The ground breaking use of Intraoral Welding to improve the placement of dental implants has been successfully performed for the first time in the UK, by Dr Peter Sanders of Dental Confidence in Southampton. Following intensive training in 2012 with Dr Marco Degidi in Bolgna, Italy, Dr Sanders is now the first dentist in the UK to practise the advanced technique that enables the immediate loading of a fixed prosthesis supported by an intraorally welded titanium framework

For some people shopping for dental insurance can become confusing.  They do not know if the dental services they want to have is cover under the plan they may be reviewing.   How can you make sure that you are buying a dental plan that covers the dental service you may need.

Know your ADA codes.  ADA codes are codes use by the dentist and the dental insurance company so that the insurance company knows what dental services is being provided.   So when you are shopping for dental insurance ask your dentist for the dental ADA codes that they may be quoting for you whenever possible. Also it is possible that not all the ADA codes are listed on the company fee schedule so if you do not see call the company and confirm if it covered prior to buying the plan.

A report published as the lead article in the International Journal of Oral & Maxillofacial Implants shows that dental implants offer a cost-effective alternative to traditional treatments for tooth replacement. The report, which is also cited on PubMed, the US National Library of Medicine located at the National Institutes of Health, is based on a systematic review of all available studies published in English between 2000 and 2010 relating to the cost-effectiveness of various tooth-replacement options

There are many good dental discount plans available in California.   On our website we offer.  Dental discount plans though Aetna, and  Careington. Dental discount plans are a good low cost dental plan option.  They do not have many of the limitations that dental insurance plans may come with.

Many of our dental discount plans start within the next business day of your on line enrollment. Which is very good for those people that are in dental pain since they can see a dentist right away.  Dental discount plans are not for everyone.  But they are a good way to reduce all your dental needs at a very affordable cost.

When deciding between dental discount plans carefully review their fee schedules.  The fee schedules show the discount prices on what you pay for each dental service listed.  You also want to make sure there is a dentist in the dental plan you want to go to.  Since there is no outside network benefits. I suggest calling the dentist listed and confirming they are still accepting the plan as well as new members.

Research led by Priyanshi Ritwik, DDS, MS, LSUHSC Associate Professor of Pediatric Dentistry at LSU Health Sciences Center New Orleans, reports important findings about side effects and how long they linger after discharge of common oral drugs used to sedate some children during dental procedures. The results of the study, published in the current issue of Anesthesia Progress, provide pediatric dentists and parents with new information on this previously little-investigated aspect of children’s dental health care.

Generally under most dental insurance plans a limited oral evaluation is consider preventive service. A limited oral evaluation is problem focused, which is an evaluation that is limited to a specific oral health problem. This may require interpretation of information acquired through additional diagnostic procedures. Definitive procedures may be required on the same date as the evaluation. Typically, patients receiving this type of evaluation have been referred for a specific problem and/or present with dental emergencies, trauma, acute infection, etc.

Dental plans such as PPO and indemnity plan have a coinsurance provision. Coinsurance means, the plan benefit pays a predetermined percentage of the cost of your dental treatment, and you are responsible for paying the balance. Your part of what you pay is called the coinsurance, and it is part of your out of pocket cost.  This is paid even after any deductible is reached.

A periodic oral evaluation is an evaluation performed on a patient of record to determine any changes in the patient’s dental and medical health status since a previous comprehensive or periodic evaluation. This may require interpretation of information acquired through additional diagnostic procedures. Report additional diagnostic procedures separately.  Generally under most dental insurance plan it is a type of preventive dental care service that is normally covered at 100 percent.

Many dental insurance plans (such as PPO and Indemnity) offer three classes or categories of coverages (Preventive, Basic, and Majors). Each class provides specific types of treatment and typically covers those services at a certain percentage. Reimbursement levels can vary from plan to plan, so once again reading each plans benefits, limitations, and exclusions is very important in order to buy the plan that best fits your dental needs.  However here is an example of how a dental insurance plan may brake down the three levels

* Class 1 (Preventives):  Preventive services normally include diagnostic, office visits, X-rays and cleanings.  Class 1 procedures are typically covered at the highest percentage such as 80-100 percent up to the plans maximum allowance.

* Class 2 (Basics): Basic services normally include fillings, Space maintainers and re-cementation of crowns. Class 2 procedures typically covered at a little less such as 60-80 percent up to the plans maximum allowance.

* Class 3 (Majors):  Major services normally include root canals, treatment of gum disease, oral surgery and crown, bridges, partial and dentures.  Class 3 procedures are usually reimbursed at the lowest percentage, such as 40-50 percent up to the plan maximum allowance. Many plans also have waiting periods for class 1 and 2 in addition to deductibles. Keep in mind the above is only an example and each dental insurance plan can vary in both coverages and reimbursement levels

An Endodontist dentist is a dental specialist who limits his/her practice to treating disease and injuries of the pulp and associated periradicular conditions.

People can get upset with their dental insurance plan when they do not fully understand the plans limitations and exclusions before buying it. Most dental insurance plans includes limitation and exclusions which means the plan does not cover every aspect of dental care.  Understanding that dental insurance plans are designed to help with part of your dental expenses and may not always cover every dental need you have, is an important part of shopping out dental insurance and buying what best fit your overall dental needs.

Limitations and exclusions can relate to the type or number of procedures, the number of visits or age limits, when certain benefits may be effective under the plan and how much is to be paid out per person per year. However these limitations and exclusions are carefully detailed, therefore before buying a dental insurance plan make sure to read the plans limitations and exclusions.  By fully reading each plans limitations and exclusions, it will help you develop realistic expectations of how dental insurance can work for you.

Under most dental insurance plans preventive dental services such as general or basic cleanings are covered at no cost to you.   The common dental term used for this type of cleaning is dental prophylaxis, which is a scaling and polishing procedure performed to remove coronal plaque, calculus, and stains.

If you have a dental insurance plan where you have to file claims (such as a PPO) it is a good idea to get a pretreatment estimate on the dental work needed before dental services are started.  By doing this, it will let you know in advance what dental procedures are covered, and the amount the plan will pay toward the treatment and how much you will be financially responsible for.

However it is important to remember a pretreatment estimate is not a guarantee of payment.  When the dental services are complete and the claim is received for payment the insurance company will calculate payment based on current eligibility, amount remaining in your annual maximum limitation and any deductible that may be required.

Dental Crowns.

Anatomical Crown:     That portion of tooth normally covered by, and including, enamel;
Abutment Crown:        Artificial crown serving for the retention or support of a dental prosthesis;
Artificial Crown:           Restoration covering or replacing the major part, or the whole of the clinical crown of a tooth;
Clinical Crown:               That portion of a tooth not covered by supporting tissues.
Crown Lengthening:   A surgical procedure exposing more tooth for restorative purposes by apically positioning the gingival margin and/or removing supporting bone.

In a study that was published in the Journal of Periodontology it uncovered a suspected link between periodontal (gum) disease and pulmonary disease such as pneumonia and acute bronchitis   Donald S. Clem, DDS, president of the American Academy of Periodontology, stated that by working with your dentist or periodontist, you may actually be able to prevent or diminish the progression of harmful diseases such as pneumonia or COPD.

A dental insurance company usually pays between 50% – 80% of the family or individual dental office fees for a covered procedures; the remaining 20% – 50% is paid by the client. These plans often have a pre-determined or set deductible amount which varies from plan to plan. Indemnity insurance dental health care plans also can limit the amount of services covered within a given year and pay them based on a variety of fee schedules.

According to a 2007 study that was published in the Journal of the American Dental Association it found a relationship between people who lost more teeth before the age of 35 and an increased risk of dementia. However,  while researcher found a correlation, they do not know at this point if tooth loss actually causes dementia.

I was told that if you have bad teeth you can have other health problems.   Is that really true?  My teeth are okay I do not think anything is wrong with them since they do not bother me but when I told my friend that I have not seen the dentist in four years she made it sound really bad.

Answer: Many studies suggest that bad teeth can be linked to other over all health issues. A person should see a dentist at least twice a year so you are runing a higher risk of having larger and more costly dental care issues in the future.

According to some research done by the American Academy of Periodontology, it has connected periodontal disease to heart problems. Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease.  The theory is, if you have gum disease oral bacteria can enter your bloodstream and cause infection in your heart or lungs. However it is important to note that having poor oral health probably will not give you heart disease. But if you already have risk factors for certain diseases, it can increase your chances of getting them.

How do I address this issue to my good friend.  My friend oral hygiene is less to be desired.  In fact it seems she dose not have any oral hygiene in place.   I normally let this go since I feel it is not my place to tell her how to take care of herself.

The thing is her breath is really bad.  I give her mints off handedly so that she does not think much of it. But other friends of ours have been making fun of her behind her back.  I do not join in but can not really stand up for her either since  they are right about her.

Answer: It is really up to you if you feel like you should address this issue with your friend.  If you do there is no real easy way to go about it.  Just be truthful without being mean.  Your friend may get upset at first but it better the having peopld laugh behind her back.