There can be several reasons for premature tooth loss. However, the primary reasons for the early loss of a child’s baby tooth are tooth decay, injury, or lack of jaw space. When tooth loss happens before the permanent teeth emerge, nearby teeth can tip or shift into the unoccupied area.

Therefore, when the permanent tooth tries to emerge into its place, there may not be enough room. The new tooth may emerge tilted, crooked, or misaligned, which can cause a new range of problems, from interfering with proper chewing to causing TMJ issues.

If your child loses a tooth prematurely, see a dentist right away. Your dentist may advise a space maintainer which will hold open the space left by the missing tooth.

Many adults still do not know how important baby teeth are to their children. People think that since baby teeth are replaced by adult teeth, dental care for baby teeth is less critical. However, that is wrong. While it is true that baby teeth are only in the mouth for a short time, they do play a vital role.

• Baby teeth help to reserve space for adult teeth.
• Baby teeth are needed to aid in the development of clear speech.
• Baby teeth give the face its normal appearance.
• Baby teeth are required to chew and eat food.

If baby teeth aren’t maintained by proper dental care, damage can be caused to incoming adult teeth. Dental decay in baby teeth is painful for your child and can cause other overall health issues. It is essential to know that one should care for baby teeth just as much as one should care for adult teeth. Baby teeth may not last a lifetime, but their role in your child’s development is just as important.

Please remember that each child is different, and tooth eruption times can vary from child to child.  However, this will give you some idea of when your child’s teeth should be coming in by. 

Primary Teeth Development Chart

Upper Teeth When tooth emerges When a tooth falls out

Central incisor 8 to 12 months 6 to 7 years
Lateral incisor 9 to 13 months 7 to 8 years
Canine (cuspid) 16 to 22 months 10 to 12 years
First molar          13 to 19 months 9 to 11 years
Second molar   25 to 33 months       10 to 12 years
    
Lower Teeth    

Second molar  23 to 31 months       10 to 12 years
First molar          14 to 18 months 9 to 11 years
Canine (cuspid) 17 to 23 months 9 to 12 years
Lateral incisor 10 to 16 months 7 to 8 years
Central incisor 6 to 10 months 6 to 7 years

Poor dental health is linked to an increased risk for dementia.

New research shows that in a study of more the 4000 elderly adults in Japan, those who had few teeth and who did not use dentures or see a dentist regularly had a significantly higher risk for dementia onset than the participants who practiced better dental health practices. The study was published in the April issue of Psychosomatic Medicine.

Dental disease is nearly 100 percent preventable, yet fewer than 30 percent of people follow their dentist’s advice to brush and floss twice daily. People are dropping the ball with their at-home dental care habits. In some states, nearly 40 percent of people with dental insurance still need to see their dentist regularly. Early education about oral health care habits is essential and should be reinforced by parents, teachers, and the community.

The number of preschoolers with severe tooth decay is rising across all income levels. Some young children have six to ten cavities. Some reasons for the increased rise in tooth decay among young children are mainly snacking and juices or other sweet drinks t bedtime. But other reasons include children drinking bottled water instead of fluoridated tap water. As well as parents who have grown lax about making their kids have proper dental care habits such as brushing and flossing daily.

Too many Americans, particularly kids, are in emergency rooms with rotten teeth issues. According to surveys by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 10 states within the past three years, the percentage of third graders with untreated tooth decay ran as high as 40 percent in Arizona to just under 15 percent in Washington State. A study by the Pew Center for the States found that preventable dental conditions were the primary reason for more than 830,000 emergency room visits in the U.S. in 2009, up 16 percent from just three years before.

Remembering proper dental care habits at home and seeing a dentist helps reduce the risk of tooth decay and gum disease and save you money in the long run. Preventive dental care services such as office visits, X-rays, and cleanings are much more affordable than filling, root canals, and crowns. Considering that even lower-cost dental insurance plans offer free to meager-cost preventive dental care, it makes sense to maintain your dental health. Caring for your teeth with good dental habits and seeing your dentist decreases your chances of developing more significant, more costly dental issues.

Tips about oral health care products for your children:

Many parents encourage their children to practice proper dental care habits at home. But having the right dental health care products for your children is also essential. For children who do not brush their teeth on their own yet, try avoiding toothpaste with fluoride until they know not to swallow. However, for older children, the Center for Disease Control recommends that parents get their children toothpaste containing fluoride to protect their teeth.

Also, concerning using mouthwash, parents may want to avoid using mouthwash that contains alcohol. Many kid-friendly types of mouthwash do not contain alcohol just read the label to ensure. Flossing is an essential part of dental care. However, your child needs to know how to floss correctly. Make sure you or your dentist correctly shows your child how to floss. Parents should floss their child’s teeth until they can do so independently.

More than 130 million Americans do not have dental insurance. Those needing insurance tend to put off dental care due to cost. Even though early childhood is a critical period for kids to learn effective dental healthcare habits, many parents can not afford their needed dental care. To help many schools promote good dental healthcare habits by contacting volunteer dental hygienists and dentists willing to visit their schools and provide dental education and free dental screenings. See if your child’s school is active in having such programs available.

Good dental care habits established early on could help avoid dental issues in the future. Good oral health care is more than just having healthy teeth. According to the Surgeon General, oral health is integral to general health care. However, sadly many parents may not realize proper dental care, like traditional medical care, should begin in infancy to prevent disease development. The American Dental Association advises new parents to have their first dental visit before the child’s birthday. Pediatric dentists are specialists in treating children’s dental care needs. The dentist has the same goal for your child’s dental health care: ” Prevention ” with regular maintenance, routine check-ups, and regular cleanings. It will help prevent more extensive dental care needs.

Dental care costs can be high; even preventive dental services without dental insurance can cost over $150 -$200+. In contrast, most dental insurance plans provide preventative dental care for free. Remember that you are obligated to pay as agreed to the dentist for any dental service provided. If you can not afford dental treatment, only agree to have dental care once possible. Dental insurance helps make dental care more affordable, so you do not have to put off needed dental care services.

It is essential to understand that your family dentist is not a mind reader. It would help if you were truthful with your dentist. What you do not reveal, they can not know. Tell them if you have additional information, and do not hold back on your opinions and feelings. Keep in mind most dentists want you to be happy. If you do not let them know you are displeased about something, how can they take measures to correct the issue?

When taking your child to a dentist, here are some tips you should know. 

• Ensure the dentist provides complete information about any dental care services advised. 
• Make the dentist explain things to you in a language you can understand. (Note Many dentists have their language, “dental talk,” that many people may not completely understand)  
• Make sure the dentist is providing you with all available options. It is easier to make an informed choice if you know all your options. 
• Ask your dentist questions to understand why they suggest one option over another. 
• Remember, you always have the right to a second opinion whenever you want additional information from another source. 
• Feel free to get a second opinion. A good dentist will not get insulted. 
• Make sure you have a dentist that always treats you and your child with respect. A dentist should not be rude because you ask questions about your child’s dental care and treatments. Respect also includes the privacy and security of your records and the privacy of your discussions with the dentist and staff members. 
• It should go without saying, but the dental office you choose to go to for your family’s dental care should be clean. You are looking for cleanliness and sterility. If you do not see that, leave.

CHIP, or Children’s Health Insurance Program, helps to provide free or low-cost health coverage for more than 7 million children up to age 19. CHIP provides coverage to U.S. citizens and eligible immigrants. CHIP is Available in Every State, and in general, children in families with incomes up to $44,100 per year (for a family of four) are likely to be eligible for coverage. However, in many states, families can have higher incomes, and their children can still qualify. Each state designs its CHIP program, including eligibility, benefits, premiums, cost-sharing, and application and renewal procedures. States can decide on the benefits provided under CHIP, but all states cover routine check-ups, immunizations, hospital care, dental care, and lab and x-ray services. Children get free preventive care, but low premiums and other cost-sharing may be required for other services.

The Rising Concerns about Dental X-Rays and X-Rays Risks. Many people are concerned about having dental x-rays bi-annually, especially if they have also taken recent medical x-rays. A complete series of dental X-rays emit as much radiation as an hour in the sun. Many dental offices now offer digital x-rays, which produce 1/10 the radiation that the old style x-rays produced. However, if x-rays are not taken, the dentist can examine only about 50% of the tooth structure. It would be like asking the dentist to work with one hand tied behind their back. However, talk to your dentist about any X-ray worries you may have. If you have a history of good teeth, they may be able to do X-rays less often.

Are you meeting your children’s dental and oral health care needs? Healthy teeth and gums are crucial to a child’s overall health care. Proper preventive dental care habits at home and visiting their dental care provider are essential to complete a child’s dental care goals. Seeing a dentist is just as important as seeing your doctor regularly. Talk to your child’s dentist and review some healthy dental care habits to maintain from home. Also, remember that having dental insurance in force for your family’s dental care needs will help control the cost of dental care provided.

When getting dental insurance for bridges, there are a few things to ensure first. Whenever possible, do not pull out your teeth before having dental insurance. Once you have teeth pulled it can be hard to find dental insurance covering the bridge. This is because many dental insurance plans have missing teeth clauses. A missing teeth clause means that if the teeth were missing before the plan’s effective date, they do not cover a new bridge to be put in. A good tip is whenever you do have a dental bridge, put in keep your receipt. That way, if you ever need to replace the bridge later on, it will be good to show just how long ago the old bridge was put in. Some dental insurance plan will replace bridges, partials and denture only after you had your old one in for five or more years. (Therefore, they will typically ask for proof. )

If you have existing missing teeth, it does not mean you can not find dental insurance to help you fix your smile. Just read the terms and conditions carefully. Make sure the dental insurance plan you are buying will cover the dental services you want. I also suggest not ruling out dental discount plans. Preexisting with a dental discount plan is not excluded, including missing teeth. So for a low monthly cost of a dental discount plan, you can save some money by getting a dental bridge without any waiting periods or exclusions. Whether you to have a bridge, partials and or dentures, we are here to help you find the best dental plan that will work for you. So please call our member service line at 310-534-3444 if you have any questions about our dental insurance dental plan options.

When looking for dental insurance that offers braces for adults, make sure you read each plan’s terms and conditions carefully. Although there are dental insurance plans that will provide adult braces, there are still many dental insurance plans that only offer Orthodontic dental services to minors. Another thing to keep is that many dental insurance plans only offer coverage for basic metal braces. Metal braces may be found for a child but not so much when it comes to an adult.

If you are looking for clear braces or Invisalign, or any other specialty braces that are not covered under dental insurance, then you may want to review a dental discount plan for your Orthodontic needs. A dental discount plan offers dental savings off any braces for any age group. Therefore a dental discount plan would save you money on your Orthodontic needs as long as there is an Orthodontic dentist in the plan that does the type of services you are looking for. It is a good idea to call the dentist and confirm they are still taking the dental plan you may be reviewing

For some people shopping for dental insurance can become confusing. They do not know if the dental services they want are covered under the plan they may be reviewing. How can you ensure that you buy a dental plan that covers the dental service you may need? Know your ADA codes. ADA codes are codes used by the dentist and the dental insurance company so that the insurance company knows what dental services are being provided. So when shopping for dental insurance, ask your dentist for the dental ADA codes they may be quoting for you whenever possible. Also, not all the ADA codes may be listed on the company fee schedule so if you do not see call the company and confirm if it is covered before buying the plan.

Our website offers a dental discount plan through Aetna. Dental discount plans are a good low-cost dental plan option. They do not have many limitations that dental insurance plans may have. Many of our 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 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. There is no outside network benefits. I suggest calling the dentist listed and confirming they are still accepting the plan and new members.

When you have a dental insurance plan where you are dealing with the filing of claims, it is important to understand the claims process. Know how your insurance company handles claims and how the dentist your pick files out your claims. Problems arise when you do not clearly understand your dental insurance and how claims are paid. As well as when you do not know how the dental office is going to make you pay and how they file out claims.

Many PPO plans or free choice of dentist plans state they pay out a certain percentage for preventive, basic and major services. However, that percentage is normally up to the UCR or MAC rates for dental companies. Knowing that is important and a good idea is to submit dental services to the claims department as a quote only before any dental work is started. That way you always know your true cost for the dental services before committing to it. It is equally important to know how the dental office is going to file your claim.

Do not assume that the dentist will not charge you the full amount for the dental services. Making you wait for your refund back from the dental office. This is a mistake often made and normally, it is after the fact. Causing many people to be upset. Ask the dentist what they expect you to pay and how before work is started. Do they file the claims for you, or do you need to file them? Knowing all this ahead of time will keep you from any unexpected billings and from

When looking for what they think is “Full Coverage Dental Insurance” it is essential to determine what “Full Coverage” means to you. Full coverage can mean different things to different people. So what does “Full Coverage” mean to many other people I talk to and me? Simply put, I would pay X dollar monthly (whatever that would be), and all my dental services would be paid in full. There would be no dental service rendered that would not be covered, and I only have to pay the monthly cost for the plan. I have yet to find a dental insurance plan that works this way. However, if you do, I would love to know about it.

That is why I never use the term Full Coverage when talking to people about dental insurance. Instead, I try to find out what the person feels are their current and future dental needs and try to fit dental insurance or dental discount plan that will best address their dental needs. My best advice when looking for dental insurance is to read, then read, some more. Make sure you know what you will get from the dental plan. If there is still something you do not understand, then call the company up and ask all the needed questions so you can feel good about the dental plan you decide to get. Forget about looking for full coverage and instead look for a dental plan that will fit your dental needs the best. Sometimes to do that, you may have to get more the just one dental plan. You may want to combine plans that make the best sense for your needs. We are here to help you with any dental insurance and or dental plan that this website offers in your state. If you have questions, we look forward to your calls. So please call member services at 310-534-3444 CA time 8-5 M-F. We be happy to help

Did you know if you are missing one or more teeth, you may see a difference in your chewing and speaking? You may even notice a difference in your face and profile. For many people missing teeth can cause low self-esteem. Making people smile and laugh less for fear of people seeing their teeth. Proper dental care can and will help fix your teeth. Bridges will not only improve the gap caused by missing teeth but will restore the shape of your face and alleviate the difference in your bite. A dentist could also advise fixed or partial dentures when needed. Bridges and partial will look just like your regular teeth and give you back a smile you want to have.

Another is dental implants which is usually more costly but would be dental implants. Dental implants are artificial teeth that attach directly to the jaw. Not everyone can have implants, but a dentist can advise if that is an option for you. Talk to a dentist about your dental options and see which one you feel will be best for you. Most dental insurance plans will cover a portion of the cost for dental bridges, partials, and or dentures. At this time, it is still hard to find dental insurance that offers coverage for dental implants. Therefore when it comes to implants, you may want to review dental discount plans for cost savings. However, read your dental insurance plan terms and conditions, and when in doubt, call the company so you can know for sure what you are and are not covered for. Keep us in mind for any of your dental insurance dental plans needs. We are here to help you get the best dental plan for your current dental needs.

Many people are dealing with Gastroesophageal reflux disease, which is a common condition. Acid Reflux is when stomach acid is refluxed up, which may cause problems to your esophagus, oral health, and teeth if left untreated. Regarding oral health care, acid reflux can cause enamel erosion, which can lead to tooth decay and other dental issues. Acid reflux can also cause bad breath issues. So it is not only essential to speak to a doctor when dealing with acid reflux but also talk to your dentist. Let your dentist know that you are dealing with acid reflux. That way, they will learn to check more carefully for signs of tooth enamel erosion and wear on fillings. You may want to see a dentist more the just twice a year if you have constant acid reflux issues. Stomach acid will quickly damage teeth if you do not stay on top of your oral health care. You will want to see a doctor to control your acid reflux and see a dentist regularly to maintain your teeth’ health. Also, here is a good tip that may help you when acid reflux comes up in your mouth. Immediately after, do not brush but rinse with baking soda. Baking soda will help neutralize the effects of the stomach acid that comes up into your mouth. Keep a record of food that makes you more sensitive to getting acid reflux and try to limit yourself on those foods.