December 16, 2009, 8:58 pm
Dental insurance benefits, especially for restorative work like fillings, can be very difficult to understand. The benefits summary may state that fillings are covered at 80%, but due to several factors this is not usually the case. Most dental insurance companies use what is called a “Usual, Customary and Reasonable” fee guide. This means that the insurance company sets their own price that they will allow for every dental procedure that they cover. This is not based on what a dentist actually charges. The insurance company pays its percentile based upon its UCR fee, not the dentist’s actual fee.
Downgraded benefits can also effect the amount an insurance company will pay for a filling. Many insurance companies downgrade tooth-colored fillings to a silver amalgam filling fee. While the insurance company allows patients to have tooth-colored fillings, the patient will have to pay the difference between the fee for the tooth-colored filling and the downgraded UCR fee for an amalgam (silver) filling. The percentile benefit is then applied to the amalgam fee.
Our office goes to great lengths to attempt to provide an accurate treatment plan estimate prior to treatment. We try to figure in the effect of UCR and treatment downgrades when figuring our estimates, but it is not always possible to know the exact amount that an insurance company will reimburse.
Our office only offers tooth colored fillings for several reasons.
1. Tooth colored fillings require less removal of and damage to the underlying tooth structure in order to adhere to the tooth.
2. Tooth colored fillings provide a stronger bond to the tooth structure which makes it less likely than an amalgam filling to allow bacteria under the filling.
3. Tooth colored fillings are made of a non-toxic resin material and can actually make the tooth structure stronger.
4. Tooth colored fillings provide an overall aesthetic benefit as they can be blended to match the color of the surrounding tooth structure making their appearance virtually invisible.
December 10, 2009, 6:47 pm
Dental sealants have provided us with an opportunity to fight the build up of harmful decay and bacteria in the back molar teeth. These teeth are shaped differently than the rest of our teeth and contain quite a few pits and grooves. These pits and grooves prove harder to brush well and don’t allow for harmful food and drink substances to slide off as easily. Due to the structure of these teeth, the majority of dental restorations (fillings, root canals, and crowns) occur on molar teeth.
Dental sealants contain a thin plastic coating that is painted on to the tooth surface. This makes for a smoother surface with less opportunity for food particles to get trapped and a barrier for bacteria to penetrate. Applying sealants is a quick, simple inexpensive process that can provide good protection for several years. The back molars typically appear around age six and it is best to get those teeth sealed soon after they have fully erupted and before bacteria can begin to cause problems.
Dental sealants are not easily visible and should be checked by your dentist at each dental check-up. They will need to be replaced after several years to maintain their benefits. Many dental insurance companies cover dental sealants in children as a preventative dental benefit.
I have included links to two sources that answer questions about dental sealants:
The CDC Dental Sealants Fact Sheet and
The ADA Frequently Asked Questions about Sealants.
Please call us at 636-561-5445 if you want more information about how dental sealants can benefit your family’s oral health.
December 2, 2009, 8:17 pm
I just created an archive for my patient e-newsletters. It only contains the most recent e-newsletter at this point, but I will archive all of the newsletters going forward. Now you can always have access to the amazing content in my newsletters. Hopefully, you read the self-deprecating humor in that last sentence.
December 1, 2009, 7:05 pm
December can be the hardest month of the year to maintain healthy habits. Holiday parties, the change in temperature, the constant presence of goodies, the busyness of holiday preparations and gift buying can all make it difficult to stick to healthy routines. Below I have listed a number of healthy habits. I encourage you to pick three of these habits or make up your own healthy habits to focus on in the month of December. You can share your three picks in the comment section here or on my Facebook page wall. Research has demonstrated that sharing your health goals can help to keep you accountable and focusing on small changes in health habits can make a great difference.
Healthy Habits
Floss once a day
Brush 2 -3 times a day
Get 7 – 8 hours of rest each night
Stay hydrated throughout your day
Drink green tea daily
Take a multivitamin daily
Eat 5 – 9 fruits and veggies each day
Keep a food journal of everything you eat each day
Exercise portion control at holiday events
Perform weight resistance exercises 2 – 3 times per week
Do a cardio workout 3 – 6 times per week
Try a new workout class, dvd, or game
Stretch or perform simple yoga exercises for 5 – 10 minutes per day
Make medical appointments that you have been putting off
Park further away from the entrance to work or stores
Commit to sharing chores with family members to lighten your load
Decrease holiday stress this year with a decision to buy less or shop online
My three healthy commitments for this month are:
1. To stay hydrated throughout the day
2. To exercise portion control at holiday events
3. To get in 3 – 6 cardio workouts each week.
I found a great list of tools to help you meet your health goals. The list includes websites that can help track calories and health goals as well as fitness tools.
What are your three healthy commitments for the month of December? Do you have other ideas of healthy habits to share?
