Question: I never been to the dentist. My mom says they will hurt me if they did a cleaning. I feel I should go to the dentist but I do not want to be hurt,  and my mom dose not seem to want to take me to one.

Answer:  Normally it dose not hurt just to have a basic cleaning done. Since you never had a cleaning done by a dentist before it may hurt you a little. Yet what the bigger issue is that by not going to the dentist you may need more then just a general cleaning.  As for your mom you will just need to talk to her about her reasons for not taking you.  If it is about cost, maybe let her know she could buy a dental insurance plan as little as $30.00 a month for a family and receive free preventive dental care which dose include basic dental cleanings.

Question: Thinking about getting braces to correct my teeth, but would like to have some dental insurance to help with the cost. Is there any plans that can help me with this?

Answer: Yes you can get dental insurance and dental discount plans. With respect to dental insurance make sure the plan you want to get covers not only braces but braces for an adult if you are over the age of 19. In regards to dental discount plans age is not a factor and in general the average discounted saving is around 20% off.

Question: What is a dental plan compared to dental insurance? Not sure the difference.

Answer: A dental plan or rather a dental discount plan is a plan that helps provide dental care services at a reduce cost to you with dental providers of the plan. Consumers typically pay an enrolment fee and an annual or monthly fee and get access to discounted services from member providers. Discounts can range anywhere from 15 percent to 80 percent.

Dental insurance would be your HMOs, PPOs and Indemnity plans. You can see that with dental insurance their are a few plan types and they do work differently and depending on your dental care needs,  you may prefer one over the other.  Dental insurance is also designed to help reduce your cost for dental services.  Consumers who go the insurance route also get the benefit of oversight from their state department of insurance, which could prove helpful if they have insurance complaints.

Question: Will a orthodontist know if I have TMJ?  I think a may have TMJ but not sure.  My jaw dose make a lot of popping noises and it dose tend to hurt in the mornings.

Answer: Yes,  a orthodontist will know if you have a TMJ issues and be able to treat you for it if you do. If you feel you have a TMJ issue speak to your dentist so that he/she can confirm if you do or do not have TMJ and what is needed to treat any dental care needs you may have.

Buying dental insurance for you and or your family is a key way to help maintain your family oral health care. At DentalOpinions.com we offer many good dental insurance plan options Delta Dental being one such option.  Delta Dental is a very popular plan in California since it has a large dental provider data base. Therefore the chances are your dentist is a provider of Delta Dental PPO plans.

However, even if your dentist office is not a provider of Delta Dental PPO plans, since it is a PPO plan you are still able to go to dentist that are not a participating provider. Take the time to review our dental insurance options, just enter your zip code in the quote box provided.  If you should have any questions about the available dental insurance plan please call our member service line at 310-534-3444 as we be a happy to help you find the best dental insurance plan that fits your dental needs.

Question: I do chew daily, I am wanting to stop but until I do if I brush often will that help prevent dental health issues?

Answer: The side effects of chewing tobacco are numerous, but since we are talking about your teeth here are the side effects related to just your mouth.

1)  Stained teeth

2)  Bad breath

3)  Sores on the gums and in the mouth that are stubborn to heal

4 )  Some of the effects on dental health are escalated by the sugar that is added to the tobacco during processing to improve the taste.

5)  Risk of developing oral cancer

It is a good idea to stop chewing as soon as possible brushing your teeth is important but when chewing you are still increasing your risks for dental health issues.

Question: I am not sure which plan is better a PPO or an HMO?

Answer: Without knowing your dental care needs it would be difficult to say which plan type the best because they service different needs. As just one example. If you want to choose your own dentist a PPO plan may better fit that need. Where as if you have current basic or major dental care needs that need to be addressed a HMO plan may better fit that need.

I suggest calling our member service line so they can go over what you feel is important to you and then assist you with your search for the best dental insurance plan for your dental care needs.

Question:  Thinking about getting braces just wondering if Invisaligns really work and are they more costly then the basic metal braces?

Answer:   Yes Invisaligns work for many issue just as well as using metal braces. They do cost more then metal braces. So make sure if you have dental insurance they they cover them. Many dental Insurance will not cover invisaligns. You may want to look into a dental discount plan if your insurance dose not cover. A discount plan will normally save you at least 20% off the cost of invisalings.

Buying dental insurance for you and or your family is a key way to help maintain your family oral health care. We offer many good dental insurance plan options Delta Dental being one such option.   Delta Dental is a very popular plan in California since it has a large dental provider data base. Therefore the chances are your dentist is a provider of Delta Dental PPO plans. However, even if your dentist office is not a provider of Delta Dental PPO plans, since it is a PPO plan you are still able to go to dentist that are not a participating provider.

Take the time to review our dental insurance options, just enter your zip code in the quote box provided.  If you should have any questions about the available dental insurance plan please call our member service line at 310-534-3444 as we be a happy to help you find the best dental insurance plan that fits your dental needs.

Question: I was told that we should clean our tongue when brushing our teeth. How do you clean your tongue?

Answer: You would take care of your tongue the same way you take care of your teeth. Brush it twice a day and buy a good germ killing mouthwash that you like.

Question: I have a family of four and looking for a good dental insurance plan since I am new to California. A friend has advise that Delta Dental was a good plan but which Delta Dental plan is the best?

Answer: Delta Dental as a whole is a good dental insurance plan option. They do provide many plan choices.  What best would depend on your own dental needs. Take the maximum limitation as an example, Delta dental maximum limitation range from $1000 – $2000. So if your dental care needs are just having preventive dental care $1000 max limit would be find but if you feel larger dental care services are in your future the going to the 2000 max limit may be a better option.

Call our member services if you have questions about our Delta Dental plans and or any of our dental insurance options for that matter. We are always happy to assist you in finding the best plan that fits your dental care needs.

All-Porcelain Crowns General Description

Inlays, onlays, crowns and aesthetic veneers May fracture under heavy biting loads
Strength depends on adequate porcelain thickness; it requires moderate tooth reduction during preparation Highly resistant to wear, but porcelain can rapidly wear opposing teeth if its surface becomes rough Color and translucency mimic natural tooth appearance
Cost is about 10% higher; requires at least two office visits and laboratory services

Porcelain Fused to Metal Crowns

Porcelain is fused to an underlying metal structure to provide strength to a crown or
bridge Crowns and fixed bridges. Very strong and durable Including both porcelain and
metal creates a stronger restoration than porcelain alone; moderately aggressive tooth reduction is required Highly resistant to wear, but porcelain can rapidly wear opposing teeth if its surface becomes rough  Porcelain can mimic natural tooth appearance, but metal limits translucency. Requires at least two office visits and laboratory services

Our Website offers over 40 different dental insurance plans and dental plan options. If you are looking for a dental insurance plan in California this is a great place to stop.  Just enter your zip code in the quote box provide and the you will be able to review all our dental insurance and plan options. Remember, call our member service line if you should have any questions about any of the plans available, as we are always happy to help you find the best dental insurance and or plan option for your dental needs.

Question:  I have an abscess tooth and it is hurting me I like to have it pulled but the dentist I went to only wants to drain the abscess and make me wait it out, before pulling the to that is hurting me. I am in pain and just want the tooth gone.

Answer: To start with a dentist will normally not remove a tooth if there is an abscess. The Abscess has to clear up before removing any teeth. For this they may give you antibiotics. Taking them as prescribe is important. Listerine has a pain reliving mouthwash that may help some with the pain, but check first with the dentist. You may wish to re think about having your abscess drain. It may hurt but it will also help to heal faster in the long run. By letting it go it may take longer to go away or it may even make it worse. What you are describing is nothing to put off.

Question: Is there a Delta Dental plan in California where I can choose my own dentist? My dentist is no longer accepting the dental insurance plan I have though work.  However, it is important to me to stay with him. The office stated that they do take Delta Dental but I want to make sure I get a plan where I will have not problems staying with my dentist.

Answer: There are many different Delta Dental plans in California. However, most of them are either PPO plans that let you go outside their provider list (therefore letting you keep your own dentist) or Indemnity dental insurance plans that do not have a list of providers which means you pick your own dentist to go to.  Along as you stay away from their HMO plan staying with your own provider would not be a problem.

Review our Delta dental options as well as our other PPO and Indemnity insurance plan options we have available to you in California on our website.  And please call our member service line if you should have any questions about our dental insurance plan options. As we are always happy to assist you in finding the right plan for your dental needs.

Question: I do not have dental insurance but need to have my wisdom teeth. What can I do to make it more affordable so I can have this done.

Answer: You may want to look into getting a dental discount plan, since you have immediate needs. Dental Insurance at this point may not cover you to see an Oral Surgeon or they may have a long term waiting period before you can be covered.

Dental Discount

This type of dental plan is not insurance. The managing organizations have negotiated with local dental offices to establish a set price for a particular dental procedure and offer deep discounts (some up to 70%) off the regular ADA pricing code. This plan has several advantages over traditional dental insurance plans, namely, there are no exclusions for pre-existing conditions. This allows a patient to receive immediate coverage for work without meeting any waiting period requirements.

Question: Looking for a good but affordable dental insurance plan in California for a couple. We do not have much to spend on a dental insurance plan but without insurance we can not afford to go to the dentist. What type of insurance plan do you offer that can help?

Answer: I would suggest reviewing either our Dental HMO insurance plans though California dental or PrimeCare or our Dental discount plan options though Careington or Aetna.  Both of these plan type are affordable running around $8.00 – $28.00 a month for couple plans.  Please call our member service line at 310-534-3444 if you have any questions about our plan options. As we are always happy to help.

Question: I have bad teeth they are all crooked and due to that I do get cavities easier then most people.  I just like to have them pulled and get fake teeth not to have to deal with fixing them all the time.

Answer: I would advise you should correct the problem with braces and not by pulling a tooth and having a bridge, partial or implant. Braces cost varies depending on what type you would get and treatment. Think about speaking to your local dentist. Try looking for one that will give you a free consult.

It goes without saying having health insurance is very important. However, many health insurance plans do not include dental care or have very limited benefits for dental care.  Yet your oral health plays a large role in your overall wellness.  With that said having an individual dental insurance plan is equally important in maintaining not only your dental health but your overall health and well being.  Take the time to review the dental insurance plans our website has to offer and please call our member service line at 310-534-3444 if you should have any questions.   We be happy to help.

Question: I just got my braces they are a bit scratchy which I can deal with, but my gums are also a bit itchy.  Any suggestions on how to stop the itchiness?

Answer: Try Orajel or Ambosol since they numb the area you put it on it should relive the itchiness