In the last blog post we talked about the different dental insurance plans that exist. Today I want to talk about the types of procedures that you may want to have covered. I do want to start off by saying that everyone is different. When you are shopping for insurance, it may be a good idea to know what type of procedures you may have had done in the past, because those procedures can inform you on what type of coverage you will need in the future. Another idea to keep in mind is what types of oral health goals you personally want to set for yourself so you can get the best smile going forward.
When looking for insurance coverage there are several categories that insurance companies use to label certain procedures. The three main categories are preventative, basic and major. Preventative or preventative and diagnostic care is considered all the dental care received that helps with prevention of disease and routine diagnostic procedures. Preventative care usually includes oral exams, cleanings and x-rays. Basic or basic restorative care are simple treatments that help with tooth maintenance, such as fillings and anesthetics. These types of treatments can typically be done the same day as diagnosed. Major or major restorative care is considered complex treatments that help with ailments that require multiple phases of therapy to correct. Major treatments usually include crowns, dentures and bridges. With in the categories of basic and major, there are other procedure types that can fall into those categories; those are Perio, Endo and Oral. Perio or periodontal care is the treatment, prevention and diagnosis of gum disease. Endo or Endodontic procedures include procedures that involve the soft tissue of teeth. Oral or Oral Surgery is procedures that involve the incision of oral tissues and abscesses. With these categories in mind, you should be able to ask a prospective insurance company what percentage of each type of procedure is covered.
After asking for percentages for each type of procedure, the next thing you may want to ask is what specific types of procedures are categorized as and perhaps the frequency and limitations that the plan you are looking at offers. For example, if you know you want to have an insurance plan that covers the entire cost of your semi annual check up, you should ask “what percentage is an exam or oral evaluation covered, and with what frequency?” “would my prophylaxis and bitewings share frequency?” “what about my cleanings?”. These specific questions are important because these are the procedures that your dentist will bill your insurance for. Other procedures you may be curious about are extractions, full mouth or panoramic x-rays, sealants, implants and ortho coverage. Briefly, orthodontic care includes  work to realign teeth and jaws using braces, retainers, spacers, headgear and more. So, if you are looking to straighten your teeth, knowing if your plan covers ortho would be important.
Lastly, and arguably one of the most important questions you want to ask the perspective insurance company are the financial details regarding your plan. Each person has different financial means and finding a plan that affordable should be the most important objective. Start by deciding if you need a family plan, single plan or dependent plan. Ask what is the yearly maximum, the deductible, and the family deductible for the plan. Another question you may want to ask is if there is a waiting period for the policy to kick in. The whole purpose of insurance is to prevent catastrophic financial loss and to make care more affordable. So knowing when all your benefits kick in is especially important.
I am proud that at the Texas Dental Group we take the time to call the insurance and get a coverage breakdown for all of our patients. As well as going over treatment plans so our patients get the most affordable care possible. To schedule an appointment with us, please call the location nearest you: Conroe - (936) 760-3050, Galveston - (409) 740-7744, Homestead - (713) 633-1922, and Richmond - (281) 238-4454.

With summer being in full swing, we all know what that means! WEDDING SEASON. And whether it is your wedding day or some distant relative you really don’t know, I am here to give you the tea on looking snatched no matter what the situation is. Let me help you get all the way together with some helpful advice to make that special day everything.
Weddings are joyous events that inspire love, hope and happiness! And so when you know you are going to be a guest at a wedding there are some things you should do to prepare. Whether you are going stag or with someone, you want to be sure that you have been keeping up with your semi annual oral exams. This is one of the most important steps for wedding season because no one wants to kiss a dirty mouth. Just kidding. All jokes aside, who better to tell you where your problem areas are than your dentist and your oral hygienist. Seriously, let professionals help you start your journey.
The next thing you should do is call for a consultation. When you call us or your dental office let them know that you are looking into having work done for a wedding or even your wedding. When you go in for a consultation at any of the Texas Dental Group location, depending on the state your teeth are currently in, they may recommend a special type of veneer called Lumineers, teeth whitening, or even Fastbraces. Lumineers are similar to crowns but they are only meant for aesthetic purposes and they go on the front of your teeth. To prepare for Lumineers the dentist may only shave a little bit of the front of your teeth and cement a perfect porcelain veneer on top of your existing tooth to give clients their desired look. To give the dentist plenty of time to get your Lumineer placed visit the dentist at least two months in advance to the wedding date. Veneers are going to help offer the most immediate results for getting your teeth where you want them for the wedding.

To get the best deal at our office for veneers, in the month of August Lumineers will be buy 6 get 2 free. Now, the teeth whitening we offer at Texas Dental Group includes a to-go treatment and an in-house treatment. If it is your wedding day, the bride and groom should definitely get a teeth whitening because your teeth in contrast to the white dress will stand out. You will also probably take a million photos that will last forever. Depending on the state of your teeth and how sensitive your gums are to the treatment you may need to do more than one session of whitening so keep that in mind when you are preparing for the wedding. During the whitening process you may also want to stay away from foods and drinks that will stain your teeth such as berries, red wine and coffee. So, don’t play yourself, and get your teeth whitened; you’re welcome! At Texas Dental Group, we also offer a service called Fastbraces, which can straighten your teeth in as little as three to six months (yes, you read correctly; our Senior Master Provider Dr. Tran is that good)!

In fact, for the rest of the month of July our Fastbraces are 20% off, so don’t waste any time. Call today! Conroe (936) 760-3050, Galveston (409) 740-7744, Houston (713) 633-1922, and Richmond (281) 238-4454.
The last piece of advice I would like to offer is maintain safe sexual practices. You and your partner should maintain safe sexual practices because believe it or not, it is good for your oral health. Keep in mind, certain strains of HPV can lead to oral cancer and that is why it is important to know your status, get vaccinated, get tested regularly and use protection. Now, enjoy your wedding season. For more information on the correlation of HPV and oral cancer please visit the following websites hosted by the Oral Cancer Foundation, the United States Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the American Dental Association (ADA): https://oralcancerfoundation.org/understanding/hpv/hpv-oral-cancer-facts/, https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/hpv/basic_info/hpv_oropharyngeal.htm, and https://www.mouthhealthy.org/en/az-topics/h/hpv-and-oral-cancer.