Question: Right now I do not have insurance and having twice a year cleaning’s do not seem all that important since I do have good teeth can I cut back to just having a check up and cleaning one a year?

Answer: If you do not have any serious dental issues, you can probably get by with one cleaning annually. According to several studies, they have indicated that visiting the dentist twice a year has no notable benefits when compared with a single visit annually.

However, do not skip that annual cleaning and exam it could save you from costly and serious problems.   Also talk to your current dentist and see what he/she advise. I would additional suggest that you look into getting dental insurance. Not only will dental insurance save you money on your dental care needs but most plan provide for twice a year check ups and cleans at little to no cost.

In many cases, one of the best way to save on the cost of dentistry is to take excellent care of your teeth and gums and teach children healthy dental routines. Such as, did you know that fruit juices, carbonated drinks and acidic foods can help wear away your tooth enamel?

Make sure you are brushing your teeth at least twice a day flossing daily and rinsing your mouth out with a germ/plaque fighting mouthwash. Also maintain your regular dental checks ups as advised by your dentist.

May Everyone Enjoy a Safe and Happy New Year.

If you do not have dental insurance and going to pay the cash cost for your dental services (otherwise know as being self-insured) here are a few things you may want to think about.   Fees vary by dentist office and by geographic region, however here are average costs in the U.S. for several common procedures, from the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute’s 2013 Survey of Dental Fees:

*Teeth cleaning (prophylaxis) adult — $85.00
*White dental filling (one surface, anterior) — $149.00
*Silver filling (one surface, primary or permanent) — $125.00
*Porcelain crown fused to noble metal — $1,003.00
*Complete series of intra-oral X-rays — $124.00

With a typical HMO Dental Insurance Plan (Note Fees will very depending on the plan and geographic region)

*Teeth cleaning (prophylaxis) adult — Free – $30.00
*White dental filling (one surface, anterior) — $4.00 – $70.00
*Silver filling (one surface, primary or permanent) Free – $40.00
*Porcelain crown fused to noble metal — $160.00 – $550.00
*Complete series of intra-oral X-rays — Free – $25.00

With a typical Dental Discount Plan (Note discounts will very depending on the plan and geographic region)

*Teeth cleaning (prophylaxis) adult — $42.00 – $54.00
*White dental filling (one surface, anterior) — $66.00 – $85.00
*Silver filling (one surface, primary or permanent) 53.00 – $73.00
*Porcelain crown fused to noble metal — $548.00 – $687.00
*Complete series of intra-oral X-rays — 64.00 – $83.00

With a typical PPO Insurance Plan (Note coverages will very depending on the plan and geographic region)

*Teeth cleaning (prophylaxis) adult — Free up to UCR
*White dental filling (one surface, anterior) —  80% Covered up to UCR
*Silver filling (one surface, primary or permanent) 80% Covered up to UCR
*Porcelain crown fused to noble metal — 50% Covered up to UCR
*Complete series of intra-oral X-rays — Free up to UCR

Question: Looking for dental and vision plans in CA.  I would like it to be one plan that offers both but two different plans may be okay if it is cheaper in cost that way.

Answer: It would depend on what type of dental insurance plan you are wanting in regards to whether or not it is less expensive to buy a vision and dental plan in one or two different plans for each.  We do provide a few dental PPO insurance plans that come with vision benefits though PPO dental plans are normally the more costly plan type.

In addition we also have dental discount plans that provide discounted savings for vision. These are much lower cost plans but they are not insurance.

Another option is reviewing our HMO options though Primecare and California Dental although they do not provide vision benefits these are the lower cost dental insurance options.  Then go to our vision website at bestvisionplans.com to review or vision insurance option though VSP Vision.  If you have any question about our dental and vision plans please call our member services at 310-534-3444 as they be happy to help.

Bite-Wing X-ray is a single X-ray that shows upper and lower teeth teeth (from crown to about the level of the supporting bone) in a select area on the same film.  Generally Bite-Wing X-Rays fall under preventive care with most insurance plans and are free to little cost.

Amalgam a common filling material used to repair cavities. The material, also known as “silver fillings,” contains mercury in combination with silver, tin, copper, and sometimes zinc.  Amalgam is normally the lest costly filling option available, but normally it is not used for teeth that are in the smile zone.

Binging and purging (bulimia nervosa) can do even more damage to dental health. The strong acids found in vomit can erode teeth, making them brittle and weak. These acids also cause bad breath. Bulimia can lead to a variety of serious health problems, so be sure to talk to your doctor if you have been purging.

According to a new study, after dental benefits were removed from California’s public health insurance for the poor, emergency room visits for dental problems went up.

The researchers estimate, After removing comprehensive dental benefits from the state’s Medicaid program in 2009, it led to nearly 1,800 additional ER visits per year for dental problems.

The acids in wine eat away at your tooth enamel, creating rough spots that make teeth more vulnerable to staining. Red wine also contains a deep pigment called chromogen and tannins, which help the color stick to the teeth. This combination makes it easy for the wine’s red color to stay with you long after your glass is empty

Cigarettes, as well as other tobacco products, not only stain teeth but can cause them to fall out as a result of gum disease. Tobacco can also cause cancer of the mouth, lips, and tongue. If you were looking for one more reason to quit, think of your smile.

In a prior post we talked about the lack of seniors that have dental insurance.  One way some seniors are addressing their dental dental needs without insurance is by crossing the border to Mexico.

Mexico has lower dental care costs because of cheaper labor and fewer regulatory requirements. Residents in border towns like El Paso, Texas and Nogales, Sonora, often make the short drive to the Mexican side for basic medical needs and prescription medications that are much costlier in the U.S.

However, before you visit a dentist in a foreign country, you should do a lot of research before going. Different countries use different types of equipment, and some items, such as implants, may not have warranties, and malpractice lawsuits may not be an option.

If you enjoy drinking coffee on a daily bases it could be hard to maintain white teeth. Coffee’s dark color and acidity can cause yellowing of the teeth over time. Fortunately, it is one of the easiest stains to treat with various whitening methods. Talk to your dentist if you are concerned about discoloration of your teeth. Another tip is to drink your coffee though a straw to limit contact on your teeth.

Often times people chew on their pencil when concentrating on work or studies? However, crunching on ice, this bad habit can cause teeth to chip or crack. Sugarless gum is a better option when you feel the need to chew. It will trigger the flow of saliva, which can make teeth stronger and protect against enamel-eating acids.

According to a study compiled by Oral Health America, Nearly 70 percent of seniors are do not have dental insurance. A major reason is that dental care is not covered by Medicare and many employers no longer offer post-retirement health benefits.

In addition, the Affordable Care Act allows enrollees to get dental coverage only if they purchase general health coverage first, which many seniors do not need. At the same time, seniors often require the most costly dental work, like crowns, implants and false teeth.

Our website however provides low cost dental insurance and dental plans that anyone including seniors to buy directly.  With dental insurance seniors will be able to keep their dental care cost more affordable.

You might want to floss your teeth after eating potato chips or other starchy foods that tend to get stuck in the teeth. The bacteria in plaque also break down starchy foods into acid. This acid can attack the teeth for the next 20 minutes, even longer if the food is stuck between the teeth or you snack often.

Fruit juice is loaded with vitamins and antioxidants and has some good overall health benefits, but unfortunately most juices are also loaded with sugar. Some juices can have as much sugar per serving as soda. For example, there are only 10 more grams of sugar in orange soda than in orange juice. Fruits are naturally sweet, so look for juice that has no added sugar. You can also reduce the sugar content by diluting juice with some water.

The California Dental Group, 930 W. Foothill Blvd. Suite D, will offer free dental services for low-income residents on Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The work includes fillings, emergency root canals, extractions, toothache treatments or cleaning of infected gums, and will be provided to as many people as can be seen on a first-come, first-serves basis. No appointments. One emergency treatment per patient.

“We see an amazing number of people who need treatment and can’t afford it. We come across this every day. So I decided that we needed to address this serious health issue,” explained Dr. Kamran Sahabi, owner of California Dental Group.

Each of California Dental Group’s seven locations now devotes at least one day per year to providing free emergency dental care to the community.

Questions: 909-949-6906

Under a new law that took effect in January, dental hygienists in Southern California can get certified to apply the fillings, called interim therapeutic restorations. The temporary fillings require no drilling or anesthetic and can be completed quickly and at a fraction of the cost of a traditional filling. By sealing off the cavity and slowly releasing fluoride, they can stop the progression of decay for several years, buying time until the tooth can be filled permanently.

Okay at least one time in our lives we have open packaging with our teeth. However doing this is not good for our teeth and in fact can cause serious damage to them. Opening bottle caps or plastic packaging with your teeth may be convenient, but using your teeth as tools can cause them to crack or chip. Instead, keep scissors and bottle openers handy. Bottom line, your teeth should only be used for eating.