How To Get More From Your First Dental Visit

If you’ve been away from the dentist in a while, and have (finally!) decided to get back on the wagon, your first visit is a great opportunity to start a good, long-term relationship.

To begin, I strongly recommend you choose your dentist based on a referral from friends, family or co-workers. Strong online reviews can also be an alternative if you’re new to an area.

To help ensure the optimum first visit–because it tends to be more involved; you are new to them and they to you–here are some tips:

Before Your Visit

1. Check out the website, location, reviews, and what services are offered, and ensure they match your needs.

2. When making the appointment, get the highlights–insurance questions, verify appointment time, appointment length, etc.

3. You know there will be paperwork, so check if it’s available online.  If not, make plans to be there 10-15 min ahead of your time. If you carry dental insurance, remember to bring your card. This gives you plenty of time to get it done, or else paperwork will spill over into the time the dentist or hygienist could be giving you their attention.

4. If you’ve had x-rays within the last year, request them from your previous dentist, or get new ones taken. Regular check ups and x-rays are key to staying in maintenance/small problems-easier-to-fix mode instead of darn-I-have-an-emergency-and-it’s-gonna-be-painful-and-cost-twice-as-much mode.

During Your Visit

5. If you have specific questions or issues, be sure to ask them (write them down and make a list if you think you might forget).

6. If you have any appliances you want checked, such as a night guard, retainers, snore guard, etc., take them with you so the dentist can check the fit and even freshen them up.

7. If you feel the discussion with your dentist is too complicated, please do not hesitate to ask and clarify. Discussions about your oral health should be a two-way street. And knowing the ‘why’ makes the ‘what’ and ‘how much’ easier to understand and modify if/when needed.

8. At the end of the visit, be sure to ask any questions that come up during your appointment. You can also consider buying any recommended products (they’re often at better prices than retail or pharmacy). Pick up a business card or two as well, so as to have their contact info handy.

9. Relax! Every dentist and their team are aware that most people are somewhat anxious and uncomfortable during a dental visit. If something is uncomfortable, say so. Modern tools and technology can make dental treatment much more comfortable than in the past.

Keeping an open mind and a good attitude can allow the dental team to do their best, and in return, you get their best. Most dentists really do want to try to keep your visits comfortable and pleasant, and help you achieve and maintain great oral health. And your first dental visit can pave the way.

Ready to find your dental home? Call or email us:

(214) 522-3110        www. raodentistry.com

6 Signs You Have The Wrong Dental Insurance

The dental insurance offered to you at work is the product of an agreed affair between your employer and the insurance carrier.

After they’ve hit the (spread) sheets a few times, they mutually agree to offer a few plan options that you get to choose from.

Please note that your dentist is not involved here, since no one likes a third wheel.

Yet somehow dental insurance companies have managed to shove under the covers the fact that they have not increased the amount of coverage in 40+ years.

Suffice it to say, neither you nor I can expect any changes to that unfaithful move anytime soon. Well, not without a dirty fight anyways.

However, getting some is better than none for most people these days. At the very least, your basic visits are covered, and so are varying parts (note: part, not “all”) of most dental procedures such as fillings, crowns, dentures, etc.

Still, some glaring red flags can alert you that you may not have the “average” insurance, but one that is altogether wrong:

1. The plan is neither a PPO nor a DMO….but a NO-NO.

2. When you call them about your dental benefits, they don’t allow humans to answer the phones.

3. The fine print says they will pay on your claim only on the 4th Tuesday of every other month, but only if it’s raining.

4. The insurance company’s philosophy is that they prefer not to pay for prevention, and certainly not for major treatment. (Yeah, I’m still scratching my head on that one.)

5. The insurance company denies coverage due to a pre-existing condition: that you have teeth.

6. The insurance company prefers that you DON’T see a dentist.

The above points may be somewhat funny, but are somewhat true.

To avoid getting into a messy tangle, it pays to know the different plan options available, and also to note the fine print on the plan you choose, i.e., having a general idea of what’s covered and what’s not.

Being informed keeps you on top. This way, if you and your dentist have to go all the way to figure out why the insurance company isn’t paying, at least both of you will be on the same page.

But, should you discover that you indeed have the wrong dental insurance and desire good oral care, I encourage you to sack it and find a better one as soon as possible.

(214) 522-3110                    www.raodentistry.com

Image source: Grant Cochrane

Dental Insurance For Dummies

Need to get on your soap box about the cost of health care these days? Get in line.

When it comes to dental care, it’s not much different.

Believe it or not, I hold issue with many of the same things you do.

Except . . .

I have something to add that I don’t see a lot of people doing.

Talking solutions instead of problems

So, just for kicks, humor me. Hear me out.

I hate the dentist. I don’t have the time. I don’t have the money. I’m too scared.

If I had a penny dollar (inflation) for every time I’ve heard that in my practice, well .  . .  I wouldn’t be too rich, because we are pretty gung-ho about prevention and I like to keep things pretty conservative. And I’m not talking politics, people.

But I HAVE heard all the above statements all around-from other folks, in magazines, even online.

Since the topic is dental insurance, today I’m going to tackle the “I don’t have the money” statement.

So I’m throwing my tip in the solutions jar.

The $5 Dental Insurance Plan

Not everyone will qualify, but every one can use it. Let me explain.

Drum roll please……

                          I shelled out a lot of $ for this work of art. You’re welcome.

Before you scoff, think about it. This plan is über basic. So basic, that for some of you it might insult your intelligence. But believe it or not, for others, it may open a door.

Seriously.

This plan may not pay for an extreme makeover, but it can save you thousands and keep you from seeing me too often.

There are a LOT of people who are too _____ (insert excuse here, such as busy, lazy, tired) to even brush their teeth twice a day and floss once a day. And this is probably the single most effective daily regimen you can follow to maintain oral health. Yes, you can get fancy and get an electric toothbrush (actually, I love those; use ‘em if you can). But if you are too whatever to even do the basics, the next time your skipped check-up leads to a big cavity leads to a root canal, you don’t have a tooth to stand on.

Will it guarantee that you will never get another cavity and reside forever in toothtopia? Heck no.

But it sure does put the odds in your favor

So if you’re open to being proactive about your own health and making smart decisions like eating healthier, exercising, managing your stress, etc., add regular brushing and flossing to your list.

It’s all connected folks, and taking charge of your self is the best insurance.

Agree? Disagree? Share your thoughts in the comments.

www.raodentistry.com      (214) 522-3110