Often times your dentist will be able to detect whether you have a cavity that needs to be filled before you will notice signs of trouble.  That is if you are seeing your dentist regularly (at least twice a year)  During a dental checkup, your dentist will use a small mirror to examine the surfaces of your teeth.  Anything that looks abnormal will then be closely checked with special instruments. The dentist may also take X-rays of your entire mouth or a section of it. The type of treatment your dentist chooses will depend on the extent of damage caused by tooth decay.

Question: I am living in Los Angeles and have very bad teeth. I have been to a dentist that gave me a free consult but the cost of having all the dental work needed is more then I can afford right now.  However I can not afford to continue to delay the needed dental care. I am looking for a dental PPO plan that will let me stay with the dentist I seen and can help me with my dental needs

Answer: PPO dental insurance plans are very good for letting you choose or keep your own current dentist, and in most states we provide several PPO plan options.  However make sure you read each plan terms and conditions carefully as dental PPO insurance plans normally have plan waiting periods, maximum limitations and yearly deductibles/office co-pays.  Since these types of limitations will restrict your dental benefits make sure you understand what you are getting coverages for and when benefits starts.

Composite or plastic resins are matched to be the same color as your teeth and therefore used when a natural appearance is desired. The ingredients are mixed and placed directly into the cavity, where they harden. Composites may not be the ideal material for large fillings as they may chip or wear over time. They can also become stained from coffee, tea or tobacco, and do not last as long as other types of fillings generally from three to ten years

Dentist are worried that teenagers are putting their teeth and oral health at risk by trying dangerous do-it-yourself teeth-whitening techniques found on the Internet.  Too many teenagers uses  online tips of do it yourself teeth whitening since money and access to proper dental whitening care may not be in their reach.

However teens who are mixing  up quantities of different chemical and applying them for long periods of time are at risk of eroding their tooth enamel and damaging their gums. In turn increasing their risk of oral infection. The best course of action is to talk to your dentist about safely whiting your teeth or what over the counter product they my suggest to be use.

Porcelain fillings are also refer to as inlays or on-lays. They are produced to order in a lab and then bonded to the tooth. They can be matched to the color of the tooth and resist staining. A porcelain restoration generally covers most of the tooth. Their cost is similar to gold.

Question: I been looking for dental insurance for myself but I am quickly finding out that the plans I seen on line are just costly for me at this time.  What I would really like to know is if getting a low cost dental discount plan really a good alternative to dental insurance?  I see you offer a few dental discount plans on your site so can you advise which may be the best one to get?

Answer: Dental discount plans are a good low cost option. For a low monthly cost of the plan it helps to save you money off all your dental care needs.  However you will need to go to dentist that are in the plan net work.  So make sure you have a dental provider you can go to when choosing a dental discont plan.

Generally speaking gold fillings are made to order in a laboratory and then cemented into place. Gold inlays are well tolerated by gum tissues, and may last more than 20 years. For these reasons, many authorities consider gold the best filling material. However, it is often the most expensive choice and requires multiple visits.

Question: I just shopping for dental insurance and want to know how to get the best dental insurance plan.

Answer: This is a question that comes up quite frequently, however I will tell you there is no sure answer. The real reason why is because no one knows the condition of your teeth except you and your dentist. The second thing is what “best” means to you?

Is it the best price, or deductible, or maybe you need coverage for orthodontics. Anyway I found if you use the web site to compare the dental plans that would be your best start. At least you will have a bunch of dental plans to compare.  Also we provide a member service line at 310-534-3444 if you have any questions about any of our plans they will be happy to help you pick the best plan for yourself.

Amalgam or Silver fillings are resistant to wear and relatively inexpensive. However, due to their dark color, they are more noticeable than porcelain or composite restorations and are not usually used in very visible areas, such as front teeth.

Question: Right now I have a toothache but with my job I will not be receiving my dental benefits until another six months. This is why I am hoping to find dental insurance on a short time basis. I been trying to hold out until my benefits kick in at work,  but I do not think I can make. Can you advise if you have any dental plan that I do not have have to keep for a full year or more?

Answer: Based that you do not want to have a plan that would be long term I would suggest reviewing our dental discount options though Careington and Dental Choice you can pay monthly and cancel when you dental insurance benefits kick in at work.

If you would rather have dental insurance, you may also want to review our HMO insurance plan though Assurant though it is an annal plan the cost is affordable so it may not be an issue for you to keep it for a year.

Finding the right dentist for you and your your family involves a few factors. However by taking your time you will be able to find a dentist that is competent and convenient as well as compatible with you and your family all at a cost you can manage.

When starting your search for a dentist you want to make sure the dentist is competent. A competent dentist is one that maintains a high level of professionalism and knows the latest treatments and developments in the dental field. One way to help ensure a competent dentist is to look for one that is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry. Dentists who are members of the AGD must meet requirements for continuing education and are pledged to uphold the highest standards of ethics and patient care. You will also want to consider compatibility when picking a dentist.  As an example if you have dental fears you will want to make sure you choose a dentist that may specialize in treating patients with dental fears. Other factor of compatibility can happen when you have young children under the age of five you want to make sure the dentist is a right fit for your child.

Lastly there is convenience and cost.  With regards to convenience you will want to choose a dentist who local (where driving factor is not and issue for you) and provide office hours that can fit into your own schedule.

Cost can be control in a few ways:

1) You may want to confirm if the dental office provides any type of payment plan for dental care services
2) Choose a dentist that is accepts dental insurance.
3) If you do not have dental insurance think about buying some to control dental care cost.
4) There are many dentist that can meet the above requirements so shop out cost for dental care

Did you know that your diet can play a large role in the health of your teeth and gums.   Here are some tips suggested by the American Dental Associations (ADA) in maintaining teeth and gums health.  Try to limit the amount of sodas and fruit drinks sweetened with sugar. Limited your consumption of cookies, candies, cakes and other desserts with added sugar. Eat nutritious snacks that are low in sugar.  Brush and floss daily and drinking water often throughout the day.

Adults may make many decisions based on what they feel they can afford at the current time.  For the most part putting off buying a new pair of shoes, cell phone, video game, etc. until you can better afford it is a good idea.  Yet what about dental insurance?  Many adults either put of buying dental insurance or never buy dental insurance primary due to cost factors.   Stating dental insurance is too costly and if need be they can pay for the cost of getting a dental cleaning done.

Doing the Math: If you add dental care cost up for twice a year checkups and cleanings for just you, you and a child or for your family of three or more, cost for just preventive dental services (without dental insurance) can range for a single person around $200 – $400, Couple $400 – $800 and Family of three $600 – $1200 a year. Now lets just say more then just preventive dental care services are needed.  Cost for fillings, crowns, extractions and root canals can start getting in to $1000 plus range.  However, say you buy a lower cost dental insurance plan such as an HMO dental plan. Dental HMO plans can range around  $8.00 – $20.00 for a single  $12.00 – $35.00 for a couple and $15.00 – $45.00 for a family a month. At first on the high range this can seem costly. Yet most HMO plans provides benefits for free preventive dental care services such as office visits, oral evolutions, X-rays and basic cleanings.  You can see  how on just preventive dental care services, by having dental insurance you are already saving money on your dental care needs.

In addition when larger dental care needs are necessary, having dental insurance will cut the cost in (most cases) by half or more. If cost is a factor as to why you do not have current dental insurance, then odds are you may not seeing a dentist regularly due to the same issue. Yet by deferring your dental care you run a much higher risk of needing larger more expensive dental care services in the future. So you would be much better off budgeting a low cost dental insurance plan now then trying to figure out how you are going to pay for dental care without it latter on.

Fine artist Steven Heward is the pioneer of tooth art called “Tattooth”.  He started designing on false teeth in a mini lab and has inked around 500 teeth since then. The images can range from animals,logos, letters and pretty much any other art form that you may want.

The Heward Dental Lab known world wide for their quality crown and bridge work are now also training tooth artists to apply custom hand painted tattoos on a porcelain crown for your tooth.A person can choose whether they want to have a permanent or temporary Tattooth. A permanent type is done by etching the design on the false tooth, which is then sealed with the help of a glaze. Later, the dentist simply incorporates it on a set of teeth. The temporary Tattooth (which is very much in vogue now) is similar to nail art that can be just stuck on the tooth and removed at will.

Children and adults should see their dentist as least twice a year or as often as advise by their dentist. Many people think that the twice a year checkup is just about looking for tooth decay and getting a basic cleaning. Yet the dental checkup goes beyond that and the dentist is doing more then just checking your teeth for tooth decay.

During your checkup appointment, your dentist will likely evaluate the health of your gums,  examine your mouth for any indications of oral cancer, diabetes or vitamin deficiencies, Your dentist will likely look at your gums, mouth, tongue and throat in addition do not be surprised if your dentist also examines your face, bite, saliva and movement of your lower jaw joints (TMJs).

According to the scientists from the University of Toronto who reviewed published research.  The scientists reviewed the last 61 years of studies on xylitol and ear infections. They found four studies that included a total of about 3,000 children up to the age of 12. Three of the studies included healthy children. Those who consumed xylitol gum, candies or syrup had 25% fewer ear infections.

Parents will want to establish a dental home for baby by twelve months of age. Babies should start seeing a dentist regularly by age one and establishing where your child goes for their dental care early on is important.  The initial visit should include thorough medical and dental histories, a thorough oral examination, performance of an age-appropriate tooth brushing demonstration, and prophylaxis and fluoride varnish treatment if indicated.

Long term study done suggest that Dry mouth is common in those over the age of fifty particularly in older women. In the Swedish study, started in 1992 researchers sent questionnaires to every 50-year-old in 2 Swedish counties. Fifteen years later, they sent the same questions to every 65-year-old in those counties. They also sent them to a sample of 75-year-olds.

The study showed that in every age group, dry mouth was more common in women than in men. The authors speculate that the higher prevalence of dry mouth in women may be the result of decreased saliva production in the mouth following menopause. Dry mouth occurred more often as people got older, and more at night than during the day.

It is best suggested that an infant should receive an oral health risk assessment from his or his primary health care provider or a pediatric dentist by six months of age. The oral health assessment well evaluate the infant’s risk of developing oral diseases of soft and hard tissues, including caries-risk assessment, provide education on infant oral health, and evaluate and optimize fluoride exposure.

Prolong dry mouth can start to cause dental issues like bad breath, periodontitis, and dental decay. Certain medications such as chemotherapy drugs to treat cancer are linked to dry mouth. However, the most common culprits as far as drugs are antihistamines and anti-depressants. If your prescriptions are causing dry mouth, talk to your doctor about swapping to another.  In addition make sure to see your dentist regularly to prevent dental damage due to dry mouth.