When shopping for dental insurance you first need to identify your own dental care needs and what you want in a dental insurance plan.  Here are few questions to ask yourself so you can find a dental insurance plan that can best fit your dental care needs.  

1) Do you need a dental insurance plan that your dentist/dental office accepts? If so it helpful to find out want dental insurance plan they are a provider of head of time.  
2) What are your current dental needs?  Knowing what your current dental needs will help you find a plan that will provide benefits at the best coverage.  
3) What are your long term dental care needs?  Understanding your long term dental care needs with also let you shop for a dental insurance plan that can best fit those needs as well.  
4) Are you wanting an cosmetic dental care services? It is important to understand the most dental insurance plan do not provide benefits on cosmetic dental services. Therefore you may want to review dental discount plans in order to get saving off your cosmetic dental care needs.  
5) Will you need specialist dental care?  Such as for 1 though 5 year old’s may need to see a pediatric dentist.  If so make sure the plan provide coverage’s for specialist.

Temporomandibular Disorder is one of the most common causes of jaw pain. Temporomandibular Disorder has many different causes, and it affects the temperomandibular joint of the jaw. Besides causing jaw pain, Temporomandibular Disorder can also cause the jaw to become locked, or stuck, cause popping or clicking sound in the jaw which occurs during chewing and opening and closing of the mouth. Medical attention is required to determine the individual cause and course of treatment for Temporomandibular Disorder. If you feel you may have Temporomandibular Disorder make sure to talk to your dentist about it.

Is it normal to use one?

Yes in fact more and more tooth brushes are including a tongue scraper right on the back of the brush. You can use a tongues scraper or you can brush your tongue. This helps in not only having a clean mouth but helps kill the germs that you may have on your tongue

You can walk into almost any store and the tooth brush sections  is over filled with many different choices.   What is the best toothbrush?  How do you know which one will be the best?  It is simple it is the one you are going to use. 

There is no real different between an electric toothbrush and a manual as far as one being better then the other.  It is all in what you prefer.  Manual tooth brushes are normally cheaper in cost then the electric ones.  They are easier to travel with and cheaply replaceable.  Electric toothbrushes  vibrate which some people like the feel on their teeth and gums.   Some have timers on them so you can make sure you are brushing at least the two minutes recommended time period. 

Kids tend to like the electric ones just for the fun of it which may make them brush more.   So try out the different types and see which ones you like and will be willing to use as recommended two times a day.

According to A group of researchers at the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom, sparking water can  harm your teeth .   In fact, they found that flavored sparkling water has as much or more of an erosive effect on teeth than orange juice, which is known to be very erosive to the teeth.

Questions: I have bad breath, and would like to know what are the natural treatments for bad breath?  

Answer: Having bad breath is a common complaint that afflicts many people. It is caused by the presence of bacteria in the oral cavity. Bacterial growth can occur due to many reasons, and in many places that may cause a foul odor to emanate from your mouth. Usually the most common reason is infrequent brushing leading to bacterial decomposition of leftover food particles in your mouth and in between your teeth. 

Also, certain kinds of food like garlic and onion tend to make your mouth smell as they themselves have strong odors. The disintegrating food particles may cause foul odors to emanate from your mouth, from the skin of your tongue, the gaps in your teeth from under the gums.   B

ad breath is caused by a variety of factors, the primary one being the breakdown of proteins from food particles in the mouth by bacteria. Certain kinds of food and drink are also responsible as they have strong smells as well, like onions, cheese, tobacco, and garlic.  Bad breath may also be caused by throat infections, dental decay, worms in the intestinal tract, constipation, gum diseases, gastritis, and accumulation of food between the teeth. In short, any sort of bacterial build up in the gastrointestinal tract can lead to bad breath.

Does the plan give you the freedom to choose your own dentist or are you restricted to a panel of dentists selected by the insurance company? If you have a family dentist with whom you are satisfied, consider the effects changing dentists will have on the quality or quantity of care you receive. Because regular visits to the dentist reduce the likelihood of developing serious dental disease, it’s best to have and maintain an established relationship with a dentist you trust. 

Who controls treatment decisions–you and your dentist or the dental plan? Many plans require dentists to follow treatment plans that rely on a Least Expensive Alternative Treatment (LEAT) approach. If there are multiple treatment options for a specific condition, the plan will pay for the less expensive treatment option.  If you choose a treatment option that may better suit your individual needs and your long-term oral health, you will be responsible for paying the difference in costs. It’s important to know who makes the treatment decisions under your plan. These cost control measures may have an impact on the quality of care you’ll receive. 

Does the plan cover diagnostic, preventive and emergency services? If so, to what extent? Most dental plans provide coverage for selected diagnostic services, preventive care and emergency treatment that are basic for maintaining good oral health.  Yet the extent or frequency of the services covered by some plans may be limited. Depending upon your individual oral health needs, you may be required to pay the dentist directly for a portion of this basic care.

Find out how much treatment is allowed in any given year without cost to you, and how much you will have to pay for yourself.   Such as:

• Initial Oral Examination-once per dentist
• Recall Examinations—-twice per year
• Complete x-ray survey—-once every three years
• Cavity-detecting bite-wing x-rays—-once per year
• Prophylaxis or teeth cleaning—-twice per year
• Topical Fluoride treatment—-twice per year
• Sealants—-for those under age 18

Question: I have a friend that likes to eat toothpaste, she does it all the time but I thought that would be bad for you.

Answer: Yes! If your friend is eating tooth paste with fluoride. Fluoride is toxic. On most tooth paste with fluoride you can read a warning label. Note below:

ADA POSITIONS & STATEMENTS  ADA STATEMENT ON FDA TOOTHPASTE WARNING LABELS  The American Dental Association’s (ADA) Council on Scientific Affairs believes that one part of the warning now required on fluoride toothpastes by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) could unnecessarily frighten parents and children, and that the label greatly overstates any demonstrated or potential danger posed by fluoride toothpastes.  The label language, “If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, seek professional help or contact a poison control center immediately” is now required on all fluoride toothpastes. But the ADA, in a letter sent to the FDA last year, pointed out that a child could not absorb enough fluoride from toothpaste to cause a serious problem and that the excellent safety record on fluoride toothpaste argues against any unnecessary regulation.  Recent media coverage has focused attention on the safety of fluoride toothpastes, but the coverage has not revealed that the ADA limited the amount of fluoride allowed in ADA-Accepted toothpaste years ago for this reason.   In addition, back in 1991, the ADA began requiring that toothpaste manufacturers include the following language on all ADA-Accepted toothpastes: “Do not swallow. Use only a pea-sized amount for children under six. To prevent swallowing, children under six years of age should be supervised in the use of toothpaste.” The new FDA labels are consistent with the ADA statements, with the exception of the poison control warning.  The ADA warning labels were required to help reduce the risk of mild fluorosis, which is a cosmetic defect noticeable as very light spots on permanent teeth and develops only while the teeth are still forming. Fluorosis only occurs when more than the optimal daily amount of fluoride is ingested.  Through its ADA Seal of Acceptance program, the toothpaste manufacturers must submit clinical data to the ADA in order to meet its guidelines on safety and effectiveness. Additionally, all products with the ADA Seal must submit the product’s advertising and packaging for review so that consumers and dentists have assurance that the claims the product makes are supported by the clinical data.

Question: Do to a job change I no longer have dental insurance. It is very important that I maintain dental insurance for my health care. I have diabetes and because of my diabetes I have on and off again problems with my teeth. I have problems mostly with my gums but I also get many cavities due to being a diabetic. I have to see my dentist every three months just so I can keep my teeth in good shape. So I would like to know if getting dental insurance is going to be a problem with having diabetes? Also I do not want to change dentist since mine knows about my diabetes and I like the way he takes care of me. I do not know where to look for dental insurance and I want to make sure I will be covered for my future dental needs.

Answer: Most dental insurance plans do not exclude for pre-existing. You being diabetic and having dental care under the plan should not be an issue. However just read terms and conditions of the plans you are viewing. Most dental insurance will not cover work in progress which is not what you have. The other factor you mention was about keeping your current dentist. I would suggest calling your dental office up and finding out what plans they are a provider of. This will save you from reviewing plans they they do not accept. If you have to buy a PPO or Indemnity dental insurance plan in order to stay with your current dentist then make sure you carefully read the plans term and conditions, since these types of plans will normally have waiting periods and maximum limitations that may effect your current dental care needs.

Question: Right now I an in school so I do not get benefits from my part time job. Is it possible for me to get dental insurance on my own? I do not have a lot of money but want to have some dental for my oral health needs.

Answer: Since you are looking for a lower cost dental insurance plan I would suggest reviewing any dental HMO options available in your state. Dental HMO insurance plans are the more affordable plans with fewer limitations, however you will need to go to a plan provider. You may so want to review any dental discount plans that are available to you in your state. As dental discount plans make dental care more affordable for a very monthly cost.

Question: I am self employed and I have been looking for good dental insurance plan for my family.   What I am finding are plans that do not cover much and has a max limit of  $1000.00 – $2000.00.  I want something that does not have a max limit and overs better coverages without all the waiting periods.   

Answer: It is common for dental PPO or Indemnity dental insurance plans to have waiting periods and maximum limitations. You may want to review any HMO insurance options that are available to you in your state. HMO insurance plans generally do not have those types of restrictions and limitations.

Question: I am in need of a low cost dental insurance plan for my daughter.  My daughter is six years old and is missing a tooth.  The dentist told us that at this point it does not look like she will be getting an adult tooth either.    I was informed that when she looses all her baby teeth she will need to get braces in.  Right now I am paying for a space maintainer.  But once her adult teeth come in she will need an implant.  You can see were her dental cost are getting higher and higher.  I really need help with the increasing cost I am going to have with my daughter dental health care.   

Answer: You may want to get a second option about her not having an adult tooth to replace the baby tooth that may have came out too soon.  Most dental insurance plans at this time do not offer benefits for dental implants. Though getting dental insurance for you and your daughter is a good idea. The sooner the better since dental plans like PPO or Indemnity dental insurance plans have waiting periods for basic and major dental services.  If cost is an issue you may want to review any of our HMO insurance options. HMO insurance plans are the lower cost dental insurance option, however you will need to choose a dentist in their provider network.  This may mean having to change current dentist if your current providers do not on any HMO plans.    

I suggest reviewing our dental insurance plan options just by entering in your zip code in the quote box provided. After reviewing any of our dental insurance plans, if you have any questions call our member service line at 310-534-3444 as they will be happy to assist you with the available plan options provided on our website.

I was wondering if there are any dental insurance plans that cover for cosmetic services?  My current dental plan will not cover for me to have any dental cosmetic services such as teeth whitening, veneers or dental implants. That said I would still like to have some help with the cost of cosmetic dental services.  I have yet to find a dental insurance that will cover for cosmetic services.    

Reply: Most dental insurance plan to not offer benefits/coverage’s for cosmetic dental care services. So it may be hard to find one that dose. However you may want to review a  dental discount plan options such as Careington. With a dental discount plan you save off all your dental care needs including cosmetic services.  Generally your average discounted saving on cosmetic dental services is around 15% to 20% not bad on a plan that cost you less then $10.00 a month for an individual.

I have large dental fears so I can not go to just any general dentist since even for just a cleaning I need to have a specialist knock me out. Because of my dental fears, I have to pay more money for my dental services which my current dental insurance will not cover, since they will only cover me on UCR for general dental prices.   Where can I get a dental insurance that will insured for specialist?  I try explaining to my dental insurance that I do not see a specialist just to have it cost more but they state it does not matter it is up to me where I go and the coverages are what I get if I go to a specialist for my fears.   

Reply: You may want to review a dental discount plan. With a dental discount plan you will save at least 20% off the cost of any plan specialist. Compare the benefits you current receive and see if that is better or worse then saving 20% with a dental discount plan. You also may want to try weaning your self off of going to a dental specialist all the time.  There are great general dentist that deal well with people that have dental fears. At least may be get the simple things done at a general dentist.

I do not have dental insurance and I live out here in OK. I need two dental crowns for my teeth. I was also told that I should have a small cavity filled before it becomes a bigger issue. I just do not have the money needed. My dentist quoted me 2875.00 for two crowns and fillings. Where can I go to get the dental work need for half that cost. Because that is about all the extra money I have right now to spend on my teeth care. Please advise or give suggestions.

Reply: You may want to review either any dental discount plan options or HMO insurance plan options that are available to you in your State. Both of this options are lower cost plans, but more importantly they do not have waiting periods for the dental care services you current need. Now whether or not they are half the cost that you are getting quoted for on not I can not say you would need to review each plan and see which you feel best fits your needs. But both plan types to help to reduce your dental care cost compared to not having anything.

Where can I go to get dental implant work done at a low cost? I do not have dental insurance and a dental discount plan is not cutting it for me.  I bought a discount plan thinking it may help and it not like I did not get any discount savings, it is just was not enough. With what the dentist told me I needed, even with the 20 percent discount they said they were giving me under my discount plan, I could still never afford to have the dental implants done. I am not putting the plan down it just does not work for me.  Where can I go to either get free to low cost dental work done?  

Reply: Finding an insurance plan that cover for dental implants may be very difficult since most dental insurance plans do not provide benefits on the cost of implants at this time.  Receiving a 20% savings on the cost of dental implants under a discount plan is about average so I do not think you will find a higher percentage with any other discount plan at least for the dental implant services.   I would suggest going to a dental school or clinic for lower cost dental care services they will normally base their cost to some degree on what you can afford to pay. Yet as far as dental implants I am not sure they provide implant services and if they do you want to make sure on cost as I can not see them providing it for free.

I do not have any major issues with my teeth.  Yet just to have a dental check up, X-rays and cleaning without insurance is costing me over $200.00  I am just looking for a cheap low cost dental insurance plan for an individual. Something that will pay for my office visit, X-rays and cleaning’s 100 percent.  The rest I do not care about since I  take really good care of my teeth. I really do not see me worrying about having to have any need for major dental work. 

Reply: You have a few options,  you may want to review an HMO dental insurance plan. Dental HMO plans are normally the lower cost dental insurance option ranging around $10.00 – $20.00 a month for and individual. Most dental HMO plans offer preventive care such as two cleaning a year, office visits and X-rays for free.  With and HMO dental insurance plan you will need to choose a dentist within their network of providers. 

However, if you are wanting to keep your current dentist, there are lower cost PPO plans that only offer preventive services or preventive services and fillings coverage’s.  However it is important to note buying this type of plan, it will not provide benefits beyond check ups, x-rays, cleaning’s and in some cases fillings. Therefore if you where to have larger dental care needs you will not have any coverage.

Question: I am looking for dental insurance where I am not paying for my dental services in full to my dentist then having to wait to get my money back from the dental insurance company. Right now that is how my current dental insurance works. I am willing to drop that plan although it does pay out well so that I am not having to foot the complete bill just to get my dental services done. What type of plan will let me do that?

Answer: A dental HMO insurance plan is the type of plan, you may want to review if you want to get dental insurance were you are not filing dental claim, and where you pay the amount shown for dental services within the plan. Dental HMO are fee based plans, showing you your cost for all the different dental services covered under that plan. This type of plan lets you know what your cost for each service covered. You do not have to file claims because the dentist is charging you based on the fee schedule.

Often times people will say they are looking for “full coverage” dental insurance. However, full coverage can mean different things to different people.  The fact is there is no such thing as “full coverage”. With dental insurance, what the goal should be is buying a plan that best fits your over all dental health care needs.

The way you do that is by comparison shopping out multiple plans. Our website helps you to do just that, by providing multiple plans types though multiple companies. Explore your dental insurance and plan options just by entering in your zip code in the quote box provided. If you should have any questions about any of our dental insurance plan options please call our member service line at 310-534-3444 M-F 8am-5pm as they be happy to help you

Many health insurance plans offer though work dose not provide dental insurance benefits those that dose often reimburses too little to make dental care more affordable to it members. Therefore people still do not visit their dentist like they should do to low benefits.

However there are many dental insurance and plan options still available to individuals, couples and families that can be bought directly. If you do not have dental insurance or feel like the plan you do have dose not offer you the benefits you may be looking for, then compare our plans today. Buy a dental insurance or plan that will better fit you and or your family dental care needs. By having a good dental insurance plan you are more likely to make and keep needed dental care appointments.