According to a study of 1566 community-dwelling Japanese elderly who were followed for five years, the risk of developing dementia was elevated in individuals with fewer remaining teeth.Their findings emphasize the importance of dental care and treatment, especially in terms of maintenance of teeth from an early age for reducing the future risk of dementia.

Question: I have a dental HMO insurance plan were I have to choose a dentist in the plans network of providers. I live in an area where I had about a dozen dentist to choose from so I picked the dentist that was closest to me. The issue I have is that the dental office was not a clean as I would like. Also the staffing was rude to me and I had to wait over 45 minutes after my appointed time. I did not mind the dentist he did good work. It is kind of hard to mess up on a cleaning since that is all I needed. I am upset that even though my plan let me change my dental office I was out another month before the change would go though. I wanted them to credit me the month since I am not able to use the plan but they would not. I think they should since it is the plans fault for having bad dental offices on their list. Mad about waiting and would like to complain about this dental office so that other people do not have to pick them. Do I tell the insurance company about my troubles?

Reply: It is not unheard of that dental appointments run late. A suggest to help avoid that in the future is to call about an hour before your dental appoint to confirm if they are running on time. I not sure what the real issue is. Is it with the dental office or the insurance company? You stated you did not like the staffing of the dental office and the place was not as clean as you would have wanted it to be. Yet the dentist was nice enough and did a good job. Therefore you had some work done at the time of the visit. However due to the issues you had it sounded like to me that you had the insurance company change your provider.

Typically a change would go though like that the following month. Unless there is a dental issue that needed to be address ASAP it really should not be an issue due to you already having your preventive care done. How are you out any benefits? I really do not see the issue with the insurance company. As far as the dental office I guess you can complain to the dentist about the staffing and how the place was not clean but since you change to different provider I do not see the point of complaining. I say chalk it up to a bad that and hope the new provider is a better fit for you

Question: I am 23 and my work dose not offer any dental insurance. I need an affordable dental insurance plan for an individual. i am willing to spend $30 or so a month but finding only plans that are $50 or more.

Reply: Depending on the State you are in cost for insurance will vary. Yet it seems as you may be reviewing dental PPO’s vs HMO’s insurance plans. You may want to search for dental HMO’s plans as they do tend to be less costly per month well within your $30.00 budget for an individual. Check out your insurance plan options on this web site just by entering in your zip code provided and clicking on start quote. If you have any questions about the plans that are provided to your for your review please call our office at

310-534-3444 M-F 8am-4pm

Question: I am shopping for dental insurance but I am past the point of confusion. I looked at dental discount plans and they do not seem to cover major things like root canals, crowns and extractions. However full coverage plans like PPO are just to costly for me and I can not afford them. Is there any thing in between some type of insurance that is cheap like a discount plan but offer you better coverage’s.

Reply: Not knowing what dental discount plan you may have been looking at, I would say maybe you did not fully understand it. Dental discount plans for the most part will provide reduce and or discounted cost for all dental services render by a plan provider.

Therefore generally things like root canals, crowns and extractions do receive a discount under the plan as well. With regards to PPO plans. Though we do not use the term “full Coverage” they do provide preventive, basic and major dental care services however typically with waiting periods on basic and major dental services and yes these plans do tend to be more costly especially when compared to a non insurance product like a discount dental plan. I would suggest that you may want to review or see if there are any dental HMO insurance plans. Dental HMO plans are a more affordable cost insurance plan generally without waiting periods. However you do need to choose a plan provider.

Most dental insurance plan have some type of dental provider date base.  So a good start when looking for a new dentist is to use the provider date base your dental insurance plan provides. Also in some plans by using the plan network of dental providers you receive better benefits under the plan. 

However you may still want to call the dental office to do further research on the potential dental office you have found. Here are a few tips on what to ask when searching for a new dentist.Ask about the dentist educational background and credentials

1) Ask what you should expect during the first exam.

2) Ask to make sure if the office staff goes over the treatment options and cost before work is started. It is important to make sure you have the right information including what is covered by your dental insurance plan and your cost before making treatment decisions.

3) How does the dental office file out claims and what is expected from you at the time of service.  Some dental office may file the claim and bill you latter for any unpaid balances. Where as other dental office may make you pay in full at the time dental services are render, and have you file out your own claim so premium benefits are paid back to you.

4) Know the office hours and how patient emergencies are handled outside of regular hours.

5) Ask any additional questions that are important to you in choosing a dentist.

When searching for a new dentist make sure to know what their business hours are and how they deal with dental emergencies. The reason you want to confirm their business hours is that you are more likely to make and maintain regular dental visits when the practice has hours that works around your time frame. Someone that has to take time off from work will tend to put off their dental care needs.

Check if the dental office is open on a Saturday or if they provide latter hours during the week. In cases of emergencies know what their practice is. Will they take a walk-ins or get you in that same day or the next in case of an emergency. Knowing this ahead of time will help make choosing a dental provider that is best for you and your needs.

This may seem straight forward but you can avoid your children having dental decay by making sure they have the right brushing and flossing habits. The first step to dental care and good oral health comes from home.
Make sure your children are brushing and flossing correctly. That means brushing for at least two minutes two times a day. I suggest that if they have a full breakfast, lunch and dinner they should brush after every major meal. Your child should also learn how to floss. Flossing need s to be done once a day.

Now I am not one to say do not give sweets to kids because the fact is tooth decay can happen with any food item if good brushing habits are not in place. However it is a good idea try and avoid food that can be harmful to tooth enamel.. Food like sour candy, soda, even too many fruits with acids like oranges or orange juice can be harmful. Be mindful of these types of food as they can over time wear down tooth enamel that helps protect the tooth from decay. And do not forget the importance of seeing your family dentist at least twice a year. Prevention is the key to keeping your dental cost low.

There are more people today, facing tooth loss commonly among the elderly,  due to aging  baby boomers.  One Survey taken estimates that 37 millions Americans will need dentures by 2020.  In an article taken from the Journal of Oral Implantology reports on an alternative treatment to dentures. The “All-on-Four” therapy uses four implants to support a fixed prosthesis, and the patient’s new teeth can be put in place the day of surgery.

The All-on-Four treatment maximizes the use of available bone and allows immediate functionality. Four implants are placed two near the front and two near the back of the dental area. These support a fixed, full-arch prosthesis that is put in place the same day as the surgery. The success of this therapy is judged not only by its comfort and usability for the patient, but also by its longevity

There have been cases where people have died due to untreated dental infections. Cost of dental care was the common reason as to why dental care services was continuously put off. Yet by having proper preventive dental care before larger issues can develop, cost dose not have to be a factor.  In fact there are many good low cost dental insurance plans that offer free to very low cost preventive care services.

Another other problem is that many people (even those with dental benefits) do not take dental care seriously and will completely avoid even simple dental check-ups. Stating that they do not have the time or that their teeth are not hurting them so why bother. Sadly that is a common attitude to have even in regards to health care. Many people do not see a doctor unless there is something bothering them.  Preventive care can not only save your teeth but your life as well.

Dental plans that are describe as No Wait, No Limit Dental Plans and typical dental discount plans. Nothing wrong with buying or using a dental discount plan as we do also offer a good dental discount plan though Aetna called dental choice plus. Discount dental plans are a good low cost way to save money on your dental care needs. It is important however to know you are buying a discount and not insurance. So make sure when shopping for dental insurance it is a insurance plan you are reviewing. Or if you are looking for a low cost option you may want to review dental discount plans.

You can compare the dental insurance and discount plans we offer simply by entering your zip code in the quote box provide at the top of the screen. Or you can call our member services at 310-534-3444 if you have any questions about or plans or need help as we be happy to assist you.

If you or your family is dealing with a dental insurance plan that offers
minimal benefits or worse you do not have dental benefits. You may want to consider enrolling in a separate or stand-alone dental insurance plan.

You can compare the plans we offer simply by entering your zip code in the quote box provide at the top of the screen. Or you can call our member services at 310-534-3444 if you have any questions about or plans or need help as we be happy to assist you.

Our website can assists individuals, families, and small business owners with finding the right dental insurance plan for them. We offer a broad range of plans and plan types. You can compare the plan we offer simply by entering your zip code in the quote box provide at the top of the screen. Or you can call our member services at 310-534-3444 if you have any questions about or plans or need help as we be happy to assist you.

If you receive some dental insurance benefits though Medicare, Employment, with your Health Insurance or just don’t current have dental insurance. In California and most other states you can buy your own individual/family dental insurance plan that best fits your dental care needs. To compare the plans we offer just enter your zip on the quote box provide at the top of the screen. If you have any questions please call our member service line M-F 8am-4pm at 310-534-3444 as we be happy to help

Your dental health is an important part of your overall health. According to several studies done having poor dental health may contribute to other health care issues such as: Heart disease, Diabetes and premature birth to name a few

There are several causes of headaches behind the ear.  A headache behind the ear refers to any pain that originates from that specific area of the head. Though headaches themselves are very common, headaches that occur exclusively behind the ear are fairly unusual. This type of headache pain can have several causes from nerve injury to dental problems. The cause of the headache behind the ear will determine symptoms and treatment.With regards to dental problems. The temporomandibular joints (TMJ) can cause aching behind the ear and it usually accompanied by jaw pain. The temporomandibular joints are the ball and socket joints of the jaw. These joints can become inflamed and painful. While most people with TMJ inflammation feel the pain in the jaw and behind the ear, others may just experience a headache behind the ear.
TMJ can be caused by:
stress
teeth grinding
arthritis
injury
jaw alignment
If you feel you maybe having TMJ issues talk it over with your dentist. As a dentist will be able to confirm if in fact that is the case and help treat it.

Tooth Decay
Tooth decay is the destruction of the outer surface of a tooth from acid forming bacteria that is produced by food containing carbohydrates (sugars and starches).

Tooth Decay Prevention
Brush your teeth twice a day with a tooth paste that contains fluoride. Preferably, brush after each meal and before bedtime to help reduce the bacteria from staying on your teeth for a certain length of time.
You may wish to consider these helpful tips as well:
– Floss your teeth daily to prevent tooth decay and gum disease.
– Check with your dentist regarding the use of a supplemental fluoride which strengthens your teeth and helps prevents tooth decay.
– Consider dental sealants which is a plastic like substance placed on the top of molars to protect the teeth from decay.
– Use mouth wash with fluoride. Many of them kill 50% or more of the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
– Chewing gum with the ingredient Xylitol may also kill some of the bacteria which causes tooth decay.
-Visit your dentist regularly
-Maintain dental insurance and or a dental plan to keep your dental cost low

Tooth decay in children is an occurring health condition. Due to dental issue children miss 52 million hours from school every year. If dental problems are left untreated children will develop further health problems.  30% to 50% of children between 4 and 5 years old already struggle with tooth decay.

There are many reason for this problem but a few are due to the fact that dental benefits are not provided though the parents employer.  Some parents fail to acknowledge the important of early dental care for kids. Children of low income families are more predisposed to developing tooth decay and Dental care cost is too expensive for children.

One good way to assure that your child has a good experience at their dental appointment is by talking to him or her about what to expect. Children are sometimes frightened by new places, sounds, or people. You may want to bring your child with you on one of your dentist check ups so it can help dispel anxiety and get them accustomed them to the atmosphere of a dental office.

As a parent it is up to you to teach and help your child learn the importance of daily oral health care. One way you can do this is by demonstrating healthy habits yourself. Make brushing and flossing a family activity. Brushing and flossing every day will help your child have healthy teeth, which will help him or her enjoy better dental check ups.

In prior post we talked about gum disease and how it can effect you overall wellness. If you start to noticed the signs of gum disease which includes bleeding gums, sensitivity, redness, and a receding gum line, it is imperative that you make an appointment with your dentist as quickly as possible. Early treatment of gum disease helps ensure a faster recovery, thereby reducing your risk of developing diseases and health conditions.