Is there dental insurance for low-income homes?

I am 18 and still living at home. My mom is working two jobs, and I work a part-time job while going to school to help out. However, it is still challenging for my mom to take care of three kids for the most part on her own. We do not go to the dentist since she can not afford the cost. Are there low-cost options available?

Reply: You should review dental HMO insurance plans. Dental HMO plans are the lower-cost insurance plan option. With an HMO, you and your family could have preventive care such as X-rays, oral exams, and cleanings for little to no cost. More extensive dental care costs much less, making dental care more affordable for the family. 

Teething and Dental Care for Infants, Teething Symptoms. 

First, here are some signs that your baby is teething. Drooling, wakefulness, cranky more than usual, crying, biting, chewing, and tender gums. Your baby may also be fussy when feeding. Over-drooling may cause skin irritation around the mouth. Teething gums may look swollen and red. You may see little white dots or small openings where the tooth is cutting, though.

Although your baby may get loose stools while teething, look out for diarrhea and fever. Fever and diarrhea are not symptoms of teething; therefore, you should take your baby to the doctor for a check-up since it is probably unrelated to your baby’s teething.

California Dental teeth care, Eating after dental bonding

I just got some dental bonding on five teeth. However, I did not ask my dentist if it was okay for me to eat anything. Or if I needed to wait. If so for how long do I need to wait after having bonding done? I need to know.

Reply: You don’t have to wait after your appointment to eat or drink. However, you may experience slight tooth sensitivity to heat and cold after teeth bonding for a few days afterward. To prevent staining, try to avoid or keep to a minimum coffee, tea, soy sauce, colas, grape juice, blueberries, fresh cherries, and acidic foods like citrus juices and tomato sauce.

You may want to call your dentist that did the bonding for any aftercare instructions which they would typically give you at the time of your appointment.

You should think ahead when getting dental insurance.

It may seem surprising that many people do not have dental insurance. However, dental insurance benefits are only sometimes offered through work, so people do without until a significant dental need arises. The problem with waiting until you need dental insurance is that it can be too late to get the type of dental insurance you want.

You may need a dental PPO plan to stay with your dentist. However, most dental PPO plans have long-term waiting periods, so you may not get the coverages you are looking for when not bought early on. If you have a dentist you do not wish to change, find out what dental plans you would need to stay with their dental office. If you are with a dental office that only accepts PPO dental plans, you should consider getting a PPO plan now to have a plan in place for your future dental needs, whether for preventive dental care or major dental care.

California Oral health care, Red and sore gums

I recently noticed that my gums have been hurting a bit and seem redder than they usually do. I brush twice a day and floss almost every day. They do not bleed when I am doing that but they just kinda hurt when I do. Could I have gum disease?

Reply: Some of the start signs of gingivitis (gum disease) would include but are not limited to, Swollen or puffy gums, Dusky red or dark red gums, and tender gums. I suggest visiting your dentist as soon as possible, so if you do have the start of gingivitis, your dentist will be able to treat it before it turns into a more significant issue. Consider considering buying dental insurance if you do not have any current as it will help to keep your dental care cost more affordable.

Are You Getting the Facts Before You Buy Dental Insurance?

When shopping for dental insurance online or through an agent, know all the facts about each type of dental plan before buying one. Mistakes happen when you need clarification on how a dental plan works. Purchasing dental insurance online is very easy and convenient, but people need to read and understand what it is they are buying. Before hitting the submit button are you sure you understand the terms of the plan. Does the dental plan have waiting periods or yearly max dollar amount limitations? Is the dental insurance plan an in-network dental provider only, or can you go outside the network of dental providers? When is the insurance plan effective. Did you call the dentist to confirm they are still accepting the dental insurance plan in question? Is what you are reviewing a dental insurance plan or a dental discount plan? What are you dental needs and are you getting a dental insurance plan that best fits them? Taking the extra time to fully understand the dental plan you are buying will save you from headaches and being upset later on.

Dental Discount Plans.

I do not have current dental insurance and very little money. My dentist told me I needed dental work on my teeth, so I started looking for dental insurance. Right now, insurance seems too costly for me, but some friends tell me to avoid dental discount plans because they are not insurance. Is this true?

Reply: That is correct dental discount plans are not insurance. Dental discount plans help you save money on your dental care cost as long as you go to a dentist that is a provider of the plan. Discount plans are an excellent way to help make dental care more affordable at a low cost for the plan. If you want dental insurance, consider reviewing dental HMO plans in your area. Dental HMO plans are the more affordable dental insurance option. 

Dental PPO plans let you choose your dentist. What Dental PPO and Indemnity plans have to offer. Dental PPOs and Indemnity plans allow you to choose your dentist, and for many people, that can be a deciding factor in buying those types of dental insurance plans. For people that want to stay with their current dentist or to be able to choose their dental provider, these types of insurance plans aloud for that. Dental PPO and Indemnity plans usually are more costly than HMO’s dental insurance plans.

Are dental PPOs and Indemnity insurance plans worth the cost? The answer is yes. If you know your dental needs and understand the terms and conditions of the insurance plan, many people are happy with their PPO plans. Trouble comes when you need to understand the limitations of dental insurance plans fully.

Understanding Dental Insurance. 

I need to understand how dental insurance works. I have a dental insurance PPO plan through my job, but it could be better. I am considering removing it and getting just the medical. Why have insurance if you have to pay the dentist?

Reply: Medical insurance has a cost paid out by the insured too. Dental insurance is designed to make dental care more affordable, not necessarily free. You may not think dental care without insurance is so bad, but to give you an example of how even in preventive care, dental insurance is worth the cost of having it. Say all you need is preventative care. Without insurance, preventive care costs (Office visits, Bite-wing X-rays, Oral Exam, and Basic Cleaning) can range around $200 – $400, keeping in mind most low-cost HMOs plan range from $8.00 to $20.00 a month with preventive care typical being free. More extensive dental care services become expensive when you don’t have dental insurance. 

Are Individual PPO Dental Insurance Plans worth buying? Some people may feel that getting dental insurance is not worth the plan’s cost. That may be true for some dental insurance plans if the person wanting it only wants the dental insurance for short-term use. Many people put off their dental care until they are in pain or have significant dental issues. Then get upset when they find out that many PPOs or Indemnity insurance plans have limitations that will not be able to help them with their major dental care needs immediately. 

A dental PPO plan is not for those who only want to buy a dental insurance plan to fix a current dental issue, then turn around and cancel the plan once they have their dental work done. The reason is that dental PPOs are designed to be long-term plans and not short-term ones. When considering buying a dental PPO or Indemnity plan, the thing to keep in mind is your long-term dental needs. When getting these types of insurance plans, it is a dental plan you want to keep for at least a few years.

PPO Full Coverage Dental insurance for a dental crown

Question: I require two dental crowns. I am looking for a dental insurance plan covering at least 50 percent or more on a crown and one without waiting periods. Is there a dental insurance plan like want that?

Reply: We have two options for you; any of our HMO dental insurance would work. On the HMOs we provide, there are no waiting periods. The crown’s cost typically ranges from $100.00 – $250.00+. 

Another option would be our Delta Dental PPO plan. That does not have waiting periods; however, the first-year benefits on majors services such as crown run around 10 to 15 percent, and you only have 50 percent benefits on majors services once you have the plan for three years. 

A safe and effective way to prevent cavities in kids is by having dental sealants. Dental sealant is a plastic coating applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth, where decay mainly occurs. By going to a dentist, a dentist would be able to put on dental sealants to help protect your children’s teeth. However, even knowing this, only about one-third of children ages 6 – 19 have sealants. Cost can be a factor, which is why having dental insurance and or a plan in place will help many people and their families.

Brushing is only half the job. You can brush all you want, but you run a high risk of tooth decay and gum disease if you are not flossing. Flossing takes a few minutes out of your day and is a low-cost way of maintaining your oral health. Floss your children’s teeth until they can learn to do so correctly on their own.

It is hard to believe that many children and adults still do not take simple measures that are proven effective in the fight against oral diseases and other dental care issues. By brushing your teeth correctly, you prevent oral diseases and reduce dental care costs. Start with brushing your teeth at least twice daily for at least two minutes.

Brush your teeth in small circles, not up or back and forth. Make sure you are brushing all your teeth, including the back ones. (What kids as they are learning to brush. They tend only to brush the front teeth) Using toothpaste with fluoride is a cost-effective way to prevent tooth decay. With young children, however, keep the toothpaste out of their reach. Use only a pee size amount of toothpaste or less if younger. Otherwise, do not use fluoride toothpaste until they learn to spit and not swallow.

Baby Oral Health Care

Did you know that you should be cleaning your child’s mouth even before their teeth come in. For good oral health you want to wipe the gums off after each feeding with a warm, wet washcloth or a dampened piece of gauze wrapped around your finger.

You can also buy thimble-like, soft rubbery devices (they fit over your index finger) to use for rubbing off excess food. Doing this will not only keep your child mouth clean but it will also make your baby become accustom to you doing this and then brushing teeth later on becomes easier.

What is a Root Canal?

A root canal is a treatment to repair and save a badly damaged or infected tooth. The procedure involves removing the damaged area of the tooth (the pulp), cleaning and disinfecting it and then filling and sealing it. The common causes affecting the pulp are a cracked tooth, a deep cavity, repeated dental treatment to the tooth or trauma. The term “root canal” comes from cleaning of the canals inside the tooth’s root.

Pain and Needing a Root Canal Treatment

For some people they question whether or not the really need a root canal when they do not have any pain. However it is important to know that many teeth that need root canal therapy will not cause pain. But that does not mean the tooth is okay.  

Your dentist and or endodontist specialist have ways to see if the tooth’s pulp is damaged or infected. If it is, then you will need root canal treatment, even if the tooth does not hurt. Therefore if you see something near a damaged tooth that looks like a pimple, see your dentist. The “pimple,” called a fistula, is a tunnel of tissue draining pus from an infection. There is no pain because the fistula keeps pressure from building in the tissue. It can come and go. The infection must be treated, and the tooth probably needs root canal treatment. Without treatment, nearby tissues will become infected.

Root Canal Treatment is Not Usually Painful.

Often time when people are told they need a root canal they worry about pain and are fearful of having the treatment done. However, the pain they feel is caused by an infection in the tooth, and not by root canal treatment. A root canal is done to eliminate that pain. The root canal procedure itself is painless.

A local anesthetic numbs the tooth and the surrounding area. For those people whom may be afraid to have a root canal because they are anxious about having dental work done. Dentists can provide calming medicines, such as nitrous oxide.

When thinking about buying a dental PPO insurance plan make sure you understand the plans terms and conditions fully. There are many benefits to having dental PPO insurance plan. One such benefit is having your dental care at a more affordable cost. PPO dental insurance plans also have a very large dental provider data base, providing you with more in network dental office options to choose from as well as most PPO dental insurance plans provide benefits to out of network dentist. Letting you stay with your current dentist even if your dentist is not a provider of the PPO plan.

However, with that said PPO plans also have some limitations which we talked about in prior posts. Such as waiting periods, maximum limitations and deductible/office co-pays. By understanding the plans terms and conditions will be able to maximize your plans benefits to fit your dental needs.

Question: I currently do not have dental insurance I use to have it though my prior job. I would like to keep my same dentist, so I am looking for a Delta Dental PPO plan for individuals.

Answer: In most state we offer a Delta Dental PPO plan and or plans. To review your plan options just enter your zip code in the quote box provided. From their you will go to our beef comparison chart of all the dental insurance and dental plan options we provide in your state. To review more plan information just click on the link “Review Plan Details”. If you should have any questions about our individual/family dental insurance plans just call our member service line at 310-534-3444 as we be happy to help you find the right plan for your dental needs.