business hours (8am-4pm M-F). You will find our licensed insurance agents ready to assist you at 310-534-3444 

Know that you are not alone if you have dental anxiety.  Many people worry about going to the dentist. Some people get very nervous and sick to their stomach at the thought of having to go to the dentist.     For people that have dental anxiety this can stop them from going to the dentist.

However, this can lead to serious dental issues, including infected gums and teeth, dental decay, difficulty chewing, and lack of self confidence due to bad teeth.     Here are some tips that may help you with your dental anxiety.  Make sure to talk to your dentist about your fears.

• Try to explain why you are nervous. This way your dentist can do everything possible to put you at ease.
• Have your dentist explain what he/she is going to do: If you understand what is going on it may make your feel less nervous about it.
• Timing is important: Try to make your dental appointments when you do not feel rushed or under added pressures.  Such as an early morning  or on a weekend. You also want to have them book your appointment when the dental office is not at it’s peek hours.  This way the dentist is able to spend additional time with you when needed.
• Sometime the dental anxiety is based from the noise of the drill, if that is part of the factor bring headphones to listen to your favorite tunes.
• Work out with the dentist hand signals to communicate pain, discomfort, or that you need a break.     Also if you feel your dentist is not working with you and your dental fears. Then do not be afraid to switch dentists.  A dentist should always listen and make and effort to help you feel at ease.

When you have a dental PPO or Free choice of prior plan you normally have a annual dollar maximum benefit per person per year.   You want to try and pick a plan with the maximum dollar benefit that works will for current and future dental needs.     However there are times when you may need to have larger dental care services that exceed  your dollar maximum limitation in a given year.  As part of dental planning, you will want to consult with your dentists and, if possible, delay work that would push costs over what you are covered for by our dental plan.  For an example if your dental insurance works on a calendar year basis (Jan – Jan) You could start dental service towards the end of the year and finish in the being of next in order not to exceed you maximum limitation for your dental care.   The same is done if your plan is subject to other start and end dates you only need to know this time frame.  Call your dental insurance to find our prior to having larger dental issues address.

Customer Service Department

Our customer service department is ready to assist you with any questions you may have and help you purchase an employer, family or individual dental insurance plan today.  We provide access to many of the largest, most recognized individual dental insurance networks in the nation.

DrDental.com is a specialist in dental insurance, dental discount plans, vision and prescription coverage programs for individuals, families and groups. We have been serving the dental community since 1983, you will find our licensed dental insurance agents are well informed and ready to assist you. Compare dental insurance plans and decide which one is right for you and your family.

Many of our dental plans have next day benefits including vision and prescription. DrDental.com offers quotes for individual and family dental insurance plans including an option to compare dental national coverage plans. Remember, buying dental insurance does not have to be a painful process. We offer dental benefit coverage in all 50 states.

Delta Dental’s roots go back to 1954 with the formation of dental service corporations in California, Oregon and Washington, which were created by dentists who recognized the need to increase access to oral health care.  Delta Dental companies are actively engaged in many studies, grants and partnerships with dental schools and community health organizations to increase access to professional dental care as well as to research evidence-based dentistry and the efficacy of new benefit designs.

While you are doing your part your dentist dose theirs, By seeing your dentist for your regular check ups your dentist also takes preventive measures as listed below.

* Cleaning’s
* X Rays
* Sealants
* Fluoride treatments
* Oral antibiotics
* Mineralization
* Cancer screenings

In most cases dental disease can be prevented. However even if dental disease tries and take hold, if early enough diagnosed by your dentist it is easily treatable.  That is why seeing your dentist regular is such a key part of your oral health care.

Many people may not be brushing their teeth correctly and can be causing teeth damage because of that.  Abrasion is damage done to teeth by incorrect brushing habits.  First do not use hard bristle toothbrush since they are one of the biggest contributing factors to tooth abrasion.  Use a soft bristle brush place the brush at a 45 degree angle toward the junction of the gum and tooth and move the brush in a gentle circular motion.  Also stay away from abrasive toothpaste

Before buying any dental insurance dental plan for you or your family make sure you know and understand what they plan as to offer you.  Dig into the plans details.   The availability of the plans information should be available to you before buying it on line.    Dental insurance is any investment and it is in your best interest to understand what you are paying for. You should be able to review the plans the coverage’s, limitations, and exclusions, before buying it to make sure it will work best for you and your family dental needs

Delta Dental is the oldest and largest dental health carrier in California, covering nearly 20 million Californians.  Delta Dental’s Customer Service staff speaks English and Spanish, and has access to interpreters for many other languages.  Delta Dental is the largest dental plan system in the United States.  Member companies serve over one-quarter of the estimated 165 million Americans with dental insurance.

In our challenging economy you want to make sure you are getting the most out of your dental insurance plan. One way to do that is to use it.  Many people have dental benefits either though their employment or they buy it on their own.

However often times it goes unused until there is a larger dental issue that needs to be address.  Larger dental issues means larger dental cost even with dental insurance. However by using  your dental insurance plan and having the preventive care done (check up and cleaning) you can help to avoid having larger dental care needs.

Also many dental insurance plans provide preventive care services for free to very low cost. Taking advantage and using your dental insurance plan will help you safe money and provide you with good oral health.

In the event that you or a family member plays sports or tends to grind their teeth in their sleep, a mouth guard or “night guard” can be worn to protect the teeth and prevent them from being chipped and or even knocked out.