Dental Centers Offering Their Own Dental Plan

There are a lot of dental centers that now offer their own dental plan. This is a good concept for the dental office, but what is the benefit for the patient?

By providing a plan for their pateints, the dental office can help the patient save money on their treatment plan that is set by the dentist. The office will then discount based in their ususal and customary rates (UCR). This may sound good for the patient, but when compared to Savon Dental Plan, the savings that patient recieve are not always that good. Also, the coverage offered by that center in most cases does not extend past that office or corporation. If a patient is unhappy with the dentist or the center, then they will have to seek alternative coverage to go somewhere else.

Savon Dental Plan overcomes that to give an great advantage to the members. First, Savon bases it's fee schedule on the average usual and customary rates of dentists per area. Then reduces that fee to 50% off to come up with the Savon price. Savon Dental Plan providers are contracted to abide by the fee schedule for Savon members. (the fee schedule for your area is posted on their website) Second, Savon has multiple providers nationwide that are available to it's members. (which is also available on their website) This allows the customer to choose a dentist that they are happy with, and the freedom to change dentist if they desire without having to seek out alternative plans.

There is so much more that Savon Dental Plan offers. To see that and how Savon compares to other dental plans, click on "the comparison zone" page of their website at www.savondentalplan.com

Random Dental Facts...Did You Know?

More endless research on the internet turned up these interesting trivial facts!

• In the year 1900, the tooth fairy would leave approximately 12 cents. In the year 1998, one dollar. Imagine, at the current rate of inflation....the year 2010....$$$$$
• You cannot conceal your smoking habit with mouthwash or brushing before a visit! Your Dentist knows :).....Apparently, the smoke residue seeps into the tissue surrounding your gums....
• You would need to have more than 300 amalgam fillings to even come close to the amount of mercury that is considered dangerous.
• 100 years ago, 50% of adults in North America were toothless!
• The first electric toothbrush was introduced in 1939.
• The antibacterial properties in Black and Green Tea can help prevent cavities.
• Chewing gum that contains Xylitol can help prevent cavities by reducing the bad bacteria in your mouth!
• Mouthwashes containing alcohol are only temporarily effective, and the alcohol dries out your mouth.
• Snails have teeth! Thousands of them....
• Turtles are toothless!
• You will get more radiation from an hour in the sun than from a dental x-ray.

One more....this one is great!

• A survey by Time Magazine concluded that 59% of Americans would prefer to sit in a dentist's chair than to sit next to someone on a cell phone!

Enjoy, and Keep Smiling!

Referred to a Dental Specialist? Don't Fret! It's a Good Thing!

No, really...it is!

As a dental assistant I used to chuckle at patients, quietly of course, who would scoff at the fact that the doctor was referring them out. So I used to explain it like this...

If your medical doctor diagnosed you with a heart condition...you wouldn't think twice about being seen by a cardiologist would you? Of course not! You know your medical doctor was trained to treat you, but your Cardiologist, is a master at it. I don't know about you, but I'd rather let the master do the work.

For many, many years, the dental offices were one-stop shops. Anything you needed done from cleanings, extractions and root canals, to dentures and periodontal treatments you could have done at one office. Most general practices offered just about everything.

With the growth of treatments and technologies in the field radically changing daily, general dentists worldwide are forced to keep on their toes to be able to continue to offer all these services at their A+ rate. The reality of this is, not every general dentist can be 100% proficient, in every aspect of every field of dentistry.

This is where the beauty of specialists come in. They are able to offer the A+ treatments to patients when their general dentist is not comfortable performing a procedure or has diagnosed treatment that doesn't fall into their scope of practice. It's your general dentist's way of saying " I want you to have the best treatment possible for your situation." And why not have a doctor who does this procedure all day, day in and day out do it?

So, if you receive a referral to a dental specialist, make sure you thank your doctor. He's looking out for you, your comfort and your dental health.

Scientists Deem Chocolate Good For Your Teeth!

I actually had to laugh when I first read up on this topic. All those years of dentists coaching you to eat less sweets and VOILA! A dream come true for me and I'm sure many other chocolate lovers!

As it turns out, scientists report that parts of the cocoa bean that are used to make chocolate, also have natural occurring antibacterial agents that help fight mouth bacteria that causes tooth decay. The polyphenolen in cocoa has been shown to inhibit the growth of of bacterias such as Streptococcus which produces the sticky substance called glucan that allows cavity causing bacterias to adhere themselves to the teeth.

I also read that there are a few European companies such as Barry Callebaut and Smet who have created the first chocolate that does not cause cavities. This chocolate is made with a different type of sugar called isomaltulose which does not increase acidity levels in the mouth that lead to tooth decay.

Keep in mind while scientists have deemed chocolate good for your teeth, it still is loaded with calories and sugars that can lead to weight problems and such, so it's good to continue to consume them in moderation.

For more interesting information on this topic, check out the following websites.

www.thenakedscientists.com
www.fitsugar.com

D.D.S. or D.M.D... Which is better?

Which is better for a dentist have a D.D.S. or D.M.D.? Is one better than the other?

I have been asked these question many times and the answer usually comes as a surprise when I give it.

D.D.S. is Doctor of Dental Surgery and D.M.D. is Doctor of Medical Dentistry.

They are one in the same. It all depends on where they went to school. The education and curriculum are the same for both. Most dental colleges offer the D.D.S. degree and the others will offer a D.M.D. degree.

Regardless of a D.D.S. or D.M.D., some dentist specialize in specific areas of dentistry and some do not practice some areas of dentistry. That has nothing to do with their degree, that is usually a decision based on the comfortability of the individual dentist.

To find a recommended dentist near you, check out the provider locator page on the Savon Dental Plan website at http://www.savondentalplan.com/

The Evolution of Dentistry

Can you imagine waking up with a toothache and visiting your local barber for treatment? Back in the 1700's, it was common for barbers to treat dental emergencies, and do extractions! They would also perform minor general surgeries and embalming services in addition to cutting hair! SCARY.

There is a link below to an article that documents the evolution of dentistry by era. This is really an interesting read.

http://www.desotofamilydentalcare.com/dental_information/millennium_of_dentistry.htm

Savon Dental Plan-A Wise Investment

With the struggling economy and the unemployment rate increasing daily, people are very careful with how they spend their money. When it comes to Dental Coverage, people often look more into what they pay for the plan rather than what they save at the dental office. I understand the need to find a plan that a person can afford, but is a low monthly or yearly payment really worth it, when you are not getting a valuable discount when you visit the dentist? That's the reason why Savon Dental Plan is recommended by it's members, agents and most of it's dentists too. Savon offers a reasonable premium with the most comprehensive fee schedule that shows you the savings that you will get when you visit the dentist. Log on to www.savondentalplan.com today. Check out The Comparision Zone link on the home page and check it out for yourself. Savon will show you how they have the most reasonable rates and best savings around. Do not take my word for it. Log on today!

Original post by Music Man, May 2009