Spirit Dental Resources

The world of insurance is complicated, sometimes needlessly so. One topic we discuss with clients on a daily basis is networks, or more simply “who accepts this plan?” It’s confusing, so let’s start by explaining what a network, HMO, PPO, and Indemnity plan is. Network is the easiest of these to understand because it is a word used outside of the insurance industry. In insurance a network is a group of doctors that sign an agreement with that network. Doctors (providers) are then bound to the network, which typically requires them to charge members of that network a reduced rate for their services. In return for lowering their prices, network providers (doctors) can expect to receive more customers. Some dental insurance companies keep premiums down by only offering plans that use a network. Larger networks typically have smaller discounts, while small networks can offer deeper discounts. This is the primary difference between a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) and a HMO (Health Maintenance Organization). HMO’s generally have less options because less providers are part of the HMO, but the discounts are deeper. PPO’s generally have more providers in more areas, because more doctors agree to the network’s terms and discounts. HMO’s tend to have less providers but it can also be the most affordable. This is because HMO’s control all aspects of the healthcare. The downside of HMO’s is choice, as you are strongly encouraged to go to a HMO provider. For clients who want more choice, an Indemnity plan allows them to see any dentist. The Spirit Indemnity plan will pay any dentist a set amount for each procedure. The payments are based on 90% of Reasonable and Customary in each area, meaning that 9 of 10 dentists charge that amount or less. So the Indemnity plan provides coverage with no networks to worry about. The Spirit Indemnity plan is perfect for people who want the freedom to see any dentist.

A child's primary teeth, sometimes called "baby teeth, typically begin to appear when a baby is between six months and one year of age, are as important as the permanent adult teeth. Primary, or "baby," teeth are important for many reasons. Not only do they help children speak clearly and chew naturally, they also aid in forming a path that permanent teeth can follow when they are ready to erupt. The ADA recommends that a dentist examine a child within six months of the eruption of the first tooth and no later than the child's first birthday. Consider a dental visit at an early age is a "well baby checkup" for the teeth. Besides checking for tooth decay and other potential problems such as thumb-sucking. Parents should take their children to the dentist regularly, beginning with the eruption of the first tooth. Then, the dentist can recommend a specific program of brushing, flossing, and other treatments for parents to supervise and teach to their children. These home treatments, when added to regular dental visits and a balanced diet, will help give your child a lifetime of healthy habits.

Are milk, cheese, and other dental products good for your teeth? Milk contains a sugar called lactose which is fortunately pretty benign as far as tooth decay is concerned. Even with the presence of lactose milk does not promote tooth decay because of the presence of high amounts of calcium, phosphate, and casein which is a milk protein that helps strengthen teeth. Eating cheese can actually help protect teeth from developing cavities because eating cheese helps increase the flow of saliva which helps neutralize acids in the mouth. Cheese also increases calcium concentration which helps stop the demineralization of tooth enamel. The fat that is abundant in cheese also helps reduce bacteria in the mouth. A lump of cheese is often eaten in Europe after a meal as a desert. European cultures have known for centuries that cheese helps protect the tooth enamel after a meal by neutralizing bacteria in the mouth. So next time you have a sugary meal have a piece of cheese when you finish to help neutralize the effects of the sugars in your mouth.

A recent ADA News story on the potential effects of the (ACA) Affordable Care Act on dentistry stated that an estimated 3 million children will gain dental benefits by 2018 through health insurance exchanges, roughly a 5 percent increase over the number of children with private benefits currently.  Beyond the exchanges, more children will benefit through employer-sponsored dental benefits with dependent coverage, ""although the number is uncertain at this time,"" the Association said.   The law includes pediatric dental coverage in a list of essential health benefits to be provided by small and individual group health plans. The ACA does not address coverage for adult dental benefits. However, some states are looking at adult coverage as a potential optional benefit after the ACA-mandated health benefit exchanges are in place

Usually, when you think of going to the dentist, you’re thinking about teeth.  Cleaning teeth, maybe there’s a problem with a tooth – a cavity,  a chip, discoloration – maybe you’re thinking about braces or other straightening needs… or the dreaded root canal problems.  However, did you realize that the dentist may be able to recognize and diagnose numerous other potential problems with your health? According to Dawn West, DMD, RN with Tuffs University School of Dental Medicine, when you go for a dental checkup you might actually be saving so much more than just your teeth or find out about other oral health related complications, because the mouth is the gateway to your entire organism and there might be several important signs of other diseases existent in there. Some of the other non-dental related diseases that a dentist can spot include the sexually transmitted diseases (STD), diabetes, heart disease, and even several types of cancerous diseases. The dentist is basically looking in your mouth for signs of different diseases such as inflammation, bleedings, dry mouth or sores, and damages to the gum line. Some other dentists do actually perform neck and head exams, Blood pressure and even blood sugar or other blood issue tests. So don’t look at that dentist visit as simply a pain that has to be done every 6 months, think of it as a great check up on your overall health!

Updated Jan. 2022 Having access to quality dental care is important at every age. Unfortunately, a trip to the dentist can come with a hefty bill. For that reason, many people might be forced to postpone the care they need to keep their teeth and gums strong and clean, even though they’d otherwise keep their appointments.  Dental insurance is the solution to this common problem. And it can be surprisingly affordable, all while giving people the chance to see their dentist without getting hit with super high out-of-pocket costs. Yet, there are millions of Americans who don’t have this type of coverage.  Just how many people are lacking this valuable support? Check out the information below to learn about some of the latest stats. More than 70 million people aren’t enrolled in a dental plan According to a survey by the CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, roughly 76.5 million American adults stated that they didn’t have dental insurance. And this research discovered that many people—roughly 6 million—had dental insurance but lost it because of the COVID-19 outbreak. This survey also found that higher income earners are more likely to have dental insurance than lower income earners. While 80% of people making over $100,000 annually had dental coverage, 60% of people earning less than $30,000 annually had this type of insurance.  Many seniors on Medicare lack dental coverage Seniors tend to be at a higher risk of developing oral health problems. After all, as you age, your body changes, including your teeth and gums. So, getting regular checkups and high-quality care is necessary to catch problems and treat them before they progress into more serious issues.  One disappointing finding from the CareQuest survey is the fact that individuals over the age of 60 are the least likely to have dental insurance. And even those who are on Medicare make up a good portion of the number of people without this coverage. More specifically, roughly 25% of survey respondents who are on Medicare stated that they didn’t have enough dental coverage to meet their needs.   Americans recognize the importance of having dental insurance Even though so many people don’t have dental insurance, it doesn’t mean that they don’t recognize its importance. And it certainly doesn’t mean that they don’t want it. In fact, CareQuest’s survey found that around ⅔ of adults agree strongly with the idea that Medicare and Medicaid should include coverage for oral health care for adults.  Stand-alone dental plans are an option for Americans without insurance Individuals who don’t receive dental insurance from an employer might find it difficult to afford a stand-alone plan. Or, they might not be aware that they have the option of getting this type of insurance on their own.  If you want to shop for dental coverage for yourself and your family, you can do so rather easily at any time throughout the year, without needing to wait for Open Enrollment. Contacting insurance providers directly can be a great way to see which plans are available.   Do you need dental insurance? Spirit Dental can help! If you’re one of the millions of Americans who don’t have dental insurance for themselves and their families, and you’re ready to get the protection you need so you can more affordably see the dentist whenever you want, check out the many plans offered by Spirit Dental. At Spirit Dental, you can find plans for individuals, families and seniors. You can get comprehensive coverage that will be there to support you, whether you need a simple professional cleaning or you need to get an expensive dental implant to replace a missing tooth. And the best part is you may be able to find a plan that will give you what you want at a price you can comfortably afford, so you’ll never have to go another day without dental coverage!         Sources: https://www.carequest.org/system/files/CareQuest_Institute_A%20Snapshot%20of%20the%2076.5%20Million%20Americans%20Without%20Dental%20Insurance_Visual%20Report.pdf https://www.carequest.org/education/resource-library/dental-insurance-out-reach-many  https://www.carequest.org/education/resource-library/snapshot-765-million-americans-without-dental-insurance  https://www.carequest.org/system/files/CareQuest-Institute-SNOHE-Info-Dental-Insurance.pdf  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/may/04/americans-dental-dentist-teeth-health-insurance