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5 Common Dental Myths

·         If there is no pain, there’s no problem

Routine visits for professional cleanings and examinations to check for dental problems are necessary.   Often cavities are found on a regular checkup and can be treated – arresting any decay.  Finding and treating dental problems when they are small is a more comfortable and less expensive way to take care of your dental health. 

·         It doesn’t matter if you take care of or lose baby teeth

Early tooth loss to decay can result in numerous problems in adult teeth.  The decay can affect the adult tooth if left untreated.  The loss of a tooth can result in crowding in adult teeth.  Not only do baby teeth help your child eat, they help hold the space for the adult teeth.

·         Pregnancy causes you to lose your teeth

Pregnancy changes your hormones causing a change in your mouth PH levels…this can result in more decay or periodontal issues.  Also, constant morning sickness can lead to acid erosion on teeth and cause more cavities.  That is why it is important to continue dental care during pregnancy.

·         I’ll have to get dentures someday anyway

No, with proper home care and professional care you can keep your teeth your whole life.  You want to avoid dentures if at all possible.  Some patients complain that food just doesn’t taste the same.  I don’t know about you, but I like food and I like it to taste good.

·         You shouldn’t brush your teeth if your gums bleed

You most definitely should.  Your gums bleed because of plaque accumulating around the teeth.  When the plaque is removed, your gums will heal and stop bleeding.

Dental Insurance

In years spent at the front desk the most common question heard is, “what is my dental insurance?”  Most people have no clue who their dental company is or what it covers.  I hope to shed a light on it.  Dental insurance is almost always separate from your medical insurance.   Some dental companies do not give I.D. cards anymore – the most common one, MetLife.  However, most insurances have made access simple online with only a patient’s birthdate and social security number.  Yes, it is necessary to give your social security number.  It is very helpful to the front office to know with which company you have dental insurance.  If you don’t know, a simple call to your HR department can tell you.  I will help you find out, if you have no idea where to start.  However, some offices are not so willing.

The most common type of dental insurance is the dental PPO.  If you’re part of a PPO, this means you must go to a provider that is contracted with your insurance company to receive the maximum amount of benefits.  Be aware, there are dental offices that tell you they take your insurance.  However, they do not actually participate with your insurance.  If they are “out-of-network”, this could result in higher out of pocket cost for you.  You insurance may lower the percentage they cover for a certain procedure; or the $100 filling at a participating dentist may be a $200 filling at a non-participating dentist.  A PPO is the most beneficial plan to a patient.

The typical PPO plan coverage breaks down:

·         Yearly Maximum:  This is usually $1000 - $1500.  This means that no matter what dental treatment you have done that year, your insurance will only pay up to that amount.  If you don’t use your yearly maximum, you lose that money.  I have seen higher and lower amounts for the maximum, but overall this amount is average and has not changed in well over 10 years.

·         Yearly Deductible:  $25 - $50.  If you have anything other than a routine cleaning, your insurance company will subtract the deductible first and then pay their percentage of that procedure.  For example:  You have a $100 filling. 

$100 filling

-50 Deductible

                                            50 x 80% = $40 Insurance pays
                                                   Your portion is $60

·         Preventative treatment: Usually covered at 100%.  Covered in the preventative category are exams, x-rays, and cleanings.  These are typically covered twice per year or every 6 months, depending on your plan.

·         Basic Treatment:  80% this category is fillings, endodontic (root canals), periodontics (extensive deep cleanings for gum disease).

·         Major treatment:  50% this is crowns (caps), Bridges, Dentures, and sometimes dental implants

·         Some things that you need to be aware of:

o   Waiting Periods – some plans may make you wait 6 months to a year for anything in the major category and sometimes in the basic category.

o   Missing tooth exclusions/clauses – If your plan has one, it will not pay anything to replace teeth that were extracted or missing prior to your insurance effective date.  If you had a tooth extracted in 2009, but your plan became effective in 2011, you have no coverage for a bridge, denture, or implant.

o   Frequencies- Patients are typically allowed two cleanings per year or every 6 months and a day.  The x-rays that are done at your cleaning appointment (bitewings) are allowed once per year.  A full mouth or panorex (one that shows all your teeth), is allowed every three years.  Fillings are every 24 months.  Crowns, bridges, dentures are typically every 60 months.

o   Bleaching- is not covered under any dental plan. 

There are other plans, typically called a DMO or managed care.  With this plan you have to see a specific dentist and the benefits are really low.  I always try to steer patients away from those plans.  If you have any other choice in insurance plans, always choose the other one.  We don’t participate in any DMO and very few dentists do.

If you have questions about your dental plan, ask your dentist’s receptionist.  That is the best person to ask and can usually give you the direction or information you need.  When in doubt about your cost of treatment, have the receptionist submit a pre-treatment estimate.  Remember, if you don’t use your dental benefits, you lose them and are throwing away money.

Welcome

Soon we will be blogging weekly to offer some insight into the dental world.  Hopefully, we can eliviate concerns, fears, and/or questions about the dental profession and procedures. If you have anything specific you would like to see more information about, please let us know.  In the meantime, please enjoy one of my favorite videos.