Dental Plan Blog

Baby Boomers and dental health

Are you between the ages of 45 and 64 (and part of the “Baby Boomer” generation)? If so, you should take note of something a sizeable majority of your peers fail to see. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, 63% of Baby Boomers fail to recognize the strong connection between oral health and systemic health (i.e. the simple fact that healthy teeth and gums can help them keep many chronic and fatal health problems at bay).

Findings reported in the Journal of Dental Education punctuate the need to integrate oral health and general health care as there are established links between periodontal disease and diabetes, stroke, heart disease, and peripheral arterial disease. That’s why it’s imperative for Boomers to take excellent care of their oral health by practicing healthy dental habits and visiting the dentist regularly.

Is Dental Care Really Necessary?

One of the main keys to maintaining a healthy mouth as you get older is establishing a strong, trust-based doctor-patient relationship with your local Massachusetts dentist. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, almost one-third or (31%) of baby boomers don’t get preventive dental care (i.e. they only go to the dentist when they have any emergency).

We all know how costly dental care is these days (so this statistic probably doesn’t shock you all that much) but the cost of delaying your dentistry takes a much greater toll on both your health and your wallet. Affordable dental insurance alternatives such as discount dental plans put affordable dental care within reach so you can avoid the painful and costly consequences of delayed dentistry. Universal Dental Plan has options for baby boomers as well as those who have already reached retirement age (our senior dental plan) so visit our site and see what you can save.

Top 5 Tips for Senior Dental Care

Our smiles are made to last a lifetime and proper dental hygiene has a huge impact on the health of your mouth and body, whether you’re 5 or 85. However, as we get older, we become more susceptible to oral health problems such as periodontal disease, inflammation of the gum tissue, dry mouth syndrome (often caused by medications) and oral thrush just to name a few.

It’s plain to see that taking care of your oral health in your golden years comes with several unique considerations. Here are 5 essential tips for seniors to keep healthy teeth and gums (and ultimately healthy bodies).

 

#5 Keep consistent with your at home oral health care regiment: This means keep brushing, flossing and rinsing with mouthwash as instructed by your dentist to maintain proper dental hygiene.

If brushing and flossing are difficult for you, consider using an apparatus such as a tongue depressor to lengthen your brush or flossing tool. Also, if you suffer from arthritis or a similar condition, you may want to try inserting the back end of your toothbrush into a standard tennis ball for better maneuverability.

#4 Know the warning signs to prevent harmful conditions: Elders are generally more susceptible to many major oral health problems including gum disease, tooth loss, TMJ, dry mouth syndrome and oral cancer and should be on the lookout for key signs and symptoms. Symptoms to watch out for include, swelling of the gums, teeth sensitivity, loose teeth, jaw soreness, persistent mouth sores and bumps or an unquenchable thirst. If you experience any of these symptoms, call your dentist right away for diagnosis and treatment (if you live in Massachusetts and need help finding affordable dentistry, we can certainly help).

#3 Maintain dental appliances such as dentures and dental bridges properly: Contrary to popular belief, a set of dentures won’t last you 20 plus years. The ADA recommends replacing them every 5-7 years to avoid painful consequences such as mouth sores, oral lesions and difficulty chewing/swallowing/digesting food.

For denture wearers, we’ve put together 4 helpful tips to keep them in excellent shape and maintain oral health.

#2 Talk to your dentist about any medication you’re taking as dry mouth syndrome is a common side effect of many Rx drugs. For dry mouth sufferers, dentists can prescribe an array of solution such as an artificial saliva rinse to keep your mouth moist and wash harmful bacteria away.

#1 Visit your dentist as often as he or she recommends for regular checkups: Even if you wear dentures, it’s still vital to visit your dentist twice-yearly per-ADA recommendation. On top of keeping your mouth in tip top shape, your dentist can alert you of developments in your mouth that point to problems elsewhere in your body or pick up on early signs of improper jaw alignment or poor nutrition which may become problematic down the road.

Want more advice on senior dental care? Universal Dental Plan is out on tour this year with a full presentation on the importance of oral health and hygiene in the golden years. Sign up here to bring our Golden Smiles Tour to your local council on aging or senior center.

Top 6 Advantages of Discount Dental Plans

#6 You get a liberal definition of “family” for your family plan:

Unlike many traditional dental insurance plans, discount dental plans don’t limit family plan membership to immediate family only. Anyone living in your household can be added as dependents on your plan. This can include a grandparent, aunt, uncle, etc. And, since discount dental plans are not insurance, your family dental plan rate will not go up.

Universal Dental Plan members also enjoy a liberal definition for couple dental plans. View more information on our membership tiers here.

#5 They’re light on paperwork:

Discount dental plans operate according to a fee for service model. This means that there are never any claim forms to fill out, making it a lot easier for you and your dentist as well.

# 4 Cosmetic dentistry is covered:

Just like your health insurance doesn’t cover cosmetic surgery, most dental insurance plans view cosmetic dentistry procedures such as tooth whitening, veneers and dental implants as elective. They maintain that these procedures are not required for good oral health and thus should not be covered.

Discount dental plans make no such restrictions and spread their deep dental discounts across all procedures participating network dentists perform (even cosmetic ones).

# 3 No annual limits

Dental insurance plans also come with annual maximums, typically $1,000 more or less for individual coverage. This $1,000 is the cap on what individuals’ dental insurance will pay out each year in benefits, after that, plan subscribers are on their own.

Because discount dental plans are a dental insurance alternative, they don’t have annual limits. Members enjoy the same deep procedural discounts every time they visit a network dentist (regardless of the number of times they’ve visited the dentist that year or how much work they’ve had done).

# 2 No waiting periods

With discount dental plans, members can access full discounts on all procedures (even major work to treat existing dental conditions) because there are no waiting periods. Traditional dental insurance plans have long waiting periods, typically 12 months for major work such as root canals, crowns and dentures is covered.

But let’s face it, we’re all huge procrastinators and no one really buys a dental plan exactly a year to the day before they need a root canal (and for the few that do more power to them). That’s why waiting periods are such a pain and discount dental plans are designed to help you get the care you need, when you need it at a price that’s affordable for all.

# 1 Affordable membership rates

Traditional dental insurance is most commonly purchased by groups and associations, or by employers as an employee benefit. Group buying power makes premiums more affordable but when dental insurance is purchased on an individual basis, it can get pretty expensive. Typical monthly premiums range from $40-50 for an individual (over $100 for families).

Discount dental plans cost less than $10 per-month for individuals and less than $20 per-month for families. With this rate, members obtain access to deep discounts (10-60% depending on the plan) on all procedures performed by any of the plan’s network dentists.

Dental Insurance vs. Discount Dental Plans

Traditional dental insurance is predominately bought on a group basis through employers, associations, etc. Most plans have deductibles, annual procedural limits and require tedious claim forms (a major pain for both the insured and his or her dentist). Also, some plans have long waiting periods for major services and limitations on certain procedures (i.e. cosmetic procedures such as teeth whitening and veneers).

Discount dental plans are designed to provide major savings on members’ dental care needs.  Since discount dental plans are not insurance, there are no limitations on cosmetic procedures, no claim forms, no waiting periods, no deductibles, no annual limits and memberships are activated immediately.

Traditional dental insurance is also largely unavailable to seniors once they’ve retired (typically at age 65) and no longer have access to dental benefits they had while employed. Many of these individuals are living well into their 80’s and therefore must endure 15-20 years of costly dentistry on fixed incomes.   Discount dental plans are a wonderful way for seniors to save money on their dental care.

Discount dental plans are available directly to individuals, couples, families and seniors. Businesses and associations can also purchase discount dental plans on a group basis and provide them as an employee benefits. They’re an easy, affordable and flexible way for businesses to save money on valuable dental care for their employees. 

Unlike many dental insurance plans, discount dental plans do not have a minimum participation policy and do not require employer contribution.

Universal Dental Plan is a discount dental plan and smart insurance alternative providing individuals, families, seniors and groups 20-50% discounts on all dental procedures via our robust network of Massachusetts dentists and specialists—all for an affordable monthly or annual membership rate.

If you’re a Massachusetts resident looking for a cost-effective solution to save on dentistry, visit our website at www.universaldentalplan.com to learn more and enroll today.

Over 60 and missing teeth? Regain your smile today.

Advanced gum disease (or periodontitis) is a chronic bacterial infection that destroys your gum tissue and bones. If left untreated, your teeth become loose and fall out.

Studies show that elderly individuals have the highest rates of gum disease. What's even more alarming is the fact that:

• At least half of non-institutionalized people over age 55 have advanced gum disease
• 1 out of EVERY 4 adults over 60 have lost all of their teeth.

Elder Americans with missing teeth no longer need to suffer in silence with a toothless smile (or avoid smiling at all out of embarrassment). Dental implants are a great tooth replacement option and they look a lot like the real thing!

What dental implants are used for:

Dental implants offer a permanent solution to tooth loss. For maximum effectiveness, they're best when used in conjunction with other procedures.

A dental implant can be used to support a crown replacing one missing tooth or a dental bridge replacing several missing teeth. They can also be used with dentures to increase their stability and reduce patients' gum tissue irritation.

What happens when you get dental implants:

Implants are typically placed in your mouth in a single sitting but require a period of osseointegration immediately afterward. Osseointegration is the technical term for the process of your dental implant and jawbone anchoring together.

Osseointegrated implants are the most commonly used and successful type of dental implant and generally take anywhere from 3 to 6 months to completely heal. At this point, your dentist can complete the procedure with the placement of a crown.

Does your dental plan make implants affordable for you? Or are they viewed by the plan as "nonessential" or "too cosmetic"?

For Massachusetts individuals and seniors especially, Universal Dental Plan offers easy, affordable access to deep, everyday discounts on all procedures (including cosmetic). Memberships are immediate so sign up now and start saving today.

Stoughton Seniors keep dental health with the help of friends

Over the past 17 years, Universal Dental Plan has helped countless Massachusetts seniors save their teeth, health and not to mention thousands of dollars on dental work. We've made great strides towards our goal of providing affordable dentistry to elders, but not without the help of some good friends.

In this post, we congratulate the residents of West Stoughton Village for their tireless efforts to promote dental well-being within their community. The conversations began with Dorothy Dickson who joined Universal Dental Plan in 2000. Dorothy realized the tremendous value of the plan's dental discounts and gathered together fellow West Stoughton Village residents to spread the good news.

Ten years and multiple new bright smiling plan members later, Universal Dental Plan paid a visit to West Stoughton Village so several residents could share their stories about the plan. "Universal Dental Plan is great" exclaimed Fred Sargent, a plan member since 2006 who has saved thousands so far on dental work. "It saves you money and makes you want to go the dentist because you keep your teeth longer."

Here's what Dorothy, Fred and long time plan member Pearl Kravitz had to say about us.

 

Dorothy Dickson, the first West Stoughton Village resident to join Universal Dental Plan, talks to us about how she spread the word.

Pearl Kravitz expresses her delight with our excellent network dentists that are very close to home.

Fred Sargent is all smiles about Universal Dental Plan, which has helped him keep his teeth in his golden years.

Suffer from jaw pain? You might have TMJ.

Have you ever woken up in the morning with a tight, sore jaw? If you're over 65 you're probably nodding your head as if to say "yes, I have, many times actually".

If you're like most elders, you shrug it off as a sign of aging (after all, you're joints aren't as limber as they used to be) and simply go on with your day. Or you assume it'll just go away like the cold you caught last winter. Sound vaguely familiar? If so then read on.

We all know jaw pain is very uncomfortable and makes it incredibly difficult to enjoy your favorite meal, engage in conversation with good friends or even sleep at night. But, did you know if your jaw hurts, you might also suffer from TMJ?

TMJ is short for temporomandibular joint syndrome and approximately 10 million Americans suffer from it. It's caused by excessive strain on the temporomandibular joints and jaw muscles. A lot of people get it from grinding their teeth.

If left untreated, TMJ sufferers will experience significant pain in various parts of their body (not just the jaw and face) and symptoms can actually cause major damage to your neck and back.

So, how do I know if I have TMJ? Here are the 5 hidden symptoms:

1. Headaches and migraines
2. Neck and shoulder pain
3. Depression
4. Sensitive or sore teeth
5. Trouble sleeping

And how do I get rid of all this pain?

If you suffer from jaw pain and the five symptoms above, go to your dentist for a proper diagnosis. The sooner the dentist diagnoses your problem, the sooner you can start working towards a solution and stop TMJ symptoms dead in their tracks.

Can't get to a dentist for several weeks? Here are a few steps you can take today to help you manage your pain:

• Take a non-asprin pain reliever
• Avoid chewing gum
• Eat soft foods
• Apply ice or moist heat to the sides of your face
• Practice relaxation techniques to minimize muscle tension
• Keep stress under control
• Keep good posture

Is the pain of high dental costs keeping you from treating your TMJ? For Massachusetts seniors, Universal Dental Plan has a solution. With our 15% discounted senior plans, you get immediate discounts up to 50% on all procedures. Visit our website and sign up today!

Universal Dental Plan launches senior oral health awareness campaign

Great news, Universal Dental Plan has just launched its first ever dental health awareness campaign targeting Massachusetts seniors.This campaign will be our keynote outreach initiative for 2010 and we are all very excited for it!

The campaign has three major goals:

• Alert seniors on the high costs and acute health risks of delayed dentistry
• Educate them on easy and actionable ways to keep major dental problems at bay
• Introduce them to a convenient solution that makes dentistry affordable for all

The campaign will meet its goals by using a two-pronged approach.

• Present our comprehensive study on the dangers of delayed dentistry for elder Americans to senior centers and residences throughout Massachusetts. We're already presenting at 7 elder residences this April!
• Participate as a vendor in the Elder Expos of several local Aging Services Access Point (ASAP) agencies.

To become a part of this revolutionary outreach campaign, Activities and Program Directors of Massachusetts senior communities are encouraged to contact Universal Dental Plan at 617-859-1777 as soon as they can. Our Spring and Summer 2010 agenda is filling up very fast!

CKZ679X85KTK