It’s still September, so you may be surprised to see me addressing smile tips for the year’s end. However, NOW is the BEST time to be thinking of your smile’s appearance and how to maximize your dental dollars.
Let’s start with some recommendations that can help you stretch your dental insurance and/or Health Savings Account funds. For patients who have pending treatment plans, this is an excellent time to work with our savvy Financial Coordinator, Deb.
Keep in mind that some treatments require several appointments, and set periods of time in-between, to complete treatment. By booking initial stages of treatment to occur before the year’s end, Deb can help you take advantage of 2017 coverage and couple this with scheduling your treatment completion to occur after January 1, 2018.
This ‘double dip’ gives you a new year’s worth of insurance benefits to apply to the final portion of treatment. Thus, you enjoy two year’s worth of benefits to apply to one treatment.
Additionally, Deb can help you apply for payment plans for remaining or non-covered procedures. We have several interest-free plans with no down payment required. These allow you to make easy monthly payments that fit your budget.
Now for some tips to have a healthy, appealing smile as we get into social activities as the holidays get closer.
First, think about the appearance of your smile. Are you happy with the shade of your teeth? Would you smile with more confidence by having chipped, crooked or mis-shapened teeth repaired?
Today’s cosmetic dentistry offers many options to repair smile flaws and whiten teeth. While our Zoom 2 teeth whitening system can whiten your smile in just an hour, procedures such as porcelain veneers and bonding can beautifully change your smile’s appearance in just two visits.
We pride ourselves on creating beautiful smiles with natural appeal. Plus, as a Neuromuscular Dentist, I also incorporate measures that take bite alignment into consideration. By avoiding the repercussions of improper bite alignment, you lower your risk for TMJ (jaw joint) disorder.
When the bite is ‘off,’ this stress and strain can be transferred to the jaw joints. This can lead to migraines, frequent headaches, chipped or worn teeth, teeth grinding and clenching, dizziness and ear ringing.
Another important part of having a healthy smile has much to do with what you put in your mouth. The holidays are filled with cocktail parties and festivities that have us ‘grazing’ for hours. Think about it – as we circle an hors d’oeuvres table over the course of several hours, we may nibble on several goodies with each pass. And, we may sip an alcoholic beverage throughout the evening.
Each time you eat or drink, an acid attack begins in your mouth, lasting for 20-30 minutes. So, the longer you eat or drink, the longer your teeth endure an onslaught of acid. And, this acid is potent enough to soften tooth enamel! This is in addition to the oral bacteria that are being produced.
Edibles filled with sugar and carbs tend to generate higher oral bacteria levels. Alcohol is drying to oral tissues. Together, this creates a nightmare for your smile when it comes to activities such as a cocktail party or a football game tail-gate.
Be conscious of your frequency in eating. Rinse your mouth with plain water after indulging. Drink gulps of water in between your wine or cocktail and allow the water to wash over the teeth before swallowing.
Once home, brush and floss and drink plenty of water. This will remove accumulated oral bacteria and help lower your risk for cavities and periodontal (gum) disease.
Our goal is to help you enjoy a healthy smile that feels good from the inside out! Be thinking about your smile as the final months of 2017 approach. Now is the best time to ‘goal set’ your way to a terrific smile, one that complements your overall health and appearance.
Let’s discuss your smile goals and how you can achieve it in an efficient amount of time and within a budget you can easily manage. Call 586-739-2155 to arrange a no-charge consultation appointment.
