Dental Insurance for replacement dentures. Tips you should know about insurance for dentures. If you already have dentures but need to get a new set, make sure you understand the dental insurance terms and conditions for the denture’s cost. Many dental insurance plans come with waiting periods. Dentures falling into major dental services. In this case, you may have to wait a year or more before the dental insurance plan will start to cover dentures since the insurance company has to earn a premium on the plan before they can begin to pay out for a high-cost dental service. Otherwise, you can see where one could get dentures and then cancel the plan within the next month after only paying a month or two in premium. Also, some dental insurance plans want proof that you had your old dentures for X years. (Generally, five years but can vary depending on the plan) Before they will cover out any replacements for new dentures. So make sure you know ahead of time the dental plan term and conditions before buying the dental plan of your choice. Picking the right dental plan from the start is always a good idea.

Dental care for Dentures Dos and Don’t when not in use. 

Dos: When not wearing your dentures, keep them in cool water or the dentist-advised denture solution. 

Don’t. Do not use hot water or put your dentures in a dry place, as this can cause your dentures to warp or dry out, making your dentures ill-fitting. Don’t put your dentures in a paper towel, as not only will a paper towel absorb the moisture, but it can also be mistaken for trash and tossed out. (I remember my grandmother would do this and stick them in her dress pocket. Little to say, she ends up losing them quite a bit) Do keep your dentures safe from small kids and dogs. Kids love to play with almost anything they find. Dentures in a child’s hands tend not to hold up well. Also, pets like dogs may find your dentures if they are not in a safe place, and you may as well start saving money for a new set of dentures. In conclusion, ensuring you take good care of your dentures will make them last longer and save you money from getting new ones sooner than necessary.

Handling Dentures with Proper Care: One should remember that dentures are fragile and careful handling is needed to avoid breaking them. Dentures do not like to droop, and there is a high chance that they will brake when you do. So be careful when cleaning them. When cleaning your dentures, stand on a soft towel or rug, so if you accidentally drop them, the chances are lower that they will brake. When cleaning, you want to ensure the sink is full of water so that if you drop them, they are safe. You can wrap your dentures in a hand towel or keep them in their hard cover case when you are moving around your house with your dentures. As soon as you finish cleaning your dentures and want to put them aside, ensure you keep them soaked in warm or cold water or in your denture solution. 

Proper denture care is essential. Even when covered by dental insurance, dentures can still be costly, so taking appropriate care of your dentures will help them last longer and save money in having them replaced sooner than necessary. You will want to use a soft bristle toothbrush to avoid damaging your dentures. You still need to brush your dentures carefully. Make sure you are careful not to damage the surface of your dentures or bend the attachments. You can clean your dentures using over-the-counter cleansers available in most food stores. Although you can use regular toothpaste, avoid them since dentures are sensitive, and you can easily damage their surface with abrasive toothpaste. Another cleaning option for dentures is by using an ultrasonic denture cleanser. However, make sure you buy one that has been proven safe. DON’T. Do not use bleach when cleaning your dentures. Also, do not use vinegar, as it can cause your dentures to dry out. Do not use household cleaners. Though some people will use mild hand soup or dish soup, I don’t suggest doing so. If you do, rinse them thoroughly under the faucet with warm to cool water.

California Dental insurance coverage, I am looking for a broad coverage dental plan: I currently live with my boyfriend and looking for a good overall or comprehensive coverage dental plan. Can your office provide some advice on which plan to buy?

Reply: You should start reviewing HMO insurance plans as they have fewer limitations/restrictions and exclusions. They are also the lower-cost dental insurance option. However, with an HMO insurance dental plan, you do need to choose and go to a plan provider as there are no outside provider benefits. 

Space maintainers are appliances made of metal or plastic that custom fit your child’s mouth and are small and unobtrusive in appearance. Most children easily adjust to them after the first few days. Space maintainers hold open the space left by a lost tooth. They steady the remaining teeth, preventing movement until the permanent tooth takes its natural position in the jaw. It’s more affordable — and easier on your child — to keep teeth in normal positions with a space maintainer than to move them back in place with orthodontic treatment.

Dental Checkup Cost

Hello, I would like some advice, please. I went to the dentist on Friday for a routine checkup and cleaning. They did X-rays, too, which cost me a total of $225.00. $225.00 was a lot of money for me, but since I have not been to the dentist in over three years. Does this sound right that I should have to pay this much?

Reply: If you do not have dental insurance in place and are paying cash out of pocket, then the cost you stated you paid for preventive services sounds about right. Price can vary between dentists; some may be less, some more. However, if you want more affordable dental care, consider looking into dental HMO insurance plans that cost around $8.00 and $20.00 monthly. Most HMOs provide free preventive care. In this case, it would have saved you from that $225.00 bill.

What to do for healthy teeth eat healthy foods. Fruits, vegetables, nuts, cheese, and milk are foods for strong, healthy teeth. Foods with a lot of sugar can be bad for teeth. Sugars in food stick to the teeth, and bacteria (germs) gather in the sugar and cause plaque. Plaque can melt the surface of teeth and cause decay. Brushing and flossing teeth keeps them clean and healthy. Brushing and flossing remove bits of food and plaque. Plaque is germs that can make teeth rot or decay. Brush your teeth at least twice daily, and after each meal is an excellent time to brush or floss your teeth. Water Drink plenty of water during the day to help wash your teeth.

Cow milk Tooth Decay First, there is a big difference between fresh cow’s milk and formula milk. (Also, soy milk is not safe for teeth). Anyone who has prepared formula milk knows how sticky it can be on your fingers. The different sugars in formula milk will not be safe for a child’s teeth during a nap or before bedtime. Cow’s milk is completely different. Cow’s milk is protective of teeth and can be classified as safe. Research shows that milk will be protective if you consume cow’s milk in combination with products that would otherwise damage teeth (cookies, perhaps ).

Dental HMOs Insurance plans, picking a California plan dentist

When you get a dental HMO and have to choose a dentist in the network, how do you choose the best one? I can only afford a dental HMO insurance plan. Since I do not have a current dentist, choosing one in a network is not a big deal other than ensuring stuff gets done.

Reply: You want to start with calling the dental office in the plan network of providers and confirming that they are still accepting the plan and new patients. Once you confirm that, the next step would be asking for some basic questions that may be important to you. Such as hours of operations, how long they have been in business, if you have any special needs, can the office address your needs, do they have a website that you can review for any additional information about the dental office.  

You should check review sites such as yahoo, google, and yelp, to name a few. Keep in mind that people tend to want to leave reviews when they have a terrible experience but only sometimes when they do not. However, if one office has excessively bad reviews, you may want to rethink picking them as a provider.   

Risks of Breastfeeding and Smoking

Heavy smoking can reduce milk supply. A study on breastfeeding and smoking states that cigarette smoking significantly reduces breast milk production. On rare occasions, cigarette smoke has caused symptoms in the breastfeeding baby, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, and diarrhea. Smoking has been linked to early weaning and can stop or inhibit the milk let-down reflex. Smoking can cause fussiness and colic. Nicotine levels in the breastfeeding mother’s blood and milk can increase and decrease over time. It takes 95 minutes for half of the nicotine to be eliminated from the body, otherwise known as the half-life. Breastfeeding mothers should avoid smoking just before nursing and should never smoke while feeding their babies.

California dental discount plans, what are your experiences with them

I do not have dental insurance, and I need a low-cost dental plan since it looks like I may need to have my bridge fixed. I only have a little money and was considering getting a discount dental plan. Are discount plans good to get?

Reply: Dental discount plans are an excellent way to reduce your dental care cost without having any waiting periods or maximum limitations that some dental insurance plans have. It is essential to remember that dental discount plans are not insurance, and they work much as the name implies. Discount plans provide discounted savings on all dental care a plan provider offers. There is no outside saving for a dentist who is not a plan provider. Therefore make sure there is a plan dentist that you would want to go to before buying a discount plan.

Flossing It is important to start flossing your child’s teeth as soon as they begin to touch each other. Around two to two and a half years old. Flossing makes a big difference in the prevention of cavities. Generally, when your child starts a kinder garden, they should be able to begin flossing their teeth. Though they may not have the skills yet to do a good job, you should supervise and give tips and pointers now and then to encourage good oral health care. Just like adults, a child should floss their teeth every day. A good time is right before they go to bed, but as long as they floss each day, that is important. 

California Family dental insurance, Pregnant with first child

Hello, I am going to be having our first child. My husband and I currently do not have dental insurance, but I told him to start looking for it before the baby is due so we will have something in place when he needs to use it. Would we buy a family dental insurance plan that includes a newborn?

Reply: With dental insurance, three people or more would typically be listed as a family plan. So if you are shopping out dental insurance for all three of you, you want to review the family cost for the dental insurance plan. You could buy a dental insurance plan for a couple if you wish, then add your child to the plan when they start getting their first tooth or when they are one year old, as a general rule of thumb.

For teething, give your baby a cold teething ring or frozen washcloth. You can also rub your baby’s teeth and gums with a clean finger. You should use Baby Orajel to help numb the baby’s gums. And you can also ask your doctor for some baby Tylenol. However, you never want to give your baby any aspirin since aspirin may cause Reye’s syndrome, a severe illness. While the cause of Reye’s syndrome remains unknown, some research has established a link between Reye’s Syndrome and the use of aspirin. It has been advised by the U.S. Surgeon General and the American Academy of Pediatrics that aspirin and combination products containing aspirin not be given to children under 19.

Baby Teeth Care: You will want to start cleaning your baby’s teeth twice a day as soon as the first tooth appears. Until your child is older, around one, you can use a soft wet cloth to clean your baby teeth and gums. Once your child is around a year, you can then use a baby toothbrush. Make sure you use a non-fluoride toothpaste, and you only need to use a dab. I would not use any toothpaste with fluoride until your child can spit and knows not to eat or swallows the toothpaste. It’s suggested that you take your child to see the dentist at or around their first birthday

My sister does not have good oral and dental health care. Her teeth look yellow to me, and when I ask if she has seen a dentist, she says she can not afford to see one. Are there cheap dental insurance plans out there?

Reply: You should review dental HMO insurance plans, as they are the lower-cost insurance options. Most HMO plans will provide free to low-cost preventive dental care. Under HMO plans, the dental services covered are listed on a fee schedule, so she knows her cost for needed dental care ahead of time. The fee schedule will make budgeting for dental care more manageable. 

Symptoms of an Abscessed Tooth include:

• Severe and continuous toothache.
• Fever.
• Sensitivity to hot or cold.
• A bad taste in your mouth.
• Having bad breath and redness or swelling of your gums.

These are just a few symptoms of having a tooth abscess. Note that you only need to have some signs of tooth abscess to have an abscessed tooth. I recommend seeing a dentist to confirm if it is an abscessed tooth or a different dental issue.  

Low monthly dental plans for California

I currently live in Kentucky and moving to California. I am looking for a low monthly rate plan for dental insurance. I have myself and one child. Do I get a family plan or couple plan? What are good dental insurance plans you do not have to pay much monthly?

Reply: With most insurance plans, you can buy a couple plan for two people (in your case, you and your child). For a low monthly cost dental insurance plan, I suggest you review dental HMO insurance plans, as they are the more affordable option for dental insurance. 

What Is An Abscessed Tooth? An abscess is a painful infection at the tooth’s root or sometimes in between the gum and the tooth. You can get an abscessed tooth due to untreated tooth decay. However, you can also get abscessed if you have trauma to your teeth, such as breaking or chipping your tooth, gum disease, or gingivitis. If you have an abscessed tooth, you must see your dentist immediately. The abscess or infection may spread from the tooth root to the bone, causing a significant oral health issue.