There are many choices to choose from when buying a dental insurance plan for you and your family.  Therefore it is helpful to understand some of the pros and cons for each type of dental plans.

Dental HMO Insurance Plans.

Pros:

* Cost of the Plan: Dental HMO plans are normally lower cost plans making them easier to fit in most budgets.

* Waiting Periods for Dental Services:  Most dental HMO plans do not have waiting periods for covered dental services. Therefore if you need filling, crown, root canals etc. soon after buying an HMO insurance plan, you are able to receive benefits for these types of services right away.

* No yearly maximum payouts. HMO plans do not have a yearly maximum dollar limitations on how much the plan is going to pay per person per year.  Though there may be limitations on dental services such as two cleanings a year or one set of x-ray a year etc.

* Cost of Dental Services:  There is no guessing as to your cost for dental services since most HMO plans are fee based. The cost for covered dental services on a HMO insurance have already negotiated with the dental providers. You are able to review the fee schedule before even buying the plan.  The only exception to this  can be that plan specialist may still be based on percentage.

Cons:

* No outside network benefits:  Under an HMO dental insurance plan it operates through a network of dentist. Generally you are assigned to a dentist in the plan network that you pick at the time of purchase.  You can change providers by notify the company but it still needs to be a network provider of the plan.

* HMO plans tend to have more providers in densely populated area such as major cities like Los Angeles but tend to have less dental provides in more rural areas.

* Under an HMO plan normally dentist are paid a set annual fee for each customer assigned to them through the network. Which can means the dentist makes more money when a customers required less treatment. There by making some people believe that a HMO dentist will either discourage treatment or encourage dental treatment not covered under the HMO plan.

* Specialist:  Some HMO dental insurance plans either provide no coverages for specialist or limited the coverages received by specialist.  Providing on average between 20 to 30 percent savings off the cost of network plan specialist services. Note: You will generally need a referral from the general dentist to see a plan specialist.

Dental disease is nearly 100 percent preventable yet fewer then 30 percent of people follow their dentist’s advice to brush and floss twice a day.  People are dropping the ball with their at home dental care habits.  In some state nearly 40 percent of people with dental  insurance still do not regularly see their dentist.   Early education about oral health care habits are important, and should be reinforced by parents, teachers and the community.

Dental restorations such as veneers, crowns, implants and even resin based filling can be expensive.  Protecting your investment and making it last longer just makes good  sense. Therefore with proper care and regular dentist visits you can look good and your crowns, veneers and other restorations will be able to last for many years.

Normally when you have cosmetic dental services your dentist will provide you with a list of dos and don’t,  but here are some tips to keep in mind.

* Do not use hard bristle toothbrush:  Hard bristle toothbrushes are abrasive and can scratch the surface of your restorations there by dulling their polish and luster.

* Do not use highly abrasive toothpastes:  For the same reason as why you do not want to use hard bristle toothbrush, abrasive toothpaste can also scratch the surface of your restorations.  An a example of a non abrasive fluoride toothpaste would be Rembrandt toothpaste, but there are others and you can talk to your dentist to see what he or she may advise.

* Flossing:  Good for your teeth and good for your restorations.  By flossing regularly you are removing debris and plaque from your teeth. This is good for your teeth but flossing will also increase the lifespan of your restorations since it  helps prevent tooth decay.

* Use alcohol-free mouthwash:  Studies show that mouthwashes that contain alcohol have a negative effect on composite fillings. In addition, the alcohol content in mouth rinses, over time, can degrade the bond between your restorations (crowns and veneers) and your teeth.

* Food and Drinks.  Try to either limit or avoid food that are high in sugar in order to prevent cavities. Also limit the and consumption of coffee, soda, tea and other stainable drinks.

* Do not bite and or chew on hard objects such as pens and do not use your teeth as tools to open or bit off objects.

* If you grind your teeth make sure to wear a fitted night guard

Treat your teeth and dental restorations well and your resin-based restorations (such fillings) can last anywhere from three to nine years or longer and your porcelain restorations (such as veneers and crowns) can last 10 years or more before they need to be replaced.

The number of preschoolers with serious dental tooth decay is on the rise, across all income levels. Some young children have six to ten cavities. Some of the reasons for the increased rise in tooth decay among young children, is mainly snacking and juices or other sweet drinks before bedtime.  But other reasons includes children drinking bottled water instead of fluoridated tap water.  As well as parents who have simply grown lax about making their kids have proper dental care habits such as brushing and flossing daily.

With people wanting their smile to be as white as possible but without the fake look, professional teeth whitening treatments have become the most popular cosmetic dental procedure to date.  Although cost will always very from dentist to dentist depending the the what type of whitening treatments are provided, the average cost range can be from $100.00 to $600.00.

One should also keep in mind that since teeth whitening is a cosmetic dental service, many dental insurance plans will not provide benefits for this service to be done.  Talk to your dentist to determine what best fits your needs and budget.

Too many American, particularly kids are showing up in emergency rooms with rotten teeth issues.   According to surveys done by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 10 state within the past three years, the percentage of third graders with untreated tooth decay running as high as 40 percent in Arizona, to just under 15 percent in Washington State.  A study by the Pew Center for the States found that preventable dental conditions were the primary reason for more than 830,000 emergency room visits in the U.S. in 2009, up 16 percent from just three years before.

Did you know that around 20 percent of Americans have some type dental phobias?  Some commons dental fears include: Fear of pain, needles, injections, and the feeling of helplessness.  In addition, because of these anxieties, many people will tend to avoid going to the dentist even for needed dental care services.

Yet the key in coping with dental anxiety is education. The more you know about the dental services you may need the better you are able to understand them, there by making them less scary.  Discuss your dental fears with your dentist. Once your dentist knows what your fears are, the better he/she will be able to work with you and address your fears.  Doing this will reduce your anxiety and make your dental visit much more comfortable.  Keep in mind if your dentist does not take your fears seriously, it is time to find another dentist.

It is important to know that by having proper dental care habits at home  along with regular dental checkups, not only does it help to reduces the risk or tooth decay and gum disease, but will save you money in the long run.   Preventive dental care services such as, office visits, X-rays and cleanings are much more affordable then filling, root canals and crowns. Take into account that even lower cost dental insurance plans offer free to very low cost preventive dental care, it makes no sense not to maintain your dental health. By taking care of your teeth with good dental habits and seeing your dentist you decrease your chances of developing larger more costly dental issues.

Most people like to have fresh breath and worry that what they had for lunch may still be around hour later.  Yet, why is that the case?

Well basically, all the food you have eaten is first broken down in your mouth. Certain foods and beverages are notorious for causing bad breath. Some of the biggest culprits include such foods a garlic, raw onions, cabbage, coffee, alcoholic beverages, and even dairy foods.  Many other foods can also cause bad breath, in fact all kinds of food particles can leave your breath smelling pungent if allowed to linger in your mouth, causing bacteria to build up.  By brushing and flossing you are removing food debris and plaque which in turns helps you to maintain fresh breath.

Fear of visiting the dentist is a frequent problem in paediatric dentistry.  A new study conducted by scientists at the Rey Juan Carlos University of Madrid highlights the important role that parents play in the transmission of dentist fear in their family.

Many parent encourage their children to practice proper dental care habits at home.   However, having the right dental health care products for your children to use is just as important.

For children who do not brush their teeth on their own yet, you may want to avoid toothpaste with fluoride until they know not to swallow.  Yet for older children, the Center for Disease Control recommends that parents get their children toothpaste that contains fluoride in order to protect their teeth.

In regards to using mouthwash parents may want to avoid using mouthwash that contain alcohol.  There are many kid friendly mouthwashes that do not contain alcohol just read the label to make sure.

Flossing is an important part of daily dental care, however your child needs to know how to floss correctly.  Make sure you or your dentist correctly shows your child how to floss.  A parent should floss their child teeth until they are able to do so on their own.

A new review of existing studies points toward a potential role for vitamin D in helping to prevent dental caries, or tooth decay. The review, published in the December issue of Nutrition Reviews, encompassed 24 controlled clinical trials, spanning the 1920s to the 1980s, on approximately 3,000 children in several countries.

Periodontitis, a form of chronic gum disease that affects nearly half of the U.S. adult population, results when the bacterial community in the mouth becomes unbalanced, leading to inflammation and eventually bone loss. In its most severe form, which affects 8.5 percent of U.S. adults, periodontitis can impact systemic health.

More then 130 million Americans do not have dental insurance.  Those that are lacking insurance tend to put of dental care due to cost.  Even though early childhood is a critical time period for kids to learn effective dental health care habits, many parents can not afford their needed dental care.   Many schools in effort to help children build strong dental health care habits, reach out to volunteer dental hygienists and dentist that are willing to visit their school and provide dental education and free dental screenings.  See if your child school is active in having such programs available.

Question:  I think I may have gingivitis. Truthfully i know I have not taken really good care of my teeth and I only brushed them when I felt like it. Even though my teeth look normal my gums seem to be receding and when I brush my gums bleed a little. Can I reverse this on my own?

Answer:  You can reverse the gingivitis but not on your own. I strongly suggest you see a dentist. A dentist will be able to tell if you have gingivitis or if it has progress into a larger issue. The dentist will determine what course of dental treatment is needed, but generally speaking you may need to have at least a deep cleaning.  Yet regardless of what is done by the dentist he or she can not help you without your doing your part.  You must start having proper dental care habits at home in order to reclaim healthier teeth and gums.

Healthy Families is a low cost insurance for children and teens. Healthy Families provides health, dental and vision coverage to children who do not have insurance and can not qualify for free Medi-Cal.   The Federal Government has recently issued the 2012 Federal Income Guidelines. Healthy Families has new income guidelines this year.  For a child to qualify for Healthy Families, one of the requirements is that the family’s monthly income (after applicable deductions) must fall within the program guidelines.

About three out of every four people have teeth that are sensitive to hot, cold, sweet or sour foods and drinks.  This happens when the hard outer enamel layer on teeth and the softer underlying dentin wear away, stimulating the nerves inside. There are some sugar-free gums and special toothpastes can may help to reduce tooth hyper-sensitivity.   However if you do have sensitive teeth make sure to address that issue with your dentist.

Taking inspiration from Mother Nature, scientists are reporting an advance toward preventing the tooth sensitivity that affects millions of people around the world. Their report on development of the substance, similar to the adhesive that mussels use to attach to rocks and other surfaces in water, appears in the journal ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces.

Having good dental care habits established early on could help avoid dental issues in the future.  Good oral health care is more the just having healthy teeth. According to the Surgeon General oral health is integral to general health care. However, sadly many parents may not realize proper dental care, like traditional medical care should begin in infancy to prevent the development of disease.

The American Dental Association advise new parent to have the first dental visit before the child first birthday. Pediatric dentist are specialist in treating children dental care needs. The dentist has the same goal in mind for your child dental health care “Prevention” With maintenance, routine check-ups and cleanings on a regular basis it will help prevent larger dental care needs.

Twelve million Germans suffer from periodontitis, an inflammation that can lead to the loss of teeth if left untreated. A new diagnostic platform enables the pathogens to be detected quickly, enabling dentists to act swiftly to initiate the right treatment.