Dental Plan Blog

Four things every denture wearer must know

Contrary to popular belief, your at-home oral health care regimen doesn't stop the day you get dentures. Your dentures still need daily cleaning and upkeep. Otherwise, oral health problems such as plaque, stains and infections that you thought were long gone could very easily come back with a vengeance.

In your golden years, oral health issues should be the least of your worries. That's why all denture wearers need to follow these 4 simple steps.  

Step 1: Thoroughly clean your dentures every day

Just like natural teeth, dentures must be brushed every day to remove plaque and prevent the development of permanent stains. Since dentures are very delicate, you should use a brush with soft bristles that is specially designed to clean dentures. Also, between your daily brushings, you should rinse your dentures after every meal.

Step 2: Remove your dentures at night to avoid bacteria growth

Dentures must be kept moist when they're not being worn so they won't dry out or lose their shape. Soak your dentures at night in either a denture cleanser soaking solution or water. Soak them in water if your denture has metal attachments, as they can easily tarnish when placed in denture cleanser. Also, you should avoid soaking your dentures in hot water, this will cause them to wrap.

Step 3: Be aware of any changes in the fit of your dentures

This could be a sign of gum disease. Also, if your dentures don't fit you properly, it can cause irritation and sores in your mouth. When dentures stop fitting properly, they can be repaired. However, do-it-yourself kits and over the counter denture glues can cause permanent damage or contain harmful chemicals. That's why you should always visit your dentist for denture repairs.

Step 4 Get replacement dentures every 5-7 years

Generally, complete dentures can be used for about 5 to 7 years before replacements are necessary. However, over time your dentures may need to be periodically relined, rebased or remade due to age related changes to your face, jaw and gums or if they become loose. As a general rule of thumb, people with dentures should visit their dentist every 6 months. In these twice-yearly visits, the dentist will examine your mouth for proper denture fit and check for signs of oral cancer or other harmful diseases.

 

Four common dental health problems and how to solve them

Good oral health means more than just healthy teeth. It means that everything inside your mouth is disease free and working in the best way possible.

Oral health also has a huge impact on the health of your body.  Studies show that poor oral hygiene can dramatically affect your heart health and make you five times more likely to develop respiratory infections.

That's why you must take the proper precautions to keep your mouth clean and healthy. Here are four common oral health problems so many of us face and four simple solutions to avoid them.

Problem #1: Bad breath (aka halitosis) - Bad breath has many culprits including poor oral health and dry mouth. People who consume caffeine, alcohol or take certain medications tend to have a higher risk for dry mouth and should stay extra vigilant for signs of bad breath.  

The solution: Floss and use a fluoride rinse daily. This will help eliminate bacteria buildup and keep your mouth hydrated. Also, drink plenty of water and avoid oral health products that contain alcohol.

Problem #2: Canker sores - Doctors are still unsure about the root cause of canker sores which are aggravated by stress, hormonal changes, or rough brushing.

The solution: If you have a canker sore, try using antibacterial mouthwashes to help accelerate the healing process. Also, avoid any alcohol or citrus food or drink that may aggravate the area. Make sure to see your dentist if your canker sore persists.

Problem #3: Tooth grinding - This process is often spurred on by stress or anxiety. Many people grind their teeth while they're sleeping and don't even realize it. If you think you might be a teeth grinder, check for signs of worn enamel and jaw pain.

The solution: Integrate relaxation techniques into your nighttime routine. This will help you reduce instances of behaviors provoked by subconscious anxiety (i.e. tooth grinding).  Or, you can ask your dentist about a sleep-guard to protect your teeth.

Problem #4: Tooth sensitivity - This can be caused by aggressive brushing, gingivitis, or frequent use of tooth-whitening products.

The solution: Use a soft bristled toothbrush and avoid pressing hard against your teeth when you brush. If your teeth are already sensitive, consider using toothpaste designed for sensitive teeth to keep pain at a minimum. Also, get regular dental cleanings to keep gum disease away.

Three ways to enhance your dental plan's value through communication

For employers who want to improve the value of their dental benefits, making plan changes is just part of the solution. Effective communication is the next step, and this means providing employees with the meaningful information and tools necessary to understand both their dental benefits and oral health risks.

According to a recent MetLife survey, only 1 in 5 employees know what their dental insurance does and does not cover. This lack of employee knowledge oftentimes results from lackluster employer communication of dental benefit offerings.

The following are three ways employers can enhance their communication of employees' dental benefits.

#1 Promote the importance of oral health and educate employee on oral health risks.

Data from MetLife's survey also revealed that just 9% of employees believe they have beneficial information on oral health available to them. Yet, 28% of employees believe that this information would be of value in helping them understand dental benefit offerings. Employees who know most about their oral health are the ones that are most likely to utilize their plan's covered dental services.

To educate employees on oral health and oral health risks, employers can create a pamphlet, memo or web resource, distribute it to employees and also make it readily available for them to access on a later date. 

#2 Provide complete information on employee coverage.

The survey data also shows that only 35% of employees feel that they have all the information they need to make the best decision on their dental coverage. This means employers have a huge opportunity to educate the remaining 65% of employees with complete coverage information. That way, all employees will understand their benefit offerings, appreciate them and have fewer surprises about what is and is not covered when they get their Explanations of Benefits.

#3 When communicating benefits, use multiple resources

Most employers believe that email and the company website are the most effective tools for communicating employee benefits. Although these tools are great ones to use, employers should not stop there.

Employers should also develop alternative ways to educate their employees on their benefits, dental benefits included. In-person and online seminars  as well as oral risk assessment tools are just a couple of the resources employers can use to round out their dental benefits education.

By applying these three methods, employees will feel the value of the dental benefits you are providing. As a result, their understanding and appreciation of the dental benefits they're offered will grow.

The “tooth” about teeth whitening: for best results see a dentist

Teeth whitening, or bleaching is the single most requested cosmetic dental procedure in the U.S. for patients 20-50 years of age. When this procedure's popularity first started taking off 5 years ago, patients went straight to their dentist to get it done. However, in recent years, many dental product manufacturers have jumped on the whitening bandwagon.

Now individuals considering teeth whitening have a few options:

• Go to the dentist
• Use one of several OTC products available at the local pharmacy

How do you know which option is best?

According to the Massachusetts Dental Society (MDS), all whitening products will whiten your teeth because they all have the same active ingredient-either carbamide or hydrogen peroxide. The difference lies in how much of the ingredient your product has.

Over the counter, store bought teeth whitening products have just 5% or less of the active ingredient whereas a dentist will use a product that contains anywhere from 10-35%. So is more always better?

In this case it is. With store bought dental whitening products, you generally need to use a lot more of the product to get your desired result and they take a lot longer to work too.

Teeth whitening options at the dental office:

When you go to your dentists for a teeth whitening treatment, you'll generally have 2 options.

1. Chairside bleaching: In this procedure, your dentist will apply a chemical solution to your teeth and may also shine a special light on your teeth to activate it. The procedure generally takes about 60-90 minutes and may require multiple visits.
2. At-home bleaching: With this procedure, a dentist produces a custom-fitted mouthguard that holds bleaching gel. The mouthguard is worn during the day or at night for the duration of the treatment period recommended by your dentist. Those who use the store-bought kits lose the benefit of a custom-made mouthguard to apply the gel, and their results may not be uniform.

Although teeth whitening performed by a dentist generally has much more immediate and sustained results than store-bought products most cosmetic procedures, including whitening, are typically not covered by dental insurance. As a result they can get very costly.

Fortunately, Universal Dental Plan members can get guaranteed 20-50% discounts on all cosmetic procedures performed by any of our Massachusetts dentist or specialists. To brighten your smile at prices you can afford, visit our website (www.universaldentalplan.com) and sign up today.

5 things parents should know about their children’s dental health

Experts say that healthy smiles lead to healthy bodies. This is not just  true for adults but for children too. A proactive and comprehensive oral health regimen can make a world of difference in your child's health, especially when you start it early.

Here are 5 things parents should know about their child's oral health.

1. Baby teeth are just as important as permanent teeth!

That's because strong, healthy baby teeth enable proper speech and help your child get the nutrition he or she needs to grow and flourish. Neglecting your child's baby teeth can lead to early periodontal disease and harm the development of permanent teeth.

2. Dental sealants are the number one way to reduce childhood cavities

Dental sealants are like protective armor for your child's most vulnerable teeth-their molars. Molars have deep crevices which are among the most common places for dental cavities to form. Dental sealants contain a protective solution that fills these deep gaps and keeps cavities away.

3. Pacifiers and thumb-sucking cause damage to permanent teeth

Babies love their pacifiers and many children develop thumb sucking habits, it's only natural right?

 However, it can start doing damage to a child's teeth once permanent teeth start to arrive. So, if your child is still sucking his or her thumb or won't part with a favorite pacifier after already having lost a few baby teeth, you should definitely take major steps to wean them off of it.

4. Fluoride flushes out the cavities and strengthens enamel

When your child goes to the dentist, make sure he or she gets a fluoride treatments. It's an essential way to ward off bacteria, and strengthen tooth enamel against decay.

5. The healthy brushing habits your teach your child last a lifetime

Children don't develop  the dexterity necessary for proper tooth brushing until they reach age seven. That's why parents of young children should still brush their teeth (even if the child has begun brushing his or her teeth on their own).

Also parents that place a huge emphasis on the importance of brushing teeth at least twice per-day (and brushing them the right way) will help their children develop a very good habit that lasts a lifetime.

Parents should care just as much about their child's teeth as they would their general health because good general health begins in the mouth. By understanding these five main dental health needs for your child, you can ensure they'll keep a healthy smile as they grow up healthy and strong.

 

Don’t you wish there was a dental insurance time machine?

So, you have a pretty bad toothache and you decide to have it checked out. You go to your dentist and find out it was a very good idea you did because guess what? You need a root canal.

Now, we all know two things for sure about root canals:

1. They're painful
2. They cost a lot of money

The pain is something you're going to have to deal with no matter what but the cost, well that's a whole separate beast to tackle. This is especially true when you just enrolled in dental insurance a month ago and the waiting period to get a root canal is 12 months.

Now, if only you had a dental insurance time machine. That way, you could go back to a year ago, enroll in the plan and you would be able to afford your root canal today.

Unfortunately, time machines are only real in the movies, so that's not an option. A few real options for you are:

1. Get your root canal now and pay your dentist's usual rate for it all out of pocket: It'll cost you a lot of money and you won't really be able to budget for it, plus he has his own rate and who knows how much it is? It's not like your dentists posts a menu of services with prices like a restaurant.
2. Suffer for another 11 months until your insurance will cover it

So, what will you do?

Another (smart and affordable) option:

Luckily there's a third option for people in need of immediate, affordable dental care-a discount dental plan.

Currently, there are 40 million Americans without dental insurance and so many of them are delaying dental care, all because of cost. However, according to the American Dental Association, the best remedy against the high cost of dentistry is prevention.

Discount dental plans are unique because they provide immediate access to affordable dental care (for just a nominal monthly rate) to anyone who needs it. Perhaps your company doesn't offer dental insurance or maybe you're looking for a valuable voluntary benefit to offer your part-timers.

Universal Dental Plan offers group membership discounts for many Massachusetts employers. When you offer Universal Dental Plan, all employees (benefits-eligible or not) can join and get up to 50% off on all dental procedures. Even better, there is a published rate sheet for all dental procedures performed by our network dentists, so you "know your fare before you're there".

Universal Dental Plan members also have:

• No Claim forms
• No Deductibles
• No Annual Maximums or procedural limits
• No waiting periods for anything

If you're looking for a new way to show your employees how much you value them and keep their smiles bright for years to come, give us a call at (617) 859-1777. Or you can visit our website at www.universaldentalplan.com.

3 simple facts on bad breath and your dental health

Whether you're walking into a room for a job interview or meeting someone for a first date, a bright smile and fresh breath can go a long way. However, bad breath can be a huge strike against you.

According to a Massachusetts Dental Society Article, 25% of Americans suffer from chronic halitosis (aka bad breath) and nearly $10 billion is spent on this condition each year. There are many culprits out there for bad breath (i.e. garlic, spicy foods, tobacco products, etc.) and so many products on the market-mints, mouthwashes, etc.-only mask your bad breath, never getting to the root of the problem.

Here are 3 straight facts on bad breath and a few helpful tips to keep it at bay:

1. 80-90% of bad breath comes from the oral cavity, specifically bacteria growing there: This bacteria develops in the crevices between teeth, the pockets of your gums and on your tongue. These are all very fertile breeding grounds for bacteria to set up camp and multiply. If the bacteria causes infections, it produces byproducts called Volatile Sulfur Compounds. Volatile Sulfur Compounds not only smell awful, they put you at higher risk for systemic health problems such as heart attacks and stroke.
2. Bad breath can be caused by dry mouth: Dry mouth (or xerostomina) is one of the lesser known culprits of bad breath. Dry mouth occurs when the flow of saliva to the mouth decreases leaving less of it to naturally cleanse the mouth of odor-causing bacteria. If you suffer from dry mouth, you may want to consider using a sugarless candy, upping your fluid intake or your dentist may prescribe you an artificial saliva product.
3. Bad breath could be the sign of a more serious medical condition: Bad breath can be one of the first signs of conditions such as chronic sinusitis, chronic bronchitis, diabetes, gastrointestinal disturbances and liver or kidney ailments. That's why if you suffer from bad breath and your dentist determines you have a healthy mouth, he or she may refer you to a family doctor or specialist to pinpoint the root cause of your problem.

To keep bad breath away, it's vital that you maintain good oral health. You should keep a consistent oral health care routine that includes the following:

• Brush at least 2 times per-day with a fluoride toothpaste to clean away debris and plaque (make sure to brush your tongue too).
• Floss (or use an interdental cleaner) at least once per-day to remove debris between teeth.
• If you wear removable dentures, take them out at night and clean them thoroughly before replacing them the next morning.

 

Managing dental costs in a down economy, Tip #3 If necessary, spread out the cost

The third and final tip we offer consumers for keeping their teeth, gums and wallets healthy in these tough times is spreading out the costs. Let's face it, many of us without a dental plan have delayed our dentistry because it's just too expensive. We've put off our $88 cleanings year after year and are now faced with a bill of several thousand for a gum disease treatment.

Even at a discount, these procedures are still expensive. That's why our network dentists at Universal Dental Plan can set up payment schedules for you. Payment schedules are a very cost-effective alternative to charging a large dental bill to your credit card and paying high interest on it. With a payment schedule you pay no interest, just the cost of your bill and nothing more (only in smaller increments). 

And, since cost-transparency is the name of the game at Universal Dental Plan, we never keep you in the dark on how much your dental work costs. Our dentists and specialists will sit down with you to discuss both fees and financial arrangements before you get your work done. That way, you can put your financial worries aside, feel more at ease and focus on regaining your smile.

To learn more about how our plan works and save 20-50% on all dental procedures immediately, visit our website at http://www.universaldentalplan.com/.

What an irregular bite means for your dental and bodily health

Have you ever really thought about the impact the alignment of your teeth could have on your overall health?

Probably not, but many studies have shown that the way your teeth are aligned when you bite, and early habits such as thumb-sucking can take a pretty major toll on your long-term dental (and systemic) well being.

Prognathism is the official term for irregularities and/or misalignment in the jaw. There are two distinct types of prognathism, maxillary prognathism (overbite) and progenism (underbite) and both can cause quite a few oral health complications.

Overbite complications:

• An overbite can permanently change the interior and exterior appearance of the mouth (misalignment of teeth alters facial shape)
• Protrusion of teeth with an overbite puts excess pressure on the gums and weakens them, making it harder to bite and chew certain foods.
• Individuals with an overbite have a heightened risk for oral injury.

Underbite complications:

• As is the case with an overbite, the protrusion of the jaw with an underbite causes individuals' face shapes to dramatically change.
• Underbites place pressure on the lower teeth heightening their sensitive in terms of biting and chewing.
• One of the most serious consequences of an underbite is speech problems such as a lisp resulting from jaw misalignment.

Consider the effects your bite may have on both your dental and systemic health and that of your family members and start brainstorming a few steps towards a solution.

Here are a few tips to get you started.

• If you have a child forming early thumb-sucking habits, do your best to wean them off of it.
• If you currently have an overbite or underbite yourself, consider routine orthodontic treatments (Universal Dental Plan offers deep discounts on all orthodontic procedures from our network doctors all throughout Masssachusetts).

 

 

Self employed and paying too much for your dental work?

Save 20-50% with a discount dental plan?

Being self-employed has many advantages and a few drawbacks too. Self-employed individuals get to pursue their passions and sit in the driver's seat as they navigate their companies towards success. However, they have to pay for their own health and dental care, which can get very expensive.

Fortunately, there is an option that helps self-employed individuals access affordable dental care-a discount dental plan. For a low monthly (or yearly) membership rates, discount dental plans provide members with deep point-of-service discounts on all procedures when performed by network dentists or specialists.

If you're self employed and don't have a dental plan, a discount dental plan could be a great option for you. You'll not only save money on your dental care, but your savings will be immediate since discount dental plans are not insurance and there are no waiting periods on any procedures.

Universal Dental Plan provides a member-based dental insurance alternative to the self-employed as well as others in Massachusetts who lack affordable options.  With our plan there are:

• no deductibles
• no yearly maximums
• no waiting periods
• no age limitations
• no pre-existing conditions
• no claim forms

Visit our website at www.universaldentalplan.com, where you can learn more, join now and save.