Convenience of Care

When you’re a busy professional who can’t squeeze in a checkup every six months, this is understandable to most. However, tooth decay and gum disease don’t discriminate. In fact, experts estimate that 47% of Americans have some form of gum disease. That’s nearly half of the American population! Gum disease can eventually cause tooth loss, in addition to sensitive teeth, bad breath, and gum recession. Dental care is more convenient today than ever before. Many places allow you to book appointments online. Your smartphone can easily remind you of your appointment. Often a checkup and cleaning takes less than an hour, so you’re back to your routine in no time!

No Dental Coverage

Over 100 million Americans lack dental health insurance. This plays a huge role in the majority of people not getting the dental care they need. The people who suffer most are children. 1 in 4 kids today have tooth decay. Without checkups, these cavities often go unnoticed and lead to rotten teeth or the loss of permanent teeth in older children.

Adults without dental insurance aren’t doing much better. 56% of adults without dental coverage routinely skip preventative treatment. Without preventative care, ailments such as oral cancer in addition to tooth decay, gum disease, and tooth infections are left to get worse. You can still receive dental care even if you don’t have health insurance. Talk to your dentist to see if they offer interest-free financing through CareCredit. Ask what programs are available in your community in order to receive low-cost or even free dental screenings. The best cure is prevention!

Dental Anxiety

People with dental anxiety feel fear, dread, and terror when they think about going to the dentist. Instead, people who experience this type of anxiety often suffer instead of getting preventative care or treatment. With nearly 30% of all adults having at least one untreated cavity, avoiding the dentist due to dental anxiety is never a good idea. Consider the cost of avoiding the dentist: while it may cost you only $150 to get a cavity filled, a root canal can be upwards of $900! That’s a huge price jump for simply letting a cavity progress to the point that it can’t be filled.

Find a dentist who’s experienced at treating patients with dental anxiety. You want a compassionate, friendly dentist who offers sedative dentistry options to help keep you calm during your visit. Don’t forgo care just because of your anxiety! For all the reasons people avoid the dentist’s office, none of them are genuine excuses to not seek preventative care. There are options available to you. Talk with your local dentist about resources you can utilize to access the care you need for an affordable price. Your smile will thank you later!

The post A Majority of Americans Aren’t Receiving the Preventative Dental Treatment They Need appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

You ideally want a dentist who can treat all ages when you have a family. Finding the best dentist for every member in your household can make keeping up with dental appointments easy. How can you find the right one? Here’s how you can find one great dentist to fit all your needs in one place!

Find a Dentist Who’s Experienced

Finding an experienced dentist is a must regardless of what age you are. However, when you have a family, you want a dentist who’s equally experienced with children and teenagers. Children often require more skills to treat than adults, and you want the dentist to be kid-friendly. You should also take into account any special needs your family has. Does one of you experience dental anxiety, or do you have a child with special needs? Talk to the dentist you’re considering about their experience in working with different patients. The right dentist will be able to accommodate all your needs!

Your Family Dentist Should Take a Holistic Approach

When searching for a dentist, you want a professional who cares. If you have a cavity or gum disease, your family dentist shouldn’t just fix the problem, but talk to you about preventative measures in addition to treatment.

Your ideal family dentist will take a holistic approach and talk with you about your oral health habits. He or she should also be able to offer tips on what you can do better. From avoiding sugar to becoming a better brusher, your dentist should be invested in your oral health just as much as you are. Look for a dentist who offers more than just treatment during appointments—find a dentist that wants you and your family’s oral health to be the best it can be.

Visit the Office and the Dentist

Visiting the dentist you’re considering can make all the difference. Evaluate the location and cleanliness of the office. Check for play areas and look for staff members who are friendly with kids. You want an office that offers emergency services when needed and has the experience to handle everything your family needs.

If you have dental anxiety, talk with the dentist about their accommodations. They may offer sedative dentistry or even laser dentistry to help you feel more at ease. You want a staff and a dentist that’s great with kids and gets to know you and your family.

Finding the perfect dentist in one location with appointment flexibility and expertise is well worth the effort. Ask your friends and family for recommendations. Visit local dentists in your area and talk to the staff. Your family dentist should be conveniently located, friendly, and knowledgeable. Get all your oral care needs in one place with the right dentist for the entire family!

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Many dental plans have a deductible. This means that you must pay for dental costs yourself up to the amount of the deductible. You pay this in addition to the monthly cost of the plan. The deductible usually resets at the beginning of the year.

Direct reimbursement plans pay a percentage of the cost of each dental visit. Usually you pay the entire bill, and then you are reimbursed for a percentage of it by the insurance company.

Some dental insurance plans allow you to choose a dentist from a list of dentists they provide. Other plans let you see any dentist you choose. If you are planning to buy dental insurance, it is important to consider this, especially if you already have a dentist you want to continue seeing.

Dental plans have limitations on what they cover, but will usually cover routine dental care and necessary dental treatments. Cosmetic treatments like veneers or teeth whitening are usually not covered by dental insurance. There can also be limits on the dollar amount a plan will cover each year.

If you already have dental insurance that you pay for or get through your employer, you should find out who to contact for any questions you may have about what your plan covers. You can be prepared for the costs you have to personally pay for your dental office visits by researching ahead of time to find out exactly what your dental plan will pay and what you have pay.

If you are shopping for a dental insurance plan, there are several things you should keep in mind:

Some plans will let you see any dentists, while other limit your choice of dentists.

With some plans, dentists are required to choose the least expensive treatment methods. Other plans allow the dentist and the patient full power to choose the best treatment options.

Consider whether the plan allows referrals to specialists such as oral surgeons or orthodontists.

Usually plans with higher monthly premiums have lower deductibles, and vice versa. Always compare plans to see what deductibles, monthly premiums and co-pays you will be required to pay.

Remember that your dentist cannot counsel you or answer questions about dental insurance. Any questions you have about dental insurance should be directed to the insurance company itself or to your employee benefits department if you have dental insurance through your job. A new smile could be closer than you think!

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