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When discussing dental insurance benefits, the cliche phrase “use it or lose it” truly applies. Most dental insurances allow so many dollars per calendar year, and any dollars that are not utilized are lost. Additionally, the same philosophy applies to Flexible Spending or Health Saving Accounts, which force you to forfeit any left over money that you have paid for. Therefore, it is in your best interest to use these benefits each year before they expire and your money is lost.

Now that the end of the year is quickly approaching and there are only a few short months left to maximize your dental insurance benefits, I thought some tips to help educate patients would be valuable.

Before scheduling a dental appointment, call your insurance provider to find out the exact amount of your unspent dental benefits. Additionally, ask them what is covered with your policy. Typically, preventative procedures like cleanings, x-rays, and dental exams are covered, while cosmetic procedures, like whitening and veneers, are not. Although, most dentists have staff members who check this for you, it is always nice walking into the office knowing what your out-of-pocket expenses may be.

When calling your dentist’s office, be sure to not only schedule for yourself but also for eligible family members. However, don’t forget that many dental offices may be seeing an influx of patients at this time, and the sooner you call, the more likely your dentist will be able to schedule your families’ appointments.

Sometimes it is possible and beneficial to complete dental treatment in phases. This works nicely at the end of the year and the beginning of the next year. Depending on your individual needs, careful planning to maximize your benefits remaining for 2013, while completing the remainder of your treatment in early 2014 can provide you with more reimbursement than waiting to do it all the treatment next year. But, it is important to keep in mind that when insurance renews, there may be coverage changes, which includes changes in procedures covered and co=pays.

Saving money shouldn’t be your only motivation when visiting the dentist. Routine dental visits can detect early problems like gum disease and oral cancers. In addition it is important to remember that even a small cavity left untreated can become a bigger, more expensive dental problem in the future.

Be sure to use your dental insurance benefits before you lose them!

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Source by Jon Frankel, DDS

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Dental treatments can put a serious dent on your finances, and it’s but fitting that you take advantage of every opportunity to finance it through insurance coverage. The problem with this option is its limitations; cosmetic dental procedures are hardly covered by insurance, if at all, and you’re often required to pay for the treatment and professional fees out of your own pocket. The next time you consider teeth whitening or porcelain veneers, think of the cost first, if you’re able and willing to commit. Some treatments also come with a significant upkeep. Dental implant placements require several sessions, and the cost of the procedure is placed on each tooth, depending on the placement area.

Make sure your dental treatments are covered as far as your plan will accommodate, and your dentist should always be aware that you prefer subsidized treatment. The cost is always determined during the consultations, and it helps if you’re up front with your dentist. In this way, all cost-efficient alternatives are considered, and you can choose which one you’re willing to settle for. You’ll spare yourself the problem of paying for the treatment after the fact. Delayed gratification is always the better option. Some treatments require recovery periods, and you don’t want to add the costs of the procedure to the workdays you’ll lose recovering from it.

The rates also vary between states, and you’re better off familiar with the average costs of procedures. Finding out estimates is easy enough, just check out your local dental association’s website, enter your zip code, and confirm the going rates. Your dentist can’t contest this, but you shouldn’t settle for averages just the same. Negotiate the price until you’re comfortable or satisfied, dentists will accommodate requests by reducing the professional and laboratory fees. Your bargaining skills will pay off, in the hundreds or thousand dollars.

An alternative to dental insurance you can consider is a discount plan, and it also varies between states. These depend on the participating dentists and clinics and your area, but you can avail as much as 60% discount on certain dental procedures, a significant lop-off of your treatment’s cost. Dental coverage is usually voided in discounted treatments, but consider yourself fortunate if your clinic accommodates compounded savings. If you’re really desperate about cheap savings, then you can sign up for treatments at dental schools instead. Students welcome volunteer to participate in their practicums, and the treatments are absolutely free. The only tradeoff: students have yet to earn their license, so there’s a risk your treatment could turn for the worse.

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Source by Isabella D Johnson

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Going to the dentist holds its fair share of worries. From worrying about problems with your teeth to stressing about the pain of dental procedures, you might have your plate full. But have you ever considered the outcome of your dentist doing something wrong that causes you more pain in the long run? Maybe you find yourself in that situation right now. You may have heard of medical malpractice, but the same can happen in the dental world, too. It’s important for you to understand what dental malpractice is, so you can learn how to fight it and receive the compensation you deserve.

What is Dental Malpractice?

The definition of dental malpractice is simple enough. When something your dentist does-or doesn’t do-results in your injury, you’ve been the victim of dental malpractice. Some common examples of dental malpractice may include:

· Delayed or incorrect diagnosis

· No diagnosis

· Unnecessary treatments

· Improper administration of anesthesia

· Severe injury because of treatment

· Treating the wrong tooth

Can You File Suit?

If you think you’ve been a victim of dental malpractice, you’re likely also wondering if you have grounds to file a lawsuit against the dentist that did you harm. In most cases, you can, but you first need to make sure you have a legitimate case of dental malpractice on your hands. Before you can file a lawsuit against your dentist, you’ll need to be sure you can perform four things:

1.Dentist-Patient Relationship – This is the easiest step, and is typically not disputed. You need to prove that you had a relationship with the dentist.

2.Medical Standard of Care – Next, you need to establish a standard for the level of care one can expect to receive from dentists in your area for your particular situation. You’ll typically need an expert witness to verify this step.

3.Breach of Standard – After you’ve established the standard, you’ll need to prove how your dentist breached that standard of care. This is often the hardest part, because you’ll need to prove without doubt that what your dentist did caused your harm.

4.How Serious? – Finally, you’ll need to establish how serious the injury was. If the injury was minor, it may not be worth it to pursue a lawsuit.

Should You File Suit?

If you can perform the four steps listed above without problem, you’re likely a good candidate for a dental malpractice lawsuit. But does that mean you should still pursue one? Every situation is different, and it’s best if you take the time to consult with an attorney who deals with dental malpractice cases.

The more time you take to prepare yourself for a potential lawsuit, the faster the overall process will go. A seasoned and experienced attorney will be able to help you perform the fours steps listed above, and will be able to best advise you on how to proceed.

If you think you’ve been a victim of dental malpractice, it’s best to consider all options before your injury or condition gets worse. That way, you can receive the care you need to fully recover.

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Source by Anna Bird

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A summation of proper care for your teeth is not always brushing your teeth day and night, it is also about taking the time out for a proper dental care of both your teeth and gums. Bacteria reside even in the smallest corners of our teeth and escapes completely from the brush. A proper dental check will ensure that you have your gums and teeth in check and the bacterias always dead. Getting a dental insurance will improve the condition of dental care completely. While via normal procedure you have to go through different appointments with different dentist for every portions of your checkup, insurance will let you choose the dentist of your approval which will lead to a cordial relationship between the dentist and you.

From a financial point of view, provides more opportunity savings for you as health insurances usually sum up in a big expenditure involving both medical and dental services. Though the cost for dental cleaning is always high, a separate dental care in itself will ensure proper savings for you hence, the discount.

Dental insurance plans

Whenever buying a plan, be aware of the insurance plan. An insurance can be anywhere between 3 months to 3 years in an insurance plan respectively. To ensure that the customer does not resign after a major dental procedure, are introduced in order to efficiently manage clients and discourage them from resigning.

Direct reimbursement plans

This is the most expensive plan from the dental insurances. Dental Insurance is not a feature of this plan and the insured person has to pay directly to the dentist from whom services were rendered. Employee employer is a prevalent feature of this plan as the customer has to provide the bill to be reimbursed with the part of the expenditure or the whole amount of the expense for which services was rendered. Being the only plan that covers your pre-existing problems, it is an expensive plan based on employment.

Dental discount plans

A type of discount most suitable for senior citizens, dental discount plans also has no waiting period. It is not employment based and is usually cost effective letting its members save around 60% in procedures like fillings, cleaning, bracings and check ups. A collective group is formed letting a new individual become part of the group with nominal fees. Hence, these are much cheaper compare to dental insurance.

Dental plans with a waiting period

For an individual person with basic preventive procedures like cleaning, is not needed while managing planned care like group have a waiting period as it is the cheapest. While procedures like general cleaning service and radiographics have no waiting period, bigger procedures like general anesthesia and oral surgery have a waiting period of 12 months. To make the matter clear about the waiting period, the waiting period is inversely proportional to the condition for the procedure.

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Source by Calinton Hall

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Very few people actually LIKE paying for health insurance, myself included. However, there is a type of insurance that I recently do not mind paying one bit- dental insurance.

How Dental Insurance Works

There are different types of dental insurance, but the most common typically requires you to pay a deductible dictated by the plan, and the plan will cover up to a certain amount per year for services. For each service, the dentist and insurance provider have a rate that’s agreed upon, which is typically less than the full price of the service. The plan also (usually) only covers a certain percentage of the negotiated price for the service you receive. For example, a dentist’s price for a filling may be $319, but the negotiated rate with your insurance provider may only be $200. Your plan may cover 90% of fillings, which would then require you to pay the other 10%, or $20, for it.

Understanding how dental insurance works is certainly important, but what I think may be even more important is understanding why you should have it. I am a walking advertisement for dental insurance.

What Can Happen When You Are Uninsured

About three years ago, i turned 26 and was no longer able to stay on my parent’s health insurance plan, which included dental coverage. At the same time, i was also in graduate school, only teaching very part-time. I did some research and found a major medical plan through the health insurance marketplace and decided it wouldn’t be a big deal to forego the dental coverage until i finished grad school (i needed every penny i could save!). This was probably one of the biggest mistakes I’ve made in my adult life.

Two and a half years later, I was offered dental insurance through a new job and decided to enroll. I found myself a dentist, scheduled a check-up, went to said check-up, and got some pretty terrible dental news. Because I put off getting dental insurance (and therefore put off going to the dentist), I have found myself with dozens of procedures- ranging from fillings to root canals to crowns- that need to be done.

You’re probably thinking, “but you have dental insurance to pay for that,” and that’s partly true. However, dental insurance only covers up to a certain amount each year, like I mentioned. For my plan, this is $1500, and with all of the work I need done, that number will far be exceeded… exceeded by thousands.

Words of Advice

My dentist highly recommends that I don’t postpone these procedures until my insurance restarts next year (believe me, I asked). He tells me that “if you’re going to wait for insurance, you’re always going to be waiting for insurance.” At first I found his words to be harsh, but now I completely agree. If I just wait and have a little done when the insurance covers it, I’ll always be trying to catch up, which will likely just breed more problems in the meantime.

I understand that not everyone will experience the same poor dental misfortune that I have, but I had no idea I would encounter so many issues either. If I had any indication of the problems, I definitely would have sucked it up and just bought dental insurance along with my Obamacare plan in the marketplace. That said, you really just never know and it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. Lesson learned.

So please, please learn from my mistakes. Get dental insurance, get your exams, get a cavity filled here and there so that you don’t end up like me and have to have a cavity filled nearly EVERYWHERE.

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Source by Angela Duck

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You brush your teeth twice a day, floss, and rinse with mouthwash because that’s what you were told to do. But this routine is better for far more than just minty fresh breath. Did you know that oral hygiene ties in with other aspects of your health? For instance, a person with poor oral health is at a higher risk for heart disease. Yikes! It’s a good thing you’ve been dutifully brushing. But you can do even more by taking advantage of what a dental insurance policy can offer.

A good dental plan provides coverage for a variety of dental treatments (coverage varies between policy options), such as:

• Routine teeth cleanings
• Emergency dental care and procedures
• Fillings and crowns
• Orthodontics
• Accidental dental injuries
• Reconstructive or plastic surgery following an injury or oral cancer

Dental insurance is very different than medical insurance for two main reasons:

1. The low cost makes dental plans affordable for individuals, families, and companies that offer dental as part of a benefit package.
2. A dental plan encourages and often pays for routine checkups.

What does this mean for you? Unlike some types of insurance products, people with a dental plan start to benefit immediately. It’s a good rule of thumb to visit your dentist for a teeth cleaning every six months. When these visits are covered and the pressure is off your wallet, it’s easier to stick to a regular dental care schedule. Maintaining good oral health can be expensive on your own, but with a reasonable monthly premium you can prevent those bills from sneaking up on you.

There are several dental policies available, including, but not limited to:

• PPO Plans: With this plan, customers are presented with a group of dentists who provide dental care to patients within the group at a discounted rate.
• Direct Reimbursement: Also known as Self-Insurance, this is a choice option for businesses because it’s likely to save them money in the case of employees not taking advantage of their benefits. With this plan, employees are invited to visit their preferred dentist for services. The patient pays the dentist and is then reimbursed by their employer.
• Indemnity Programs: With this plan, you are free to choose your own dentist. A patients pays the dentist and then his or her insurance company pays a set portion of the total fees.

If you’re shopping for a dental policy, our agents can assist you with any questions or concerns you may have. Visit us at our website today for a free quote on Tampa dental insurance.

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Source by Susan Karlen

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Oral health is closely associated with your medical health and poor dental health can directly put a negative impact on other body parts. Many gum and oral disease when not healed properly, can lead to serious ailments. Not everyone can afford a frequent visit to a dentist for dental care. In the past few years, the fees for dental care increased twice due to the rate of inflation. Dental insurance can be the most apparent and worthiest choice of patients when it comes to beat the expensive cost of dental care. Nowadays, many affordable dental plans can be availed at low monthly or annual premiums.

In general, cheap dental plans have no restrictions and waiting periods. Low-cost dental insurance plan is a decisive household expense, which is very essential for overall security of your health and budget. Popular and trustworthy dental companies aim at providing top-notch dental insurance for complete care of your family. Many reputed companies offer a broad assortment of dental care plans that can probably meet your requisites and budget. Every package of dental insurance comes with unique attributes and this can vary from one plan to the other.

Exploration of affordable dental plan available in the market is no more a hectic job. In the current era, most people are suffering from severe dental problems. Right now, patients can easily get low-cost dental insurance that intend to cover every basic requisite of dental care. There have been sudden alterations in health care system that makes dental insurance plan for your family more reasonable. When scouring online sites for comparing prices of dental insurance, you probably look for great flexibility in price. Online comparison of insurance plan gives you an ability to choose a package that best suits your requisite.

Sometimes, it becomes quite intricate for a person to scour for an affordable stand alone insurance plan for dental care. In such a situation, it is always worthy to go for a complete package that provides health, revelation and dental care together. Dental care is just the right option for individuals willing to get benefits that are not proffered by employers. When you consider purchasing a dental plan, it is very imperative to confirm that your insurance coverage is flexible and has diversity. An affordable dental insurance plan can help you save a huge cost levied unnecessary on expensive dental check-ups.

Dental insurance coverage normally works in the same manner as other insurance plans in which the insured person is required to pay a fixed cost every month. In return of monthly payments, insurance company bears all the expenses incurred from dental check-ups. Buying affordable dental insurance plan in one go can be little confusing for a person, as it is available in different grades and levels. Choosing a basic package that offers restricted coverage can be inadequate for maintaining a healthy smile for your family. So, you must go for a well-rounded dental coverage that involves all the preventive cares, crowns and dentures.

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Source by Joe Sand

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Losing a permanent tooth can cause changes to the way a person talks, eats, or how they smile. Before the popularity and availability of dental implants, patients were only able to choose between fixed bridges or a removable partial denture. The problem with fixed bridges and partial dentures is that they wear away at the remaining teeth and often have to be replaced every seven to 15 years. They also can break down the existing bone area where the missing tooth was located.

What is a Dental Implant?

Dental implants are becoming a popular choice for those patients missing permanent teeth. These implants look and feel like the natural tooth that was lost. It is fitted with a titanium root that is implanted into the bone of the jaw. The process can take several months and multiple trips to a dental office. The reason is that patients have to heal in-between steps of the process.

Criteria for Dental Implantation

For patients who are missing permanent teeth, they may be a logical long-term replacement option. The following criteria is used to determine if a patient is an ideal candidate for implants:

• More than one permanent tooth is missing
• Jawbone is fully grown and developed
• Has an adequate amount of bone remaining to help secure the implants
• The oral tissues of the mouth are healthy
• The patient has no health issues that would affect the bone from healing
• Doesn’t want to or can’t wear dentures
• Looking to have speech improved
• Willing to commit to the process, which takes several months to complete

69% of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth. 26% of adults over the age of 74 have lost all of their permanent teeth. The most common causes for permanent tooth loss include gum disease, tooth decay, a root canal that failed, or an accident to the teeth.

Is Dental Implant the Right Choice?

Dental patients are the ones who have to make the final decision on a dental implant. Implants are a new enough technique, and it requires specialized training on the part of the dentist.

Some patients cannot wear a partial, denture, or fixed bridge, making a dental implant the only logical solution to fix their teeth and to restore their quality of life. If a patient meets all of the criteria listed above, they should talk with their dentist about the possibility of using a dental implant to complete their smile.

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Source by George N Anderson

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Being aware and conscience of your health is one of the most important things you can do. You have to live in your body everyday so why not keep it a nice place to live. In life, most would agree that health is one of the main priorities along with food/clothing/a roof over your head. When it comes to health one thing that can often be overlooked is your dental health. Most are unaware that poor oral hygiene can lead to a series of other problems yet it is a relatively simple aspect to take care of.

It is no new news that exercise and a healthy diet are two of the most important things one can do to improve their health. There are countless exercise options out there as anyone can attest to ever watching TV. It seems like every commercial break has some kind of exercise/weightloss advertisement. It is a multi billion dollar business and rightfully so as people are concerned about their health.

Keeping up good health has countless benefits in life, you feel better, think better, are able to seemingly have “more fun” in life. It is often only the sick who realize how good healthy people have it. Take care of your body’s health and your body will not only thank you but it will help take care of you. However, don’t forget to consider your oral health.

Poor dental habits lead to poor oral health. Cavities and gum disease effects not only your physical appearance and sense of well being but if left ignored can lead to problems such as poor sleep, proper digestion of food including other more serious problems such as heart disease and stroke. Other problems poor oral care can contribute to are clogging of arteries, heart valve damage, lung problems. Pregnant woman with gum disease can give birth to pre-term and light weight babies which then leads to other health risks in the child.

You can take steps to keep your dental health in check, including brushing and flossing your teeth daily and visiting your dentist at regular check ups. A healthy diet also helps to build strong bones and gums, not to mention less sugar in the diet keeps the cavities at bay as well. Take care of your oral health, it is a simple way to contribute to your overall wellbeing. But while your at it, why not save some money with a dental insurance alternative saving plans. They will help you save money on your dental bills no matter where you live. They have nationwide plans to help you on your way to a great smile.

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Source by Kevin Dunham

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There are some people out there who want a job or career that is out of the ordinary. If you have a natural artistic ability with a strong sense of aesthetics, you might be interested in becoming a dental technician. You would be making crowns, bridges and other dental prosthetics according to a dentist’s orders. You need to have good manual dexterity, and you also need to be able to differentiate between shades and colors. This work can be very detailed and precise, so you must take your time to do your work carefully to make sure it is done right.

Those who have an artistic ability might not be able to find something with a career in art, but there are favourable opportunities in the work force for a dental technician. You would be moulding and creating these prosthetics to fit patients. That means a dentist would send you an order, and you would have to analyze different things in order to make adjustments as needed for that particular patient. You would have to look at the mould of the patient’s mouth for how the surrounding teeth and gum line are, and make the prosthetic to fit their mouth perfectly.

There are schools that offer formal training for becoming a dental technician. Most of them offer 2 year programs with an associate degree, but there are some that offer a 4 year program that leads to a bachelor’s degree. There are dental offices that simply provide hands-on training to someone already employed within the office, but many prefer to have someone with a formal education. Once you receive the necessary hands-on experience and classroom training, you can also choose to become certified.

There are many advancement opportunities for a dental technician. Once you are experienced, you may want to become a supervisor or a manager in a laboratory. Others actually open up their own labs, while still others teach or work with dental suppliers. Since there are many opportunities, this is a great career for someone who is looking for something out of the ordinary. They make pretty good money with the median hourly wage for 2007 being over $16/hour. You can go online to find a school to apply for, and you could be in your new career in as little as 2 years.

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Source by Paul Abbey