Many Californians strive to stay fit and be healthy. However often times dental care is still left on the back burner. Did you know that more and more studies prove that the health of you mouth can have a direct effect on your over all wellness.

That’s why it is important to have dental insurance. With dental insurance it will help you keep your dental care cost low and much more affordable.  By having affordable dental care you are more likely to visit your dentist regularly and maintain your dental care needs.

Question: I am told I need braces, I wondering for how long.  I do not really want them and if I have to have them would like it to be for a short period of time.

Answer:  Ask the orthodontic dentist that you are seeing. He/She can normally tell how long they think it would take. If you have not yet seen an orthodontic then I would suggest looking for one that can give you a free consul

Our website offers many dental insurance plan options. One such option is Delta Dental California. Our Delta Dental California plans lets you choose from their PPO’s plans and their indemnity insurance plans.  They have yearly maximal limitations ranging from 1000 – 2000.   Delta Dental PPO plans have a large list of providers where as their Indemnity plans let you go to any dental office of your choice. This makes stating with your current dentist possible under the Delta Dental plans.

If you have any questions about our Delta Delta plans or about any other of our dental insurance options please call our member services at 310-534-3444 as we be happy to help you with your questions, so that you best pick the plan right for your needs.

At the lowest level of whitening products are toothpastes, floss and mouthwashes that have been specially formulated to brighten your teeth. Generally speaking, if used consistently, they can whiten healthy teeth about one shade over time. These products can be purchased over the counter, and may cost about the same as “regular” counterparts, or slightly more. Therefore, they are a cost-effective means of whitening your teeth, if you only wish to take off surface stains, and you are motivated to prevent stains from reoccurring in the future.

Whitening strips have become very popular in the past 5 or 6 years. They are easy to use and much less messy than bleaching kits. The cost is still significantly more than whitening toothpastes and products discussed above, but you will see more dramatic results more quickly. Besides cost, there are two additional drawbacks to mention with respect to strips. First, they only work on healthy teeth that have yellowed due to age and stains. Second, they may cause significant tooth sensitivity. Consult with your dentist before paying the $20-40 for one of these kits.

There are several major brands and formulations for whitening strips, including Crest, Listerine, Oral B and Rembrandt. Listerine’s strips dissolve in your mouth, which they claim to be a benefit because you don’t have to take them off 1/2 hour after you put them on. Crest Strips come in a variety of styles, including Daily Multi-care, which you use for only 5 minutes a day (brightening more slowly over time), and Crest Whitestrips Premium, which you only need to use for 7 days (1/2 hour morning and night). Most brands require use for 14 days, 1/2 hour morning and night.

These products contain hydrogen peroxide as a bleaching agent, and will only work on natural teeth; they will not whiten veneers or other dental work. Amounts of the bleaching agent differ, from 6% to 10%, depending on formulations.

You also may want to speak with your dentist should any side effects become bothersome. For example, teeth can become sensitive during the period when you are using the bleaching solution. In many cases, this sensitivity is temporary and should lessen once the treatment is finished. Some people also experience soft tissue irritation—either from a tray that doesn’t fit properly or from solution that may come in contact with the tissues. If you have concerns about such side effects, you should discuss them with your dentist

One main way to save money on your dental health care needs is by having dental insurance. Depending on your current dental needs may make one type of dental insurance plan better then the other.  Such as if you have current major dental care needs a dental HMO plan may be best as this type of insurance plan normally dose not have any plan waiting periods.

However if you are currently seeing a dentist that you want to stay with then an PPO plan may work best in keeping your current dental provider.    Whatever your needs are at DentalOpinions.com we provider may different plan types to help meet your dental care needs.  Just enter your zip code to review the different dental insurance and dental plan options in your area.

Your Oral healthcare is very important so do not ignore the warning signs that are given when dental healthcare is in danger. Suffering from twinges, dental pain or bleeding gums is often times your mouth’s way of telling you that you need to see the dentist. Dental check ups should be no longer than every six months. But they might be more or less frequent depending upon what your dentist says.

Having white teeth helps many people be more confident with their smile. However, think twice about whiteness. If you are keen to have whiter teeth, first try a toothpaste with a gentle whitener that brings out your teeth’s natural whiteness. If you are think about having whitening treatments, visit your dentist to be sure that your are using the safest and effective treatment.

Many people know that part of good oral habits is brushing your teeth twice a day. However did you know when to brush is also important. Make sure to brush before you have breakfast and never straight after eating as acids can soften the outer layer of tooth enamel which you might wash away. After having breakfast of after eating you may want to rinse you mouth out with some water and or chew sugar free gum.

One simple healthcare tip is to change out your toothbrush: A worn out toothbrush can not clean your teeth properly. You will want to change your toothbrush every two or three months, or sooner if the bristles become splayed. Also avoid using hard bristle toothbrush unless advise by your dentist.

If you do not have dental insurance and or do not want dental insurance you still have some options for lower cost dental care.  You may want to review a low cost dental discount plan which will help you save money off all your dental care needs. Another option to lower cost dental care would be by going to a dental school and or dental clinic.

There are many low cost dental care plans available that are either dental HMO’s insurance or dental discount plans. Dental HMO plans are insurance plans that are lower in cost then your typical PPOs insurance plans with few limitations. However, HMO dental insurance plans do not provide benefits for out of network dental providers.

Dental discount plan in most cases cost less then HMO insurance plans. Like HMO insurance plans Dental discount plans only work when going to plan providers. These dental plan type run around $7.00 to $20.00 a month for individuals

Researching dental insurance and dental discount plans on DentalOpinions.com is not too complicated. First, step is to decide if you want a dental insurance plan or a dental discount plan.

With a dental insurance discount plan you will get a certain percentage off your dental orthodontic care normally ranging around 20 to 25 percent. However with a dental discount plan you will have to use dentist/orthodontic specialist, that accepts the discount plan you are reviewing.

With a dental insurance plan such as a PPO, you normally can choose your own orthodontic dentist (referral may be necessary). With dental PPO insurance plans, you would have a co-pay for orthodontic services and there may be a separate deductible as well as waiting periods and maximum life time limitations. Make sure you read the terms and conditions carefully.

One of the first steps in starting your search for dental insurance with orthodontic services, is to review what you have currently. If you have an individual or employer sponsored dental insurance plan check to see what coverage you may already have for braces and orthodontic care. If you find you have no or little coverage you can researching other dental insurance plans for better benefits.

There can be some unexpected expenses to keep in mind when getting braces, the orthodontist’s bill may not be the only cost you incur.     Particularly with adult patients, getting braces may also mean having to have a deep cleaning as well as having to replace old fillings before treatment begins. For adults and children, removing teeth is sometimes part of the pretreatment plan.

In addition, clear, invisible or colored braces often cost more, but for obvious reasons can be more appealing than the less expensive traditional metal braces. It is important to keep these type of expenses in mind when planing your budget for your orthodontic care.

If you are a parent of a child that needs to have braces but can not afford them you may want to look into Smiles Change Lives. Smile Change Lives (SCL) serves children ages 10-18 nationwide.  Smiles Change Lives (SCL) promotes increased self-esteem and improved oral health for children from low-income families in need of orthodontic treatment. Our goal is to help families, who cannot afford the full cost of braces, secure treatment for their children by connecting them with orthodontic providers willing to donate their services to deserving patients.   If you know a child who could benefit from this opportunity, please encourage them to Apply for Braces at smileschangelives.org

If you have children and you start to see that your child’s bite is misaligned or that his/her teeth are sticking out in all the wrong places. You know what is coming next, months of treatment and an orthodontist bill anywhere from $3,000 to $7,000. For many people that is a lot of money. And although dental insurance may help to bring down the cost of braces, orthodontic care can still seem out of reach.

Therefore it is good to think ahead and start a savings/budget plan around this expense. If you put say $10.00 a week aside when your child is born by the time he or she needs braces you will have enough money to cover the cost that your insurance does not pay. If your child never need orthodontic care then you will still have a sizable nest egg saved.

When shopping for dental insurance if you feel braces may be in your or your children future it is important to know that not all dental plans include orthodontic coverage. In addition for some of the dental insurance plans that do provide Orthodontic treatment it may have an lifetime maximum coverage amount, age restrictions and other limitations. Therefore it is important to read the terms and conditions of each dental insurance plan carefully especially when concerning Orthodontic treatment.

With the increase on life expectancy the need for dental care also increases in order to keep our teeth in good condition. As we get older we may find ourselves at a greater risk of needing major dental work even if we take good daily care of our teeth.

Having dental insurance in place become important in order to save money on our dental care needs. Even if you think you do not need dental insurance now it is best to get dental insurance before there is a need for major dental services.  That’s because many dental insurance plans have waiting periods for larger dental care needs and waiting to buy the plan does not normally workout to your advantage.

With the increasing cost of insurance many company are not offering or dropping their dental benefits.  However the good news is that there are still many individual/family dental insurance plans you can buy on your own to maintain dental insurance benefits.

This website provides many different dental plans and plans types from HMOs to PPOs and Indemnity plans to dental discount plans. These plans range from low in cost to higher in cost depending on plan type and coverages.

Just enter your zip code to pull up the available plan in your state.  If you should have any questions about the different dental plan offer please call our member service line at 310-534-3444 we are always happy to help.

Maintaining good oral health care is not only important for our dental health and maintaining a pretty smile, but it is also important for our overall wellness. Having an individual dental insurance is one way of keeping dental care cost more affordable. Without dental insurance dental care cost can become costly very quickly.  Just your preventive dental care such as office visits, X-rays and cleaning can cost over $200.00, However most dental insurance plans provide preventive care services free in addition dental insurance will help make larger dental care services more affordable.