Posted by Meghan Weaver on Fri, May 28, 2010 @ 12:47 PM
Eight thousand Americans die each year from one very dangerous disease. This disease is so dangerous not because of how suddenly it claims lives, or how difficult it is to detect or destroy, but because so many individuals don't get diagnosed until it's too late. This disease is oral cancer and 2010 will mark the fourth consecutive year our nation has seen an increase in its occurrence.
According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, 36,000 individuals each year are diagnosed with this disease. Its two most common causes are
- Tobacco and alcohol use
- Exposure to human papilloma virus version 16 (HPV 16 virus)
When found early, oral cancers have an 80-90% survival rate. However, most oral cancers aren't diagnosed until the late stages where the survival rate dips to 55% after 5 years and many survivors end up dying from treatment-related causes.
That's the bad news about this terrible disease. But, we do have some good news for you and it's centered around education and awareness. You can increase your oral cancer survival rate dramatically with one simple action: getting regular dental checkups. Here's why.
Your dentist can see the signs:
In most cases, your dentist can see or feel the tissue changes that lead to oral cancer. During your oral examination, they'll be on the lookout for underlying signs and symptoms such as a mouth sore that hasn't healed properly, tissues that have changed color as well as a lump or rough spot anywhere in the mouth. If you dentist detects something out of the ordinary, he or she will commonly take a take cell sample from the affected area and send it to a lab for analysis.
Your dentist is your #1 weapon for early detection:
Oral cancer often begins as a small white or red spot in the mouth. It generally doesn't cause any discomfort or pain at first so most patients probably won't know it's there. But, the dentist can spot it without any problem and treat it right away before it has the chance to spread.
To sum it all up, the best way to treat and prevent oral cancer is going to the dentist. Keep this in mind especially if you're over 40, as most oral cancer patients are. So, if you haven't been to the dentist in awhile, schedule a checkup.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Wed, May 26, 2010 @ 08:20 AM
Many studies confirm a strong connection between our oral health and bodily health. They've linked dental diseases to heart attack, stroke, diabetes, respiratory infection, premature birth, the list goes on.
An estimated 31% of Americans today can be classified as obese (meaning they have a BMI of 30 or greater) but did you know that one of the earliest risk detectors for this major epidemic is right in your mouth?
A 2009 study published in the International and American Associations for Dental Research's Journal of Dental Research paints a very compelling picture of how your dentist can identify your risk for obesity before you even become overweight.
The study compared the saliva of 313 overweight and obese women (with BMIs between 27 and 32) and the saliva of 232 women with BMIs indicative of normal weight. Researchers found a single bacterial species in 98.4% of the overweight subjects. This bacteria, known as Selenomonas noxia, may serve as a biological indicator of a developing overweight condition. Also, it could possibly participate in the pathology that leads to obesity.
So, if obesity runs in your family, a trip to the dentist could be just what the doctor ordered. Once you know you're at risk for obesity (or any other condition for that matter) you become equipped with all the information you need to mitigate the risk and stay healthy.
Need to find a dentist? Universal Dental Plan can help. Visit our website (http://www.universaldentalplan.com/) to search our dentist directory or call today and ask about our free dentist finder service.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Thu, May 20, 2010 @ 12:29 PM
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.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Tue, May 18, 2010 @ 10:30 AM
We all know that the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (aka PPCA or "health reform legislation") will bring about some major changes in the health care arena. But what about your dental plan?
Although the legislation won't have as profound an effect on dental benefits as it will on medical benefits (and there doesn't appear to be an immediate impact on dental coverage), employers still should take note of one vital thing. The law will affect their dental plans.
However, so many of us are still confused as to how. That's why we've put together this synopsis for you. We've itemized the various PPCA provisions that may, may not and absolutely will not impact your dental benefits.
Let's start off with a rundown of the provisions that won't impact your dental plan. These provisions apply to medical plans only and are as follows:
- Extension of Dependent Age Limit to 26
- Removal of Lifetime Dollar Limits
- Removal of Annual Maximums
- Tax on high-value benefits plans (aka "Cadillac Tax")
Now, on to the provisions that will impact dental coverage. There are two in particular that employers should be aware of. Although the earliest of these provisions doesn't take effect until 2013, employers should definitely take note of them so they can start planning and budgeting for future implications.
These provisions are as follows:
1) New Annual Fee on Health Insurance providers:
Starting in 2013, health insurers will be subject to a new fee to help fund the reform. Each insurer's fee will be based on their specific 2013 market share (total insured premium for health, dental and vision).
Potential impact: Carriers may increase dental benefit prices to reflect the newly assessed fee.
2) Pediatric dental coverage provisions (starting in 2014):
Health insurers will be required to package dental and vision benefits for children with the medical plan as part of "Essential Health Benefits Package" (EHBP). These inclusions are required in both the individual and Small Group market. At this point, standalone dental plans sold through the state-sponsored insurance Exchanges (to be established in 2014) can be used to satisfy the pediatric dental requirement.
Potential impact: Details around this provision are still being clarified although it will potentially impact both the purchase and administration of standalone dental insurance plans. We will certainly keep you up to date on this provision as further details surface.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Thu, May 13, 2010 @ 10:31 AM
Just like most benefits, dental plans have grown more complex than they were in prior years. In the past, we basically just had the traditional indemnity plan model and a modified plan design called the dental PPO. Several years ago, the Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO) was introduced and segmented the dental insurance market even further.
On the dental insurance front, there are currently three primary plan designs operating in the market today, the DHMO, dental PPO and traditional indemnity plan. Also, employers have other dental plan options to choose from such as discount dental plans and self-funding of employees' dental expenses. Each plan option has its defining features, benefits and advantages. So, how do you know which plan is best for you?
This blog will help you out by defining several distinct options for you and giving you a rundown of the pros and cons on each.
Dental Health Maintenance Organization (DHMO)
A dental HMO works a lot like a health HMO in that it has a panel of dentists from which each plan member selects a primary care provider. Under this plan model, access to providers and procedures are restricted. However, preventative services are provided by most DHMOs free of charge.
DHMO Pros:
- Lower premiums
- Preventative Care provided at no charge
DHMO Cons:
- High co-pays for non-routine services (also, some expensive procedures may not even be covered at all)
- Dentists are paid a fixed fee regardless of how many patients they treat so the reimbursement schedule rewards them for undertreating
Dental PPO:
A dental Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) consists of dentists who agree to perform services at reduced rates. The PPO has both an in-network and out-of-network component giving members more freedom of choice in selecting a dentist.
PPO Pros
- Out-of-network option provides freedom of choice in choosing a dentist
PPO Cons
- Dentists' reimbursements are often lower than the cost of service so some dentists "cut corners" by spending less time with PPO patients or finding procedures to perform that the PPO doesn't cover
- Premiums are higher than DHMO
Indemnity Plan:
This plan design operates as a more traditional dental insurance plan and employees have the freedom to choose any dentists they wish. Under this plan design, the insurance company pays a percentage of the fee for different types of procedures (usually 100% for preventative, 80% for basic and 50% for major restorative).
Indemnity Plan Pros:
- Freedom to choose any dentists w/ no restrictions
Indemnity Plan Cons:
- Higher premiums
- Waiting periods and exclusions on some procedures
- Annual deductible
Discount Dental Plan:
One dental insurance alternative that's rapidly growing in popularity is the discount dental plan. With discount dental plans, members pay a low monthly or annual membership fee and get guaranteed discounts (commonly ranging from 10-60%) on all procedures when performed by a network dentist. Participating plan dentists agree to accept the discounted rates (which are published in a fixed fee schedule) as payment-in-full for dental services performed.
Discount Dental Plan Pros:
- Immediate Plan Membership
- No annual maximums or procedure limits
- No Deductibles
- No claim forms or paperwork hassles
- No waiting periods
- Discounts on orthodontia and cosmetic dentistry
Discount Dental Plan Cons:
Universal Dental Plan is a membership based dental savings organization with cost transparency and immediate point of service discounts for self-employed, retirees and others who lack an affordable dental option. To learn more about our plan and start saving today, visit out website at www.universaldentalplan.com.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Mon, May 10, 2010 @ 11:22 AM
If you have employer-provided (and paid) dental insurance you can count yourself among the lucky. These plans are an excellent wellness benefit and cover all your routine maintenance from cleanings, to x-rays to fillings. But, as many of us know, dental insurance plans generally have annual maximums (usually anywhere from $1,000-$1,500 per-year) as well as limits on the number of covered procedures you get each year.
Are you fed up with trying to schedule your major dental treatments to coincide with your dental plan renewal (or waiting until next year's renewal to finish the dental work you've started)?
What if you have a condition such as diabetes and need to get more of a certain procedure (i.e. cleanings) than your plan covers. Wouldn't you like an alternative to paying out-of-pocket?
Enter Universal Dental Plan.
Universal Dental Plan is not only a great dental insurance alternative for those that lack affordable options, it's also a great dental insurance supplement that can pick up where your dental benefits run out. Our affordable discount dental plan offers members discounts up to 50% on all dental procedures with no waiting periods, no exclusions, no annual maximums or limits on any type of procedures.
Our plan lets you go to the dentist as much as you need and pay our deeply discounted rates every time. Also, since there are no claim forms to be filed with Universal Dental Plan, your dental savings are immediate!
If you would like more information on how Universal Dental Plan can SAVE for you, please visit our website or call us at 617-859-1777.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Fri, May 07, 2010 @ 10:58 AM
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.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Wed, May 05, 2010 @ 12:59 PM
So, you sit down in your dentist's chair for your checkup and they ask you a couple of questions. "Are you brushing at least twice per-day?" "How about flossing, are you doing that at least once per-day?"
If you're like most people, you just nod your head to both of these questions. After all, floss is just a piece of string, right? However, this little piece of string can have a huge impact on your oral health and the health of your body too. Here's why.
Get your mouth 100 percent clean:
Imagine taking a shower every day but only washing 60% of your body. What do you think will happen to the other 40%? It will never get clean. Also, dirt and grime will build up in those areas over time and people will really start to notice.
Think of your mouth in the same way. Brushing without flossing misses nearly 40% of your tooth surfaces. Bacteria build up in the areas you miss everyday causing tooth decay and gum disease. These conditions left untreated can cause dangerous tooth abscesses or even lead to tooth loss.
Avoid harmful (and even deadly) complications down the road:
When you have excellent oral health, it can make a huge impact on the health of your body. Here are just 3 of the many ways how.
Reduce your risk of heart disease: People with periodontal disease are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease-the number one killer of Americans today. After all, the plaque that gets in your arteries and causes heart attacks is the same plaque that gets on your teeth. You can prevent periodontal disease (which affects 75% of Americans) with healthy brushing and flossing habits among other things.
Keep your blood sugar under control: If you're diabetic then you should be especially vigilant about maintaining healthy flossing habits. That's because bacteria in your mouth makes it much more difficult to control blood sugar levels. So, if you floss every day and keep bacteria out of your mouth, you'll have a much easier time keeping your blood sugar where it needs to be.
Periodontal diseases heightens risk for preterm births: Pregnant women take note, if you have periodontal disease, you are 7 times more likely to have a pre-term birth. That's why maintaining a comprehensive oral health routine while pregnant can go a long way towards your delivery of a healthy baby.
As you've seen from above, gum diseases like gingivitis and periodontitis can cause major health problems. And, great habits like brushing and flossing can go a long way.
Check out this great video on how to floss your teeth from Howcast.com.
Posted by Meghan Weaver on Mon, May 03, 2010 @ 10:43 AM
Your wisdom teeth can be a very valuable asset to your mouth when they're healthy and in the right place. However, not all mouths are created alike and some people develop problems that require wisdom teeth to be removed.
How do you know if your wisdom teeth should stay or go, here are 3 instances where extraction of wisdom teeth is recommended:
- Wisdom teeth are only partially erupt (i.e. they only come in part way through your gum): This leaves an opening for bacteria to enter around the tooth and cause a painful infection that can lead to systemic illness.
- Wisdom teeth are poorly aligned and there's a chance that they'll damage adjacent teeth
- A cyst (fluid-filled sac) forms, destroying surrounding structures such as bone or tooth roots.
The first two instances where extraction is recommended are the result of impacted and/or misaligned teeth. These result when your jaw isn't large enough to accommodate wisdom teeth so the teeth are forced to grow in sideways, part-ways or remain trapped in your jawbone.
As soon as it is determined that the wisdom teeth are or will become impacted, they should be removed. This can often be determined by age 16 or 17 when an individual's jaw has reached the majority of its adult size.
It's often best for patients to get impacted wisdom teeth removed in their mid-teens because the roots not fully formed yet. This makes the removal easier and less traumatic for the patient and recovery from the surgery is generally a lot quicker.
To find out about the health and positioning of your wisdom teeth, consult your dentist. He or she can help you determine whether or not the teeth are impacted and what next steps (if necessary) you should take.