Research Questions How Much Fluoride Really Helps to Fight Cavities. Study are showing that the protective shield fluoride forms on teeth is up to 100 times thinner than previously believed This new study done found that the fluorapatite layer formed in this way is only 6 nanometers thick. It would take almost 10,000 such layers to span the width of a human hair. That’s at least 10 times thinner than previous studies indicated.

Clear Appliances, such as Invisalign, use a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners to straighten your teeth.  Since invisaligns are invisible no one can tell you are wearing them. Invisaligns are also removable, thus letting you eat and drink what you want while in treatment.  This benefit also lets you brush and floss your teeth like normal. Since the aligners do not have any metal they are more comfortable and will not cause mouth abrasions during treatment.

The early stages of periodontal disease show few warning signs or symptoms. Many people go unaware of a periodontal problem until their gums become soft and bleed slightly when they brush their teeth. As the periodontal disease progresses, there are more-serious changes, a person would start to notice. some of these signs are:

*Swollen gums, bright red gums,

*Tender gums, gums that pull away form the tooth (receding gums),

*Gaps or spaces developing between your teeth,

*Persistent bad breath or bad taste in your mouth

*Any loose teeth.

Prevent periodontal disease by having good dental care habits at home and by seeing your dentist regularly.

Don’t Loss Your Teeth to Periodontal Disease. Periodontal disease claims more teeth then tooth decay. However with proper preventive dental care at home and good oral habits you can reduce your changes of having periodontal disease.

Proper prevention the key to good oral health. Healthy dental care habits is critical in preventing gum disease. Regular and effective tooth brushing, Using a tartar control mouthwash and daily flossing are the first at home steps you can take to good oral heath. Good dietary habits also help to keep healthy teeth and gums.

Reduce the intake of of sugar. You can do this by avoiding snack and drinks with sugar other then natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables. When eating food that have added sugars, you will want to follow up by brushing your teeth. Smoking plays a can cause chronic periodontal disease. So for smokers, quitting is one of the most important steps toward regaining periodontal health.

Did you Know that the Number One Cause of Tooth Loss is Gum Disease. Periodontal disease causes more tooth loss then dental decay. Many people many have no cavities but still have gum disease. Preventive dental care at home such as brushing twice a day and flossing daily will help prevent gum disease.

Unfortunately according to several medical statistics as much as 90% of people aged 35 and older are struggling with some sort of periodontal complications. The ADA had conducted a research and the results showed that people who have a history of periodontal disease are exposed to a higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer, as well as other major health issues.

Why the Cost of Dental Implants May Vary. When speaking about the cost of dental implants it is complicated to mention one single price. The main reason is because dental need of each person differ greatly, some might have to replace only one or two teeth with implants, while others might have to replace the entire set of upper or lower teeth. Other time there is dental reconstruction which also need to be considered.

When braking down the cost of dental implants you need to consider the following. The cost of each crown, and the screw that is going to be attached to the jawbone. Extra cost that is sometime needed is for any additional dental wok such as gum grafting or bone grafting. This cost does not yet factor in any consultation fees, X-rays or CT scans, check ups and the cost of follow up or after care treatment. You may also want to be advise that many dental insurance plan do not offer coverage’s for dental implants and if so it is very limited. That is why dental implants procedures can range between $1000 – $1500 or more per tooth.

There are also extreme casts where a patient may need to go through a complex dental surgical procedure such as sinus elevation. Dental Implants are worth their value but not something you go into lightly make sure you talk to your dentist about cost. Get the consultation and know the all the steps needed for you to have dental implants.

Dental implants, a more advanced alternative to dentures or crowns. Dental implants have become the a more advanced alternative to having dentures or crowns work. Where as crowns, partials and dentures will last a few years after which you have to have them replaced or repaired, dental implants are meant to last a life time. Dental implants may have a more elevated cost compared to crowns, partials and dentures but that because they look, feel and function just like a natural set of teeth. Nobody can actually tell the difference whether you have dental implants or a natural set of teeth. Not everyone can have dental implants so talk over your dental care options with your dentist. Also dental implants are not normally covered by dental insurance so they are something you want to budget for.

Question:  Although I have some dental insurance benefits,  I am having a hard time receiving benefits for a dental implant in order to replace a missing tooth.  The costs for the dental implant exceeds their fee schedule so I am not going to get anything reimbursed to me for dental implant services.

I trying to find a dental insurance plan I could get on my own, but they all seem to either not provide coverage’s for a missing tooth or they too do not provide benefits on getting a dental implant.

Answer:  There are a few insurance plans that will help you get a bridge or partial for a missing tooth but at this time many dental insurance plan do not provide coverage’s for dental implants.

I would suggest looking into getting a dental discount plan.  With a dental discount plan you would receive a discount saving of around 15 to 20 percent off the cost of dental implants.  However, on dental discount plans you need to go to plan providers, therefore you need to make sure there is a provider with in the plan that provides implant services.

What to do when a Toddler Injures their teeth or gums. Accidents happen, toddlers who are learning to walk may fall, young kids playing a sport may take a ball to the mouth. What is important is knowing what to do and being prepared. If your child baby tooth gets dislodged then it can not be replaced and does not need to be put back in.

However you will want to consult a dentist to see if a space maintainer is advised. Baby teeth that come out too soon may need a space maintainer to avoid other teeth from shifting. If your child knocks out a permanent tooth the quick action is advise. A permanent tooth has the best change of survival if replaced with in the first 30 minutes.

When a permanent tooth is knocked out always hold the tooth by the crown and not the root. Do not rinse the tooth with tap water. If necessary use milk to rinse the tooth. Then whenever possible put the tooth back in the tooth socket. Do this only if your child is old enough not to swallow the tooth. If the tooth can not be reinserted in the tooth socket then put the tooth in a glass of milk and see a dentist ASAP. You may want to know ahead of time what your dentist office hours are and if you can come in for emergency at any time.

Finding Low cost braces options for your kids. Affording dental braces can be different in good times. Now with the economy at a low you may feel like you can not afford braces for your kids even if you have dental insurance coverage the may help toward the cost of braces. In cases like that see what your state has to offer.

Some kids are covered by state insurance programs call Medicaid. These programs many cover braces especially if your teeth cause problems with talking, eating, or swallowing. Though there may be a lot of paperwork required and you may have trouble finding a dentist who works with the state run insurance program it is at least worth looking into since many state have taken step to make the process easier.

The number one way to prevent tooth decay in children teeth is by proper preventive dental care habits. .  Primary (Baby) teeth are week and can quickly be destroyed by sugar and decay, causing pain and discomfort associated with tooth decay.  However prevention is the key to avoiding dental decay and high cost dental care.  Helpful preventive dental care tips

1) Cleaning your infant gums with a damp cloth. When teeth start to erupt you can brush their teeth gently with a soft baby toothbrush and water.
2) Make sure you take your child to see a dentist either when the first tooth does erupt or no latter then their first birthday.
3) Do not use a baby bottle as a pacifier.  If you are going to let your baby have a baby bottle when not feeding put only water in it.
4) Try to avoid sharing anything that goes in your mouth such as spoons, cups and other utensils.
5) Do not dip pacifiers or teething rings in honey or sugar.

There are many choices to choose from when buying a dental insurance plan for you and your family.  Therefore it is helpful to understand some of the pros and cons for each type of dental plans.

Dental HMO Insurance Plans Pros:  

* Cost of the Plan: Dental HMO plans are normally lower cost plans making them easier to fit in most budgets.

* Waiting Periods for Dental Services:  Most dental HMO plans do not have waiting periods for covered dental services. Therefore if you need filling, crown, root canals etc. soon after buying an HMO insurance plan, you are able to receive benefits for these types of services right away.

* No yearly maximum payouts. HMO plans do not have a yearly maximum dollar limitations on how much the plan is going to pay per person per year.  Though there may be limitations on dental services such as two cleanings a year or one set of x-ray a year etc.

* Cost of Dental Services:  There is no guessing as to your cost for dental services since most HMO plans are fee based. The cost for covered dental services on a HMO insurance have already negotiated with the dental providers. You are able to review the fee schedule before even buying the plan.  The only exception to this  can be that plan specialist may still be based on percentage.

Dental HMO Insurance Plans Cons: 

* No outside network benefits:  Under an HMO dental insurance plan it operates through a network of dentist. Generally you are assigned to a dentist in the plan network that you pick at the time of purchase.  You can change providers by notify the company but it still needs to be a network provider of the plan.

* HMO plans tend to have more providers in densely populated area such as major cities like Los Angeles but tend to have less dental provides in more rural areas.

* Under an HMO plan normally dentist are paid a set annual fee for each customer assigned to them through the network. Which can means the dentist makes more money when a customers required less treatment. There by making some people believe that a HMO dentist will either discourage treatment or encourage dental treatment not covered under the HMO plan.

* Specialist:  Some HMO dental insurance plans either provide no coverages for specialist or limited the coverages received by specialist.  Providing on average between 20 to 30 percent savings off the cost of network plan specialist services. Note: You will generally need a referral from the general dentist to see a plan specialist

Whitening your teeth during pregnancy. Although there has not yet come out with a study that states whitening your teeth during pregnancy is harmful to your child, waiting until after the baby is born to whiten your teeth may still be a good idea. The concern is that the chemicals used in teeth whiten products could be swallowed during the whitening process and the effects that may have on your baby.

Some dentist will encourage you to wait until after pregnancy and even some teeth whitening produce recommend not to using during pregnancy. However if whitening your teeth is important to you the consult your doctor and a dentist before having your teeth whiten, in order to go about it in the safest way possible.

Changing your child dentist form a Pediatric dentist to a Family Dentist.

Since most Family or General dental office do not see children under the ages of five or six, many people take their younger children to see a Pediatric dentist. However many times Pediatric dentist are either not covered under their dental benefits or they are but at a lower cover.  This is do that they are consider in many cases to be specialist and not general dentist.

So once your child is old enough to see a family dentist many people wish to make the change so that their child dental care can become more affordable. However, if change is done abruptly it can be overwhelming and cause some anxiety. But if you’re both prepared and plan accordingly, it can be a smooth process. Try and find a general/family dentist that still provides a kid friendly office. Make sure the dentist you are seeing is well equip to handle younger children.

Gum Disease can effect anyone at any age. For some people gum disease is what happen to older people and not to children. However that would not be correct. Gum Disease ( Periodontal disease) can effect anyone at any age. Gum Disease is an infection of the tissues and bone that help support the teeth. If untreated gum disease can become very serious dental issue causing teeth to become loose and even fall out.

Gum disease is one of the main reason why people in the U.S. lose their teeth. It is normally caused by plaque buildup. Plaque contains bacteria, which produce toxins that irritate and damage the gums. By having proper dental habits at home (brushing and flossing twice a day) and by having regular dental check ups you can help to prevent gum disease. A child should start seeing a dentist from the time they cut their first tooth or by their first birthday.

Although having poor nutrition does not not have any direct links in causing periodontal disease (gum disease) researchers believe that periodontal disease may in fact progress faster and is more severe in people who’s diet does not supply the necessary nutrients.  Having poor nutrition affects the entire immune system there by increasing susceptibility to many disorders such as periodontal disease.

Additionally, research shows a link between oral health and systemic conditions, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. So eating a variety of foods as part of a well-balanced diet may not only improve your dental health, but increasing fiber and vitamin intake may also reduce the risk of other diseases

Though the word is getting out about baby bottle tooth decay there are still many people that are unaware of the dental hazard that baby bottles can have on baby teeth.     Some parents may put sugary liquids in bottles or dip pacifiers in sugar to make them more appealing to their baby.  However these are bad behaviors that can have an effect on your infants teeth. Increasing their chances of dental cavities.

Saliva flow decreases when your baby is asleep, so if your baby falls asleep with a baby bottle, there is no saliva to wash away the sugar liquid.  However studies show When parents are aware of the consequences of baby bottle tooth decay, about 77 percent stopped putting sweet liquids in baby bottles.

It is important that when buying dental insurance whether it is for yourself or for your family to understand the plan limitations.  One such limitation which is common on most PPO and Indemnity insurance plans (yet can also be found in some HMO)  would the plan waiting periods.

A waiting period is the time period you will need to have the plan before certain coverages are made effective under the plan. Generally you will not have waiting periods for preventive dental services such as X-rays and basic cleanings. Yet depending on the plan you may around a six month waiting period for basic services such as a filling and a year or more for major services such as a crown. These waiting periods helps the company earn premium in order to pay for future larger dental services as well as avoid the person that out to buy dental insurance to fix one issue and turn around to cancel right after.

Many dental insurance such as PPO plans brake down dental services into three types preventive, basic and major.

Under major services, dental procedures  concerned with the restoration of teeth  such as inlays, onlays, crowns or veneers, bridges or partials and dentures. Major services may also include endodontics (root canals) or periodontics (tissue/bone treatment) oral surgery.  However read each dental insurance plans carefully as services under major may very from plan to plan.

Talk to your dentist if you or your children play sports. Sports dentistry is the prevention and treatment of dental injuries and related oral diseases, as well as the sharing of information and equipment designed to help protect the teeth, mouth, jaw, and face of athletes of all ages. Your dentist can go over many options in protecting your teeth why being active in sports. Injuries to the teeth and mouth are common among athletes. It is important to protect your child’s smile if he or she plays sports, for aesthetics as well as health reasons