Tooth decay is damage that occurs when germs (bacteria) in your mouth make acids that eat away at a tooth. Which can lead to a hole in the tooth, called a cavity. If not treated, tooth decay can cause pain, infection, and tooth loss.  One of the best way to avoid tooth decay is by have proper at home dental care habits. Such as: brushing your teeth twice a day, flossing daily, and by using a mouthwash that kills the germs that cause bad breath and gingivitis

Gaps in-between teeth happen and normally when they are within our smile area for appearance’s people tend to want to have these gaps closed.  Many dentist will often use veneers to fix gaps in teeth, because they are natural looking.  Veneers are thin shell like coverings that cover the front and sides of the teeth.  They are matched to your natural coloring of your teeth.

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends all children to use toothpaste that contains fluoride as soon as teeth appear, no matter the risk of cavities.

Experts suggest that till age of 3, children should use a smear (the size of a rice grain) of toothpaste. After age 3, a pea-sized amount may be used. Parents should put the toothpaste on the child’s toothbrush and supervise and help with the brushing.

The recommendations of AAP also includes that once the child’s teeth start appearing, fluoride varnish should be applied by doctors or dentists every 3 to 6 months.

Generally speaking many people fear what they do not fully understand in addition when it come to dental anxiety many people dislike the thought of any pain. While there are some dentist that specialize in treating patients with dental fears many family or general dentist can still help address dental fears.

Talk to the dentist ahead of time make sure to book your dental appointment with enough time given so that you and your dentist can talk and go over any questions about your dental treatment in order to help reduce your anxiety about the dental care needed.  Also with advancement in dental technology there is very little pain associated with most dental services. However if you do feel any pain just let your dentist know so he or she can address right away

Question: I do not like having to go to the dentist. There is an old saying that an apple a day helps to keep the doctor away…. so is there anything that works on a dentist?

Answer: Even if you eat an apple, you still will need to see a doctor if for no other reason then your annual check and exam. The same goes to seeing a dentist.   It is important to see your dentist regularly for your dental check ups and basic cleaning’s.

Even if you have very good at home oral habits (which is important in maintaining your dental and oral health) it does not void out seeing a dentist for your check ups.  Cavities can still happen, by seeing your dentist he or she can spot a small cavity and fix it before it becomes a much larger cavity with larger dental care needs.  But that is not all a dentist does at your check up.  They look for signs of gum disease/gingivitis as well oral cancer.  Seeing a dentist is an important part of having and maintaining good oral health.

Bruxism (Teeth Grinding) is a common problem in adults as well as children.  In fact according to a study three out of ten children grind or clench their teeth.  This is usually due to losing teeth, jaw growth or other discomforts such as allergies. Kid also grind their teeth in response to stress and by taking measure to reduce or stop stress can help solve the problem.  However make sure you talk to your child dentist and inform him or her that your child is grinding or clenching their teeth.

Solid-head power toothbrushes retain less bacteria compared to hollow-head toothbrushes, according to researchers at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Dentistry.

The results of the study are published in the Journal of Dental Hygiene. Lead author and professor at the UTHealth School of Dentistry, Donna Warren Morris, R.D.H., M.Ed., notes that microbial counts were lower in the solid-head toothbrush group than in the two hollow-head toothbrush groups in 9 out of 10 comparisons.

Question:  I failed to enroll my baby to my current dental insurance plan I received though my employer. The next open enrollment to add her is not until January 2016. By then she will be a little over a year old. Should I wait it out or buy a dental insurance plan just for her?

Answer: The American Dental Association advises that a child should see a dentist by their first birth day or when they cut their first tooth.  With that said, it can be difficult to find a dental insurance plan for just a minor. Most dental insurance plan will not write and individual dental insurance plan on a minor.  This means you would need to buy a couple plan.  Whether or not you decide you should buy a plan another dental or wait it out is up to you. However keep in mind many insurance plan also have waiting periods or required that you keep the plan for at least a year, therefore it may not be worth the cost of buying a second plan so make sure it would be cost effective for you to do so.

Question: I have to have four teeth pulled before I can have braces, not because they are bad or anything.  I never had my teeth pulled out or really any other type of major dental treatment does it hurt?

Answer: Pain depends on the person.  However if you are not going to be under anesthesia during the dental process of having your teeth pulled. Then the dentist will normally numb out your mouth enough so that you are not feeling any pain. If you do feel any pain you only need to let the dentist know this so that he or she can numb out that area some more.

You  may have some pain after the process is done.  This is normal and the dentist may prescribe you something for the pain if necessary or you can normally take an over the counter product such as Avil or Alive.

Regardless of whether you are a new patient or a return patient it is important that you are confident in the quality of care that they dentist provides. First impressions are important but so is lasting impressions.  Here is a check list that may help you make sure you are receiving quality dental care and service. Ask your yourself these questions.

1) Does the dental office provide a professional atmosphere and a willingness to address your concerns, such as any dental fears.

2) Does the dental office/dentist address your medical history thoroughly prior to dental treatment or does it seem like and afterthought?  Health problems such as high blood pressure, should be monitored at every dental appointment. Other health problems may have an affect on your dental and oral health and should be address in order to received proper dental care.

3) When dental work is being performed are all staff members wearing masks, gloves and appropriated eye wear?  Are all dental instruments stored in sealed bags and following sterilization?  Are all your questions regarding sterilization being answered to your satisfaction?

4) When having your teeth cleaned does your dentist go over any areas of your mouth where more attentions is required. Is he or she taking pocket depth readings to assess for periodontal disease?

5) When present a dental treatment plan are all questions about the proposed treatment plan being adequately explained to you.

6) Is cost of the dental services explained to you prior to treatment? Has the dental office gone over with you how they handle insurance and billing?

The International and American Associations for Dental Research (IADR/AADR) have published a paper titled “SSRIs and the Risk of Osseointegrated Implant Failure – A Cohort Study.” Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs), the most widely used drugs for the treatment of depression, have been reported to reduce bone formation and increase the risk of bone fracture. Since osseointegration is influenced by bone metabolism, this study investigates the association between SSRIs and the risk of failures in osseointegrated implants. The manuscript, by researchers Khadijeh Al-Abedalla, Samer Abi Nader, Belinda Nicolau, Emad Rastikerdar, Faleh Tamimi and Xixi Wu, from McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada; and Nach Daniel, from East Coast Oral Surgery, Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada, is published in the OnlineFirst portion of the IADR/AADR Journal of Dental Research (JDR).

I need to have invisaligns, however and the only insurance I have is Medicare. I would like a list of all the kinds of dental insurances that will help cover some of the cost for invisaling treatments.   Please advise how I can get dental insurance and I do not care if it has a year waiting period.

Answer:  Generally speaking most dental insurance plan do not offer benefits for invisaligns. Dental PPO plans may have limited coverages for invisaligns but many do not provide orthodontic services to adults and when they do it is very limited. Therefore in most cases with regards to adult braces and PPO plans they may not be cost effective.  Make sure you read the plan terms and conditions carefully.

HMO dental insurance plans often provide benefits for adult braces. These plan are very affordable and are cost effective however they generally only provide benefits on basic braces and not invisalings.

Another non insurance option would be a dental discount plan. These dental discount plans are not insurance, but they do provide dental saving on all dental care services done by network providers.  Average saving for braces 20 percent including invisaligns.

Question: Besides brushing my teeth right after drinking coffee which is not always possible how can avoid having coffee stain my teeth while I am drinking it?

Answer: I enjoy drinking coffee too, so I know where you are coming from since the last thing I want is coffee stained teeth.  Therefore try drinking any sustainable drinks such as coffee and teas though a straw.  This will help limit the direct contact the liquid has with your teeth.

Question:  Each time I go see my dentist, he tells me that I need a gum graft.  I have  asked few people, that I know  and they they said that their dentist has also been bothering them to have this larger dental treatment,  however, they do not do it.     I feel the same cause my teeth  and gums do not hurt me.  Yet my dentist told me one year ago that I have to do it before another  year goes by.  Another problem is that I am a student with little money and no dental insurance. So I was wondering if other people were in the same position as me or if you had done a graft before, and is it worth it?

Answer:  I always try and take the stand point that a no dentist will suggest you have dental work that is not necessary.   If you are really worried about whether or not you need this type of dental care,  here is a suggestion.

If possible buy a low cost HMO dental insurance plan.  Most HMO dental insurance plan run around 10 – 20 dollars a month and they provide free preventive dental treatments. That means you can see a different dentist for a second opinion and get Free X-rays, Office Visit and Basic Cleaning as well as see if this different dentist advises they same type of dental care as the one you have been currently seeing.

This website offers HMO dental insurance plans in most states so I suggest reviewing our dental insurance options we have available for your review.   Then even if a new dentist  dose suggest the same treatment,  you will then have some insurance in force to hopefully help you with the cost if you decide to have the dental care render.

Another option is to get a second dental opinion at a dental clinic or dental school. In many cases dental clinics and school adjust their cost based on what you can afford to pay.  The point is I think that unless the people you asked for their opinions are dentist,  I think getting a second opinion by a dentist would only benefit you and your oral health care.

Buying dental insurance on line is a good way to make sure you are not only get the most affordable dental plan available to you but you are also able to review plan information and compare benefits. Having a low cost dental insurance plan is often important to college students that are living on a tight budget, but coverages are just important in order to make sure you are buying the best dental plan for your dental health needs.

To review the dental insurance plans that are available to you in you state just enter your zip code in the quote box. From their you will be taken to a brief comparison chart of the available dental insurance plan where you can then review each plan benefits, terms and conditions.

Question: I have been on Medicare & Medi-Cal, after my last SS increase I received a Notice of Action saying I no longer qualify for Medi-Cal because my net income is $1016.00 & it needs to be $1001.00 or less so I am a whole $15.00 over.    They said I need to find a Supplemental Insurance plan that is at least $15 or more a month. They suggested that I try AARP, so I called and told them I am 45, but they still signed me up. However when I tried to sign up for a plan I found out that I do not even qualify for the benefits until I am 50. At this point I do not know what to do.

Answer:  You do not need to buy a dental plan that is linked to Medi Cal or Medicare. You only need to buy an insurance plan (vision, dental or health) so that you are decreasing your net income. I would suggest reviewing the dental HMO plans that this website has to offer. We provide many good HMO plans within the dollar amount you need to spend. Then please call our office if you have any further questions at 310-534-3444

Many students live on a very fixed income. With the cost of school and living expenses dental care cost can seem out of reach.  However that does not have to be the case. When looking for a low cost dental insurance plan, students may want to look into buying a dental HMO insurance plan. Dental HMO plan are low in cost ranging from $7.00 -$20.00 a month for an individual.

In addition most dental HMO insurance plans are fee base plans that let you know what each dental service cost under the plan making it easier to budget in your dental care cost.

The relationship between TMJ/TMD (Temporomandibular Joint/Temporomandibular Disorder ) problems and braces has been a topic of debate. There is a considerable body of evidence on this topic, since it is vitally important for dentists, orthodontists, and the public to be aware of any connection between braces and TMJ problems.

The cause of TMD can not be isolated to any one particular cause. It is therefore regarded as multifactorial, since behavior, emotions, bite, and other physical factors may contribute to the disorder. The role that the bite plays in the disorder is controversial. This needs to be emphasized because some patients choose to pursue braces to help with their TMJ problems. The changes that occur with braces in the alignment of the teeth and bite may not in fact “cure” TMD.

However, the role of braces causing TMJ problems has also been studied extensively and there is overwhelming evidence that braces generally do not increase the risk of developing TMJ problems later on. The study cited here was a comprehensive review of many studies done previously. Results of approximately 1300 patients from around the world were represented, and were treated with different plans.

The complexity of the TMJ and the circumstances surrounding the potential causes of TMJ problems may not be entirely clear. That said, numerous studies support the fact that TMJ problems have many causative factors, and the changes occurring during braces are gradual, which generally allows the TMJ to adapt without difficulty.

Dental discount plans are a good low cost way to save money on your dental care needs.  They are for anyone wanting to reduce their dental care cost.  Available in most states they can range from as low as $7.95 a month for individuals and around $30.00 a month for families. See want dental discount plans are available to you in your state by entering your zip code in the quote box provided.

Toothbrush damage also know as toothbrush abrasion is the damage to your teeth and gums as a result from the use of excessive force in brushing.  As important as it is to brush your teeth regularly you do not want to become over-zealous and brush with too much force.  Toothbrush abrasion affects your teeth as well as your gums.

An earliest sign of the problem is what people describe as a ‘little ledge’ in the tooth at the very margin of the gum. Sensitivity to cold is a quite common feature with toothbrush abrasions.   As the damage progresses it becomes more and more noticeable, with the gum tissue receding back causing the tooth to look longer as more of its root surface is exposed. The damage to the tooth eventually manifests as a v-shaped notch at the gum margin which increases over time both in width and depth.