Facts about Dental Disease

DID YOU KNOW:

* Plaque (a sticky invisible film) forms on your teeth within 30 minutes of brushing!

* Plaque that is not removed from your teeth (by brushing and flossing) will use the minerals in your saliva to form tartar (also called calculus) that is hardened and must be removed by a dental hygienist

* Plaque and tartar act as harbors for bacteria - if not disrupted daily, the bacteria multiply

* There are “good” bacteria (which are helpful to your system) and “bad” bacteria (which cause disease) throughout your body and the mouth is no different

* Bacteria are bad in 2 ways:
#1/They breakdown the carbs and sugars you eat into ACIDS which attack the outer layer of your teeth (this is how cavities are formed!), and

#2/Bad bacteria also force your body's immune system to react by trying to kill them...but some of the chemicals your body sends out to battle the bad bacteria actually destroy the bones supporting your teeth!

* Once part of the bone supporting your teeth is destroyed it will not grow back on its' own, and you will be classified as having Periodontal Bone Loss and will most likely need expensive treatment and possibly even surgery!

Prevention is much less expensive than repair - seeing your dental hygienist as often as they recommend could save you money, embarassment and pain.

Please don't neglect your dental health again this year!

Save 10-60% on dental visits

Dental care can be expensive.

If you are one of the majority of people in this country without dental insurance (just like me and my family!), I highly recommend looking into joining a DISCOUNT DENTAL PLAN. These programs are not insurance. They are just what they say they are - they give you a discount on the services you receive when you visit your dental office.

Read what Bankrate has to say about fighting high dental bills:

"Evaluate dental discount plans.
These aren't insurance plans, they're simply discounts on dental procedures. For example, if the cost of an adult teeth cleaning is $75, then a typical discount rate might be $39, saving you $36 on that procedure. The premiums are low (fees are usually less than $12 a month for an individual and less than $30 a month for a family), but these plans usually limit your choice of doctors.

There have also been scams involving discount plans. "None of the legitimate companies are going to ask you to pay before you see an outline of the plan," says Ireland. "If you don't see something in writing, don't send them any money." Check out DentalPlans.com where you can type in your ZIP code and see a list of dentists in your area who participate in each discount plan, as well as the average discounted cost of each procedure..."

There are lots of different plans to choose from, including some plans which include specialty providers such as orthodontists (specialize in alignment of your teeth), periodontists (specialize in gum disease and bone loss), pedodontists (specialize in treating children), and endodontists (specialize in replacing missing teeth) in addition to General Dentists.

If you do not have a dentist right now, this is a great way to find one close to where you live and research how reasonable their fees will be before stepping foot in their office! Depending on the plan you choose, basic services may be free. It is like having an ongoing coupon for the dentist!


Some of the characteristics of Discount Dental Plans include:

* No annual limits- members enjoy discounts on most services all year long
* Most plans activate within 1 - 3 business days
* No paperwork hassles, plan membership card is presented for discounts on most dental services
* No health restrictions
* Select plans include discounts on dental specialties, including cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics
* Consumers pay affordable membership fees for access to a network of providers offering discounts on most dental procedures
* Available directly to individuals, families, businesses and groups

In short, discount dental plans are an affordable and easy-to-use alternative to dental insurance, and offer plan members significant savings on most dental procedures.