Question:  I failed to enroll my baby to my current dental insurance plan I received though my employer. The next open enrollment to add her is not until January 2014. By then she will be a little over a year old. Should I wait it out or buy a dental insurance plan just for her?

Answer: The American Dental Association advises that a child should see a dentist by their first birth day or when they cut their first tooth.  With that said, it can be difficult to find a dental insurance plan for just a minor. Most dental insurance plan will not write and individual dental insurance plan on a minor.  This means you would need to buy a couple plan.  Whether or not you decide you should buy a plan for three to four months is up to you. However keep in mind many insurance plan also have waiting periods or required that you keep the plan for at least a year.

New research published in the January/February 2013 issue of General Dentistry, the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD), indicates that the use of a germ-killing mouthrinse in addition to regular toothbrushing can significantly reduce plaque and gingivitis, more so than brushing alone.

When making out your monthly budget, do not forget to budget in your dental care needs.  Dental care should not be viewed as a luxury, So make sure items like toothpaste containing fluoride,  mouthwash, toothbrushes, dental floss and a check-up at the dentist find their way into your budget.

One way to help save money on your dental care needs for your budget is by having dental insurance.  If you budget the cost of dental insurance it will save you money on your dental care needs.  In most cases preventive dental care is free under dental insurance and with proper preventive dental care you can avoid having larger more costly dental services.

Generally speaking people think that they need only to see a dentist twice a year, and for the most part that can hold true.  However opinions on that are starting to change.    Then National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines state the recommended interval between dental check-ups should be determined specifically for each patient, and tailored to meet their needs, on the basis of an assessment of disease levels and risk of or from dental disease.

Meaning you should see a dentist not by a standard stated time but what is best for your own oral health care needs.  Talk to your dentist and see what is best for you, if you have not been to a dentist within the last year or more, make sure to make a dental appointment. Oral health  is very important to maintain and poor oral health can also have negative effects on your over all health.  Also by having dental insurance it will help keep your dental care cost low.

Oral health care is important and that does include brushing your teeth at least twice a day for two to three minutes.  However try and beware of the water that is being used.    With kids it is very easy for them to run the water the whole time while brushing there teeth.  Teach them how only very little water is needed and to turn off the tap while the are brushing. Have a small cup out filled with water for them to rinse with and turn on the tap just to quickly wash the sink clean when done

Teething is a stressful time for you as well as for you baby, one of the first things to know are the teething signs. In most cases these signs will become apparent before the tooth breaks though and will normally cause the most pain.

Although teething can vary the signs include:

1) Swollen or red gums where the tooth is coming through.
2) Redness on the cheek or the side of the mouth
3) Disturbed sleeping pattern.

Other noticeable signs may include

1) Dribbling,
2) Desire to bite on objects and for the child to put things in their mouth

There are a range of safe products available, which can help ease the pain and misery of teething. Such as special teething gels, for even greater relief put teething rings and gels into the fridge, the cold will help to numb pain.  As with any medicine or device however people should always check the label and read the instructions. If there are any doubts it is best to check with a dentist, doctor or health care adviser.

Tip Seven of choosing a dental office that will work well for you and your family dental needs.

7) Location: Ideally you want to go to a dentist that is not too far from home or work. If the dental office is too far out of your way you may put off your dental care.  You also want to choose a dental that is in a location you can feel safe.  If you have to worry about your vehicle while at the dentist, it may not be a good location for you.   What matter most is that you are able to go to a dentist you like in an area you know well and feel comfortable in.

Tip six of help you choose the dentist that best fits your needs.

6) See a dentist that is right for your age.   Many general dentist will start seeing  patients from ages five and up.  It is a good to ask the dental office staffing what the dentist is more geared for.   As an adult you may want to go to a dental office that  does not have a play room for kid instead of a waiting room.   Yet if it is your child your are taking to the dentist then a more kid friendly environment is always helpful.  Finding a dental office you can feel comfortable with is important in order to maintain your regular dental office visits

Picking a dentist office that best fits your needs and then needs of your family is important.  Here is tip number five to help you narrow down your choices.

5) Flexible Hours:  Does the dentist office provide flexible hours. In order to go to the dentist regularly, you need find a dental office that provides flexible hours that can fit into your own schedule. Many people can not always take time off from work in order to keep or make a dental appointment.  Therefore know the office hours,  There are dentist that do work on Saturday or have latter office hours in order to be more available to their patients.   If it is not easy for you to book an appointment, the less likely you will maintain your regular visits.

When choosing the best dentist for you and your family do not forget tip four.

4)  Communication with the Front Staff:  Make sure you have clear communication with the front staffing. In most cases it is the front staffing that handles payments and any financial arrangements (when necessary) and not the dentist.  If the dental office offers a payment plan for services render, make sure you have full understanding of the requirements.    If you have a PPO dental insurance plan make sure you understand how the dental office files out the claims.   Will the dental office file your claim and charge you for any remaining balances or do you have to pay in full for services render and get reimbursed from the insurance company?

Tip number three in helping you find the right dentist for you and your family.

3) Communication with the Dentist:  Make sure the dental office has dentist that provide clear communication. When needing dental services it is important to understand clearly what is needed and be suggested to for as a treatment plan.  Therefore it is important  to have a  dentist can explain things to you  in a manor that is understandable.  Part of  good communication is understanding that it goes both ways.  It is up to you to ask questions if something is unclear. Many people do not ask questions, yet get upset latter when things do not go the way they expected.

Tip Two on choosing the right dental office for you and your family.

2) Attitude Counts:  You want to go to a dental office that has staff that has a good attitude.  When you walked into the dental office did the front staff welcome you?  Where they friendly?  The front staff may not be the providing the actual dental services,  but they are the people you have to deal with when booking appointment and filing claims. Therefore a dental office that has professional front staff support is important to your overall dental visit.  If you do not like the way you are treated by the front staff you may tend to avoid going to your dental appointment regardless of how good the dentist may be.

When trying to find a dentist that can best fit your dental needs here tip one of seven tips that may be able to help you with your search.

1) Make sure the dental office you are going to looks clean. Generally when you first walk into a dental office you may only see the front waiting room and front desk, if what you see makes you think it is messy, sloppy or dirty think again about booking a appointment. If the dentist office is not trying to make a good first impression how clean is the rest of the place?

There is a lot that factors into the cost of orthodontic care, such as overhead ( which includes orthodontic staff, facilities and associated office costs) cost of actual hardware (brackets, wires, adhesives and attachments), In addition you have laboratory fees for diagnostic models or services.  So you can see as the cost of salaries, health care coverage, utilities, and supplies go up, so does the cost of braces.

Yet it does not stop there, recently there is new additional factor, which increases the cost of providing orthodontic treatment.  That is the new tax that is part of the new Obamacare health care plan.  There is a new 2.3% medical device tax.  Yes, that cost will likely add up to at least $175 more than the present fee.

There is a new field of dental therapists that may be changing dental care for those in need.  With nearly 17 million children are not getting proper dental care. Some of the reason are dental care cost is too high for many families, as well as many dentists do not accept Medicaid nationwide. In 2009 there were 830,000 visits to emergency rooms for dental problems that could have been prevented with proper preventive dental care.

With the Affordable Health Care law more children will become eligible for dental care. One expert said, taxpayers will benefit from fewer trips to the hospital. Better dental care also could improve school attendance. For example, in just California more than half a million children missed school in 2007 because of dental problems.

California and other states are searching for new ways to help meet the demand, including the use of dental therapists. However, many dentists do not agree with that decision. They say dental therapists do not have enough education and training to perform surgical procedures such as filling cavities or pulling teeth.  In 2005 Alaska became the first state to use dental therapists. Minnesota authorized the new profession in 2009. The first graduates of their dental therapy programs began practicing last year.
California, New Hampshire, Oregon and Connecticut are considering creating programs for dental care therapists.

In hopes that it will make it easier for you to pick a dentist that you can feel comfortable with and go to at least every six months, here is tip number five

5) Location:  Location can be an issue.  It is nice to be able to find a dentist that is close to your home or work since most people do like convenience.  However, don’t let convenience get in the way of finding the right dentist for your specific needs, including office hours, emergency hours, policy on missed appointments, and most importantly a willingness and desire to handle your special needs as a patient.

Here is tip number four of five on finding the right dentist for you and your family.

4) Know what dental insurance plans are accepted:  If you have dental insurance make sure the dentist accepts your dental plan. Also be sure to have a clear understanding on how the dental office files claims.

In hopes of  making  it easier for you to pick a dentist that you can feel comfortable with and go to at least every six months here is tip number three of five.

3) Know just how busy a dental office is. It is not so nice to have to wait months in order to book a dental appointment for your dental care needs. So make sure to ask how far up their booking goes so you know ahead of time if they are too busy for you.

Here is tip two of five in hopes that it will make it easier for you to pick a dentist that you can feel comfortable with and go to at least every six months.

2) Know the dental office business hours.  Not all dental offices operate on a 9-5 M-F schedule. In fact, it’s the norm to find dentists that don’t operate Monday or Friday or that have varying schedules on a day-to-day basis. This is great for the dentist, but sometimes not so great for patients who have strict schedules to follow. On the brighter side you may be able to find a dental office that also provides weekend and evenings hours.