I want you to take a look at: Dental Insurance Payments & the Unhappy Dentist  

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common brain injury in sports is a concussion. In fact, approximately 300,000 sports-related concussions occur in the United States each year.

A concussion is a brain injury caused by a bump or blow to the head that can change the way your brain normally works. Even what seems to be a mild bump or blow to the head can be serious.

So how can you as a parent decrease the risk of concussion in your children?

1. Proper safety equipment - Helmets should be worn in sports like football, baseball or softball to prevent severe injuries like concussions. Protective equipment should fit properly, be well maintained, and be worn consistently and correctly.
2. Mouth guards - They cushion blows that cause lost or broken teeth, concussions or jaw fractures. 
3. Safety Rules – Make sure that they follow the coaches rules for saftey and rules of the game.
4. Learn the signs and symptoms of a concussion – Do not let your child participate in sports if they have experienced any of the following symptoms until cleared by a doctor.

• Headache or “pressure” in head
• Nausea or vomiting
• Balance problems or dizziness
• Double or blurry vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Sensitivity to noise
• Feeling sluggish, hazy, foggy, or groggy
• Concentration or memory problems
• Confusion
• Does not “feel right”

Following these important safety guidelines and reviewing them every year with your children will prevent concussion in your child.

Studies have shown that people without teeth die on average 10 years before people with teeth. Over 10 percent of people in the US are missing all of thier teeth. That is 18 million people and over 60% of adults are missing more than one tooth… for those that are older than 65 … 98% are missing more than one tooth.

I lost a molar in my teens, and had a wisdom tooth come in and it moved into that spot… I wonder if that negates one of the two missing teeth in my mouth. All I know is that I want to live longer and good dental care is important to keep those little white beauties.

Here is the problem, when people get gum disease there can be associated bone lose. People without teeth who end up with dentures have no teeth and no roots and this leads to increased bone loss. One year after you have extraction of your teeth 25% of bone lose has occurred and 3 years later 65% of you bone is gone.

Are dentures the way to go? No, they actually increase  bone loss.

So what is a person to do?

You have two choices… take care of the teeth you have or get dental implants.

1. Dental implants cost $1250 to $3000 a piece… hmm that seems to be the expensive route… but then you will live longer..
2. Take care of your teeth with routine flossing, check-ups and getting your teeth cleaned by a professional dental hygenist or your dentist.

The American Dental Association recommends that individuals get their teeth cleaned at least twice a year. As you age or if you have certain medical conditions you may need to get them cleaned more frequently to prevent gum disease and bone loss.

AmeriPlan Dental Plus programs allows individuals to save over $400 -$600 a year on routine cleanings, exams and xrays. A family of four will save $1600 a year using the savings on preventive dental care provided by the Dental Plus Program. To see how much you can save in your local area with AmeriPlan Dental Plus program Fees or to locate a dentist in your area.

AmeriPlan is a 17 year old company that has helped over 1 million families save on the dental care nationwide. To learn more how to save visit www.1st-discount-dental.com

To give you a better understanding of the types of dentist we will review what they do and the types of patients they treat.

General dentists are trained to provide most of the routine procedures such as check-ups, teeth cleaning, fillings, simple extractions, crowns, root canal, sealants and screening for oral disease and other procedures. If your general dentist feels that you have a problem requiring a specialist they will refer you to one of the following types of dentists. Specialists have completed two to six additional years of schooling on top of their DDS or DMD degrees.

General dentists are less expensive that specialists.

Orthodontists treat teeth and facial abnormalities to realign crooked teeth. They design, apply corrective appliances like braces and retainers to achieve proper bite (occlusion) and facial balance.

Endodontists deal with the inner portion of the tooth. They perform root canals which is the removal of the infected tissue and refilling of the nerve canal inside the tooth.

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons treat injuries and deformities of the mouth, teeth , gums and jaws. They remove wisdom teeth, treat facial injuries and jaw disorders and also do reconstructive surgery and do dental implants.

Periodontists treat diseases of the gum and bone that surround and support the teeth. They treat gingivitis and periodontitis which is the more destructive gum disease.

Prosthodontists design, construct and fit replacement teeth such as implants, bridgework, and dentures
(false teeth) Prosthodontists can fit patients with such prosthetic devices as single or multiple tooth replacement implants, crowns and bridges, partial dentures and complete dentures.

Pedodontics or pediatric dentists focus on the treatment of children. The pediatric dentist  is specially trained to work infants, children and adolescents and help them feel more comfortable at the dentist.

Debbi Carroll, RN

Ameriplan clients can save up to 80% on all procedures a general dentist is licensed to do and up to 25% with specialists. Visit www.dentalplanswork.com to see how you can save.

Sitting in the lobby, waiting to see the dentist a man was checking out. When the receptionist handed him his treatment plan and told him what portion his insurance would cover…and how much he would have to pay. His jaw dropped open in surprise. She told him his portion would be over $6,000 and that there was this great program that would allow him to finance his care over the next 18 months with monthly payments of $400 a month.

Yikes, now I was worried.

It made me nervous, as I knew I had a filling out and other potential problems in my own mouth and was worried how much my treatment plan might cost me?

After my cleaning, multitudes of dental xrays, and a brief visit with the dentist, the dentist told me that things were not that bad. Wooohooo, no cavities… just replace the filling and one other filling looks a little iffy… will just put a crown on it. I was also told that I would need to come back every 3 months for a cleaning to stay on top of any gum disease.

Next step, back to the from desk to get the GOOD news and what my treatment plan would cost.
 
Total cost….$1610….

Yikes

They also told me I need to come back every 3 months for cleaning…of course my insurance will not cover the extra two cleanings… so that is another $300.

Yikes, again! I thought she said things looked pretty good.

My insurance limit was $1200… but wait there is more.

Reasonable and customary charges…. I still have to pay $663 our of my own pocket.

Yikes again…it got me thinking.

Why have I been paying over $100 a month for dental insurance for years? It seems to me that I am losing money here. You do the math.

If you want to learn more about how dental insurance is a rip-off and why AmeriPlan Dental is better visit www.dentalplanswork.com or call me and I will email you a FREE REPORT on How Dental Insurance is a Rip-off

Debbi Carroll 704-663-0209

The Nurse Line is a free telephone registered nurse advice line to provide you with sound medical advice 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The 24/7 nurses will answer your call within seconds and give you the advice you need anytime day or night. So whether you’re a first time mother or a weekend athlete, you could call Nurse Advice for peace of mind.

The nurse line was designed to offer medical advice for individuals who are not sure if medical attention is necessary, and for those would just need general information.

I called the nurse line to check it out, as I am a Registered Nurse. We are from the desert and while cleaning some brush in North Carolina, my husband got a red. itchy rash on his arm. We contacted the nurse line who took a thorough medical history before giving any advice. I was impressed with the number of questions we were asked. She then proceeded to tell us exactly what to do to treat his poison ivy or poison oak exposure. I learned alot from her and her advice saved us an expensive trip to urgent care.

My daughter has a new baby and hates waiting for the doctor’s office to call her back with her questions. With the nurse line she speaks to a Registered Nurse right away and gets immediate advice. This is a wonderful service for new and expecting moms.
 
This service will save you from waiting in a Doctor’s office, missed time from work and even the high cost of office visits.

The Nurse Line is available for all medical program members at no additional cost!

Debbi Carroll, RN is is a National Sales Director for AmeriPlan USA. The Total Health™ program includes physician, ancillary visits, a hospital advocacy program, a 24 hour Nurse Line, dental, vision, prescription and chiropractic benefits. To learn more about AmeriPlan’s benefits visit www.1st-discount-dental.com

I am sure that you can remember back to your school days when the dental hygienist came to your school and gave you two little red tablets to chew. Imagine the surprise on your face and that of others to see the areas they missed when brushing. Brings back some memories of those days doesn’t it.

October is National Dental Hygiene Month and dental hygienists are out in force teaching little ones the importance of good dental hygiene. This is often the first time many children become familiar with someone in that profession. With oral disease being the single most common problem in children it is important that children are educated about the importance of brushing and flossing their teeth. Childern should also be educated about nutrition and staying away from sticky stachy foods and learn to choose healthy snacks and meals to prevent dental disease.

Parents and children are also encouraged to think of safety when participating in sports or playing to prevent dental injuries. Wearing mouth guards is one way to protect their teeth. Dental hygienist also educate  parents and children on the importance of seeing a dentist twice a year for early detection of problems and teeth cleanings.

Oral health is important for normal growth and proper nutrition. Dental disease left untreated can result in pain, infection or the inability to eat and speak properly. It can affect the child in other ways as well, such as low self-esteem and missed school days.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry states that children should see a dentist when they get their first tooth and not later than 1 year of age and have checkups twice a year or more frequently if they are at higher risk for dental problems.

Most dental disease is preventable.

When was the last time you took your child or yourself to the dentist?

Debbi Carroll, RN  AmeriPlan can save you up to $200 on an exam, x-rays and cleanings. Make an appointment today! Debbi markets AmeriPlan Dental and Health Plans nationwide.

 www.1st-discount-dental.com

Discount healthcare programs provide one part of the solution to the nation’s healthcare crisis by enabling consumers to purchase dental services at discounted rates. CBS News recently reported that 100 million Americans are currently without any dental coverage at all and are forced to pay full price when visiting the dentist.

For individuals and families without dental benefits, discount healthcare programs off substantial savings on dental services including services not typically covered by insurance programs.

Individual dental insurance is more expensive than group dental and individual dental insurance can come with waiting periods. Some discount dental plans would be a better fit for individuals than dental insurance. Discount dental plans typically have no waiting periods or claim forms and cost less that dental insurance. The discount plans offer a set fee schedule for dental procedures done by dentists and dental specialists within the network. People with discount plans receive big savings on procedures like cleanings, fillings, crowns, and root canals and also have coverage for cosmetic procedures like braces, bleaching and bonding.

Dental insurance and dental plans can complement each other to provide enhanced dental coverage. Dental insurance often has waiting periods of 6-12 months before major services are covered. Limits of $300 to $1000 annually  in maximum benefits coverage with insurance programs is not umcommon. With discount plans there are no limitations.

A client needing $20,000 worth of dental work with yearly limits of $1000 would have to wait 20 years for benefits to complete the needed dental work. Savings of 50% on the extra work would be very cost effective with the discount dental plan. Clients with a discount plan receive immediate savings with no paperwork to complete and with no limits on services.

To learn more about Discount dental plans visit www.1st-discount-dental.com or the National Association of Dental Plans.

Debbi Carroll, RN author, is a benefits consultatn that helps individuals and small business owners acquire health and dental benefits with AmeriPlan USA. Plans start as low as $14.95.