Thursday, October 27, 2011

Dental Expenses and the Elderly-A Travesty

With our volatile economy, things are bad enough, but it is so much worse for those on limited and fixed incomes, and the real travesty is that there is very little help available for those in need of serious dental care. Medical care is much easier to obtain. Dental treatment is fast becoming one of the most costly of all areas in the medical industry. Basic restorative treatment is becoming a thing of the past, with dentists and dental specialists opting for the higher end products and procedures. Root canals, crowns and implants are exorbitantly high priced, as are dentures and prosthetic devices. The elderly are literally forced to spend money they don't have and are finding that there are limited resources to help with the funding of these treatments and procedures, as government based organizations generally will not cover anything other than extractions for adults. A good Dental Plan can go a long way toward reducing costs for the elderly, but sometimes it just isn't enough. Does anyone out there have an elderly family member or friend that has had this problem, and were any of you able to find resources for financial aid for the elderly? I have searched and searched but I've come up empty handed. I welcome your suggestions.......

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Thursday, October 20, 2011

Extreme Smile Makeover Contest!

Do you know someone that could use a dental plan? Simply e-mail us at:Customerservice@savondentalplan.com

Explain the situation of the person that you are nominating and why you think that they could use the dental plan. 3 winners will be chosen from the entries and the contest is open to the general public. You do not need to be a member of the plan to nominate someone.Please make sure that you include the contact information for the person you are nominating. We will notify the winner on November 15, 2011 and their free plan will start on December 1, 2011.

*Keep in mind that this contest is for a dental plan membership only and does not include dental work.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

HIV and Oral Health

I originally posted this article about 3 years ago and I thought it may be a good one to repost. I got a few comments the last time amd it's an informative article! I hope you'll find it useful!

With the advance of medical technology over the last 20 years, so much more is now known about the importance of oral health for people infected with HIV. Did you know that there are over 30 oral conditions that can either result from or be more problematic for people with HIV infection? Some of these conditions can occur in people who are not infected, but some of them are found exclusively in people who are infected. Did you know that at one time, it was thought that root canals and other invasive procedures should not be performed on people with HIV/AIDS, and that there are publications today that have been updated for copyright, but still include this misinformation in the transcripts? Oral health and preventative care is important for everyone, but even more important for people with compromised immune systems. Education is essential.

Click here to learn more about the oral conditions associated with HIV/AIDS.

Click here for information about financial aid for dentistry and other services for people infected with HIV/AIDS.

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Monday, October 17, 2011

Temporomandibular Joint Problem?

TMJ-Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction
Could your aches and pains be a Temporomandibular Joint Problem? Let's review some of the symptoms of TMJ problems.
1. A malocclusion which is an imbalance in the way your teeth come together.
2. A 'clicking' or 'grinding' sound when you open or close your mouth.
3. A ringing or aching in and around the ear.
4. A pain or tenderness of the hard or soft tissue in and around the jaw area.
5. A facial pain.
6. A pain or ache when chewing or swallowing.
7. A headache.
8. A 'locking' jaw joint.
9. A shoulder and/or neck ache.
Although any of these signs and symptoms could be a Temporomandibular Joint Problem, it takes a health care professional that is trained in Temporomandibular Joint Problems to diagnose a TMJ problem.

Original Post By Dr. C

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Thursday, October 6, 2011

Chewing Ice-Things You Never Knew!

Who knew that a habit shared by so many Americans could have such a damaging effect? Not only can chewing ice cause a variety of problems for people with either healthy or unhealthy teeth, but if you crave it, or do it often it could be a sign of something more serious... Iron Deficiency Anemia. It is not known why this craving happens. Studies are being done to try to determine the correlation. Talk to your physician if you constantly have the craving to chew ice!

Additionally, ice is a very hard substance; after all, history teaches us that glaciers and icebergs carved out the Great Lakes! Chewing ice can break, fracture, chip and crack your teeth, as well as irritate your gums and your tongue, causing pain and discomfort. If you absolutely need to chew something crunchy, try nuts, apples, carrots or celery. Your teeth will be much healthier for it!