I want to change my old silver filling to tooth color fillings. Thinking about getting dental insurance to help with the cost. What would be the best dental insurance plan for that?

Answer: Generally dental insurance will not cover changing out silver fillings to tooth colored fillings unless there is new dental decay in the tooth that needs to be address. What you want to have done is more cosmetic and is not a covered benefit in most dental insurance plans. Therefore you may want to review a low cost dental discount plan. Under a dentist discount plan you can save money for that type of dental service at least 20 percent or more.

For the many people who do not receive dental insurance benefits and are low income, dental schools are a good way to receive more affordable dental care. There are people that either do not receive dental benefits though work or they feel they can not afford dental care insurance.  These people also tend to avoid going to the dentist even when necessary due to cost factors.

Dental schools provide a good way to receive dental care at a more affordable cost. Most dental schools often offer cheaper dental care services, then a local general dentist.

Dental schools will normally work with you to determine the cost of dental care, by evaluating patients free of charge and by working to create a treatment plan that is priced within your means. Though every school is different, most schools have walk-in, emergency care and appointment services.

Mouthguards can help to save teeth while playing sports.  With athletes losing teeth every year from playing the sports they love it is always important to make sure you are protecting your teeth when play sports.  Sport Injuries to the mouth can be disfiguring, they also can take time away from school and or work.

Dental repair due to sport injuries can also become expensive. Take the time for some preventive dental care when play sports and use a properly fitted mouthguard. If you are not waring a mouthguard that fits correctly it looses the protection benefits.

I have not had dental insurance for over two years since I first gotten complete upper and lower dentures. At the time I did not think since I had the denture I would need to have dental insurance any more. However, I am starting to find out that getting aliments and repairs to my dentures are costly. Is there dental insurance for dentures?

Answer: For your needs you may want to review dental discount plans. Generally you will save at least 20% off the cost of repairs and adjustments to your dentures. If you are want a dental insurance plan, make sure the plan offers coverage for dentures repairs, some plan will only do so if you show proof you had the dentures for at least five or more years. Where as other plans may have long term waiting periods before they offer benefits for repairs to partials and dentures.

A detailed and extensive problem-focused evaluation entails extensive diagnostic and cognitive modalities based on the findings of a comprehensive oral evaluation. Integration of more extensive diagnostic modalities to develop a treatment plan for a specific problem is required. The condition requiring this type of evaluation should be described and documented.

Examples of conditions requiring this type of evaluation may include dentofacial anomalies, complicated perio-prosthetic conditions, complex temporomandibular dysfunction, facial pain of unknown origin, severe systemic diseases requiring multi-disciplinary consultation, etc.

People are willing to spend hours trying to compare the best price for their next  lap top or smart phone.  However when it comes to their dental care needs at a dentist very few shop to make sure the getting the best cost for their dental care.Many more people continue to pay overly high prices for their dental care or worse avoid going to a dentist for the dental care because they feel the cost will be too high.

By knowing the cost of dental services such as office visits, x-rays, cleanings, and fillings and so at a few dental office it will help empower you to seek out more affordable dental care.  If you been with your dentist for a while shop the dental office out. This is not say you have to leave but if you find that other dental offices in the area are less expensive, then talk to your dental office to see if they are willing to match cost in order to keep you as their patient.

Find out if the dental office has a website. Many dental offices offer savings if you book your first appointment though their website. Always ask if there are any other specials or saving that they are running.  If you are paying cash see about getting a cash discount. You may also want to find a dental office that offers affordable payment plan options for the more costly dental services so that you can still afford to have any needed dental care.

Question: I want to have both dental and vision insurance for the state of California. Do you offer any dental insurance with vision benefits? I really could use both right now.

Reply: With all our dental insurance plans we offer on our website we can either add vision or you can buy vision separately. Just call our member service number at 310-534-3444 M-F 8-4 and we be happy to help you go over the available plan options for both

Comprehensive Periodontal Evaluation will typically includes evaluation of periodontal conditions, probing and charting, evaluation and recording of the patient’s dental and medical history and general health assessment. It may also include the evaluation and recording of dental caries, missing or unerupted teeth, restorations, occlusal relationships and oral cancer screening.

A comprehensive oral evaluation is typically used by a general dentist and/or a dental specialist when evaluating a patient comprehensively. A comprehensive oral evaluation is a thorough evaluation and recording of the extraoral and intraoral hard and soft tissues. It may require interpretation of information acquired through additional diagnostic procedures.

This would include the evaluation and recording of the patient’s dental and medical history and a general health assessment. It may typically include the evaluation and recording of dental decay, missing or unerupted teeth, restorations, occlusal relationships, periodontal conditions (including periodontal charting), hard and soft tissue anomalies, etc.

Question: I do not currently have dental insurance and thought about getting some. However what I been looking at it seems that the cost of dental insurance does not match the benefits received.

Answer: You may be reviewing dental PPO plans. Dental PPO plans are really long term dental insurance something you are going to keep for at least a few years. Since these plan have waiting periods. They are worth getting but you need to keep the limitations in mind. Otherwise you may wish to review dental HMO plan which are generally lower cost dental insurance plans that do not have waiting periods.

Question: I am shopping for dental insurance but do not know much about it what is the best dental plan?  

Answer: People have many different dental needs and depending on your own dental needs and what you may want will determine what is the best plan for you.  Such as if you are on a fixed income you may want a lower cost dental insurance such as an HMO.

However, if you are wanting to stay with a certain dental provider you may be better off with a PPO that lets you choose dentist in and out side their network of dental providers. What type of dental services you are wanting to have will also help determine the plan the best fits your needs. Take your time and read though a few dental insurance plan options.

This website provide dental many different dental insurance plan choices in all states.  Give member services a call if you have any question about any of our dental insurance plan options at 310-534-3444 

Sealants are protective coatings placed over the tops of the back teeth (molars). They block bacteria and acids from sticking in the tiny grooves on the chewing surfaces of these teeth. Sealants can be placed in adults and children. Children can have sealants placed on their permanent molars once they come in, around age six. Sometimes they are also used on primary (baby) molars. Dentists can put sealants on molars with signs of early decay, as long as the decay hasn’t broken through the enamel.

Fluoride penetrates into teeth. Fluoride helps to strengthens teeth by replacing minerals that acid has removed. The benefits of fluoride to teeth were first discovered in the 1930s. Dentists started to notice that people who drank water that naturally contained fluoride had less tooth decay. In 1945, communities started to add fluoride to water supplies.

Adding fluoride to water systems has been the most successful cavity prevention method to date.  In the early 1960s, fluoride also began to be added to toothpaste. This also had a major impact on cavity prevention. Now almost all toothpastes contain fluoride. Everyone should brush with a fluoride toothpaste every day.

Three Things You Can Do to Prevent Tooth Decay
To prevent your teeth from decaying, you can do three things:

• Strengthen your teeth’s defenses with fluoride, sealants and agents that contain calcium and phosphate ions.
•  Have your dentist or dental hygienist place sealants on your back teeth.
• Reduce the number of bacteria in your mouth.

Risk factors That May Increase Your Risk of Tooth Decay 

According to dental research done, it has found out that certain factors can affect your risk of tooth decay. These factors include: 

• The current number of decayed or filled teeth 
• Your fluoride exposure, including fluoride in drinking water, toothpaste and rinses, and fluoride treatments in the dental office
• Parents or siblings with dental decay 
• How well you take care of your teeth 
• The amount of saliva and the balance of minerals, enzymes and buffering agents it contains     

How often and what types of foods you eat (especially fermentable carbohydrates)  Ask your dentist about the best ways to reduce your risks and limit dental decay.

We may never give much thought to our spit (saliva), but this fluid is remarkable for what it does to help protect our oral health. Saliva keeps teeth and other parts of your mouth moist and washes away bits of food.   Saliva contains minerals that strengthen teeth. It includes buffering agents, that reduces the levels of acid that can decay your teeth. In addition saliva also protects against some viruses and bacteria.

How Often Should You Brush Your Teeth?

Question: I brush my teeth once a day I really do not see the need to do some more often.

Answer: It is advise that a person should brush their teeth at least twice a day. once in the morning and once at night. By brushing your teeth in the morning you are killing germs left in your mouth and fighting not only plaque build up but bad morning breath. 

By brushing your teeth at night you are removing food debris that was left on your teeth by eating throughout the day. Also it is very important to make sure your dental care habits do not stop at brushing. You need to floss at night every day too if you want to maintain good dental habits and healthier teeth and gums.

Generally under most dental insurance plans a limited oral evaluation is consider preventive service. A limited oral evaluation is problem focused, which is an evaluation that is limited to a specific oral health problem. This may require interpretation of information acquired through additional diagnostic procedures. Definitive procedures may be required on the same date as the evaluation. Typically, patients receiving this type of evaluation have been referred for a specific problem and/or present with dental emergencies, trauma, acute infection, etc.

A periodic oral evaluation is an evaluation performed on a patient of record to determine any changes in the patient’s dental and medical health status since a previous comprehensive or periodic evaluation. This may require interpretation of information acquired through additional diagnostic procedures. Report additional diagnostic procedures separately.  Generally under most dental insurance plan it is a type of preventive dental care service that is normally covered at 100 percent. 

An Endodontist dentist is a dental specialist who limits his/her practice to treating disease and injuries of the pulp and associated periradicular conditions.