There many be a time when you will need to use your dental insurance plan for more then just preventive services. So when you are in the process of buying a dental insurance plan think about possible future needs and what the plan may have to offer.

If generally all you need to have is the twice a year cleanings and check ups, you may never need large dental care such as root canals and crowns.  Yet even the best of us can sometimes get a small cavity.

Most insurance companies will offer resin-based composite (white) filling for your front teeth or teeth that are within sight of your smile. However, for molars (back teeth) they may only cover for amalgam (silver) fillings. It is important to know this if you are wanting only resin-based composite regardless of the tooth being filled.

Shopping for dental insurance on line, makes it easier to compare different dental insurance plans at once.   In addition many websites are able to provide quotes on dental insurance though different companies.

The benefit of this is that you are not only reviewing one plan one option, but able to review multiple plans with multiple options.  When you come to an online website such drdental.com you are able to review many different plans though different companies affording you more options to best tailor fit your dental care needs.

However, the possible down side of being able to review many different dental insurance plans at once is that it may become confusing.  It is important to understand the plan you reviewing and it’s terms and conditions in order to buy the right plan for your dental care needs.

We suggest reviewing each plan and seeing what they have to offer you.  Then if there is something you do not understand about a plan or if you want to make sure the plan you are reviewing will best fit your current dental needs, we suggest calling customer services.  At drdental.com we are always happy to help you with the different dental insurance plans we offer. You only need to call our customer service number at 310-534-3444  M-F 8-5.

In prior post we have talk about why it is not sound advise to wait until you need dental insurance to buy it.  However let’s say that you do not have current dental insurance and you where advise that you need a dental crown.  Then what do you do in order to cut your cost for having a dental crown?

Luckily there are still is a dental insurance plans that will be able to help you right away. Dental HMO insurance plans normally do not come with long term waiting periods.  Dental HMO insurance plans are fee based and will normally state the cost of having a dental crown. This is not only helpful in order for you to have a crown but also lets you budget the cost of a crown much more easily since you will know what your cost is before having the dental service done.

Cutting back on candy and sweets, is not only best for your dental health but good advise for overall health care in kids.  Yet there are still some sweets that are the better choice options when providing sweets to your child.

* Try sugar-free lollipops and or other sugar free hard candies. These sweet treats are able to stimulate the production of saliva which helps to deter the growth of cavity-causing bacteria inside your mouth. And since they are sugar-free, it means that bacteria will not have anything to feast on inside your child’s mouth.

* Sugar-free chewing gum is another good sweet option.  Like sugar-free lollipops and hard candies chewing gums is also another effect way to stimulate saliva production, and, at the same time, dislodge whatever food particles that might be stuck in between your teeth. When shopping for sugar-free chewing gum try and pick out chewing gum that contains xylitol, an alcohol sugar, which reduces the risk of tooth decay.

In prior post we talk about porcelain veneers how they can help improve your smile, as well as how your tooth can still be at risk for dental decay.

In order to prevent the risk of serious decay behind porcelain veneers, it is important to maintain good oral hygiene habits. Proper dental habits do not change  just because you now have porcelain veneers.  Make sure to brush your teeth twice a day, using an appropriate toothpaste recommended for the care of porcelain veneers. It is also important to floss every day to remove plaque from between your teeth. The side angle where the veneer meets the tooth becomes the most vulnerable approach in your teeth.

When you visit your dentist, make sure you communicate any changes in sensitivity associated with your veneered teeth. Newly-sensitive teeth may be suffering from decay.
With proper cared for veneers your teeth should remain healthy and the veneers on them should last a decade or more.

When having a dental veneer put on, the first step in preparing the tooth for a veneer involves removing dental enamel from the tooth surface where the veneer is to be placed. (Much like putting on a fake nail you sand down the nail surface) Even though your tooth will now have less tooth enamel to protect the interior of the tooth from attack by bacteria, when the porcelain veneer is applied to the tooth, it should be adequately protected.

The seal formed between veneers and dental enamel or dentin is strong and water tight. Porcelain veneers has non-stick qualities that make it harder for bacteria and food to adhere to them. Veneers are also resistant to attack by the acids that bacteria secrete, so cavities will not be able to form on the veneers themselves.

However, tooth decay can form in the natural tooth enamel that remains behind the veneer. Once decay penetrates into the tooth behind the veneer, the concealing properties of porcelain veneers may prevent you from knowing about it until the damage reaches the tooth nerve, or pulp, leading to infection that may require removal of the tooth or a root canal. If the infection goes unchecked it can sometimes,threaten several teeth and even your jawbone.

Porcelain veneers are often used in order to fix cosmetic complaints such as tooth Discoloration, small chips and gaps. However because porcelain veneers are often used for cosmetic purposes many dental insurance plans do not offer coverages on dental veneers.

That said if you are thinking about having porcelain veneers check with your dental insurance plan ahead of time to confirm if you will receive any benefits.  If you do not you may want to look into getting a dental discount plan which will normally reduce the cost of porcelain veneers by at least 20 percent.

Porcelain veneers help to improve the appearance of teeth by correcting cosmetic complaints such as tooth discoloration, chips and gaps. Porcelain veneers are thin facades of a special dental ceramic that can be attached to the front of teeth. They generally, replace the entire tooth front and sometimes they even go up over the top of the tooth as well.

Because porcelain veneers are fitted only to the front of your teeth, they are not able to completely protect your teeth. They are not suitable for placing on a tooth that has received significant structural damage from decay, cracking, or previous fillings. In order to protect these teeth, you would need a dental crown.

Demineralizations is a loss of minerals from the surface of the tooth enamel.  This loss of minerals happens constantly from acidic food and drinks as well as bacteria.

Minerals must be continually replaced by your saliva and fluoride-toothpaste. As long as you add more back, versus what is being lost, you will be okay.

There are good benefits to fruit juice, however just like soda they can still be harmful to your child teeth.  According to the head of a leading Dentistry University in Australia, juices, contain citric acid which can dissolve the hard structures of your teeth, especially the exposed roots and the enamel, which leaves the inner parts of teeth exposed. This, in turn, leads to tooth sensitivity.  The healthiest drink you can give your child is water but you do not have to stop all other drinks. Give limited amounts of fruit juice and soda and have your child drink out of a straw to limit contact on there teeth.

Many children like to be able to show their independence by doing tasks, such as brushing their teeth, on their own. Even if your child is still not correctly brushing you should let them brush their teeth either before or after you have correctly brushed their teeth.

This can be done in steps in a way to teach your child how to brush correctly.  Letting them have some time to brush their teeth too may make it fun for them.  More a child wants to brush their teeth the better.   By the time your child is around six they should be able to correctly brush their teeth on their own.

When you are confident that your child is capable of brushing alone, you may want to buy an timer and time your child’s brushing to make sure they are brushing for the recommended two minutes. Do a final inspection of your child mouth. This gives you a chance to check for any teeth that have been missed, visually show your child the area and demonstrate how he should brush in that area too.  And remember to praise your child on a job well done.

Protect your partials by cleaning them correctly.

Removable Partials: Make sure you fill your sink with warm water.  Hold your partials in your hands and rinse them carefully under warm water to remove any food and stains.  Note: never use hot water because you can cause your partial to warp over time. Fill a container or cup with warm water and add one tablet of denture/partial cleaner to the water or as directed.

Fixed Partials: For fixed partials only use a soft bristled toothbrush and toothpaste that is designed specifically for partials. brush the surface of the teeth, gums, and dental apparatus thoroughly.

A dental partial can be either fixed or removable. It is an apparatus that is worn in the mouth to replace any number of missing teeth.  However unlike dentures. partials are worn over your teeth attached by a metal or invisible clasp.  Even though dental partial are false teeth they still required the same care that your natural teeth should receive.

Did you know that cheese can help you protect your child teeth from tooth decay?   By offering your child a piece of cheese after a meal or snack the cheese helps neutralizing the harmful acids from the mouth. In addition, cheese helps to make tooth enamel stronger and becoming a perfect barrier that will protect from tooth caries.

Question:  I was told I needed a deep cleaning but I am afraid of my teeth becoming loose if I have the deep cleaning suggested to me.

Answer:  Generally a deep cleaning is needed when you have gum disease.  This happens when you have large amounts of plaque buildup.  The removal (teeth scaling) of this tartar buildup may make your teeth feel a little loose after the procedure.  However the only way to try and make your teeth and gums healthier is by doing the deep cleaning.  Leaving the tartar buildup on your teeth will only cause you more damage.

Question:  My son needs braces and I am wondering if Medicaid will pay for them.

Answer:  Generally speaking, children will only receive braces if they are deemed to be medically necessary. Yet there are some cases where a child who is covered by a Medical Card benefit might be eligible for braces.  There are requirement that may need to be met. Such as a child will need to be under 18 years of age and can be covered under the Medical Card.

Some states have additional programs that will cover youths up to age 19 or even those who are under 21. Therefore, some young adults who have not yet reached the age of 21 might be eligible to receive coverage for braces. I would suggest to speek with your Medicaid case worker and see what is and what is not covered for your son.

Let face it, teeth are one of the first things that many people will notice. Having bad teeth can effect not only your oral health but your confidence.    General dentists are able to perform a variety of cosmetic procedures to help improve your smile. These procedures can range from subtle changes to major repairs, fixing flaws such as discolored, chipped, misshapen or missing teeth.

Parents can normally have very busy day and so it easy to forgot things at time.  Kids can be just as busy doing their kid stuff and forgetting to brush often happens. By using a brushing chart it will help your kids to remember to brush and floss their teeth on a daily basis, plus it will also give you a little reassurance that this important task is not being forgotten.  You can find tooth brushing charts free on line or you can make them yourself.

Cosmetic dental services includes such procedures as:  Whitening, bonding, veneers, reshaping and contouring. Dentists can also use a variety of methods to correct misshapen or crooked teeth. Veneers are thin shells of porcelain or plastic that are cemented over the front of teeth, and bonding is the use of tooth-colored material to fill in gaps or change the color of teeth. Tooth reshaping or contouring are used to alter the length, shape or position of teeth and are ideal for patients with normally healthy teeth seeking subtle changes in their smile.

It is estimated that the average American drinks nearly 600 cans of soda person per year. Studies shown that soft drinks is a causing factor to adult’s and children’s tooth decay. The problem with soda in regards to dental health is that many sodas contain acids and sugars that could erode tooth enamel over time. Even diet soda contain phosphoric acid and/or citric acid and still cause dental erosion — though considerably less than their sugared counterparts.

According to researchers from the University of Maryland Baltimore Dental School, drinks that especially aggressive to erode tooth enamel are light-colored soda (such as Sprite and Mountain Dew) and canned iced tea (such as Arizona Iced Tea)   If you are a soda drinker root beer products did the least damage. Other safer drinks for teeth would be water, brewed black tea, and black coffee all showed minimal tooth enamel damage.  Another helpful tip to soft drink, drinkers would be to drink soda out of a straw which will help to reduce soda’s contact with your teeth.