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Q: I just got dental
insurance at work. How do I know how much it will pay?
A: Dental insurance is meant to help with dental expenses,
but generally doesn’t pay everything. Each company is different
and plans often vary within the same company. Plans differ
in yearly maximums, deductibles and even amounts paid for
the various dental procedures. This all seems very complicated.
To help unravel the mystery, we are happy to submit a pre-estimate
to your insurance company for you.
Q. My
son just got his first tooth, my pediatrician mentioned
having his teeth checked by a dentist. At what age should
a child have their first check up?
A. The ADA
and the AMA both agree that children should have their first
dental exam by age 1. This visit is to check on proper tooth
eruption and to catch any potential problems early. Problems
such as baby bottle tooth decay, cysts, and much more can
be detected. Diet and oral habits will be evaluated, and
home care suggestions can be offered. This first check-up
is a crucial step in beginning their journey to a lifetime
of healthy dental practices.
Q: At my last
dental check up, my dentist looked at my throat, under my
tongue and at the inside of my checks. What was he looking
for?
A. That’s a good question. In addition
to checking for gum disease and cavities, an important part
of the dental exam includes an oral cancer screening. Many
cancers of the mouth are fast growing, so early detection
is valuable. Avoiding behaviors that can cause cancer is
also very important. Abstaining from smoking, smokeless
tobacco and alcohol will greatly reduce your risks.
Q: My kids have dental sealants on their teeth.
Can adults benefit from sealants also?
A: Brushing
and flossing can clean the smooth surfaces of your teeth.
However your toothbrush can’t reach into the deep grooves,
on the chewing surfaces of your teeth. Sealants are a plastic
material that is bonded into these areas to seal out cavity
causing bacteria. The likelihood of decay begins early in
life, so kids are wonderful candidates for sealants. Adults
that have deeper grooves on the chewing surfaces of their
teeth can also benefit from sealants as well.
Q. I have one tooth that is crooked which I feel
ruins my whole smile. I do not want to do braces, is there
anything I can do straighten my smile up?
A.
There is no reason to put up with gaps in your teeth or
teeth that are stained, badly shaped or crooked. Today a
veneer placed on top of your tooth can correct nature’s
mistake or the results of a injury and help you have a beautiful
smile. Veneers are thin, custom-made shells crafted of tooth
colored materials designed to cover the front side of the
teeth. The latest in veneer technology is Lumineers, a contact
lens thin veneer. Lumineers require little or no removal
of painful tooth structure.
Q: Why should
I have my child’s baby teeth filled? They are going to fall
out anyway.
A: While it is true that baby teeth,
or deciduous teeth, do eventually fall out, they are important
to your child now. Filling baby teeth can help your child
avoid toothaches or abscesses. In addition they help him
to develop proper speech patterns and eat comfortably. Baby
teeth also hold space for his permanent teeth. If one is
lost too early due to decay or abscess, the others may shift
into the empty space. This often means a crooked smile.
An investment today can prevent larger dental problems down
the road. |
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