As with other forms of insurance, annual deductibles apply to most dental insurance plans. For example, the plan year runs from January 1st, through December 31st. There is a $600 deductible for the plan year. This means that the first $600 is paid by the patient. Once the $600 deductible is met, then the plan benefits apply. If you have met your deductible in July for example, it is wise to get as much dental work as possible completed before December 31st , as there will be a new $600 deductible come January 1st. Many dentists are motivated to begin major dental treatments at the end of the plan year to take advantage of the fact that the full deductible has already been utilized for that plan year. Some dentist offices review each patient’s file at the end of each year to assist the patient in taking full advantage of their plan benefits before they expire.

Most dental insurance plans have a predetermined number of included services per year. For example, a standard dental plan includes two cleanings per year. If you do not have these cleaning completed by December 31st, you lose them. Other similar services include x-rays and gum treatments. Again, use them or lose them!

Aside from all the great services that you will be losing out on at the end of each plan year, the best reason to use your dental coverage is that it will keep your teeth and gums healthy. The reasoning behind the insurance company offering these services at no cost is to encourage you to get into your dentist’s office on a regular basis. Doing this ensures that cavities and other problems will be caught quickly and not turn into major dental repairs down the road.

It is recommended that each year you develop a strategy for your dental care. First, become the expert on your dental insurance. You should know your plan’s coverage prior to making an appointment with the dentist. This will ensure that you can resolve any coverage misunderstandings with the dental staff quickly. Your dental coverage also consists of more than seeing a general dentist. Most plans cover a visit to the specialist for oral surgery and various conditions of the mouth. Orthodontic coverage is not limited to teens and children. If you are unhappy with the appearance of your teeth, learn what types of services are covered under your dental plan. You may be surprised at the amount of coverage you have and the innovative options that exist for orthodontic services. Most patients are not aware that many orthodontic services are considered necessary and not cosmetic procedures.

Second, schedule your routine cleanings and checkups at the beginning of each plan year. Dentists are one of the few professionals that are comfortable scheduling appointments months in advance. Finally, if you believe that you have an issue with your teeth, make an appointment before the issue becomes a full-blown problem. As you are responsible for the deductible, catching problems while they are small will mean less money out of your pocket. Your dentist has a vested interest in your teeth. It is his/her goal to keep your teeth healthy and keep you smiling.

Choosing the right whitening technique for you can be confusing.  Television commercials and magazine ads all claim to offer the latest and greatest in whitening and bleaching, so how do you know which one is the best?  Which one fits your particular needs?  Are they all equally safe and effective?

When choosing the right option for whitening your teeth, there are many important things to consider.  Remember that the decision to whiten your teeth is an important one and that whitening solutions are powerful and must be used with care.  Improper use can contribute to excessive tooth sensitivity and damage to the gums and other parts of the mouth.  Consider your own dental history, as well.  Those with crowns and fillings may have unwanted results from at-home whitening procedures gone wrong.

Protecting the health of your smile is the first priority.  That is why whitening procedures performed by trained technicians at your dental office are the safest way to ensure not only a sparkling white smile, but a healthy one, too.  Only in-office dental whitening procedures offer you the assurance that your teeth will be whitened to an optimal shade, but they also give you peace of mind knowing that the health of your entire mouth will be protected with proven safety precautions.

The knowledgeable staff at your dental office will carefully assess your individual whitening needs with a thorough examination and discussion of the safest options for your smile.  Your dentist will evaluate the overall health of your gums, note existing dental work and then carefully tailor a customized whitening plan for your specific needs.  Unlike at-home whiteners, your dental office is able to control tooth sensitivity with the application of desensitizers, and the use of special barriers and retractors guarantee that your gums, lips and tongue never come in contact with any whitening solution.

Not only is tooth whitening at the dental office your safest option, it’s also the fastest!  Using advanced and powerful whitening and stain-fighting formulas, your dental office is able to provide optimal, beautiful results in a short period of time.  Your whitening progress is carefully monitored to ensure that the color is accurate and you can relax, confident that you will achieve your whitest, healthiest smile, usually in under an hour.

With so many options for tooth whitening available on the market, it might seem as if they are all equally safe and effective.  Results show, however, that nothing provides safe, long-lasting results like whitening procedures provided by trained professionals at your dental office.  Trust your precious smile to the experts at your dental office and you can flash that sparking grin with confidence.

While gum disease can occur at any age, by age 34, 6 out of 8 people develop gum disease in one form or another. Most people use pain as an indication of a tooth problem. Gum disease however, is virtually painless. If not treated, gum disease leads to complete tooth loss and irreversible gum and bone loss. Gum disease is characterized into two stages: gingivitis and periodontitis.

Gingivitis – Gingivitis occurs when the gums become inflamed. It is caused primarily by bacteria that develops and festers in the plaque on the teeth. The mouth contains more bacteria than any other part of the body. There are more bacteria in the human mouth than in a dog’s mouth. While it is the job of the saliva to break down bacteria, the enzymes cannot get rid of all of it. It is the bacteria that forms a film of plaque on the tooth surface.

Regular brushing and flossing removes plaque. Dentists recommend brushing 2-3 times per day and after every meal. Brushing regularly is easy if you keep a toothbrush and toothpaste with you. There are also new disposable tooth cleaning items on the market that make brushing on the go easy. Flossing is also made easy with disposable floss picks that are mint flavored as well!

Smoking cigarettes and chewing tobacco both contain nicotine and will lead to gum disease over time. When you smoke, calculus forms on your teeth that regular brushing and flossing will not remove. Your dentist is the only person that can remove calculus during a professional cleaning. If it is not removed, then it creates a gap between the tooth and the gum, where bacteria forms and gingivitis develops.

As easy as Gingivitis is to get, it is just as easy to remove. A simple treatment at your dentist’s office combined with regular brushing and flossing at home will eradicate Gingivitis completely.

Periodontitis – Periodontitis, simply stated, is the result of untreated gingivitis. While Gingivitis is gum inflammation, Periodontitis is a gum infection. Periodontitis cannot be controlled or eradicated with regular brushing. Periodontitis can only be cured by removing the calculus that has accumulated around the teeth. The cause of the infection is enough to make you feel sick to your stomach. The bacteria in the calculus produce waste matter. This biological waste creates toxins that deteriorate the gum line and form pockets around the teeth, where the infection develops. The infection is painless and continues to progress unnoticed. Periodontal treatment consists of scaling treatments that are performed over several visits. If left untreated, Periodontitis will progress to advanced stages, where the only treatment is a surgical procedure designed to remove the affected gum tissue, and uncover the tooth structure. The dentist will clean the tooth and remove any remaining plaque and calculus. If the disease has affected the bone, the area may require a bone graft and surgical placement of the remaining tissue.

Gum disease usually affects more than one tooth, and sometimes all of them. The scary part about gum disease is that seemingly healthy teeth can be riddled with gum disease. X-rays and a thorough exam will quickly uncover gum disease at even the earliest stages.

Once your gum disease is removed, regular brushing and flossing will keep it from returning. You dentist may require a few follow up visits to ensure that the gums have return to their normal position and the gaps are gone.

The best way to avoid gum disease and to maintain healthy teeth and gums is to see your dentist regularly. The American Dental Association recommends regular checkups twice per year to keep your teeth healthy. The regular checkups allow the dentist to recognize tooth decay, gum disease and other oral issues before they become full-blown cavities or periodontal disease.

Paces Dentistry is the  Network & Participating Provider-PPO for most insurances and employee discount plans, including MetLife, Guardian, Cigna, Delta Dental, Assurance, Aetna, Humana, GEHA, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Lincoln Financial, Securian, Anthem, Carrington, CompBenefits, Fortis, Reliance Standard Life, United Concordia, Great West, Paragon Benefits, Principle Life, Travelers.

Kovari H, et al. Use of xylitol chewing gum in daycare centers: a follow-up study in Savonlinna, Finland. Acta Odontol Scand 2003;61:367-370.

source: Alan R. Gaby

So what is the importance of the dental cleaning? While not only beneficial for appearance sake, there are numerous health benefits from a regular check-up of your teeth. For starters maintaining a regular dental check up schedule will ensure that any potential dental issues are quickly identified and treated before they can turn into painful, and highly expensive, medicals issues that may require surgery or permanent treatment options.

The importance of the regular check-up ranges from preventing fatal conditions to maintaining healthy gum and teeth so they are working at their optimal level. On one end of the scale, regular dental visits will clear the patient of any potential oral cancers which are highly curable if caught early on. On a lesser scale but perhaps far more prevalent is gum disease, which is an infection of the gum tissue and the bone. This is also true of cavities and broken fillings which, if left untreated can result in root canals, gum surgery and removal of teeth. On a superficial level, regular checkups prevent the build up of plaque and clean the teeth and gums to a healthy level, thereby reducing the onset of bad breath.

Statistics show that 85 percent of people with persistent bad breath can attribute it to a dental problem and low dental surgery attendance. So how regularly should you go for these checkups at your local dental surgery? Well a good rule of thumb is once every six months providing that you have not experience any sensitivity, pain or discomfort anywhere around your jaw line of teeth. However there are certain conditions that require most frequent visit to the dentists including periodontal and gum disease, poor oral hygiene habits, high use of tobacco and alcohol, pregnancy, diabetes and certain medical conditions. These conditions leave the patient with a higher risk of gum disease, oral cancer and cavities so patients should visit their dentist on a more regular basis.

Throughout our website, you will find an abundance of information about our practice, procedures we provide, and dentistry in general. Please explore and learn as much about dentistry and our services as you desire. We believe our patients should have as much information as possible in order to make important, informed decisions regarding their oral health and treatment options.

Our patients are our most important asset, and we strive to develop long-lasting, trusting relationships with all of our patients. Your referrals are welcome and appreciated. We look forward to seeing you!