Dental Insurance 101. What you don’t know could you hurt you and your wallet

Most dental plans cover basic examinations and cleanings, but some plans may not cover things you might assume to be routine. Most misunderstandings occur when patients believe their insurance will or should pay for more than it will.

Most dental insurance companies classify dental procedures in three categories:

• Preventative – This typically includes routine cleanings and examinations as preventative dental care, however, X-rays, sealants and fluoride can be deemed as preventative or basic, depending upon the specific insurance carrier. 
• Basic or Restorative – This usually consists of fillings and simple extractions. Root canals can be considered basic or major depending on the plan (the majority of dental plans list root canals as basic).
• Major – Usually includes crowns, bridges, dentures, partials, surgical extractions and dental implants. But not always.

When it comes to dental insurance, most people want it and are glad to have it. When it’s time to actually use the insurance on something other than a routine cleaning--like an unexpected filling, a chipped tooth there or worse, a root canal or crown—it’s a little too late. Doing a little research into your insurance benefit before you really need it is a wise move and can help minimize out-of-pocket costs from unexpected dental treatments.

Don’t forget to use all your dental healthcare benefits for 2011

As the clock is running out on 2011, we have much to be grateful for, like family, friends and your health. If you’re fortunate enough to have dental benefits, the upcoming new year means one more thing: your plan’s benefits for the year are running out.

Most dental plans allow for a certain dollar amount of dental coverage per year once you reach your deductible. Unfortunately, many people often delay dental work until after the holidays. Not only does that mean you have to meet a brand new deductible but you can use up a lot of your covered care dollars very early in the year. That can leave you vulnerable later on in the year if you need additional dental work.

So, if you know you need more dental work and you want to leave yourself adequate coverage for the new year, call 781-335-0604 for an appointment today and we’ll try to get you in before the end of the year. For your convenience, we offer early morning appointment times on Wednesdays and Friday (7 am) and evening appointments on Mondays (open until 7:30 pm).

Brushing up on your holiday eating. How to brush to keep holiday sweets from leading to a trip to the dentist

When it comes to holiday sweets, most people worry about what it will do to their waist line. Not much thought is given about what an increase in sweets can do to their teeth. While you might assume a few extra trips to the gym after the holidays will take care of the sweets, the potential damage to your teeth from an increase in sweets can be more troublesome.

If you are continually eating sweets all day long because candy or other sugary treats are available, it raises the acid levels in your mouth to a higher than normal level and that can lead to an increase in demineralization of the enamel and cavity formation.

Also, the sticky nature of most candy provides the bacteria with more opportunity to create the acid that causes all the problems. And, it goes without saying that sticky candies and sweets are not the best thing to be eating if you have crowns, bridges or other prosthetic appliances in your mouth that can be ‘pulled’ out.”

Does that mean you shouldn’t have any sweets during the holidays? No, sweets in moderation are fine. The real issue stems back to people’s brushing habits in general.

The simple fact is most people do not know how to properly brush their teeth, both from a technique standpoint, length of time and frequency.

After selecting a good toothbrush and toothpaste (Dr. Wolfert recommends a soft brush and any toothpaste with fluoride), a good brushing should take at least two minutes and as many four. While there are many different techniques for brushing, here is one of the more popular ways:

• Hold the brush on two to three teeth with a 45 degree angle on the teeth and under the gum. Gently press against the gum so the tips of the bristles go in between the gum and the teeth. 
• Apply lateral pressure, making the motion of little circles with the final stroke away from under the gums in order to sweep the plaque away from the teeth and the gum. 
• Repeat this motion six to 10 times and move on to the next area of two to three teeth. If your mouth is full of foam, rinse out with water and continue brushing. Your brushing is completed when you have brushed all the surfaces of your teeth; the front, backs and tops of all teeth.

As far as frequency of brushing is concerned, ideally you want to brush your teeth after each meal. This isn’t always easy to do if you’re out at a party or gathering during the holidays. If you can’t brush right after you eat, you should, at the very least, brush thoroughly twice a day, after breakfast and before going to bed.

The holidays are not a good time to get a toothache, with many dentists spending time with THEIR families. Often times you will have to be treated by a covering dentist who doesn’t know your dental issues as well as your primary dentist. Therefore, a checkup prior to the holidays is a very good idea. That way if there are any existing problems, you can address them before you start eating those rich desserts and sweets at the holidays that can aggravate an existing condition.

We have more information and diagrams illustrating proper brushing technique on our website.

Is whitening frightening? “Tooth Boss” Dr. Richard Wolfert demystifies teeth whitening.

Smiling shouldn’t be painful, right? Yet for some people whose teeth are not quite as bright as they’d like, picture time at family functions or during the holidays can be a source of high anxiety. While over-the-counter whiteners can offer modest results, most people are looking for a brighter smile but are fearful of the process and the price tag. With the new technology of teeth whitening out today, dentists can safely whiten teeth without any change or damage to the tooth structure.”

The two main methods of professional whitening are tray whitening and in office whitening. Tray whitening is when a custom tray is made for the patient after an impression is taken, then a supply of whitening gel is given to the patient and he/she will wear the tray for a few hours a day (techniques differ) for a period of time until an acceptable result is achieved. Sensitivity of the teeth is a normal complication of this method of whitening and is transitional.

In office whitening on the other hand is the most effective method of whitening. There are a few different ways that are available for example, Crest White Strips, Britesmile, Zoom, or Laser whitening. The process is similar with all these methods and you can have your teeth whitened in one session with great results.

How much teeth whitening costs depends on the treatment and the dentist. At Smiles By The Toothboss, that can range from $250 to $500 and interest-free payment options are available through CareCredit. But price should be a secondary consideration when whitening your teeth. By having a qualified dentist whiten your teeth, you’re ensuring that you’re using the procedure that works best for your mouth and that you’re getting the best result.  

For more information on teeth whitening, you can visit our website or call 781-335-0604 to schedule a consultation.

"I wanna be sedated." The Toothboss offers sedation dentistry.

When you visit our home page, you'll hear a familiar song by another "boss" Bruce Springsteen. With our newest offering, sedation dentistry, we may have to replace Born to Run with The Ramones' I Wanna Be Sedated.

While dentists have used sedatives like nitric oxide or "laughing gas" for decades, current sedation dentistry involves giving the patient an oral sedative or pill either the night before their appointment or just before the appointment. The new oral sedatives leave anxious patients or patients with a severe fear of the dentists feeling relaxed and calm-and conscious-throughout the appointment.

Are you a candidate for sedation dentistry? Maybe. Patients who are candidates for sedation dentistry include those who:

• Have high levels of fear
• Have had traumatic dental experiences
• Have difficulty with Novocain
• Have a bad gag reflex
• Have sensitive teeth
• Have a fear of needles and shots.
• Have an intense aversion to the noises, smells and tastes associated with dental care
• Are too afraid or embarrassed about their teeth to go visit a dentist

If you have one or more of those symptoms, you may want to schedule a consultation prior to your appointment to determine if that's the appropriate course of action and what type of medication would work best. And while some practitioners may consider that consultation a separate charge, Smiles by the Toothboss does not charge for the pre-appointment consult.

For more information on sedation dentistry, you can find an informational video on our website, www.toothboss.com on the Services page or give us a call at 781-335-0604.

In the Case of Bad Breath

There are a few different causes for bad breath. It ranges from stomach problems to diets and teeth problems. Most of the causes can be found in the mouth, they are:

1- Tongue (when bacteria grows in between the papilla) 

2- Teeth cavities (especially when food particles get stuck in them) 

3- Gum diseases

4- Extraction sites during healing 

5- Dentures when not cleaned properly 

6- Alcohol and tobacco

If you or someone you know is concerned about bad breath, the first step is a dental check up. Your
dentist will be able to confirm or rule out teeth or mouth as the source of bad breath.

When the reason is found, treatment will be explained by your dentist. If the source of the bad breath is your mouth there is little chance that mouth washes or mints can treat the problem. They usually mask the problem for a short period of time. They can even sometimes make the situation worse (mouthwashes that contain alcohol cause dry mouth and that usually makes the bad breath worse).

These are a few other, non-dental reasons that cause bad breath:

1- Sore throat 

2- Tonsillitis 

3- Some foods 

4- Infection of air passages.

Following a good oral hygiene routine and getting regular check ups with your dentist are best ways of
preventing bad breath.