Question: I have some very bad teeth and I though I would just have them pulled and get partials.  But the dentist I when to see said they can be saved by having root canal treatments.

The cost of having six root canal and crown work even with insurance is very costly. I feel like just pulling them and having partials would be a much more affordable. I told the dentist this and was told that it would be cheaper but you should never pull teeth unless necessary.

Answer: Generally dentist do not pull teeth unless they can not be saved.  Even if the cost is cheaper to pull the teeth for the short term, having partials can cost more in the long run.  Talk to your dentist about the long term cost of having partials and go over your dental insurance plan. It may be time to make sure it is still best fitting your needs and if not shop it out for a plan that will work better.

For some people shopping for dental insurance can become confusing.  They do not know if the dental services they want to have is cover under the plan they may be reviewing.   How can you make sure that you are buying a dental plan that covers the dental service you may need.

Know your ADA codes.  ADA codes are codes use by the dentist and the dental insurance company so that the insurance company knows what dental services is being provided.   So when you are shopping for dental insurance ask your dentist for the dental ADA codes that they may be quoting for you whenever possible. Also it is possible that not all the ADA codes are listed on the company fee schedule so if you do not see call the company and confirm if it covered prior to buying the plan.

By the time your child is age two you will want to start brushing their teeth with toothpaste.  Begin by using a pea-size amount of non-fluoride toothpaste once Baby is about two. Wait until at least three, when your child is old enough not to swallow the toothpaste, before introducing the fluoride kind.

One last point about buying dental insurance is to make sure to think not only of your current dental needs, but your future dental care needs.  If you have children try to get a dental plan that offer some coverages for orthodontic care if braces are ever needed in the future.

Think about your over all healthcare issues that may effect your dental care needs.  If you are a diabetic the gum care is very important and buying a dental plan that offer affordable deep cleanings will be very useful to you in maintain good gum health care.  Read, Ask and Know about the dental plan you  may buy for yourself or your family.  The better you understand the dental insurance plan and what it offers the better you can fit your dental care needs to your budget.

One mistake often made when buying dental insurance is not knowing the plans limitations and exclusions. Be aware of any restrictions when choosing your plan. Such as: No specialist, No preexisting (Missing Tooth clauses) No work in progress. Many dental insurance plans will not offer coverages on cosmetic dental services such as whiting or veneers or implants. Other restrictions on coverages could include treatments of complicated periodontal disease requiring surgery involving bones, underlying tissues or bone grafts.

Not all dental plans offer dual benefits. So when searching for a secondary dental plan make sure both plans allows for coordination of benefits.  Also make sure you are seeing a dental provider that is willing to process dual plans.

When buying dental insurance confirm if the plan provides benefits for you to see a specialist.  Not all dental insurance plans cover the cost for dental specialists.  There are times when a dental services such as root canal or tooth extraction requires a specialist.  In such cases does the plan offer coverages to specialist? If so what are the coverages for specialist?  In many cases coverages are reduce when seeing a specialist so this is important to know and understand before buying a dental plan.

When buying a dental insurance plan it is important to know  the dental plans coverages and limitations.  Many plans like PPOs or Free choice of provider plans have maximum annual dollar limitations, waiting periods and deductible. Many of these types of plans out based on percentage up to UCR (Fair and Reasonable or Maximum Allowable Charge) for the different dental services. Where other dental plans may schedule out the cost for services showing the cost a member pays for each type of dental service covered.

When buying dental insurance, know the plan benefits and what is cover and who controls any treatment decisions:  There are many dental insurance plans that require dentists to follow treatment plans that rely on a least expensive alternative treatment approach. (Example) If there are multiple treatment options for a specific dental condition, the dental insurance plan may only pay for the less expensive treatment option. Therefore if you choose a treatment option that may better suit your individual needs you may be left responsible for paying the difference in costs or even the total cost for the dental service. It’s important to know who makes the treatment decisions under your plan

When buying dental insurance one of the first things you may want to know is if the dental plan you are reviewing gives you the freedom to choose your own dentist, or are you restricted to a network of dentists selected by the insurance company?  This is important to know if you are trying to stay with a family dentist that you are satisfied with. In the same regards it is important to know what types of dental plans your dentist takes and whether or not they are a network provider of any plans.

What not to do after having a tooth remove is just as important as the dos.   Make sure that you are taking care of your dental health by not doing these things after having a tooth pulled.

Avoid hot food and drink for at least twenty-four hours. You do not want to burn or irritate the extraction site.

Do not rinse your mouth for twenty-four hours after the tooth removal.

Keep your fingers and tongue away from the extraction area.

NO smoking for as long as possible afterward but at the very least twenty-four hours after having the extraction.  Smoking can interfere with the healing process and also dislodge the blood clot.

Avoid sucking though straws and stuff, no spitting and unless you have to avoid blowing your nose.   These actions can dislodge the blood clot.

No alcohol for twenty-four hours as it also can delay the healing process.

When buying a dental insurance plan there are many factors that should be looked at so that you get the best plan for you and or your family.  One of the primary focus should be to determine whether the dental plan coverages will satisfy your dental care needs.  Ask these questions to yourself when reviewing a dental insurance plan and know the answers before buying one.  Doing this can save you money as well as any unnecessary grief.

There are now many over the counter toothpastes with whitening choices to choose from and they all will help to brighten your teeth. Toothpaste with whitening help to remove surface stains which will help to brighten your teeth.  However it is important to understand that whitening toothpaste does not lighten the color of your teeth.

Toothbrush damage also know as toothbrush abrasion is the damage to your teeth and gums as a result from the use of excessive force in brushing.  As important as it is to brush your teeth regularly you do not want to become over-zealous and brush with too much force.  Toothbrush abrasion affects your teeth as well as your gums.

An earliest sign of the problem is what people describe as a ‘little ledge’ in the tooth at the very margin of the gum. Sensitivity to cold is a quite common feature with toothbrush abrasions.   As the damage progresses it becomes more and more noticeable, with the gum tissue receding back causing the tooth to look longer as more of its root surface is exposed. The damage to the tooth eventually manifests as a v-shaped notch at the gum margin which increases over time both in width and depth.

The relationship between TMJ/TMD (Temporomandibular Joint/Temporomandibular Disorder ) problems and braces has been a topic of debate. There is a considerable body of evidence on this topic, since it is vitally important for dentists, orthodontists, and the public to be aware of any connection between braces and TMJ problems.

The cause of TMD can not be isolated to any one particular cause. It is therefore regarded as multifactorial, since behavior, emotions, bite, and other physical factors may contribute to the disorder. The role that the bite plays in the disorder is controversial. This needs to be emphasized because some patients choose to pursue braces to help with their TMJ problems. The changes that occur with braces in the alignment of the teeth and bite may not in fact “cure” TMD.

However, the role of braces causing TMJ problems has also been studied extensively and there is overwhelming evidence that braces generally do not increase the risk of developing TMJ problems later on. The study cited here was a comprehensive review of many studies done previously. Results of approximately 1300 patients from around the world were represented, and were treated with different plans.

The complexity of the TMJ and the circumstances surrounding the potential causes of TMJ problems may not be entirely clear. That said, numerous studies support the fact that TMJ problems have many causative factors, and the changes occurring during braces are gradual, which generally allows the TMJ to adapt without difficulty.

I have been on Medicare & Medi-Cal, after my last SS increase I received a Notice of Action saying I no longer qualify for Medi-Cal because my net income is $1016.00 & it needs to be $1001.00 or less so I am a whole $15.00 over.    They said I need to find a Supplemental Insurance plan that is at least $15 or more a month. They suggested that I try AARP, so I called and told them I am 45, but they still signed me up. However when I tried to sign up for a plan I found out that I do not even qualify for the benefits until I am 50. At this point I do not know what to do.

Answer: You do not need to buy a dental plan that is linked to Medi Cal or Medicare. You only need to buy an insurance plan (vision, dental or health) so that you are decreasing your net income. I would suggest reviewing the dental HMO plans that this website has to offer. We provide many good HMO plans within the dollar amount you need to spend. Then please call our office if you have any further questions at 310-534-3444

In office bleaching will whiten discolored teeth.  Professional teeth whitening will lighten and brightens the color of a tooth or teeth. In a very comfortable, professional control the provides protection of the gums during treatment. You will be able to receive more stable results with professional teeth whitening, though it is more costly you can achieve the results you are looking for

Over the counter whitening kits have made whiting teeth easier and more affordable for many people. Over the counter whitening kits will help to lighten teeth and make them whiter.  They are convenient and provide an affordable whitening option. However whitening kids are some what limited in the efficiency and can cause some irritation and teeth sensitivity

Question: Each time I go see my dentist, he tells me that I need a gum graft.  I have  asked few people, that I know  and they they said that their dentist has also been bothering them to have this larger dental treatment,  however, they do not do it.  Yet my dentist told me one year ago that I have to do it before another  year goes by.  An additional issues is that I am a student I do not have money,  and I do not have dental insurance. So I was wondering if other people were in the same position as me or if you had done a graft before, and is it worth it?

Answer:  Normally a dentist will not suggest to you to have dental work that is not necessary.   If you are really worried about whether or not you need this type of dental care, here is some advise.   If possible buy a low cost HMO dental insurance plan.  Most HMO dental insurance plan run around 10 – 20 dollars a month and they provide free preventive dental treatments. That means you can see a different dentist for a second opinion and get free X-rays, office visit and basic cleaning as well as see if this different dentist advises the same type of dental care as the one you have been currently seeing.  This website offers HMO dental insurance plans in most states so I suggest reviewing our dental insurance options we have available for your review.

Then even if a new dentist  dose suggest the same dental treatment,  you will then have some insurance in force to hopefully help you with the cost if you decide to have the dental care render.    Another option is to get a second dental opinion at a dental clinic or dental school. In many cases dental clinics and school adjust their cost based on what you can afford to pay.  The point is I think that unless the people you asked for their opinions are dentist,  I think getting a second opinion by a dentist would only benefit you and your oral health care.

Dental crowns are use for many different reasons some of the main goals include:

* Restoring discolored teeth (that can not be whiten by bleaching)
* Restoring chipped or broken tooth
* Restoring a tooth that has extensive tooth decay
* Mask developmental defects such as pitted or small teeth.

Dental crowns will greatly improve the look of your teeth, the are very durable, yet dental treatment can be costly.  Make sure to have current dental insurance to help make dental crown work more affordable.