Insurance
We are participating providers (IN-NETWORK) with many insurances - call us to confirm our participation as plans vary and can be confusing:
- Many Aetna PPO Plans
- Many Metlife PPO Plans
- Many Guardian PPO Plans
- Many Cigna PPO Plans
- Many SunLife Plans
- Many United Concordia PPO Plans
- Many United Healthcare PPO Plans
- Many Delta Dental Plans (but not currently accepting new patients with Delta Dental)
- And some other smaller companies
Dental Benefits can be very confusing and in many cases the name of the insurance company is not enough information to determine if you will fall in-network with our office. Many insurance companies have different tiers, or levels, of insurance plans. We are often in-network with many, but not all, of an individual insurance company's dental plans. We would be happy to explain your specific plan to you.
Many of our patients have out-of-network insurance plans, yet choose to come to our office due to our exceptional service and quality of treatment. In all cases, we submit insurance paperwork on your behalf and there is no extra paperwork for you to do after your visit. Typically, there is a modest difference in the copay amount that the patient pays when compared to a participating dentist. In some cases, the visit still may be 100% covered (for example for hygiene visits), even though we are out-of-network.
Please call us if you have any questions about your dental coverage.
Electric brushes (or power brushes) can make brushing easier. A simple battery powered brush may be a good idea for a child (or an elderly individual) who may lack the dexterity to properly brush with a manual toothbrush. It can also make brushing more fun for children. Power brushes range from these simple rotating brushes, to high-tech brushes that can clean with sonic brush movements and sync to smart phone apps with Bluetooth technology. For the majority of adults, I recommend Sonicare Platinum or DiamondClean power brushes. Oral B Pro series brushes are also a good choice. The prices can be upwards of $100, but the results speak for themselves. Almost every patient that switches to a high quality powerbrush returns to us with healthier gums and healthier teeth!
The American Dental Association recommends replacing your tooth brush about every three to four months. One method of remembering when to replace your brush is to change it at the start of each season, since it can be difficult to remember how long you have been using your current brush. However, depending on the type of brush and the brushing technique of the user, some brushes will wear out more quickly or more slowly than the 3-4 month average. Generally speaking, if the bristles on the toothbrush are in perfect condition, the toothbrush can be kept. If the bristles are worn, frayed or bent, the brush should be tossed in the trash. Bent or frayed bristles do not clean effectively and can damage the teeth and gum tissues. The other time to consider throwing a brush away is after an illness. Electric brushes such as Sonicare or Oral B power brushes should have their brush heads changed in the same manner.
Bad breath (halitosis) can have many causes. Removing bacteria from your mouth is an easy way to start to eliminate bad breath. Brushing, flossing and having professional dental cleanings may be all that is needed. Infections of the mouth, such as abscessed teeth or periodontitis (gum disease), are common causes of bad breath. Untreated cavities may also be linked with halitosis. A complete dental examination can help rule these things out. Other factors that may play a role include dry mouth, sinus infections, post-nasal drip, tonsil stones, tonisillitis, acid reflux and diet.
Toothaches can develop for a number of reasons. If you are experiencing dental pain, it could indicate you have one of the following:
- Infection
- Decay
- Trauma
- Cracks or fractures
- Bruxism (chronic clenching and grinding)
- Gum recession
- Periodontal disease
The most important thing to do is to have a dentist evaluate your teeth to determine what is causing the problem and recommend an appropriate treatment.
We know that it can be tempting to ignore the pain and hope that it goes away. The reality, however, is that pain means that something is wrong, and dental problems usually don’t resolve themselves. Solving the problem quickly typically means simpler, more conservative treatment and a faster resolution.
If you are experiencing pain, please call our East Norriton dental office right away. We will get you in quickly for an emergency appointment to assess and diagnose the problem. We will treat the immediate issue and relieve your pain, and then we’ll also recommend that you come back for a thorough evaluation so that we can help you get your dental health back on track. Routine care is often the key to avoiding most common dental emergencies and conditions that cause discomfort.