This is the second column in a series about the state of dental insurance in our country. The information presented is intended to explain “dental insurance” from a perspective which may be different than most consumer’s view of insurance. I encourage you to read all the columns in this series. If you missed any they can be found at www.thetowncommon.com. I hope the information helps you to make more informed decisions about your dental health.

One of the statistics I presented last week was the fact that dental “insurance”, unlike medical insurance, has a yearly monetary limit that the company will pay out. For the majority of dental plans this number has not changed… (Read More)

You have probably heard the terms “gingivitis” and “periodontitis” come up when discussing gum health. But what’s the difference? Are they related? Which one is worse? Are they reversible? Continue reading to learn everything you need to know from your dentist about gum disease, what causes it, and what you can do to prevent it from occurring and progressing.

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The Merriam-Webster definition of insurance is “coverage by contract whereby one party undertakes to indemnify or guarantee another against loss by a specified contingency or peril.” We have insurance on our house and car in case of damage or loss. We have medical insurance to cover our care when we need it; especially if it is major care. Dental “insurance” has always been different, in that it is only meant to help with basic needs.

This series of columns will explain the current state of dental insurance, and how its trend is changing the way dental care will be delivered in the future. It may sound boring, but I encourage you to read them and… (Read More)

A couple of weeks ago I discussed different types of materials being used today to “fix” teeth. I broke them down into two main categories – direct vs. indirect materials. Direct materials are things like silver/mercury amalgam and tooth-colored resin/composite that are placed directly into the tooth after the tooth is prepared. Indirect restorations are things like crowns, gold and ceramics in which the tooth is prepared and a manufactured restoration is cemented or bonded to the tooth.

Whatever your feelings are on amalgam, there is no disputing that it proved to be a very successful material over a long period of time. Despite this, it has not been used in most of Europe in… (Read More)

There have been lots of changes over time in the materials used to restore teeth. Many of the materials I use today were not in existence when I started to practice. The most significant changes have been to materials that are tooth-colored.

There are very few patients who ask for gold or silver fillings any more. And, while some of these newer materials are tooth colored, there are factors which need to be considered in determining what material is appropriate for each individual situation. The longest lasting restorations I have ever seen are gold done by dentists who really knew the art of working with gold.

As I said last week – The… (Read More)