Many people do not entirely understand how dental insurance works. Dental insurance contracts usually are paid on an annual year. In other words, a plan may allow for $1500 of benefit in a calendar year, which means January 1 through December 31. A few plans operate on a fiscal year, which means the benefit cap is renewed on the anniversary…
One of the most difficult challenges that dentists must face is the task of retrofitting fillings and crowns to an existing removable partial denture. For those who do not wear partials, a partial denture grips natural teeth with cast metal clasps. Sometimes, these teeth break or develop tooth decay before the partial needs to be remade. However, it is…
Deciduous teeth, or "baby teeth" as they are commonly called, erupt during the first two years of life and function in a healthy mouth until the adult, succedaneous, teeth are fully developed. During this time, they function for chewing, speech development, esthetics, and they are critical for proper growth and development of the skull and jaw. When they are lost…
A good friend of mine asked me this question just the other day. It's worth writing about because he voiced the same question that many think but don't express. Quite frankly, this is not an unreasonable question because unless you're in the dental profession, most people don't understand the skills that are involved a professional dental "cleaning" and that they are…
Without a doubt, one of the most significant challenges facing the preventive restorative dentist today is how to manage a cracked tooth. If you put any group of dentists in a room and pose a single question about how a tooth with a crack should be managed, you will no doubt end up with a spirited discussion with no resolve.…
In light of reality television and many of the popular programs which inform people of the many reconstructive procedures that can be done medically, the term "cosmetic dentistry" has become a popular buzz word. Unfortunately, "cosmetic makeovers" are often done without considering the overall health, needs, and fundamental desires of each individual patient. In an era of evidence-based medicine, many of…
Snoring occurs when the muscles of neck relax during sleep, allowing the structures of the nose and mouth to to fall backwards against the back of the throat, constricting the airway. As long as the person is breathing regularly and exchanging air, the only problem is for other people in the room. However, many snorers actually stop breathing several times during the…
Like the old saying goes, the chief is only as good as his helpers. Dental auxiliaries can make or break a dental office. The quality of care that a dentist can provide is directly related to the skills of his/her team members. The ability to relate to people is an essential quality of any dental assistant. Their duties vary but usually include collecting and managing…
Dental implants have proven over the past 20+ years to be a fantastic alternative to many traditional dental therapies. They have proven to be between 88% and 96% successful in replacing one or many teeth. However, they do tend to be more costly than traditional dentistry in many situations, require specially trained dentists and surgeons, and cannot be placed in…
The answer to this question is quite simple.... as soon as they can comfortably sit in a dental chair by themselves or lay back on a parent's lap. Dental schools often state a magic age of 3 years old. However, this has absolutely no scientific foundation. Unfortunately, many parents wait until their child has a toothache or an obvious cavity before…
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