Question: I went to the dentist the other day and had no cavities, which I thought was good since I had not seen a dentist in many years prior to this point. I was told by the dentist that I do have gum disease and that I need to see a Periodontist. Why would I need to see a Periodontist? I am not sure what that is, but I am guessing it has to do with my gums. Why can not the dentist do a deep cleaning that I thought you would get when people have gum issues? I do not have dental insurance, and I know if I go to one of those Periodontist people, it will cost me way more than I can afford. Is it all that important that I go? After all, my teeth are fine, and my gums do not hurt me. 

Reply: One thing you may want to keep in mind is that when you go to a dentist, the dentist is not thinking about whether or not you can afford to do what they suggest. The dentist is telling you only what they feel is the best thing for your oral health care. A dentist would not refer you to a specialist if they did not believe that would be the best thing for you. 

You need to tell the dentist that you can not afford to go to a specialist right now, so you need to do the next best thing. The dentist may tell you how important it is to see a specialist. However, if it comes down to it, they know it would be better for them to do what you can afford to have done than for you to do nothing. Dentists can not read your mind. If you do not explain to them what you can and can not afford to do, then do not get upset because they are telling you something costly, and you can not afford it.

The Washington State Dental Association and Washington State Dental Laboratory Association worked together to lead a successful legislative effort to implement ADA policy on dental laboratory registration. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee signed the dental laboratory registration and disclosure bill into law on April 19, which will take effect on January 1, 2020.

Commencing on New Year’s Day, all dental labs serving dentists in Washington state will be required to:
• Register with the state department of health.
• Disclose in writing to the dentist what materials are in each device or prosthetic.
• Disclose in writing to the dentist the city, state, and country where each device or prosthetic was made.
• Have at least one lab technician annually complete 12 hours of continuing education or who is a certified dental technician.
Source: ADA

A Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation will typically include the following:

• Evaluation of periodontal conditions.
• Probing and charting.
• Evaluation and recording of the patient’s dental and medical history.
• General health assessment.

It may also include evaluating and recording dental caries, missing or unerupted teeth, restorations, occlusal relationships, and oral cancer screening.

Detailed And Extensive Oral Evaluation Problem FocusedA detailed and extensive problem-focused evaluation entails extensive diagnostic and cognitive modalities based on the findings of a comprehensive oral evaluation. Integration of more extensive diagnostic modalities to develop a treatment plan for a specific problem is required. The condition requiring this type of evaluation should be described and documented. Examples of conditions requiring this type of evaluation may include dentofacial anomalies, complicated perio-prosthetic conditions, complex temporomandibular dysfunction, facial pain of unknown origin, severe systemic diseases requiring multi-disciplinary consultation, etc.

Dental4Less.com has plans starting at $7.95 a month, which helps to make dental care more affordable. Our lower-cost HMO plans have no waiting periods or maximums annual limitations.

However, we also provide PPO and Indemnity plans to let you stay with your current dentist or choose-your-own dentist. We provide a PPO plan without waiting periods, depending on your state. Check our dental insurance option online today. Just enter your Zip code in the quote box provided to review all our available dental insurance plan options. Have Questions? Call our customer service line at 310-534-3444 M-F 8 am – 4 pm, as we are always happy to assist you with finding the right plan for your dental care needs.

The unexpected findings could pave the way for developing preventative measures in tackling gum by manipulating the normal bacteria in the same way that probiotic yogurt protects the intestine. Researchers at Queen Mary’s Blizard Institute, including Medical Research Council Clinical Research Training Fellow Mark Payne, worked with scientists in the US; they published their findings in the journal Cell Host and Microbe.

Why should you see a dentist for regular dental checkups?

Your dental checkups consist of more than just X-rays and cleanings. The dentist is looking at more than whether or not you have any cavities or if you have been flossing well enough. Dental checkups also include oral cancer screenings. The dentist or hygienist will also check for any signs of oral cancer. 

Oral cancer is a severe dental disease that claims lives daily. However, it is often highly curable if diagnosed and treated in the early stages. Many people do not have regular dental checkups due to a lack of dental benefits through their jobs or the cost of dental services and feeling they can not afford to go to the dentist. 

Sometimes, you can not afford not to go to the dentist. On this website and in every state, we offer low-cost dental plan options, either by providing low-cost dental insurance plans or dental discount plans. Both will make dental care more affordable.

If you have Gum Disease and no dental insurance currently, you may want to look into buying a dental HMO insurance plan. Dental HMOs are typically a lower-cost insurance plan option. More importantly, however, they generally do not have waiting periods. Having no waiting periods is essential for gum disease, as you will want to treat it as soon as possible before it becomes an even more significant dental care issue.

A growing body of evidence suggests gum disease could also play a role in a surprising range of seemingly unrelated health problems. 

Heart Disease: Although not everyone with heart disease has gum disease, and not everyone with gum disease has heart disease, there does appear to be a correlation. Whether gum disease is an independent risk factor for heart disease is still being discussed, and there are some theories on how the two might be related. 

Cancer: Gum disease and cancer do not, on the surface, appear to have much in common. According to a study published in 2008 which investigated tooth loss and cancer in 48,375 men, the authors concluded that there was a link between gum disease and cancer. Another study involving more than 68,000 adults found a strong association between gum disease and cancer risk. The link was also significant between gum disease and pancreatic cancer.

If you have gum disease, it is important to have dental insurance in place to help you with the cost of dental care. If you want to stay with your current dentist, a dental PPO plan will let you do that. However, remember that many PPO plans to have waiting periods for major dental care services and treatment of gum disease, in most cases, fall into major services. Therefore you need to beware of the plan’s waiting periods or buy one with no waiting periods. PPO plans without waiting periods tend to be more costly than those that do, so get what best makes sense to you and your budget

In California, many good dental discount plans are available.

On our website, we offer a discount plan through Aetna. Dental discount plans are an excellent low-cost dental plan option. They do not have many limitations that dental insurance plans may have. Many dental discount plans start within the next business day of your online enrollment, which is very good for those in dental pain since they can see a dentist immediately.

Dental discount plans are not for everyone. But they are an excellent 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 ensure a dentist in the dental plan you want to see since there are no outside network benefits. I suggest calling the dentist listed and confirming they are still accepting the program and new members.

Affordable Dental Plans – HMO’s Insurance and Dental Discount Plans

Affordable dental insurance plans from an HMO have a limited pool of dentists to select from, but it is a more affordable insurance plan. A discount dental plan may be an alternative if you are self-employed and looking for a more affordable dental plan. 

Discount dental plans are not dental insurance plans. A discount plan partners with dentists to give customers savings on visits to the dentist’s office. Discount dental plans are not regulated, and you have limited recourse if you experience dental plan problems.

If you belong to a professional association, you might be eligible for dental insurance or a discount dental plan. Many associations partner with a PPO to provide their members with dental insurance that offers comprehensive coverage at more affordable prices. Finally, dental schools may offer affordable dental services. Dental schools seem safe, but they can be inconvenient, and treatment for one problem may have to be addressed through multiple office visits.

You can obtain quotes for more affordable dental insurance plans from companies online and through your local insurance agent or broker. Please keep in mind that many websites offer the appearance of selling dental insurance but only offer a dental discount plan, which is not insurance. Your dentist may also have affordable dental plan options available to patients. Ask the receptionist if they partner with a dental plan company and see if one might be right for you.

The most common cause of Gingivitis is the accumulation of bacterial plaque between and around the teeth. Other causes and risk factors are listed below: 

Hormones Changes: This may occur during puberty, menopause, the menstrual cycle, and pregnancy. The gingiva might become more sensitive, raising the risk of inflammation. 

Some Diseases: Diseases like Cancer, Diabetes, and HIV are linked to a higher risk of Gingivitis. 

Drugs: Some medications may affect oral health, especially if saliva flow is reduced. Dilantin, an anticonvulsant, and some anti-angina medications can cause abnormal growth of gum tissue. 

Smoking: Regular smokers more commonly develop Gingivitis compared with non-smokers. Age: The risk of Gingivitis increases with age. Family

History: Those whose parents have had Gingivitis have a higher risk of developing it. It is thought to be due to the type of bacteria we acquire during our early life. If you have some of these risk factors, talk them over with your dentist to maintain good dental health care. 

The most common cause of Gingivitis is the accumulation of bacterial plaque between and around the teeth. The plaque triggers an immune response, which, in turn, can eventually lead to the destruction of gingival, or gum, tissue. It may also, eventually, lead to further complications, including bone loss and the loss of teeth.

Dental plaque can cause Tooth decay, Gingivitis, and chronic Periodontitis. Plaque needs to be treated adequately, or it can harden into calculus or tartar near the gums at the base of the teeth. Tartar has a yellow color. Plaque and tartar eventually irritate the gums, causing gum inflammation around the bottom of the teeth, which means that the gums might easily bleed. You can only remove Calculus professionally. It is essential to see your dentist at least twice a year for a basic check-up and cleaning.

Signs of Gingivitis include red and puffy gums that typically bleed easily when the person brushes their teeth. As stated in the prior post, Gingivitis can often be resolved with good oral hygiene, such as more prolonged and frequent brushing and flossing. In addition, an antiseptic mouthwash may help in addition to seeing your dentist for regular dental check-ups and cleanings. A person may not even know they have it in mild cases of Gingivitis because symptoms are mild. However, the condition should be taken seriously and addressed immediately.

Gingivitis means inflammation of the gums. It commonly occurs because of a film of plaque, or bacteria, that can accumulates on a person’s teeth. Gingivitis is a non-destructive periodontal disease, but untreated gingivitis can progress to periodontitis. Periodontitis is more severe and can eventually lead to the loss of teeth. By having good at-home dental care habits i.e: brushing and flossing daily, and seeing your dentist for preventive dental care services twice a year, you can generally avoid gingivitis issues

Question: I have been searching online for a dental insurance plan, and I notice that many websites seem to have many of the same dental insurance plans, yet they do not all have the same price. How can I make sure I am receiving the best dental insurance quote? I do not want to pay more than I have to. 

Reply: Understandably, you do not wish to pay more for the same dental insurance plan. However, even though many dental insurance plans may seem the same, they are more likely not if the price is not the same. Insurance rates are filed with the Department of Insurance; therefore, a plan’s monthly or annual cost does not change due to who may be selling it. Assuming it is, in fact, the “same plan.” There may be a difference in fees if the selling agent adds any charges on their end. So look for fees costs. That said, you want to review each plan carefully. For example, Just because you saw a Delta dental plan offered on one website does not mean it is the same one you saw on a prior site. Delta Dental has many different insurance plan choices, and not everyone is selling the same plan that Delta dental may offer.

Question: I am looking for a dental insurance plan that would cost no more than $30.00 a month. Are there any dental insurance plans that would fit within my budget 

Answer: I would say most HMO dental insurance plans would fit that budget for an individual. We offer dental HMO plans in most states. Check out what we have available to you by Calling our office at 310-534-3444 M-F 8 am – 4 pm 

At Home Teeth Whitening, Putting Teen’s Dental Health At Risk Dentists are worried that teenagers are putting their teeth and health at risk by trying dangerous do-it-yourself (DIY) teeth-whitening techniques found on the Internet. Children mixing up quantities of chemicals and applying them for long periods are at risk of eroding tooth enamel, damaging gums, and increasing the chances of infection. Ironically the erosion may expose the yellow-colored dentin that lies beneath the enamel.

In a study of blacks with normal kidney function, those with severe periodontal disease developed chronic kidney disease (CKD) at four times the rate of those without severe periodontal disease. The study was presented at ASN Kidney Week 2014, November 11-16, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia, PA.

A simple saliva test may reveal deadly diseases early enough to treat them. The study, the most comprehensive analysis ever conducted of RNA molecules in human saliva, shows that saliva contains many of the same disease-revealing molecules which are included in the blood. It was published online by the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Chemistry and is published in the journal’s January 2015 special print issue, “Molecular Diagnostics: A Revolution in Progress.”

Is Getting A Root Canal Painful? 

According to research, root canal work is not as bad as people think when compared to other dental procedures. A self-reporting of people’s dental health suggests that patients find the procedure no worse than other dental work, which overturns the widespread belief that root canal work is the most unpleasant dental treatment. 

Question: I will get some medical insurance, but I am unsure if that will include dental care. Do health plans come with dental? How fast can I use the dental if it does? I want something for my dental care now. 

Reply: In many cases, health insurance does come packaged with dental but not always. You would have to read the medical plan to confirm that. If the medical insurance dose comes with dental insurance, how fast will it start, and if there are any waiting periods would again depend on the plan. 

I have no way of advising you about that other than to suggest you carefully read through the information provided. If you want dental insurance without waiting periods at that point, I would advise looking for dental HMO plans, as these are lower-cost insurance plans that typically do not have waiting periods for dental care services. In most states, we offer dental HMO plans and some Dental discount plans that start right away with no waiting periods. Just enter your zip code in the quote box provided to review the dental insurance and options we have available to you