Why You Should Always Research Your Doctor!

In a recent news article there was a story about a dentist in Texas who, allegedly, while under the influence of alcohol, botched a surgical procedure on a woman.  Lawsuits are pending. 

It is interesting to note that medical and dental professionals are not immune to substance abuse. 
This is incredibly disturbing when you think about how many people get treatment every day from dentists they know nothing about.  How many times have you picked a random doctor off of your insurance list?  I know I have done it, figuring that if my insurance lists them, they must be good enough.  They have a degree and a license to practice so it must be safe. And for some, it might be, but unfortunately, it is still an incredible risk to take.
 
Most people aren't even aware that you CAN research any doctor with a license.  Information such as where they went to school, when they graduated, complaints, infractions, etc. can be obtained by the general public. It's as simple as a Google.com search for your local dental or medical board. 
Such a simple step could have changed everything for that poor woman.

When it comes to your health, you can never be too careful!  Whatever you do, whether it be a dentist, a doctor or surgeon, even an anesthesiologist,  do your homework and ALWAYS KNOW who is working on you! 

You Don't Have To Go To The Specialist Your Dentist Referred You To

When a dental center refers you to a specialist, they tend to use the same specialists. There are many reasons why they do this. They may be friends with that specialist. They have a working relationship with that specialist. They could be collaborating with that specialist and referring both ways. None of which are bad. If you trust your dentist, then you should trust the specialist that they refer you too, as you know that your dentist has the best in mind for your dental health.

However, that does not mean that you required to go to that specialist. When you are referred out, you as patient has the option to go a specialist of your choosing. One of them main factors would be, if that specialist is not a provider on your coverage. Rarely does the referring dental center check that. They just make the referral. It is up to the patient to make sure that they are covered at that office.

Too many times we have heard about a patient that has had to pay much more than they should have because they were referred to specialist that is not in their coverage network.

Another thing, make sure you shop around. There are general dentists that can do some if not most of procedures that other dentist would refer you out to. For example, some dentists will refer you to a endodontist for a root canal on a back molar. I personally know dentist that will do that in their office and save you the cost of a specialist. So make sure you are doing your research.

If you are a Savon Dental Plan patient, we have that information on hand for you. If you are referred to specialist, call our customer service center before you do anything else. We have tools readily available to let you know if they are a provider on our plan, we have record of the dentists different abilities and can often send you for a second opinion to a dentist that would be more likely to perform the procedure there and save you a lot more money.

Spinach Teeth

If you're a spinach eater, you may have noticed that your teeth feel chalky after eating it (spinach teeth). This is a result of high quantities of Oxalic acid found in the leafy green.

Jennifer Moltoni - Administrative Coordinator at the Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine says "when you chew spinach, the calcium in your saliva combines with the oxalic acid, and then calcium oxalate crystals are created. It's those crystals that stick to your teeth and make it feel gritty."

If you have a thing with textures, you can boil or steam the spinach to help get rid of the calcium oxalate. Or you can squeeze lemon juice on top of fresh spinach to help dissolve the oxalic acid.

I thought this was very interesting! I don't eat a lot of spinach so I never noticed the chalky texture but when I do make spinach as a side dish for dinner, I always steam it. As I mentioned above, steaming helps get rid of the calcium oxalate, that's probably why I have never noticed the weird texture before!

Financing your Dental Treatment Plan

Ok, so you've just been to the dentist and found out that you need thousands of dollars of restorative work. You have what we commonly refer to as "sticker shock". You know that you don't have that kind of money just laying around......
Whether you are in need of restorative work or cosmetic dentistry, there are a variety of creative financing plans available to help. Dentistry is among the most expensive in healthcare, with costs rising even as the economy is failing. Here are some suggestions for those who are in need of major restorative work, but who cannot afford the out of pocket expense.
First of all, make sure you have good dental coverage (a good dental plan used in conjunction with your credit plan will go a long way toward lowering the costs, thereby making your money go farther.)
Here are some credit organizations to consider:

• Care Credit Healthcare Plan is a financing company that is offered by GE Money Company. It offers financing for personal healthcare, i.e. dental, (cosmetic or restorative) vision care, surgical procedures, (and just FYI) there is financing available for pet care as well! This option does require that you qualify for a loan. Click here to read more....
• Citi Health Card is a program that offers dental financing with a variety of flexible payment options. The have some no interest payment options, options that are for certain periods of time and a revolving card option with no minimum expense. According to their website, they have a quick approval process! If you have a need for an immediate procedure and are low on funds, this one may be the one to try.
  
  Unfortunately, there are many who may not qualify for financing. Don't give up! Many dental providers are now offering in-house financing options for people with no insurance, or who might need a little help with funding for an expensive treatment plan. Additionally, dental school clinics are a consideration, as they can perform most procedures at discounted fees and all work is done under supervised conditions.

Believe it or not, there is something out there for everyone in the way of affordable dental care! Don't be discouraged!

Causes Of Tooth Senstivity

Did you ever drink something hot or cold and feel a sharp, shooting pain in one or more of your teeth? You probably have tooth sensitivity: potentially caused by a myriad of different problems. Here is a list of things that can cause sensitive teeth.

• Receeding Gums
• A Cracked Tooth
• Teeth Grinding (Also known as Bruxism)
• Whitening Products (Especially if overused.) Note: Some people have a natural sensitivity to whitening products, so it's common to have some sensitivity after use.
• Gum Disease
• Brushing your teeth too hard or with a hard bristled toothbrush.
• Foods that have a high acid content, like citrus fruits, tomatoes, vinegar.....diet soda....

There are a variety of remedies out there to try, such as:

• Desensitizing Toothpaste (there is a wide variety available at the drugstore)
• Sealants
• Brushing with warm water or rinsing with warm salt water
• Add foods rich in vitamin D to your diet.

The most effective remedy is the common sense approach.....limit your usage of harsh mouthwashes, use a soft bristled toothbrush and keep up with your routine dental cleanings!

2017's Top Dental Discoveries

The more that technology advances, so does the dental research discoveries.

Here are some of the top dental discoveries found in 2017:

1.  New Research discovers ways to eliminate needled for dental anesthetic.
2. New discover could eliminate infections after root canals.
3. New vaccine could mean the end of periodontists.
4. A pill that could mean the end of dental fillings.
5. New coating could make dental implants better than ever.
6. E-cigarettes shown to be detrimental to oral health in new study.
7. Green tea extract could help prevent cavities.
8. New study shows that oral bacteria can "lasso" onto heart tissue.

 If you would like to read the studies here is where I found the information!

Weird Dental Emergency Stories

Dental Emergencies are never fun when they happen to you but you will get a laugh out of some of these stories I found!

1. Garden in the mouth - One patient had a major toothache so the dentist ordered a root canal. When they were cleaning out the roots and gums the dentist found some seeds lodged into the gum and a tiny sprout was forming. It turned out to be a tomato plant!

2. Super glue gone wrong - One patient tried super gluing their crown back on and ended up sticking the wrong teeth together and got super glue all over the roof of their mouth and throat.

3. Hanging by a thread - Sometime people who neglect their teeth get a serious buildup of tartar and plaque that creates a bridge between the teeth and gums (calculus bridge). One patient tried to remove the bridge with furious brushing. After a few minutes, almost all their teeth fell out because the calculus bridge was the only thing holding them together.

4. Maggots anyone? - A small boy had  painful swollen gums so the parents took him to the dentist for the first time. During the examination the dentist found bunch of maggots inside the swollen gums.


I found these stories here!