Most parents knows that oral health can directly affects a child’s overall health. This is why it is important to install good oral hygiene habits in your children at an early age. Make tooth brushing essential at the first sight of your child tooth, since even baby teeth are at risk for tooth decay. Take your child to see a dentist regularly so that you can avoid him/her from having to have larger dental care needs in the future. Having dental insurance in place for you and your family will not only control your dental care cost but study show that people who have dental insurance are more likely to maintain regular dental check up.

Often times children under the age of five will need to go to a Pediatric dentist instead of a family or general dentist.  That being the case if you have younger children you will want to make sure you either have a dental insurance plan or are buying a dental insurance plan that offer benefits on Pediatric (Specialist) dentistry.  

Generally that would mean buying either a dental PPO or a dental Indemnity dental insurance plan. Although there are some HMO dental insurance plans that will provide saving off the cost of specialist they do not always have a broad range of specialist.   Therefore when buying and HMO dental insurance plan check to make sure there are Pediatric dentist in the plan network that you are able take your child to for his or her dental care needs.

Having dental insurance whether for yourself and your family is one main way to save on the cost of your dental care needs. Maintaining your dental health is important and as a parent keeping up on your kids dental care needs can become extremely costly when you do not have current dental insurance in place for your family.

With many dental insurance plans it is important to buy and have in place, before larger dental care needs have to be address. Since they often have waiting periods for both basic and major dental care services. Thinking and planing ahead will save you money and often time grief latter on.

Dental insurance help to not only provide dental care at a more affordable cost but studies show that people that have dental insurance are more likely to maintain their oral health care by  visiting their dentist regularly. 

In addition it has been shown that your overall health care can be effected by your oral health, there by making it very important to maintain your oral health not just to prevent tooth decay and gum disease but to reduce your risk of other over all health care issues.

If you are wanting a dental plan for only your minor child there are very few dental insurance plans that will do that.  Most will require at least one adult on the plan as head of house hold charging you for the price of a couple plan. 

However many dental discount plans will offer their plan on only a minor since it is not insurance.  Dental discount plans are a good way to off set all your dental care cost as long as you go to a plan provider.

Shopping for dental insurance online is one of the best way to compare multipliable plans at once. Comparing not only cost of the plans but coverage’s and benefits.  Thus allowing you to better choose a dental insurance plan that fits your family dental needs. 

When shopping for dental insurance a good option for families are Dental PPO plans as they provide for a larger provider data base and in most case will provide benefits for out of net work providers.  Therefore affording you the availability to see your own dentist regardless if they are a provider of the PPO plan.    

However one key note to keep in mind with most PPO plans, is that many of them have waiting periods before certain plan benefits are effective. Making PPO dental insurance plans the type of dental insurance you do not wait to buy until you have a larger dental care need.

With dental care cost on the rise, it is even more important to have dental insurance for your family. With dental insurance your family is able to visit the dentist without it braking your budget.   

In California we provide over 40 different dental insurance plans that range in cost and coverage’s, so that you are able to choose a dental insurance plan that best works with your family dental care needs.

When buying dental insurance for young children make sure the dental insurance plan you are buying provide coverage’s for Pediatric dentist. Not all dental insurance plans provide benefits for specialist and not all younger children can go to a general or family dentist. Make sure you buy a family dental insurance plans that fits the needs of all members of your fam

According to a study from Colorado School of Public Health shows that despite some modest improvements, poor oral health remains a major problem in the Navajo Nation and among American Indians overall.     Terrence Batliner, DDS, MBA, associate director of the Center for Native Oral Health Research at the School of Public Health, stated that: “The oral health among Native Americans is abysmal with more than three times the disease of the rest of the country and that the number one problem is access to care.”     

The study, published recently in the Journal of Public Health Dentistry, showed that 69.5 percent of Navajo children had untreated tooth decay. While that’s better than the 82.9 percent in 1999, it’s still unacceptably high.

Only 1 in 10 smokers who visited a dentist received advice to quit

According to a study, it found that only one in ten smokers who visited a dentist in the US received advice to quit. The US Public Health Service (PHS) developed the Tobacco Use and Dependence Clinical Practice Guideline, recommending that all healthcare providers (HCPs) promote tobacco cessation to all patients.

When talking to your child about his or her dental appointment, avoid using scary words or a scary tone. Whether or not your child needs extra care, avoid using words like “pain” or “shot,” and be careful about using your own dental history to relate to your child. Instead, think of ways you can encourage your child before his/her dental appointment. Talk about the positives of having a healthy smile and the ways that dentists can help them improve oral health.

Talk to your child about what to expect at their first dental appointment.  Children are sometimes frightened by new places, sounds, or people. Bringing your child with on you on one of your own appointments may help dispel anxiety and get them accustomed them to the atmosphere of a dental office.

Over the coarse of ten years and bad teeth care habits I have lost a few teeth. I never had dental insurance and did not go to the dentist because I do not like dentists. Now I am currently paying the price for having such a bad attitude about my oral health care and dentist.I am trying now to do the right thing and get my teeth fixed up but I am finding out that there are no dental insurance plans willing to help me.

Many of the dental insurance plans I see have long term waiting period for the dental services I know I will be needing to have. If I have no choice in the matter I may be willing to wait out the waiting periods but I was told that many dental insurance have missing tooth clause and it may not be worth my buying dental insurance since the plan will not cover the dental work I would need to fix my teeth.

Reply: That is correct that there are many dental insurance plans that have a missing tooth clause. Example below:

• services for congenital (hereditary) or developmental (following birth) malformations, including but not limited to cleft palate, upper and lower jaw malformations, enamel hypoplasia (lack of development), fluorosis (a type of discoloration of the teeth) and anodontia (congenitally missing teeth), except those services provided to newborn children for cleft lip or cleft palate.
• Cosmetic surgery or procedures for purely cosmetic reasons, or services for congenital (hereditary) or developmental malformations. Such malformations include, but are not limited to cleft palate, upper and
  lower jaw malformations, enamel hypoplasia (lack of development), fluorosis (a type of discoloration of the teeth) and anodontia (congenitally missing teeth).

It is important to read each dental insurance exclusions ( What the Insurance Company does not pay Benefits for)

It seems as if however you are reviewing mostly PPO’s dental insurance plans. You may find that HMO plans do not have such limitations. However still be mindful of their exclusions as some will limits that may still effect the benefits your may want to have.

Most dental insurance plans will provide some benefits for treatment of periodontal disease, such as deep cleaning’s if provided by your general or family dentist. It is important to know if your dental insurance plan provides benefits for treatment of periodontal disease when needing to see a Periodontal specialist. 

Not all insurance provide coverage’s on specialist, therefore it is important to check with your current plan benefits before going to a periodontal specialist.    If you are shopping for dental insurance the read the plans terms and conditions to understand the limitations and available coverage’s for periodontal specialist or any other dental specialist for that matter.

One of your first steps in making sure your child has good dental care habits, should be to help your child learn the importance of daily oral care. One way you can do this is by demonstrating healthy habits yourself. Star by making brushing and flossing a family activity.

There are even specially made toothbrushes that play music to make the experience more fun. Brushing and flossing every day will help your little one have healthy teeth, which will help him or her enjoy better checkups.

Question: I am looking for a dental plan that has no restrictions on dental services and is hassle free from having to file and deal with claims forms. I had dental insurance in the past that was not only costly but it was pain having to file out claims and wait for my money to be returned to me. Are there any good alternatives that will help me with my dental care cost.

Reply: I suggest you may want to review either Dental HMO plans. Dental HMO plan there are no claims having to be made as they fee schedule based for services covered. You know your cost up front for the services covered and pay that amount to the dentist, if you have that dental care service provided. Though HMO’s plans do have some restrictions not all dental care services are a covered service.

Another option would be a dental discount plan. Dental discount plans are not insurance but the do provide discounted cost for all services rendered at a dental care provider office.

Body If you have noticed the some of the signs of gum disease (including bleeding gums, sensitivity, redness, and a receding gum line), it is imperative that you make an appointment with your dentist as quickly possible. Early treatment of gum disease helps ensure a faster recovery, thereby reducing your risk of developing diseases and health conditions.

For the most part people know that periodontal disease (aka gum disease) can cause major problems like bleeding gums, tenderness, and even eventual tooth loss. The more serious complications associated with this common disease, however, are not as readily recognizable. Keeping your gums free of infection can actually help you avoid a variety of other health problems now and in the future.

Yes you can get help for dental care though the US Department of Health.  Everyone is eligible to use a free clinic, it just requires a lot of waiting in line. Since most dental clinic provide services on a first come first serve basis and normally do not make appointments. To find a federally funded health care center you can go to  US Department of Health and Human Services – Health Resources and Services Administration website.