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.

Whitening has become all the rage nowadays, and maintaining a good smile is essential to your dental hygiene regimen. Brushing teeth with whitening toothpaste is a basic step to achieving a dazzling smile. Here are some other tips for a whiter smile.

First, you’ll need to look at your daily intake of dark liquids, such as coffee and tea. Don’t forget soft drinks and smoking can discolor your teeth as well. There are some limits to getting the whiteness back to its original brightness. One way to ensure you don’t expose your teeth to any stainable drinks is to drink your favorite coffee, tea, or soft drink through a straw. Drinking through a straw will allow the liquid to bypass them.

If you want to spend more money on faster whitening procedures, a few options are available. Home whitening strips/kits; however, some products can cause teeth sensitivity. Another option would be having your teeth whitened by your dentist. Remember that dental insurance will generally not offer benefits for teeth whiting services.

Flossing is one of the easiest things you can do for good dental health. It may seem hard to believe, but many people do not floss, let alone floss daily. Yet flossing is even more critical than brushing when preventing gum disease, gingivitis, and tooth loss. Flossing your teeth is not so much about removing food bits that are between your gums though it does do that. Flossing is more about removing dental plaque. Dental plaque is what causes tooth decay, gingivitis, and gum disease. Flossing every day between each tooth is an effective way to remove plaque and provide good oral health.

Partial or Single Tooth Implant:  If all you need is a single tooth replacement, the procedure will be less invasive. For one, you will only need one fixture, so there will be less stress on the jawbone and you. Here is the procedure. A hole is drilled for implant insertion. A titanium screw-type device is placed in the above-mentioned hole. During the healing time, the jawbone will heal and adhere to the implant. A device called an abutment is attached to the implant. A crown is placed on top of the abutment.

Several dental insurance policies offer discounts for dental implant procedures to help you reduce your cost. Before you purchase a dental plan, be sure it will cover you. Call and ask. Then call the dental office and confirm they will do the implant. Sometimes you need to see a dental specialist, and many plans have restrictions, waiting periods, and limitations.

Pros and Cons of using Water Flossers: 

Here are some good pros and cons to consider when using Water Flossers instead of flossing. Pros:  Water Flossers are effective; they can be faster to use the flossing. Water Flossers usually comes with multiple wands and different colors so different family member can have their own, just like a toothbrush. Great for braces, Flossing with braces can be difficult. Orthodontic dentists often suggest Water Flossers. Adjustable water pressure, You can get cordless Water Flossers. Water Flossers are suitable for people who may not floss well or have gum issues. Anything that will make you take care of your teeth and gums better is helpful. 

Cons: Cost can be a factor since they can run as high as $50 – $60. They brake down, some not even lasting a year, depending on how well you take care of them. It takes work always to see what you are doing, which can cause you to make a mess. Looking in the mirror can also be difficult as the spray tends to go where you are looking. They can be too noisy. Water Flossers take up to much counter space, which is terrible if you have a small bathroom. If you are not careful, you spend more time cleaning the sink and countertops from water mess. If you are not careful, they may, over time, loosen bridge and crown work. Overuse, like anything, can cause more harm than good so make sure you use it as directed. If you are trying to figure out what is best for oral health care, talk to your dentist and see what they suggest. Having sound advice from your dentist is worth taking in and thinking about as a deciding factor

Is the Aetna Dental Access a Good Dental Plan?

Aetna Dental Access is a network dental discount plan available in each state, including California. You can transfer your dental benefit services to another state if you move. It is beneficial in California because there are a lot of dentists in the network and the Aetna name is reasonably well known.

There is a different ADA schedule for each state, so be sure your zip code is correct; otherwise, you may show up at the dental office, and their charges may differ from what you have. Here are some of the limitations or the fine print:

This schedule will only be used as a guide to determine approximate prices for dental services in the area noted. The fee schedule amount reflects the average fee information currently available on the Aetna Dental Access system. Individual dentist fee schedules may differ. We make no guarantee as to the accuracy of any particular fee amount. To determine the specific rates for a dental provider, you should contact the dental provider directly.

Dentists participating in the program network have agreed to make certain dental services and supplies available to you on a discounted service basis. The term discounted service means a dental service available to you at a reduced cost from fees customarily charged by the dental provider and for which you are solely financially responsible. All payments to dental providers are due and payable at the time of service unless another payment arrangement is mutually agreed upon between you and the treating dental provider. You shall be subject to the treating dental provider’s late payment and other office policies. THIS PROGRAM IS NOT AN INSURANCE PLAN, and we do not make payments directly to healthcare service providers. It is a discount program, and you are obligated to pay for all healthcare services at the time of service. You will receive discounts for healthcare services from those providers who have contracted with the plan.

What is Tooth Decay? Tooth decay is the destruction of a tooth’s outer surface from acid-forming bacteria produced by food containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches). Tooth Decay Prevention: Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Preferably, brush after each meal and before bedtime to help prevent bacteria from staying on your teeth for a certain length.

Consider these helpful tips: Floss your teeth daily to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. Check with your dentist about using supplemental fluoride, which strengthens your teeth and helps prevent tooth decay. Consider dental sealants; sealants are placed on the top of the molars to protect the teeth from decay. Use mouthwashes with fluoride. Many kill 50% or more of the bacteria that cause tooth decay. Chewing gum with the ingredient Xylitol © may also kill some of the bacteria which cause tooth decay.