Dental insurance was developed in the 1960’s as a separate benefit for oral health care.  At that time, the standard level of coverage was $1000 maximum per year; preventive services at 100%, basic services at 80% and major services at 50%.  Does this sound familiar to anyone?  Most plans are still at this exact same level.  There are now some plans with maximums that are a bit higher, but the coverage levels are usually the same.

Back in the 1960’s, a patient could easily have their teeth cleaned and examined twice a year, have their necessary x-rays, and have a good amount of basic care for their teeth.  Now, you would be hard pressed to find anyone that doesn’t max out their benefits with their two cleanings and one crown.  Dental insurance has not kept up in any way with the increased costs in dentistry.

We have known this trend for many years and encouraged patients to think of their dental insurance more like a supplement rather than a “pay-all”.  However, in the past couple of years, more challenges have arisen with dental insurance.  Many employers are struggling in this economy to continue to provide dental coverage for their employees.  So they go to the insurance company with a certain amount of dollars for dental coverage and ask the insurance company what benefits can be provided for that amount. Insurance companies then begin to create all different kinds of limits to a plan in order to provide a policy for the designated dollar amount.

Stay tuned for more information on current trends in dental insurance.

Are you anxious about having dental treatment performed?  You are not alone!  Many people postpone having necessary treatment due to a high level of fear. Most dental conditions worsen when they are not treated and can put a person’s health at risk in some cases.

At Long Family Dental, we offer several levels of sedation to make it comfortable for you to have treatment. The first level is nitrous oxide or laughing gas. Many dental practices offer this level.  It relaxes you and gives you a “floating” feeling so you are distracted from what is going on in your mouth.

The next level of sedation is oral sedation.  A patient arrives about an hour prior to treatment and takes medication prescribed by the doctor according the medical history and existing medications.  Again, the patient feels very relaxed and many times will go to sleep.  The patient is aware at a certain level that dental work is being performed, but they are so relaxed they really don’t care.

The highest level of sedation offered at our practice is IV conscious sedation.  The patient is put on an IV drip of medication prescribed according to the medical history and existing medications.  The patient’s vital signs are monitored closely as the patient rests comfortably and is generally unaware of what is happening.  When treatment is complete, the doctor stops the IV medication and the patient wakes up with no to little memory of the procedure.

If you need dental treatment but are afraid, let us schedule you for an exam and discuss which option would be best for you.  Remember, postponing the treatment will allow the conditions to worsen and negatively impact your health.  Once you have experienced sedation dentistry, you won’t be afraid to have dental treatment in the future!

The importance of a person’s dental health should be a focus from the time teeth are present in the mouth. Many times we are asked about when to start brushing baby teeth, when should a child be brought in for their first visit and the importance of keeping baby teeth healthy.  All of these are important factors in setting a priority for dental health, which promotes overall health.

A child that is brought in early and regularly has a better chance for good oral health. This child also grows in to an adult that has oral health as a priority.  We recommend parents begin to care for baby teeth as soon as they can be seen in the mouth.  Using a very soft, small brush to massage the teeth 2 times a day helps keep them clean. Use an age appropriate fluoride-free toothpaste.  Even a washcloth can be used to perform this cleaning.

As far as when to bring the child for their first visit, at the age of 3, we can typically do an exam and a cleaning with their cooperation.  As soon as the child responds positively to radiographs, we would do those regularly as well so we can make certain there are no cavities or tooth infections. Of course, should the child be experiencing a dental problem before age 3, we would want to see them earlier.

Should a child develop a tooth infection, it is important to treat the tooth and save it.  Baby teeth serve an important purpose.  Not only do they help with the digestion process by helping the child properly chew their food, baby teeth are also place holders for future permanent teeth.  If a baby tooth is lost too early, the permanent tooth doesn’t have room to come in and this leads to an orthodontic (braces) need for the child. Sometimes parents think they are saving money by having baby teeth extracted, however the investment in saving the baby tooth now is much less than the cost of orthodontic treatment later. Additionally, if a baby tooth is infected it must be treated because that infection will move through the bloodstream and cause health issues overall.

If you have further questions about your child’s specific oral health, please feel free to call us at Long Family Dental and we will be happy to answer your questions or schedule your child for an appointment.

Many people suffer from a condition called Xerostomia or dry mouth.  It can have a negative impact on your lifestyle and your health.  If you have noticed a sticky, dry feeling in your mouth or have experienced trouble chewing, swallowing or even tasting your food, you may have this condition.

There are several potential causes for dry mouth. Among them are:

Medications – A side effect of many medications is dry mouth.  Prescriptions or over the counter drugs for depression, anxiety, pain, allergies, acne, epilepsy, hypertension, diarrhea, nausea, psychotic disorders, urinary incontinence, asthma, muscle relaxants and sedatives can all cause xerostomia.  With many Americans on medications for some issue or medical problem, this affects much of the population.

Medical conditions – People diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, diabetes, anemia, cystic fibrosis, rheumatoid arthritis, high blood pressure or Parkinson’s disease also experience the side effect of dry mouth.

Medical treatments – A side effect of medical treatments such as radiation for cancer can reduce the amount of saliva produced in the mouth.

So why is dry mouth a concern?  Beside the fact that it is uncomfortable and can even affect the taste of your food, not having enough saliva in the mouth leads to dental complications.  Saliva helps to break down food for digestion, which aids in the entire digestive process.  Saliva also helps to cleanse the teeth.  When a person has dry mouth, food and bacteria are more likely to stick to the tooth surfaces, leading to tooth decay and gum disease.

At Long Family Dental, we are always looking at your total medical history so we can treat your health, not just your mouth.  If you have questions about any medication you are taking or any health condition you’ve experienced, or you just notice your mouth being more dry, please give us a call.

Many people suffer from bad breath and may not know why. There are several causes from the foods you eat to digestive problems. However, a very common cause is gum disease. If a person has not had their teeth cleaned in a while, there is mostly likely a layer of plaque that has formed and hardened around the base of the tooth. This plaque layer is full of bacteria and has a bad odor. If this hardened plaque layer is not removed, it will become thicker and harder. This is very damaging to the gum tissue and leads to bone loss.

A person cannot remove this hardened plaque layer with their toothbrush, it must be removed by a professional hygienist at the dental office.  Bad breath is a symptom of gum disease, but if gum disease progresses and is not treated, it can lead to severe tooth problems and even tooth loss.  The latest research also indicates there are several health issues linked to gum disease.

Another area that can cause bad breath is the tongue. Many people to do not brush this area and the tongue can collect bacteria that carry an odor. Some people even use a device called a tongue scraper, sold at most pharmacies, to help clean the tongue along with brushing.

So it is important for your overall health to stay current on your professional cleanings. This avoids the problem of bad breath as well as minimizing other health risks.

The American Diabetes Association has named November as American Diabetes Month.  It is important to be aware of how your oral health is related if you have been diagnosed with diabetes.

According to the American Academy of Periodontology (AAP), there is research that suggests a link between diabetes and gum disease.  People with diabetes are more susceptible to contracting infections in general.  Gum disease is often a complication of diabetes, making consistent dental care even more important for diabetes patients.

Research also indicates gum disease makes it challenging for people with diabetes to control their blood sugar. Depending on the severity of the gum disease, it can increase blood sugar in the body, which contributes to times when the body would function with higher blood sugar.  This puts people with diabetes at increased risk for diabetic complications.

The AAP recommends the following:

• Keep your blood glucose under control
• Brush your teeth twice daily
• Floss your teeth daily
• Look for early signs of gum disease (bleeding when you brush or swollen gums)
• Visit your dentist twice a year at a minimum

Long Family Dental focuses on total body health, so when our patients have certain health conditions, such as diabetes, we make certain their customized treatment plan is designed specifically to their needs.  If you or someone you know has diabetes at any level, make sure regular dental care is part of the overall health treatment.

On Friday, November 2, 2012, Long Family Dental celebrated an open house at our new location in Midlothian, TX.   The Chamber of Commerce brought the ribbon and scissors and our entire team was there for the event.  We had many other Midlothian businesses come out and several people from the medical and health community to welcome us!  B’s Texican provided some awesome food as well!

Our Midlothian office has many amenities to offer for both patient education and comfort.  Just like in our Cleburne office, we have digital radiography which allows us to take x-rays with much lower radiation. Both offices also offer intra-oral cameras so patients can see their own dental conditions up close and personal.  In our Midlothian office, we also have a Hospitality Menu including Netflix movies, XBox, television, music and other items to make our patients as comfortable as possible. You can even bring your own DVD’s!

We hope you will come out to see our Midlothian office and even make an appointment if this is a convenient location for you.