Spring / Summer 2010

Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late We all have our reasons for not getting things done, whether it is money, insurance, fear or neglect. Waiting to have treatment completed may cost you more out of pocket in the long run as decay could become bigger, therefore causing the filling to be bigger, or possibly requiring a crown, or worse case an extraction and replacement of the missing tooth. Talk to Carmen with regards to payment options for your upcoming appointments, we will find a way to make your appointment work with your finances.

If you have insurance don’t wait until the last minute to use your benefits as we may not have the opportunity to see you before your benefits run out or renew, at busy times we can be booking a month in advance. Please do not allow your dental insurance to persuade you not to complete necessary treatment.

If you are fearful please let us know, you are not alone. We can offer you oral sedation, a massage pad or distract you with the TV or I-pod.

Neglecting to complete necessary treatment is not advisable, patients sometimes wait to complete necessary treatment because “the tooth doesn’t hurt.” Don’t wait for it to hurt, be proactive and fix it before you have to suffer with pain. We are health care providers here to give you the best care possible for not only your oral health but your overall well being.

We have all heard the adage “You don’t appreciate your health until you no longer have it.” Please don’t let this happen to you.

I hope you enjoy your summer and I am looking forward to seeing you at your next visit.

Dr. Phil Nasralla

Refer a Smile..... and Go The Extra Mile

Over the years we have received many wonderful referrals from clients like you. Your referrals are greatly appreciated and reaffirm to us the trust you place in the care we provide. So from now on, whenever you refer a family, friend or coworker (for a New Patient Exam) we will reward you with a gas gift card to use at the pumps. The more you refer, the more you’ll save when driving, and that’s something to smile about.

Good Overall Health Starts In Your Mouth

Self-confidence, self-image, self-esteem—so much is wrapped up in the appearance and condition of our teeth, our mouths and our smiles. But did you know that hidden problems with your overall health can often be detected first in your mouth?

Research shows that there is a direct link between oral health and your general health and well-being. In fact, periodontal disease--disease of the gums and supporting bone--has been linked to a number of serious illnesses including lung disease, diabetes, heart disease and even preterm low birth weight babies.

Here are five things you can do to enjoy healthy gums and teeth: brush twice daily, floss once daily, rinse using an antibacterial mouthwash, make healthy food choices, and get regular professional dental hygiene care.

Periodontal disease can be prevented and controlled, but early detection is vital. Your biggest weapon in the battle to maintain good oral health is a regular visit with your dental hygienist.

Information Regarding Dental Insurance

You may not know this; dental insurance is an individual commodity. There are thousands of insurance companies and each company has thousands of individual group plans, each group plan is different from the next. There is no possible way a dental office would be able to know precise information for your dental plan.

Dental offices are not directly connected to insurance companies, and now due to the privacy act (January 2004) most dental plans will not release information to the dental office. We must rely solely on our patients to give us the plan information. Some insurance companies will go so far as to only send the patient the information required by the dental office to send in your claims or for preauthorization.

When a preauthorization is sent to an insurance company, someone behind a desk looks at the information and determines if the dental insurance will pay or not. This person has not met you, has not spoken to you or seen the tooth (teeth) in question and may not even be a dentist. Insurance companies do not care if the treatment is necessary or if you are in pain. Bottom line insurance companies only care about money, particularly the money they are paying out.

Most dental policies have clauses for treatment, this information is unknown to the dental office and for the most part is unknown to the policy holder (you), these clauses limit the type of treatment your dental plan will allow you to have, or the type of treatment they will pay for. Some dental plans will pay less for certain procedures or will not pay for a procedure at all. Examples of this are dental plans that will not pay for white composite fillings they will “pay an alternate procedure code” the cost of silver mercury fillings. Or dental plans that will only pay for one root canal per tooth per lifetime, it is not uncommon to retreat root canal teeth. The balance not paid by the dental plan now becomes the patient’s responsibility.

If you want precise information on your dental plan we suggest you contact the insurance company directly. If you are unhappy with your dental plan speak to your employer as they have negotiated the contract with the insurance company. Dental plans are helpful, without one you would be expected to pay the full amount for your appointment but we strongly suggest that you do not rely on them to make your dental decisions. This is why you see a dentist and not an insurance adjuster when you have a toothache.

Dr. Nasralla’s Team will gladly help you in whatever capacity they can so you can enjoy the benefits of a healthy smile.