12 Questions When Selecting A Dental Insurance Plan Online

Oftentimes many people will get ripped off online simply because they simply don’t plan well enough, do enough research or ask questions. If you are considering on signing up with an online dental company, consider the following tips to help you select the best coverage for you with the most qualified company.

1. Determine what your needs are: individual and family coverage, business and/or group coverage? You will want to know this before you visit any website, because you may have a set budget and will not want to go over it.

2. Do you have the freedom to choose from many discount dental plans? Some sites are only advertising one company and you may want to compare rates with other companies.

3. Are customer care representatives available through an online contact form or by phone 24 hours a day? In the event that you have questions, you will want to be able to get a hold of someone quickly without being ignored or playing phone tag.

4. Does the website have clear policies and are they easily accessible? Companies will not post all the details on the front page of the website, so be sure to click around the site to find out where the policies are and read them.

5. What is the website’s refund and cancellation policy? If you aren’t impressed with the service or found another site less expensive, know how to get out of the membership before you sign up.

6. Does the site have a privacy policy and will your personal information be made available to company partners? Too often we become members of sites that will share our information with other companies and later find our inboxes flooded with email.

7. What is the difference between a discount dental plan and dental insurance? Unlike dental insurance, discount dental plans have no annual limits, no health restrictions and no tedious paperwork hassles. Once you join a discount dental plan, you can start saving right away and some plans even offer savings on cosmetic dentistry, orthodontia and other dental specialties.

8. How soon will service be activated and when will you be able to begin service? Most service should be effective within one to three business days, if you find that it is taking longer contact the company.

9. How old must a member be to purchase an individual plan? There maybe some restrictions or benefits depending on the age.

10. Is there a membership fee? You don’t want any surprises so ask and find out if it will be taking out monthly.

11. Will you be covered if you should visit a dentist out of the network? Most companies will not cover you. If you know of a dentist that you would want to take care of your teeth, be sure he is in the network before you become a member.

12. What are the benefits and savings offered for cosmetic dentistry? Some plans will not cover this kind of work so find out before you schedule any appointments.

Career Talk, The Dental Practice And What's With All The Smiley Faces?

If you’re considering a career in the dental field this article is for you. (:-)

To begin we'll give a quick overview of dental tasks, then mention some of the specialties you can pursue and finally we'll look at the actions a person in the dental field takes within a typical day of working in other peoples mouths. (:-)

A dentist is a specialist who can diagnose, prevent and treat all disorders related to your teeth and gums. Dental care involves the restoration and preservation of your natural teeth, filling cavities, removing rotten teeth if necessary and providing artificial teeth replacement. Some dentists are general practitioners who work with preventative dentistry and use diagnostic procedures, X-rays and instruments to evaluate the condition of your teeth and gums. Dentists perform checkups, take impressions for dentures, fill cavities and fit bridges. They use a variety of dental appliances, hand instruments, and surgical implements to perform their work accurately. Giving anesthetics called numbing or freezing is also done by a dentist or a dental hygienist for those visits that will be quite painful. (:-)

The American Dental Association recognizes the following Dental specialties:
1) Oral surgeons
2) Periodontics (related with treating the gums)
3) Prosthodontics (making teeth or dentures)
4) Oral pathologist (treating diseases of the mouth)
5) Endodontics (root canal therapy)
6) Orthodontists (related with structure of teeth)
7) Dental hygienists (work with hygiene of oral cavity)
8) Maxillofacial surgeon

Phew! There's allot of areas to study there, better have a (:-).

What Does a Dentist Do?
• Diagnose and treat malformations, injuries and diseases of the teeth and oral cavity.
• Dentists improve patient's appearance by using various cosmetic dental processes and sometimes the help of surgical interventions.
• Dentists perform surgical procedures like tissue grafts, implants and extractions.
• Educate patients, mostly children on how to take care of their teeth and prevent cavities and oral diseases by showing how to floss and brush correctly and eat healthy foods. (:-)
• Dentists related with teaching field, teach dental hygienists and future dentists.
• Dentists perform research directed to developing new treatment methods and improving oral health.
• Dental hygienists work with patients alongside the dentist to perform allot of the routine and simpler tasks.

If you go to any dental practice, quite often the first person you'll encounter is a dental hygienist. Make sure you give them a (:-).

Dental hygienists are specialists who take care of your teeth, gums and oral cavity. A dental hygienist will clean and polish your teeth using tiny dental tools such as the mirror, tooth scrapper for plaque removal and special toothbrush. They also perform flossing to remove very tiny food particles from your teeth. They'll check your dental cavities by taking x-rays of your teeth. After checking your teeth for cavities, they'll recommend the needed treatment to you and your dentist and may refer to a specialist if necessary.

I hope you've enjoyed my smiling dental care article! Maybe you won't pursue the dental field, that's okay with me. I'll just be glad to know you smiled a pile (pun intended) and didn't waste your time while reading. Have a Great (:-) day!!

Mouth and Teeth

The first thing that comes to mind when you think of your mouth is probably eating — or kissing! But your mouth's a lot more than an input slot for food or a tool for smooching your sweetie.

Where Would We Be Without Them?

Your mouth and teeth form your smile, which is often the first thing people notice when they look at you. The mouth is also essential for speech: The tongue (which also allows us to taste) enables us to form words with the help of our lips and teeth. The tongue hits the teeth to make certain sounds — the th sound, for example, is produced when the tongue brushes against the upper row of teeth. If a person has a lisp, that means the tongue touches the teeth instead of directly behind them when saying words with the s sound.

Without our teeth, we'd have to live on a liquid diet or a diet of soft, mashed food. The hardest substances in the body, the teeth are necessary for mastication — a fancy way of saying chewing — the process by which we tear, cut, and grind food in preparation for swallowing. Chewing allows enzymes and lubricants released in the mouth to further digest, or break down, food. This makes the mouth one of the first steps in the digestive process. Read on to find out how each aspect of the mouth and teeth plays a role in our daily lives.

Basic Anatomy of the Mouth and Teeth

The mouth is lined with mucous membranes (pronounced: myoo-kus mem-branes). Just as skin lines and protects the outside of the body, mucous membranes line and protect the inside. Mucous membranes make mucus, which keeps them moist.

The membrane-covered roof of the mouth is called the palate. The front part consists of a bony portion called the hard palate, with a fleshy rear part called the soft palate. The hard palate divides the mouth from the nose above. The soft palate forms a curtain between the mouth and the throat (or pharynx — pronounced: fa-rinks) to the rear. The soft palate contains the uvula (pronounced: yoo-vyoo-luh), the dangling fleshy object at the back of the mouth. The tonsils are located on either side of the uvula and look like twin pillars holding up the opening to the pharynx.

A bundle of muscles extends from the floor of the mouth to form the tongue. The upper surface of the tongue is covered with tiny projections called papillae. Our taste buds are located here. The four main types of taste buds — sweet, salty, sour, and bitter — are found on the tongue.

Three pairs of salivary glands in the walls and floor of the mouth secrete saliva, which contains a digestive enzyme called amylase that starts the breakdown of carbohydrates even before food enters the stomach.

The lips are covered with skin on the outside and with slippery mucous membranes on the inside of the mouth. The major lip muscle, called the orbicularis oris (pronounced: or-bik-yoo-lar-iss or-iss), allows for the lips' mobility. The reddish tint of the lips comes from underlying blood vessels, which is why the lips can bleed so easily with injury. The inside part of the lips connects to the gums.

What Is Gum Disease?

What Is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is also known as periodontal (pronounced: per-ee-oh-don-tul) disease.

Periodontal disease is an infection of the tissues and bone that support the teeth. Untreated gum disease can become very serious, causing teeth to become loose or fall out.

Gum disease is usually caused by a buildup of plaque, an invisible sticky layer of germs that forms naturally on the teeth and gums. Plaque contains bacteria, which produce toxins that irritate and damage the gums.

Hundreds of types of bacteria live in the mouth, so keeping plaque at bay is a constant battle. That's why brushing and flossing every day — and regular trips to the dentist — are so important.

Who Is at Risk?

Certain things can make teens more likely to develop gum disease. Some may inherit this tendency from their parents. The snacks you eat also can put you at risk of developing gum disease — especially if you grab fries and a soda in the mall after school and aren't able to brush immediately after eating them. You probably know that sugar is bad for your teeth, but you may not know that starchy foods like fries also feed the acids that eat into your tooth enamel.

If you have braces, fending off plaque can be tougher. Plus, some medical conditions (including diabetes and Down syndrome) and certain medicines increase the risk of gum disease.

Running yourself down with a lousy diet, too little sleep, and too much stress leaves you more vulnerable to infection anywhere in the body, including your gums.

Girls have a higher risk of gum disease than guys. Increases in female sex hormones during puberty can make girls' gums more sensitive to irritation. Some girls may notice that their gums bleed a bit in the days before their periods.

For severe — and early — gum problems, though, the real bad guy is tobacco. Not only does smoking lead to bad breath and stained, yellowed teeth but recent research also shows that smoking is a leading cause of gum disease.

According to the American Dental Association (ADA), people who smoke cigarettes and chew tobacco are more likely to have plaque and tartar buildup and to show signs of advanced gum disease. They are also more likely to develop mouth cancer in the future.

How It Progresses

Gum disease progresses in stages. Believe it or not, more than half of teens have some form of gum disease.

Do your gums bleed when you floss or brush your teeth? Chances are you already have the mildest form of gum disease — bleeding gums are usually a sign of gingivitis (pronounced: jin-juh-vy-tus). Other warning signs of gingivitis include gum tenderness, redness, or puffiness.

If plaque from teeth and gums isn't removed by good daily dental care, over time it will harden into a crust called calculus or tartar. Once tartar forms, it starts to destroy gum tissue, causing gums to bleed and pull away from the teeth. This is known as periodontitis (pronounced: per-ee-oh-don-ty-tus), a more advanced form of gum disease.

With periodontitis, gums become weakened and form pockets around the base of teeth. Bacteria pool in these pockets, causing further destruction of the gums. As periodontitis spreads, it damages deeper gum tissue and can eventually spread to areas of the jawbone that support the teeth. This can cause teeth to become loose and fall out. Though periodontitis is rare in teens, it can happen. If it's not treated, it can cause real trouble for your teeth.

What should you do to avoid these problems? See your dentist if you notice any of these signs of gum disease:

• bleeding of the gums that occurs regularly when brushing or flossing
• discoloration of gums (healthy gums should look pink and firm, not red, swollen, or tender)
• any sign of gums pulling away from teeth
• bad breath that won't go away
• loose teeth

Tracking It Down and Treating It

Gum disease can be sneaky, sometimes causing little or no pain or irritation before permanent damage is done to your teeth. That's why regular dentist visits are a must. With X-rays and a thorough examination, a dentist or dental hygienist can spot trouble before you know it's there.

The earlier that gum disease is caught, the better. Adopting better brushing and flossing habits can usually reverse gingivitis. Sometimes your dentist will also prescribe antibiotics or a special antibacterial mouth rinse to tackle the problem.

Once someone develops periodontitis, it isn't as easy to control. Usually there is widespread infection of the gums that needs to be treated. This may require several special treatments either by a dentist or a periodontist, an expert who specializes in the care of gum disease.

Some of the ways dentists and periodontists may treat periodontitis are:

• Scaling or root planing. These deep-cleaning measures involve scraping and removing plaque and tartar from teeth above and below the gum line.
• Antibiotics. These and other medications are often used together with scaling and root planing to stop the spread of infection and inflammation in the mouth. They come in several different forms that range from medicated mouthwashes to antibiotic-containing gels or fibers that are placed in gum pockets to slowly kill bacteria and help gums to heal.
• Surgery. Advanced cases of periodontitis may require a dentist to open and clean badly diseased gum pockets, then stitch the gums back into place to fit more snugly around the teeth.
• Gingival grafting. If gum tissue is too diseased to sew back together, a dentist removes healthy gum tissue from another part of the mouth and stitches it into place. The graft replaces the diseased tissue and helps to anchor the teeth, giving them an improved appearance.

While undergoing treatment for periodontitis, it's especially important to take special care of your teeth and gums to see lasting improvement. This includes flossing and brushing every day and quitting habits that mean bad news for the mouth, such as smoking or eating sugary snacks between meals.

Prevention Tips

Fortunately, there's good news: Gum disease is usually preventable. Just take care of your teeth, starting now. Don't wait!

• Brush twice a day for at least 3 minutes each time (about the length of your favorite song) and floss daily. If you're not sure whether you're brushing or flossing properly, your dentist or dental hygienist can show you the best techniques.
• Always brush with a toothpaste that contains fluoride; some dentists also recommend daily mouth rinses containing fluoride.
• Use a toothbrush with soft, polished bristles, as these are less likely to irritate or injure gum tissue. Be sure to replace your toothbrush at least every 3 to 4 months — a worn-out toothbrush can injure your gums. (Some toothbrush brands contain color indicators on the bristles to remind you to replace them when they become worn.)
• Eat a healthy diet. Avoid snacks and junk foods packed with sugar that plaque-causing bacteria love to feed on.
• Don't smoke! Cigarettes and chewing tobacco cause mouth irritation and are very unhealthy for gums and teeth.
• Regular dental care is extremely important in helping to keep your mouth healthy. Visit your dentist for routine care — especially cleaning — at least twice a year. Your dentist can remove hardened plaque and any tartar that you're not getting to with brushing or flossing.

Reviewed by: Lisa A. Goss, RDH, BS and Charlie J. Inga, DDS
Date reviewed: October 2008