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Be in the Clear with a Membership Plan

South Charlotte Family & Cosmetic Dentistry has a very exciting and cost-effective options for all our patients who might have great medical and even vision health coverage, but lack good (or any) dental benefits. We know that employers, when putting together a benefits package for their employees, can sometimes make medical the priority (which is great!) but forget that dental benefits are a huge importance in our lives.

So, we have some good news for anyone that needs good dental benefits and coverage at an affordable price: we offer a Membership Plan through Kleer to ensure that all our patients will have access to professional oral care. In this blog, we want to highlight the tiers of the plan and make it as simple to understand as possible.

Firstly, here’s the good news: we offer the plan directly to you. You don’t have an agency that you have to work through, and there isn’t an insurance company you need to call to get approval for braces or to consult with to see if your plan will cover a root canal. In other words, you set up a Membership Plan with us and it’s your dentist or oral surgeon with whom you consult—not a corporate work on the phone, elsewhere. No middleman, just your dentist and you making the decisions. That’s the way oral care should work. Hassle-free and cost-effective savings are the things we offer to you, our patients, to make your oral healthcare our top priority.

Let’s review some of the basic benefits, then look at the various tiers of coverage, as well as options for choosing the best fit for your life.

Benefits

All of our plans include the following services or features:

• Cleanings, exams, and routine x-rays are included in the plan. You pay nothing extra for these parts of our basic coverage.
• You receive discounts for other procedures, such as fillings, crowns, root canals, and more.
• Benefits begin the moment you join. Join today and your benefits begin immediately.
• We offer full-price transparency. There are no hidden costs or fees. We will discuss the treatments recommended, and the costs of each treatment, in an upfront and honest way at the time of the consultation.
• A membership cycle covers 12 months from the date you join.
• You do not have to deal with any of the following (which are typical to most insurance plans): deductibles, waiting periods, pre-approvals, annual maximums, or denials of claims. Because this is our plan that we offer to you, and we are both the provider of coverage and the provider of care, you don’t have to deal with a middleman and the hassle it brings.
• This is not insurance but a Membership Plan, so that means you get access to regular, standard treatments as part of the plan, as well as, access to discounts for other procedures. (Because this is not an insurance plan, it will not satisfy the Affordable Care Act’s requirements.)

Plans

We offer up to 5 plans, to ensure that both you and your family members have access to consistent, reliable, and affordable dental health care. Let’s review some of the plans and the main features included in each.

All the plans, listed below, include a 20% discount on other dental procedures, which our practice offers.

1. Adult Start (14-years-old and older): One professional cleaning and checkup. This includes a professional cleaning and a regular exam, an oral screening, routine x-rays, and one emergency exam.
   1. This plan costs $21/month, totaling $252 annually.
   2. This saves you $99 off of regular dental visits at our practice, over a year’s time.

2. Adult Complete (14-years-old and older): Two professional cleanings and checkups. This includes two professional cleanings and two regular exams, along with two oral screenings, routine x-rays, and one emergency exam.
   1. This plan costs $32/month, totaling $384 annually.
   2. That adds up to $137 off the cost of what these procedures would be at regular pricing.

3. Perio (14-years-old and older): Three perio maintenance procedures and checkups. This includes three perio maintenance and two regular exams, along with two oral screenings, routine x-rays, and one emergency exam.
   1. This plan costs $46/month, totaling $552 annually.
   2. This plan can save you $312/year, compared to the regular cost of these treatments without our Membership Plan.

4. Child Start (13-years-old and younger): One professional cleaning and checkup. This includes a professional cleaning and a regular exam, a fluoride treatment, routine x-rays, and one emergency exam.
   1. This plan costs $19/month, totaling $228 annually.
   2. This plan can save you $134/year and help set your child on the path of good dental hygiene.

5. Child Complete (13-years-old and younger): Two professional cleanings and checkups. This includes two professional cleanings and two regular exams, a fluoride treatment, routine x-rays, and one emergency exam.
   1. This plan costs $25/month, totaling $300 annually.
   2. This plan keeps $199/year in your pocket, compared with regular prices.

But Why Sign Up?

So those plans set out the practicalities of what you need to know, including what’s covered and at what cost. In other words, just by signing up for a year’s membership, you are paying less than if you just set up an appointment for the same treatments and paid out of pocket, on the spot. You save more by jumping onboard our Membership Plan, and that’s worth the monthly investment.

The plan also lays out the 20% discount on such procedures as the following: diagnostics, orthodontics, preventative, endodontics, restorative, periodontics, implant services, and more. As long as you do the work with us, at our practice, you will get the discount from us for our services.

Just be sure to keep your Membership Plan payments current (you can pay monthly or upfront, for the whole year) so that you can access all of the benefits and discounts available to you at South Charlotte Family & Cosmetic Dentistry.

And we are so confident you will like our Membership Plan that we offer a 30-day money back guarantee. Within the first 30 days, so long as you’ve not used the benefits, you can get a full refund. But we are certain you won’t need to cancel, because our commitment to your oral and dental health is so complete that we are sure you will love working with us to achieve your dental hygiene goals. The money-back guarantee is to ensure your own peace of mind.

Get Preventative!

Part of the value of signing up is spreading out the cost of a treatment into 12 equal, regular payments over time—and saving money off all of the yearly procedures you will need for regular oral hygienic care. Let’s walk through an example or two.

We recommend an adult has two cleanings in a year, to maintain good oral health. With the Adult Complete plan, what would have been $218 ($109/singular cleaning) costs you $0 at the time of treatment—and you are only paying $21 month. The value of spreading out the cost is that you won’t have to shell out $109 on the spot to get a cleaning, and you don’t have to put it off for 3 more months until there is room in your budget for a cleaning. At $21/month, every month, what could feel unaffordable without insurance becomes easily affordable on a month-by-month basis.

And, also with the Adult Complete plan, two regular exams along with two oral screenings (valued at $61 each) and routine x-rays ($80 for a round of them) are part of the plan. And if you need an emergency exam (normally $101/exam), the plan has you covered! So you and your spouse both joining in on the plan means that, together, you would save $274 ($137 each). Can anyone say 2-3 date nights, with those savings?

What are the costs for children? Let’s consider the costs for treatments without the plan so you can see how the savings add up when you sign up your child for the Child Complete plan. A professional cleaning costs $76, so with this plan that adds up to $152—but the plan covers that as part of its basic benefits. A regular exam can run $61/exam (the Complete plan gives you two exams/year) and your child’s annual fluoride treatment is $67—also covered by the annual plan. Routine x-rays would be $57 without the plan and an emergency exam would cost $101. But, on the plan, this all comes as part of the basic benefits afforded to you as a participant in the Membership plan. Overall, the Child Completeplan would save your family $199/year, per child. Have two or three children who need oral care? Well, that could add up to $398 (two children) or $597 (three children) in savings per year, with our Child Complete Membership Plan! Those savings could add up to the cost of a season’s soccer lessons for one of your children.

Let’s consider the cost-savings afforded to you for one last plan: Perio. This plan, designed for those who need a bit more maintenance and care, especially care for any periodontal diseases, offers you some great savings off of regular care. One  maintenance visit costs $187, and since the Perio plan covers three of those maintenance visits (totaling $561), that means you basically cannot lose by signing up. The Perio plan costs only $552/year, and so the annual cost already saves you some money just off perio maintenance—but the plan also includes two regular exams (totaling $122 for both), x-rays valued at $80, and an emergency exam included in the plan (which would normally cost $101). So, all in all, you save $312/year with the Perio plan, ensuring the regular visits you need to beat back early onsets of periodontal diseases. Can you measure such savings, year after year, when you’ve saved your gums and teeth from decay and disease?

So, we think that the Membership Plan is actually better than insurance: no hassle with a middleman, no denials or insurance maximums, and no pre-approvals needed to get the care you require. As a participant in the Membership Plan, you speak directly with Dr. Wells or a dental hygienist about the treatments you need, so you can make a decision on the spot to go ahead with the treatment. And remember, we offer a 20% discount to all participants on any treatments or procedures they do on site at our practice. So that’s savings upon savings.

Dr. James Wells, and the whole team here at South Charlotte Family & Cosmetic Dentistry, hope you will give some real thought to the five tiers of our Membership Plan, through Kleer, and sign up with us so that we can get you the savings that you and your family need and deserve. If you have questions about the particulars of any plan, we are more than glad to talk you through, in detail, with what a plan covers, how the coverage works, or how we process your Membership payments.

Don’t fret about the cost of making your smile bright. We are here to help!

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Bone Loss & Dental Implants – What You Need to Know

If you are considering dental implants to replace broken or missing teeth, there’s something important to know. Dental implants are only successful if there is enough bone to secure the implant. Bone loss most often is the result of periodontitis or tooth loss.

At South Charlotte Dentistry, we want you to do your best to maintain a healthy mouth now so that if the time comes that you need dental implants, you will have the best case scenario. If you are considering dental implants in the near future, you need to learn more about how to better ensure implants will work for you.

What Are Dental Implants

An implant is a titanium “root” which is placed into the jawbone in order to support a crown, bridge or denture. Ceramic crowns, onlays or veneers address the appearance of the “new tooth.” Over time, the human body completes the process, by growing bone and tissue around the tooth. This provides the artificial implanted tooth with even more stability and permanence.

Each implant stands on its own unlike traditional bridgework, which relies on the teeth next to it for support. Because it stands on its own, an implant can actually save the teeth around it, as they don’t have to be altered to accommodate the implant.

Are Dental Implants Right For You

Dental implants can be an option at just about any age, as long a patient has healthy gums and adequate bone to support the implant and is committed to maintaining basic oral care. Implants do not require any more care than one would provide for natural teeth, such as rinsing, flossing, and brushing a few times a day.

• Are you insecure about your smile due to missing teeth?No matter the reason for the missing teeth (or tooth), if you find yourself hiding your smile, this is an indicator that you should consider dental implants.
• Do you avoid eating certain foods because it hurts when you chew? The pain you feel when eating your favorite food could be due to dead, decaying, or infected teeth. And you don’t have to continue living this way. After consulting with your dentist you could find that the teeth need pulled and replaced with dental implants.
• Are you tired of the continual maintenance and discomfort of your current dentures or bridges? Imagine not having to clean your dentures anymore, or never having to schedule recurring appointments to have your dental bridge readjusted!

Benefits of Implants versus Dentures and Bridges

• Durable — Take care of your implants and they will last forever.
• Permanent — No messy adhesive. No embarrassing slippage. Implants are comfortable and part of you. No removal necessary!
• Natural Look — Because they are designed to fuse with your bone, implants look and feel like your own teeth. You’ll brush and floss just as you do with your own teeth, so caring for them isn’t complicated.
• Easier Eating — People who have missing teeth, sensitive teeth, or dental prosthetics such as dentures or bridges may need to avoid eating certain foods. Dental implants can make it easier to eat with more security and stability.
• Improved Confidence and Self-Esteem – You’ll want to show off your beautiful smile. According to a 2016 report from the North Carolina Oral Health Collaborative: Poor oral health can significantly diminish quality of life in a number of ways – the most obvious being a person’s ability to eat, sleep and speak. However, there are also social and economic consequences that can impact a person’s job readiness and performance, and ultimately the economic stability of communities. A survey of North Carolina adults revealed that the impact of oral health on job readiness is greatest among those from low-income households.

How Dental Implants Work

Treatment generally is a three-part process that takes several months, according to the American Dental Association:

Step 1) The dentist surgically places the implant in the jaw, with the top of the implant slightly above the top of the bone. A screw is inserted into the implant to prevent gum tissue and other debris from entering. The gum then is secured over the implant. The implant will remain covered for approximately three to six months while it fuses with the bone, a process called “osseointegration.” There may be some swelling, tenderness or both for a few days after the surgery, so pain medication usually is prescribed to alleviate the discomfort. A diet of soft foods, cold foods and warm soup often is recommended during the healing process.

Step 2) The implant is uncovered and the dentist attaches an extension, called a post, to the implant. The gum tissue is allowed to heal around the post. Some implants require a second surgical procedure in which a post is attached to connect the replacement teeth. With other implants, the implant and post are a single unit placed in the mouth during the initial surgery. Once healed, the implant and post can serve as the foundation for the new tooth.

Step 3) The dentist makes a crown, which has a size, shape, color and fit that will blend with your other teeth. Once completed, the crown is attached to the implant post.

Why Bone Loss Matters

The portion of the jawbone that supports our teeth is known as the alveolar process. According to the National Institute of Health, several studies have found a link between the loss of alveolar bone and an increase in loose teeth and tooth loss.

Bone loss in the jawbone happens as a result of periodontal disease or tooth loss.

In the case of periodontitis, bacteria gradually eat away at the underlying jawbone and periodontal ligaments that connect the tooth to the bone. Teeth may become loose and eventually come out either by accident or because there simply is no health tissue left to hold them in place.

Signs and symptoms of periodontitis can include:

• Swollen or puffy gums
• Bright red, dusky red or purplish gums
• Gums that feel tender when touched
• Gums that bleed easily
• Gums that pull away from your teeth (recede), making your teeth look longer than normal
• New spaces developing between your teeth
• Pus between your teeth and gums
• Bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Painful chewing
• A change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite

A missing tooth also will cause bone loss. Whether a tooth is missing because it was removed or fell out, the underlying jawbone no longer experiences the pressure and stimulus of chewing that preserves it. Once a tooth is missing, 25 percent of bone underneath it is lost in the first year.

Think of a dental implant’s titanium root that is placed into the jawbone much like a screw you would use to hang a very heavy picture on the wall. That screw needs to be firmly embedded in the wall to hold the picture’s weight.

Putting a dental implant into healthy bone is like driving that screw right into the building stud — it’s not going anywhere! However, trying to put a dental implant in where there has been bone loss is like putting that screw into thin, old sheetrock. There’s not enough thickness to the wall to hold the screw in place, and when you hang the picture, its weight places stress all around the screw and the wall breaks apart and the picture falls. When there’s too little bone and not enough material into which to drive the screw, the screw could potentially go all the way through the bone into the sinus cavity. That’s not a good thing!

Replacing missing teeth with full or partial dentures doesn’t really solve the problem of bone loss because dentures put a very small amount of chewing pressure on the bone compared to natural teeth. Plus dentures can actually accelerate bone loss by slowly rubbing away at the jawbone much like how you see worn spots on old steps or handrails after years of use.

How to Treat Bone Loss

In cases where bone has already been lost, bone grafting might be needed to provide enough bone for dental implant placement. A bone graft not only replaces lost bone, it also stimulates the jawbone to regrow and eventually replaces the bone graft with the patient’s own, healthy bone. 

When your upper back teeth have been removed, the ridge bone resorbs and the sinus cavity expands, so that eventually the bone separating the sinus cavity and the oral cavity is very thin. In a sinus lift, the sinus is raised by gently pushing up the membrane lining the sinus away from your jaw and packing in bone graft material into the space where the sinus cavity was. 

You can take steps to prevent bone loss throughout your body now.

• Eat a well-balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamin D.
• Engage in regular physical activity or exercise. Weight-bearing activities—such as walking, jogging, dancing, and weight training—are the best for keeping bones strong.
• Don’t smoke, and limit alcohol intake.
• Report any problems with loose teeth, detached or receding gums, and loose or ill-fitting dentures to your dentist and your doctor.
• Brush your teeth for at least two minutes twice a day — in the morning and before bed — and floss at least once a day.
• See your dentist or dental hygienist regularly for cleanings, usually every six to 12 months. If you have risk factors that increase your chance of developing periodontitis — such as having dry mouth, taking certain medications or smoking — you may need professional cleaning more often.

Note that is has not been found that treatments for osteoporosis have any beneficial effects on oral health and bone loss.

What To Do If You’re Considering Dental Implants

Talk with your dentist about your oral health. With a careful evaluation of your current oral health and imaging to look at what’s going on beneath the gums, you and your dentist can discuss your options and come up with a plan.

Do all that you can to get your teeth and gums in the best health possible — talk about the deep cleaning of a dental scaling and planing, consider whether an electric toothbrush will make brushing more fun or using a waterpik be better than not flossing at all.

In the event that you have bone loss and want to proceed with dental implants, you can begin the process of treating the bone loss through grafting or sinus lift.

Take a renewed dedication to oral health and focus on your overall health too! For healthy living and for healthy teeth and gums, think before you eat and drink. 

• Drink plenty of water.
• Eat a variety of foods from each of the five major food groups, including: whole grain; fruits and vegetables; lean sources of protein such as lean beef, skinless poultry and fish, dry beans, peas and other legumes; low-fat and fat-free dairy foods
• Make smarter decisions by chewing sugarless gum, avoiding sodas, putting down the sticky or hard candies

At South Charlotte Dentistry, we’d love to talk to you about your oral health and how we can help you achieve the smile you deserve. Contact us today to schedule an appointment. We are open from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday. Call us at 704.759.0908 or visit us online at southcharlottedentistry.com to make an appointment.

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