Straight Teeth Are Important But Expensive

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Cameron Diaz, Brandi, and Tom Cruise are just three celebrities that have used dental braces to straighten up their smiles, and they are far from alone. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, about 75% of Americans could benefit from orthodontic treatment, including braces.

If you have a child, the American Academy of Periodontology recommends that you have your child seen by an orthodontist for evaluation by age 7, which means that you better make sure that your dental insurance covers orthodontic treatment for them! If not, you should consider purchasing a supplementary dental health plan for your family, as the cost of braces or other orthodontic treatment is pretty unpalatable without a dental health plan that covers them.

Not All Dental Plans Cover Orthodontics
The problem is that many dental insurance plans do not offer coverage for procedures done by orthodontists at all! Furthermore, there is no such thing as a policy that covers only orthodontist procedures. So, if your current dental plan doesn't cover them, you effectively have no orthodontist insurance.

Fortunately, for a modest increase in your monthly premiums, many group and individual dental plans can include coverage for orthodontist work. If, for whatever reason, your company's benefits manager doesn't offer you the flexibility to get extra coverage in the company plan for your own needs, then you may have to purchase a supplemental plan to get the coverage you want. Furthermore, many companies will allow you to opt-out of the group plan completely and get partial reimbursement for whatever plan you choose for yourself and your family.

Lastly, if you do not have dental insurance through work or if you do have it but it doesn't cover orthodontic programs, you should strongly consider getting a Discount Dental Card if you think that you or a family member will require orthodontist work in the near- to mid-term. Before should make sure that your current plan offers that coverage or else start thinking about other coverage options.

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How Bad Is Your Gum Disease? This Quiz Will Tell

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Online Tool Assesses Your Periodontal Gum Disease
Periodontal disease (a.k.a. gum disease) is a chronic bacterial infection of the gums and bone supporting the teeth and effects one third of Americans over the 30. If left untreated, the disease can progress, which may lead to tooth loss. On top of that, mounting research continues to show that gum disease may have an effect on several serious health conditions. This means that any out-of-pocket costs associated with dental check-ups and treatment needed for for gum disease is insignificant next to your overall well-being.

Don't Become A Statistic
Gum disease is the most significant dental disease affecting adults. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, "more than one in three people over age 30 have periodontitis (gum disease). And, by a conservative estimate, 35.7 million people in the United States have periodontitis." The good news is that it's treatable, and like many other health conditions, the earlier you diagnose and treat, the better the outcome.

Are You At Risk?
This tool is designed to help you and your dentist identify factors that might increase your risk for gum disease. Take the quiz by clicking on Gum Disease Quiz Link and share the results with your dentist at your next check-up. Please note that this tool serves to provide a guideline as to your risk for gum disease. It is possible to have this disease without obvious warning signs, which is why regular dental checkups are so important.