Top 7 Gum Disease Factors

Learn More

South Charlotte Dentistry Encourages You to Brush Your Teeeth

Keep Your Teeth Healthy, Brush them Twice a Day

Improve Your Dental Health with Fluoridated Water

Fluoridated Water Improves Oral Health

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!

The Dangers of High-Protein Diets

Summer is right around the corner, which means most of us are looking to get that beach-worthy physique back. Popular these days are diets of high protein because they can help quickly shed the pounds. But, you might want to think twice about jumping right into such a plan, as high protein consumption can have negative impacts on your oral health if you’re not careful.

The potential problem with these protein-based diets is that protein promotes acid-production in your saliva. The more protein you eat, the more your saliva will fill up with acid in order to help with the digestion of the protein. The chemicals that protein content can actually harm your teeth in the long run. High-protein foods contain sulfur and phosphorous, which turn into sulfuric and phosphoric acids as your body digests the protein. So, get this: your body makes acid to digest the proteins you eat, plus, many foods you eat already have acidic components in them. That’s a lot of acid!

Too much acid in your saliva and mouth will de-mineralize your teeth, making them weak and brittle. The acids eat away at the minerals and enamel of your teeth, exposing them to various kinds of harmful bacteria that can cause tooth decay and loss, cavities, or periodontal disease (which affects your gum tissues). Sugar and other simple carbs can also put your mouth in danger of such oral health problems.

Did you know that the recommended protein consumption for men is 63 grams of protein, and for women it is 50 grams in a day? Yet most of us eat far more than that in a given day. So, when you purposely up the level of your protein intake, you also are further increasing risks to your teeth. Such diets might trim your waistline but just be aware that they can also trim your tooth enamel.

It is so important to think about increasing your intake of fruits and veggies, especially when consuming a lot of protein, because they are good for your health and your teeth.  Americans do not eat nearly enough fruits and vegetables, so perhaps the better dieting strategy would be to eat those plus lean proteins and to cut out processed foods and ready-made snacks. Reach for nuts over chips, for some blueberries instead of a cupcake, lean meats over fattening pizza. Your waistline will trim down and you don’t risk so much damage to your teeth’s enamel.

Tips for Oral Health and Special Diets:

Still want to go on that high-protein, low-carb diet? That’s ok—go for it. Just follow a few preventative steps to ensure you don’t lose weight and also, eventually, lose teeth too.

1.      Keep a toothbrush and toothpaste with you, as well as, dental floss and travel-size Listerine. Store a set at the office, or keep them together in a zip-lock baggie in your gym bag or purse. If you keep these items with you, you can easily floss, brush, and use mouthwash after every meal when you are away from home.

2.      Brush after every meal and snack. The more consistent you are with brushing, the more consistent you will be at removing the acids that can eat away your teeth.

3.      Don’t forget to floss! Brushing alone removes some, but not all, of the food material that can become plaque—and it is plaque that is the culprit, acting like acidic paste sitting on your teeth. Flossing gets the extra bits of food out from between your teeth, which ensures less acidity in your mouth.

4.      Use a fluoride mouthwash. This is the best way to repair tooth enamel, because fluoride strengthens the enamel you already have and, when used consistently, can promote the rebuilding of tooth enamel over the long run. Use at least once a day, before bed (after a good brushing and flossing!), and it is not a bad idea to use it in the morning before you head to work. The key is not to drink any liquids for 30 minutes after using a fluoride mouthwash so that the fluoride has that half-hour window in which to act on your teeth.

The key is to think about moderation when selecting the diet you follow to get your body ready for summer! Moderately increase your intake of protein as well as fruits and veggies, and decrease eating sugary or processed foods. Talk with your dental hygienist about the best practices to follow for good oral health when changing your diet.

Written by Andrae Bergeron - CCP Web Design

Visiting the Dentist has Never Been Easier with South Charlotte Dentistry

South Charlotte Dentistry Encourages You to Come in for a Check Up

Do You Need a Root Canal?

The Steps of a Root Canal

Are You Deciding to Get a Dental Implant? What You Should Know Before

Pros and Cons of Dental Implants

Back To the Future!—of Dentistry

Ah, the eighties! Shoulder pads, big hair, bigger braces! Times and trends have changed, both in fashion and in dentistry.

Gone are the days of walking into an uncomfortable waiting room with stacks of decade-old magazines and the sounds of drilling in the background. Today’s waiting rooms, by and large, are comfortable with music, televisions, and a welcoming face behind the desk there to help you.

Scheduling options have improved with more offices offering expanded hours and online appointment scheduling. Reminders can be emailed to you or maybe you prefer a text message, helping you keep your busy day on track.

Dentists today explain procedures to you as they go along, openly discuss treatment options, and use hi-tech equipment. And though the drills are still there, they are more precise and not nearly as noisy!

Here are some ways visiting the dentist has changed in recent years:

Hygiene and safety are serious business at the dentist. You will see clean and sanitized and newly opened equipment in use. Staff are wearing gloves and masks for your protection and comfort and will ask you if you have any medical conditions they need to be aware of.

Teamwork! Your dentist and dental team are there to help you. More than ever, you will notice that the dentist or hygienist is telling you what they are doing as they go along, taking away some of the fear of years gone by when you just laid in the chair and hoped for the best! They will explain every step as they go and make sure you are as comfortable as possible. For your benefit, be clear about any discomfort or issues you have been having prior to your examination.

Dental insurance. Decades ago, many people did not have the option of obtaining dental insurance through their employer or on their own. With multiple options available now, the staff at the dentist is able to discuss what your procedure will cost in advance whenever possible so you will not be caught unaware. Many dentists will work with you if you don’t have insurance, and another popular option that did not used to exist is buying a dental care package directly through your dentist. This annual plan will include cleanings, x-rays, and discounted procedures.

Extended office hours are becoming more common at dental offices around the country. Knowing that many people have day jobs and limited flexibility, South Charlotte Dentistry opens at 7:30 a.m. Monday-Thursday so you can arrive at work with a smile! In many communities, there are emergency dental offices open in the evenings and weekends for those issues that just cannot wait.

Advancements in X-rays. These aren’t your grandma’s X-rays! The first use of x-rays within dentistry, in the United States, took place in 1896. Advances in dentistry and the availability of the equipment grew and x-rays became part of the normal dental routine in the 1950s.

3-D imaging has become more popular as machines have become more advanced and more available in the medical community. Popular for ultrasounds, mammograms, and other uses, they are helping doctors and dentists better diagnose health issues, while making it easier on the patient. This truly is technology changing lives.

A cavity’s best friend. Fillings used to appear silver and were in fact made of a combination of metals including: tin, zinc, copper, and silver. White fillings (a composite material) started becoming popular in the 1980s. The silver amalgam and white fillings are both still used in dental practices. So, what’s new? We now know that fillings, while strong, don’t last forever and advancements in X-rays and exam techniques will help discover issues much sooner.

A brighter smile is now possible!

A designer smile can now be yours! 30 or so years ago, you pretty much had to work with what you had. According to the ADA (American Dental Association), around 1990 there was a turning point with new tooth-colored restorative materials, plus increased usage of bleaching, veneers, and implants.

Whitening of teeth was very rare until recent years. Before, it seemed like only movie stars and models had truly pearly whites. Today you can choose from whitening options including bleaching and whitening trays.

Restorative dentistry has seen great advancements in the last twenty years. In the past, if you had a tooth removed, you learned to live with that gap in your mouth, or many gaps. Missing teeth can be unattractive, but missing teeth also make the remaining teeth work harder.  We provide restorative, or prosthodontic, dentistry at South Charlotte Dentistry. This process involves repairing or replacing bad teeth in order to restore the mouth. This can involve are multiple procedures, including using fillings, crowns, veneers, bridges, dental implants, and partial dentures. The main goal of restorative dentistry is to preserve the natural teeth as much as possible and to give you the smile you deserve. The use of dental implants, partial dentures, and other restorative tools is important if teeth must be removed.

Braces used to be the first thing you noticed if someone had them and some kids just wanted to avoid having them altogether.  Traditional braces caused sores, were tricky to keep clean, and restricted enjoying many favorite snacks. Having straighter teeth is beneficial for appearance, but also the health of your teeth. A popular option for youth and adults today is Invisilign Braces. Less invasive and more attractive, this modern approach utilizes a series of custom-made aligners.

New ideas:

Pediatric dentistry. Specialty dentists for kids began popping up around 15 years ago. Dentists can be intimidating for kids and grown-ups alike, so these new specialty pediatric practices feature graphics, games, and friendly and familiar themes making kids feel engaged and safe. (In general, they’ve had additional and specialized training in pediatric dentistry and can work with babies through teens.)

No gain from pain. Many people tended to only go the dentist when they were in pain, thus, the opportunity to prevent issues was often lost and going to the dentist became associated with discomfort and, for some, trauma. Getting into the habit of twice-yearly check-ups with cleanings will allow the dentist to look for problems in advance of you having to have a dental emergency. X-rays, oral exams, and cleanings will detect current and potential future problems. Most dental insurance plans cover much, if not all, of this cost and offer discounts on any additional procedures required. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.” Though he was actually referring to fire safety, it works for teeth too!

Gum disease used to be something patients just “lived with.” Gum disease is generally not curable but it is treatable and more importantly, preventable. Prevent gum disease by seeing your dentist on a regular basis. Early stages can be treated with a dental hygiene therapy called scaling and root planning. Periodontitis, or gum disease, affects nearly half of all American adults, but at South Charlotte Dentistry, we have a two-step plan in place with dental scaling and root planning.  While it might sound scary or like an outdoor adventure, the treatment is actually a deep cleaning measure that helps fight back against gum disease. This is a nonsurgical procedure to treat your teeth and gums against plaque, bacteria, and tartar deposits.

Beyond the teeth. Checking for oral cancer is another recent addition to a routine dental check-up. Your dentist can examine your oral tissues easily by looking at your lips and inside your mouth, as well as, check your gingivae (gums) carefully, the inside of your cheeks, and your tongue (the sides and underneath).

According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, approximately 53,000 people in the United States will be newly diagnosed with some form of oral cancer in 2019. Oral cancer, which includes cancers of the lips, tongue, cheeks, floor of the mouth, hard and soft palate, sinuses, and pharynx (throat), can be life threatening if not diagnosed and treated early.

Relax, there are options. Many people fear going to the dentist and the potential pain of dental treatments. In the past, they had little options and would avoid getting badly needed dental work and even check-ups, but today there is I.V. sedation. Intravenous (I.V.) sedation has become more common and works well for those with fear of the dentist and dental procedures. It is also ideal for patients whose fear of dentistry has led to a large amount of dental work needing to be completed.  I.V. Sedation is also used for outpatient procedures, like colonoscopies. Referred to as “twilight sleep,” you will wake with little or no memory of the procedure. Anesthesia is given via the I.V. and recovery requires someone take you to/from the procedure.

Healthy at home, advancements and options:

Toothbrushes, flossing, and water piks, oh my! Advances in types of toothbrushes have made cleaning your teeth much more thorough and even fun! Gone is the “one size fits all” toothbrushes of 20-30 years ago. Now there are multiple sizes, types of bristles, easy to grip handles, and electronic versions on the market in all price ranges. Be sure to brush at least twice a day.

Flossing is an important thing to do at least daily (after every meal is ideal) to remove plaque and excess food particles. Many types of floss are on the market now (vs. one type fits all 20 or so years ago). Flavored floss, flosser sticks (or picks), waxed and unwaxed string floss, dental tape, electric flossers, and natural floss are all available options.

Water picks (the most commonly known one being manufactured by Waterpik) are water flossers that are handy for reaching those hard to get to teeth in the back.  These come in a variety of price points and models, from table top to hand held.

With all dental tools, check with your dentist about the best fit for you before making any purchases.

Because of advancements in knowledge, we can now clearly connect heart disease to poor oral health: *

Poor oral health has been debated as a possible cause of heart disease for many years. In 2012, experts from the American Heart Association reviewed the available scientific evidence and concluded that poor oral health hasn’t been proven to cause heart disease — and that treating existing gum disease hasn’t been proven to reduce the risk of heart disease. Still, studies have shown:

• Gum disease (periodontitis) is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease.
• Poor dental health increases the risk of a bacterial infection in the blood stream, which can affect the heart valves. Oral health may be particularly important if you have artificial heart valves.
• Tooth loss patterns are connected to coronary artery disease.
• There is a strong connection between diabetes and cardiovascular disease and evidence that people with diabetes benefit from periodontal treatment.

Even though oral health isn’t a key to heart disease prevention, it’s important to take care of your teeth and gums:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
• Floss daily.
• Schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings.

The connection between oral health and overall health:*

Did you know that your oral health offers clues about your overall health — or that problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body? Protect yourself by learning more about the connection between your oral health and overall health.

• Like many areas of the body, your mouth is teeming with bacteria — most of them harmless. Normally the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep these bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease.
• In addition, certain medications — such as decongestants, antihistamines, painkillers, diuretics and antidepressants — can reduce saliva flow. Saliva washes away food and neutralizes acids produced by bacteria in the mouth, helping to protect you from microbial invasion or overgrowth that might lead to disease.
• Studies also suggest that oral bacteria and the inflammation associated with periodontitis — a severe form of gum disease — might play a role in some diseases. In addition, certain diseases, such as diabetes and HIV/AIDS, can lower the body’s resistance to infection, making oral health problems more severe.

Your oral health might contribute to various diseases and conditions, including: Endocarditis, Premature birth and low birth weight, Diabetes, HIV/AIDS, Osteoporosis, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Even if you still have big hair, shoulder pads or drive your DeLorean to the office, the team here at South Charlotte Dentistry is ready to treat your dental health needs now, and into the future!

*Mayo Clinic

Limiting Alcohol Improves Your Dental Health

How to Improve Your Dental Health

Visiting the Dentist Regularly can Improve Your Dental Health

How to Improve Your Dental Health

Controlling Your Blood Sugar can Improve Your Dental Health

How to Improve Your Dental Health

South Charlotte Dentistry Wishes you a Happy Holidays

Take Care of Your Teeth This Holiday Season

All I Want for Christmas is: Dental Insurance

Dear Santa,

I’ve been very good this year! I’ve brushed my teeth in the morning, in the evening and after every meal! I’ve cut down on sweets! I floss my teeth at least once each and every day! I replaced my toothbrush every three months! And I smiled as often as possible!

Oh, please, Santa Claus, may I have dental insurance? I promise to keep up the good work and leave you the best cookies money can buy!

Sincerely,

Everyone

Having dental insurance can be very beneficial for your overall oral health and physical health, most plans include bi-annual cleanings and check-ups as well as basic x-rays. It’s also good for your financial health, providing peace of mind that these needs will be met and that often additional procedures (such as fillings and extractions) will be covered at a lower rate than if you paid for these yourself out of pocket.

Regular preventive care can catch problems before they become expensive to treat, not to mention painful.

Why is Oral Health so important?

Like many areas of the body, your mouth is teeming with bacteria — most of them harmless. Normally the body’s natural defenses and good oral health care, such as daily brushing and flossing, can keep these bacteria under control. However, without proper oral hygiene, bacteria can reach levels that might lead to oral infections, such as tooth decay and gum disease.*

Your oral health might contribute to various diseases and conditions, including: *

• Endocarditis. Endocarditis is an infection of the inner lining of your heart (endocardium). Endocarditis typically occurs when bacteria or other germs from another part of your body, such as your mouth, spread through your bloodstream and attach to damaged areas in your heart.
• Cardiovascular disease. Some research suggests that heart disease, clogged arteries and stroke might be linked to the inflammation and infections that oral bacteria can cause.
• Pregnancy and birth. Periodontitis has been linked to premature birth and low birth weight.

Certain conditions also might affect your oral health, including:*

• Diabetes. Diabetes reduces the body’s resistance to infection — putting the gums at risk. Gum disease appears to be more frequent and severe among people who have diabetes. Research shows that people who have gum disease have a harder time controlling their blood sugar levels, and that regular periodontal care can improve diabetes control.
• HIV/AIDS. Oral problems, such as painful mucosal lesions, are common in people who have HIV/AIDS.
• Osteoporosis. Osteoporosis — which causes bones to become weak and brittle — might be linked with periodontal bone loss and tooth loss. Drugs used to treat osteoporosis carry a small risk of damage to the bones of the jaw.
• Alzheimer’s disease. Worsening oral health is seen as Alzheimer’s disease progresses.

Other conditions that might be linked to oral health include eating disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, head and neck cancers, and Sjogren’s syndrome — an immune system disorder that causes dry mouth.*

Finding and Buying Dental Insurance.

Many people have a dental plan through their employer, (about 90%) but for everyone else, it’s up to you to find dental insurance that works with your needs and budget. It’s also important to check in advance to see if your particular dental practice accepts that form of insurance, otherwise, you may need to switch dental providers or pay out of pocket after all. You should also understand what the cancellation policy is should you wish to cancel and if there are additional fees when you begin or end the policy.

Through the Affordable Care Act, dental insurance is available as an add-on to health insurance plans, and the premiums vary. Annually, if you qualify, you can sign up for a plan from November 1-December 15 (dates may vary). This can be a cost-effective way of insuring your health needs. However, you cannot buy an independent dental-only policy this way.

There are also various dental plans available on the open market and most allow you to pay the premium monthly, thus enabling you to budget for this expense.

The benefits you will receive on your dental plan may vary, but the most common benefits are: Free, in-network bi-annual check-ups and discounts on procedures and treatments, such as fillings, crowns, and extractions.

If you have a major dental repair on the horizon, for instance, a crown, there may be a longer waiting period before your new dental insurance will cover some of the expense, carefully check in advance so you don’t have any surprises. Here at South Charlotte Dentistry, we will assist you by contacting your insurance company in advance when possible to determine the amount that they will cover, so you can budget for the balance.

A sampling of dental insurers in North Carolina:

Delta Dental www.deltadental.com

Anthem www.anthem.com

Blue Cross Blue Shield NC www.bluecrossnc.com

AARP (for seniors 50 and older) www.aarp.org

AFLAC www.aflac.com

Humana www.humana.com

United Health Care www.uhc.com

Low-income children in North Carolina who do not qualify for Medicaid may be able to obtain health and dental insurance through the North Carolina Health Choice Health Insurance Program for Children (www.ncdhhs.gov). Various Medicare Advantage Plans are available for seniors. Visiting a site such as www.esurance.com may allow you one-stop shopping for your dental needs.

South Charlotte Dentistry does not endorse or recommend one dental company over another and recommends you shop carefully, understand what your premium and policy covers and determine if South Charlotte Dentistry is part of their on-network coverage if you wish to continue your care with us.

The difference between Dental Insurance and Dental Saving Plans.

Dental Insurance is just that, insurance, offering basic to comprehensive coverage (depending on the dental plan you select) for exams and pays a portion on most other procedures. Generally, if you choose a dentist in-network, your bi-annual exams will be at no cost. Bi-annual exams include cleaning, exam, and x-rays as required.

Dental Savings Plans can often look like insurance and are offered by major insurance carriers, but they are discount plans and not comprehensive coverage. These usually offer discounts for a variety of dental services at dentists included in their plans.

As for Dental Insurance, there are numerous options and monthly premiums, as well as out-of-pocket limits and deductibles. It’s very important you find a plan that matches your needs. If you have a child or children in your household and are considering a family plan, check for the pediatric restrictions as well as orthodontic coverage.

Some plans only cover basic check-ups, some offer discounts on procedures, such as fillings (say, 50% covered) and others may have waiting periods before you can have something major done, such as a crown. More insurance companies are offering to cover part of orthodontic work, but usually the limit is low and there is a waiting period (typically 12 months). To determine which plan is for you, read the plan limitations carefully before signing up. Many websites have comparison charts that are easy to read and understand, so you get what you are looking for at a price you can afford.

Billing options vary among insurers, make sure you can meet their payment requirements, you may need a credit card or an automatic draw from a bank account.

By the numbers:

Per the National Association of Dental Plans:

At year-end 2016, there were approximately 249.1 million Americans or 77 percent of the population with dental benefits. The large increase in publicly funded benefits is primarily the result of improved CMS data on adults with access to Medicaid dental benefits.

Two-thirds or 164.2 million Americans have private dental coverage. About 90% of Americans with private coverage get their benefits through an employer or other group program like AARP. Another 7.1% buy individual coverage, while just less than 3% obtaining dental benefits as part of a medical plan. Another 83.9 million Americans receive dental benefits through public programs like Medicaid, the federal Children’s Health Insurance Program, Medicare Advantage, and Indian Health Services.

Individuals without dental benefits are more likely to have extractions and dentures and less likely to have restorative care or receive treatment for gum disease. Furthermore, those without dental benefits report higher incidences of other illness; they are

• 67 percent more likely to have heart disease;
• 50 percent more likely to have osteoporosis; and
• 29 percent more likely to have diabetes.

They also visit the dentist less frequently—missing the opportunity for prevention and early treatment. Many of them account for over 2 million visits to emergency rooms for dental treatment annually.

There are many compelling reasons to make sure you visit your dentist for regular check-ups and preventive care and a lack of care can lead to poor oral health and potentially poor physical health.

Dental care is important for all stages of life.

Children’s dental health starts early with the importance of brushing teeth and learning good oral hygiene habits and becoming comfortable with visiting their dentist. Children may have pain during the transition of Deciduous teeth (commonly known as milk, baby or temporary teeth) to Adult (or permanent) teeth, treatment of cavities, extractions, possible orthodontic needs and young adults may have impacted wisdom teeth that need removed (third and final set of molars).

In adults, check-ups are essential to determine the need for fillings, crowns, inlays, extractions, look for signs of gum disease and cancers of the mouth. Adults may also wish to have teeth straightened, whitened or investigate other cosmetic dentistry options.

Older adults may need extractions in order to prepare for dentures, partial dentures or other prosthetic devices constructed to replace missing teeth. Additionally, older adults should have regular exams to look for signs of gum disease, cancers of the mouth, and to determine the need for any additional treatments.

Follow your heart.

Many studies have shown a connection between gum disease (periodontitis) and other serious conditions, including heart disease. Research suggests that periodontitis is associated with an increased risk of developing heart disease and that people with chronic gum disease have increased thickness of their neck blood vessels. There is also a strong correlation between diabetes and cardiovascular disease, and evidence that people with diabetes benefit from professional teeth cleanings.*

Even though oral health isn’t a key to heart disease prevention, it’s important to take care of your teeth and gums:*

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day.
• Floss daily.
• Replace your toothbrush every three months — or sooner if the bristles become bent.
• Schedule regular dental checkups and cleanings.

The peace of mind that comes with having a dental insurance policy can go a long way in helping you stay on task with your oral health care and allow you to manage your budget as well as better plan for expenses related to your dental care needs.

If Mariah Carey could sing it again, perhaps her popular holiday song’s lyrics would be, “All I Want for Christmas is-Dental Insurance!”

*Mayo Clinic (www.mayoclinic.org)

Warning Signs of Gum Disease this Holiday Season

The Six Major Warning Signs of Gum Disease

Cosmetic Dentistry has come a long way - Let Us Show You How We Can Improve Your Smile

We Offer a Calm, Peaceful Atmosphere - Come In and See For Yourself.

Oral Health is Linked to Good Health - Visit Your Dentist

Worry Free Dentistry - Give Us a Call!