Spirit Dental Resources

Updated Nov 2022 If you have a broken or chipped tooth, you are probably wondering what to do for a broken tooth. Hopefully, you’re only reading this to help prepare yourself in case the situation ever arises. Broken, chipped, cracked, or a fully removed tooth - all not-so-great situations, but they can get much worse if not taken care of properly. In this article, we will take a look at what to do with a broken tooth, how to deal with chipped or lost teeth and the ways Spirit Dental's low-cost dental insurance can help. What to do if you crack a tooth A tooth with a minor crack or chip can wait for medical attention, but you will want to be cautious about eating foods that are tough to bite or chew. You’ll also want to be attentive to foods with extreme temperatures. Use over-the-counter pain meds as needed. Most chips don’t need immediate attention, but it is recommended that you give your dentist a call and make an appointment as soon as possible. If it’s just a small chip, the dentist may smooth and polish it out. If it needs more than that, the dentist may suggest a filling to help prevent the issues from getting worse. A crack usually involves the whole tooth, so you should call and make an appointment as soon as possible. It can either be a small crack that might involve a filling as a fix or, if it is bad enough, it may require a crown or a root canal. The dentist will assess the situation and provide the best solution. Tip: Wearing a mouthguard is key anywhere you could be hit. It will help protect your teeth from injury or trauma. What to do about a broken tooth Whether your broken tooth results from a cavity or external event, you will want to call a dentist immediately. In the meantime, these steps should be taken: Rinse your mouth with warm water or saltwater. Apply a cold compress to the cheek near the broken tooth. Apply gauze to the broken tooth to help soak up the bleeding. If gauze isn’t readily available, a wet tea bag can be used as a substitute. Note, bleeding should subside after 10 minutes. If you experience a severe break, you should see a dentist within 24 hours. If you cannot make it to a dentist immediately, head to a local drugstore for dental cement. It can be used as a quick fix until you seek medical attention. Take an over-the-counter pain reliever to help with the discomfort. A broken tooth will be extremely sensitive, and you’ll want to see a dentist or endodontist immediately. The suggestion will most likely result in the dentist wanting to cover the tooth with a crown. These days, porcelain or resin crowns can look just as natural as a real tooth. If the tooth is completely broken, but the root is still intact, you may need root canal surgery. The dentist will build enough of a structure to place a pin or post so that a crown can be placed later. What to do about a tooth avulsion (completely removed) Completely losing a tooth is a dental emergency and will need immediate attention. If the tooth was fully removed, make sure to handle the removed tooth by the crown. DO NOT grab the tooth by the root. A tooth that was completely knocked out could cause severe nerve damage. Don’t worry, replacing the tooth in the socket is possible, but treatment is most successful if done right away. Tips to avoid breaking or chipping teeth Now that you know what to do if a tooth breaks, you may wonder how to avoid these problems. A broken, chipped or cracked tooth can be caused by quite a laundry list of items. To help prevent any of these things from happening to you or your child, it’s important to take precautionary measures, including: Don't bite down on hard candy or ice Avoid opening items with your teeth Wear protective mouth gear when taking part in physical activities Eat a proper diet and take care of your teeth Frequently asked questions about chipped and broken teeth If you're wondering what to do when your tooth breaks or is chipped, we have answers for you. We've gathered some of the most common questions we get about chipped and broken teeth and answered them for you below. If you have further questions, please read our FAQ page for more information. Does dental insurance cover broken teeth? Yes, Spirit Dental can help you find dental insurance if you have a broken tooth. And we know you can't always wait for coverage, especially in an emergency dental situation, so we offer dental insurance with no waiting period. As soon as your application is approved, your coverage begins. Can a dentist fix a chipped tooth? Yes, various options are available, depending on the level of damage to your tooth, including bonding, filling, crowns and veneers. How much does it cost to fix a chipped tooth? You probably already assumed that the cost of fixing a chipped tooth will really depend on how much damage your tooth has incurred, and what treatment will be needed to repair it. You’re right. But, beyond that, costs can also vary widely from one dentist to another. Generally, you might expect to pay the following prices for the different treatments that can fix chipped teeth: Bonding a tooth might cost anywhere from $100 to $1,000, and the total cost might depend on how much work needs to be done on a tooth. A filling might cost anywhere from $90 to $500. A dental veneer might set you back $500 to $1,500. A crown might cost as low as $250 or as high as $3,200, and the price might depend on the type of crown that you get and the location in the mouth where it’s placed. A root canal might be priced anywhere from $500 to $1,000, and it might also depend on the extent of the damage and the location in the mouth where the tooth is located. Your dentist can let you know which treatments would work to fix your chipped tooth, and he or she can also discuss pricing with you to help you make the best decision for your oral health and your wallet. Spirit Dental can help you find affordable dental insurance to make these services more affordable. Trust Spirit Dental for all your dental insurance needs For the times that there is a tooth or mouth emergency, make sure you have your dentist’s number readily available. After all, we think they might even be speed-dial-worthy! Another important contact to have ready is Spirit Dental. We offer major services dental insurance so you can rest easy knowing we have you covered. Contact us today to find out more about how we can help. 

Updated Sept 2021 Flossing probably isn’t on your list of favorite things to do, but there are plenty of solid reasons why you should add it to your daily routine. Plus, when you consider the benefits, and the fact that it really only takes a couple of minutes, flossing isn’t such a hassle after all.  What are some of the many reasons why dentists and dental hygienists are always interested in whether or not you’re flossing regularly? Check out the info below to discover why brushing alone isn’t enough.  1. Brushing Can Only Do So Much Sure, brushing is absolutely necessary if you want to maintain healthy teeth and gums, but did you know that it likely won’t do a good enough job at removing plaque? According to experts, 40% of the work of getting rid of plaque is attributed to flossing. This means it plays an important role in preventing tartar, cavities, and gum disease.  How is this possible? Well, brushing can hit most surfaces of your chompers, but the bristles won’t be able to get in between your teeth like floss can. It’s that simple! 2. Flossing Helps Remove Plaque Before It Turns to Tartar You’ve heard of plaque and tartar, but you might now know the difference between them. Basically, if plaque isn’t removed from your pearly whites by thoroughly brushing and flossing to clean every surface of every tooth, it can harden into tartar. And it doesn’t take long either—plaque might start to harden into tartar in as little as 24 hours! This is why dentists recommend flossing at least once a day.    What’s the big deal about tartar? Because it sticks to your teeth and gums, it may increase your risk of cavities, gum disease, and gum recession. Plus, even though you can brush and floss away plaque, tarter isn’t something that you can easily remove at home; instead, you’ll need the help of your dentist to do that.  3. It Helps You Keep Your Gums Healthy Having healthy gums can help ensure you won’t experience other problems, such as tooth loss. Again, floss can reach areas that your toothbrush misses, removing food particles and plaque so they won’t remain on your teeth and gums.  Note: Your gums may bleed a bit when you floss, and that might deter you from flossing regularly. But if you keep at it, within a short span of time, your gums likely won’t bleed anymore. That’s because the act of flossing can help promote healthier gums.  4. Your Smile Might Become Brighter As mentioned above, if you leave plaque on your teeth, it will end up hardening into tartar, which is yellow or brown in color. So, when you’re able to remove plaque before it turns into unsightly tartar, you can take a step toward maintaining a brighter, whiter smile. And who doesn’t want that? Not Flossing? It’s Time to Start! As you can see, there are several great reasons why flossing should be an integral part of your at-home oral hygiene routine, rather than something you do only when food gets stuck between your teeth.  With so many different products out there, from string floss and water flossers to floss designed for sensitive gums, tight teeth, and braces, you can select the one that’s just right for you. Whichever type of floss you choose, the key is to do it consistently, such as once a day—it doesn’t even really matter what time of day you floss! Bottom line: once you include flossing in your routine, you should find that your mouth feels fresher, and your dentist might even be impressed by how much cleaner your teeth look when you go in for your next professional cleaning.      Sources: https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/still-not-flossing-more-reasons-why-you-should https://crest.com/en-us/oral-health/conditions/tartar-plaque/plaque-tartar-causes-prevention-removal https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/tartar-dental-calculus-overview https://oralb.com/en-us/oral-health/solutions/floss/the-benefits-of-flossing-your-teeth/ https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/f/flossing    

Kids are back in school, and the initial first-week jitters have subsided. At first, there is so much excitement and buzz that getting the routine back in motion can be a challenge. Whether your plans include an early morning wake-up to make sure your kid’s lunch is packed, or you're a family that prefers a little extra sleep and does the packing the night before, either way, the first few weeks can be tough. After all, research shows that it takes on average 21 days to create a habit. We want to help provide you with tips and reminders about healthy oral habits. After all, we’re all about teeth! Our recipe for success: Good Habits + Routine = A Happy Parent & Healthy Kid The initial back-to-school dental checklist: Dental appointments scheduled We’re sure your schedule is piling up as you read this, but if you make those dental appointments ahead of time, you can write them down and forget about it until it shows up on the calendar. Advanced scheduling also helps your kid(s) as they know what’s coming and can inform their teachers when they’ll be out. Morning and evening toothbrush reminders Whether the kids overslept or it was a rough morning, things can get crazy. A little reminder to stop and brush those pearly whites before leaving the house never hurts. Here’s a nifty calendar you can use to help track your am/pm brush schedule. You can use stickers or markers to help make it fun for the kids to check off. Healthy snacks/lunches As for snacks and lunches, you know best, but avoiding soda and sugary foods is a plus. String cheese is always a great option. It’s healthy and fun! Need a few suggestions, here are some lunchbox ideas. Additional dental tips worth mentioning: Mouthguards are key! If your kid is out on the field and has the potential to get hit in the mouth - you’re going to want a mouthguard. A tightly fitting one at that, especially, if they have braces. Can you imagine getting hit in the mouth and popping a wire? The pain and the expense. Ouch! Toothache? If your kid is experiencing any amount of pain, you might want to book an appointment asap. The pain and irritation can cause a kid to lose focus which makes learning that much harder. The school year doesn’t have to come with additional stress. A little planning combined with healthy habits will help keep the whole family moving in the right direction. This year is going to be great. Between the kids and your schedule, you got this!

Updated May 2022 Orthodontic care involves the use of braces and other appliances to straighten teeth and align the bite. For example, if there are gaps between your teeth, they’re crooked, or you have an overbite, you can consult with an orthodontist to see what can be done to perfect your smile.  Although orthodontics can be used to achieve incredible results, many people find it hard to afford them because they’re expensive. Thankfully, there’s dental insurance for braces that can help reduce the out-of-pocket cost of orthodontics.  Does dental insurance cover braces? Yes! And, even though you might think braces dental insurance is for families with kids, the truth is some dental plans offer adult orthodontics too (Spirit does not offer adult orthodontia). Why should you bother paying for this type of coverage? Put simply, it can help you save a lot of money. Orthodontics, such as ceramic braces or Invisalign, might cost up to $8,000 or more, on average. So, if you enroll in a plan that covers orthodontics at upwards of 50%, you might save hundreds or even thousands over the course of the treatment.  What does orthodontic insurance cover?  You can find affordable dental insurance that covers braces, retainers, and other appliances that help with straightening teeth, correcting malocclusion, and addressing other concerns. You might even find plans that cover Invisalign so you can take advantage of the perks of using clear aligners instead of traditional braces.  In addition to covering the cost of orthodontic appliances, a good quality plan may also help you pay for exams, X-rays, and other treatments, such as extractions, that are necessary to ensure a patient will get the best results.  Things to consider when shopping for orthodontic insurance Not all dental policies will cover orthodontics, and some might only cover orthodontics for kids.  Some insurers might only cover orthodontics if they’re deemed medically necessary rather than cosmetic.  Check for restrictions, limitations, and out-of-pocket fees. For example, there might be a waiting period before you can receive orthodontic coverage, there might be pre-existing conditions exclusions, or you may be limited to choosing from a network of providers. When it comes to out-of-pocket expenses, there may be a copay, deductible, or coinsurance that you’ll be responsible for.  Check if there is an annual maximum and lifetime maximum that determine how much the insurer will pay for orthodontic treatment before you need to cover the balance.   Note: You might be able to add on this type of coverage as a supplement to another policy.  What do braces cost with insurance vs. without insurance? What you’ll end up paying will depend on factors like your location, the length of treatment, if any other procedures are necessary, and the types of braces used.  If you don’t have insurance, you’ll need to pay for orthodontic care completely out of pocket. This can be stressful because the average cost of braces might be anywhere from $3,000 to a whopping $10,000.  By enrolling in orthodontic dental insurance, you might potentially save hundreds or thousands, depending on the plan’s coverage details and limits, as well as the cost of the orthodontic treatment from start to finish.   Example: If you have a plan that covers half of a $3,000 bill, you’d need to pay the remaining half, or $1,500. But, again, it’s important to keep in mind that annual and lifetime maximums, as well as other out-of-pocket costs, can impact how much you’ll end up paying in total.     Spirit Dental offers the best dental insurance for braces At Spirit Dental, we understand how important and necessary orthodontic care is. That’s why we offer plans that provide this type of coverage. Check out our network plans, such as our Network 1200/2500/5000 plan, to get the right amount of support for ultimate peace of mind.  As an example, we offer plans that include a $1,200 orthodontia benefit that can help pay for an evaluation and treatments for dependent children. These have a $600 annual limit and a $1,200 lifetime maximum.  Our plans can also provide 10% coverage for the first year, 25% for the second year, and 50% for the third year. Plus, they come with a low, one-time $100 deductible, and there are no waiting periods.  Sign up for dental insurance for orthodontics today If you’re interested in learning more about what Spirit Dental has to offer when it comes to insurance for braces, contact us anytime. You can also easily get a quote online to see which plans are available in your area.      Sources: https://www.cigna.com/individuals-families/understanding-insurance/orthodontic-insurance https://www.dentaly.org/us/dental-insurance-usa/insurance-for-braces/ https://www.valuepenguin.com/average-cost-braces   https://www.healthline.com/health/average-cost-of-braces https://www.orthodonticspecialists.net/our-blog/does-my-insurance-cover-braces https://www.orthodonticharmony.com/is-orthodontic-treatment-covered-by-insurance/   

Updated July 2021 When hearing the words, “you need implants,” the dollar signs and panic can start to consume your thoughts. Your brain starts automatically rattling off things like, “how am I going to be able to afford this?” “How time-consuming will this be?” “Is it necessary?” After all, your dentist has recommended the procedure, so here we are. The next step to take is figuring out costs and how to make it all work. Check With Your Insurance Provider First, contact your dental insurance provider to see if they cover implants. You might want to ask how much they will cover in-network and out-of-network. If you don’t have insurance, it might be time to look up dental plans that can help offset some of the costs. For example, a PPO network plan can save you 20-30% off the retail cost of implants. That kind of savings can make a huge difference. Josh Purington from Oregon shared his story, “I shopped around for dental insurance coverage looking for a plan that would cover a tooth implant since my dentist said I needed one. Out of all the plans I looked at, Spirit Dental was the only one I found that had coverage for this type of procedure. There was a one-year waiting period but it was well worth the wait! For the tooth extraction and implant costs, Spirit Dental covered $1,051. For the replacement tooth procedure, Spirit Dental will cover a total of $1,175! That is a total of $2,226 in coverage! All this coverage for only $46 per month.” For Josh, having that insurance was well worth it. Talk to Your Dentist The next step is to talk to your dentist. Even with insurance, it’s best to look at all your options and see where else you might be able to minimize costs. Can your dentist perform both surgery and restorative work? If yes, that might allow you to cut back on the number of appointments. If your dentist can perform surgery, you might want to ask if they also handle the anesthesia themselves. That’s another cost that you might not be thinking about when putting together your budget. Once you’ve done your homework—spoken to both your dentist and insurance provider—if the price still comes out to what seems like an unmanageable cost, you can then ask your dentist to work out a payment plan. They will usually try and work with you if the procedure you’re having done is carried out over a long period of time. All of this may seem like a lot. If you don’t take care of yourself when the problem arises, not only can the issue get worse, but the bills to help reverse or fix what needs to be done later can get much higher. You got this. Insurance - Dentist - Budget. Figuring it all out is half the battle. Learn more about your insurance options and get a quote from Spirit Dental & Vision.

The real and nasty truth about the tiny bristled item that lives in your bathroom. 1. What’s Inside Your Mouth? Bacteria. Lots of it. At any given time, there could be up to 200 species of oral bacteria living in your mouth. In an article by the Huffington Post, Ann Wei, DDS, a prosthodontist based in San Francisco states, "In an unbrushed mouth, there can be as many germs as a dirty bathroom floor." * As dirty as the bathroom floor? If knowing that makes you nauseous, just wait till this fact pops in your head as you lean in for your next kiss. Yikes!  2. Toothbrush and the Toilet The title alone may have you cringing. One study found that fecal coliforms were seen on 54.85% of toothbrushes and that the odds of that fecal coming from another person using that bathroom were 80%.** Who do you share a bathroom with? Hopefully, your toothbrushes are placed far, far away from the toilet and that both you and the person you’re splitting the space with have good or above average hygiene habits. 3. Plastic Containers Camping, traveling, using one as a spare in your purse - you might want to think twice about how you travel with your toothbrush. Just think, you use your toothbrush, put it away, now it’s sitting in a sealed location, wet and unable to dry. It becomes a breeding ground for bacteria. In a story published by ScienceDaily, Lauren Aber, MHS (Graduate Student, Quinnipiac University) notes, "Using a toothbrush cover doesn't protect a toothbrush from bacterial growth, but actually creates an environment where bacteria are better suited to grow by keeping the bristles moist and not allowing the head of the toothbrush to dry out between uses." *** We’re sure you’ll think twice the next time you go to pack up your toiletries for a long weekend.  4. Sharing Is Not Caring Bacteria and viruses can live on a toothbrush up to three days. If you have the flu and continue to use the same brush, you won’t necessary re-infect yourself, but what happens if you start sharing? Our advice, buy each person in your household their own toothbrush and maybe keep a spare around for guests. If you want to take it a step further, you can buy each person their own toothpaste as well. This is one item that the “sharing is caring” phrase just doesn’t apply too.  5. Time For A Replacement Periodontal disease is caused by a major buildup of plaque that can eventually have repercussions such as gum disease and tooth loss if not properly taken care of. As one thing can lead to another, brushing with a toothbrush that has frayed or dull bristles can affect how clean you’re able to get your teeth. Essentially, it’s like cleaning a dirty pan with a soiled, worn down sponge. It isn’t going to help much. Replace the old with a new about every three months. *”The Disgusting Truth about Your Toothbrush.” Huffington Post, 21 April 2014. **American Society for Microbiology. "Toothbrush contamination in communal bathrooms." ScienceDaily. ScienceDaily, 2 June 2015. *** “If You Haven’t Replaced Your Toothbrush In 3 Months, You Should Read This.” Prevention, 23 February 2016.