The Motley Fool: Consider A Medicare Advantage Plan

The Motley Fool encourages people to consider Medicare Advantage plans since they may offer “greater coverage at a lower price than original Medicare.” The article noted that “a Medicare Advantage plan must offer at least as much coverage as original Medicare (i.e., Part A and Part B),” and “it will often provide more than that,” such as dental care.

        In a second piece, the Motley Fool stated that “many people sign up for Medicare without realizing the limitations of the program: what you do get and what you don’t.” For example, original Medicare does not cover “dentures or most dental care,” the article stated.

Consider A Medicare Advantage Plan

The Motley Fool encourages older Americans to maximize the Medicare benefits that are available to them to help offset the rising healthcare costs many experience during retirement. Among the tips provided to help get the most out of Medicare, the article encourages retirees to look into Medicare Advantage. At a minimum, Medicare Advantage plans “match the coverage of Medicare Parts A and B,” and many offer additional benefits, such as dental care coverage. The article also recommends retirees sign up for Medicare on time, review prescription medication needs, and receive any free preventive care services offered through Medicare.

Many Medicare Advantage Plans Cover Dental Care

In the Motley Fool “Industry Focus: Healthcare” podcast, analyst Kristine Harjes and contributor Todd Campbell discuss Medicare to help retirees “understand the ins and outs of this critical program.” Harjes and Campbell explain that unlike traditional Medicare, many Medicare Advantage plans offer coverage for dental, vision, and hearing.

Preventative Oral Care Has Helped Seniors Keep More Teeth

The Poughkeepsie (NY) Journal reported that preventative measures, such as brushing with fluoride, the increased importance of calcium, and abstaining from tobacco, have helped 75 percent of people over the age of 65 keep some or all of their natural teeth, according to the American Dental Association. The article also says the source of calcium intake is important, according to the ADA, because adults who “got their calcium almost exclusively from supplements were found to be almost twice as likely to suffer heart attacks as those who took no calcium supplements.” The ADA recommends 1,000 mg of calcium daily from food sources such as milk, cheese, and yogurt. Health officials say more must be done to promote senior oral care, because the CDC “reports 23 percent of Americans between the ages of 65 and 74 have sever gum disease.”

People Encouraged To Plan Ahead For Healthcare Expenses In Retirement

US News & World Report (7/20, Reiss) states that “mitigating potential health care expenses” before retirement can “make all the difference.” In a list of six tips for future retirees “to protect their retirement nest eggs from sky-high medical bills,” the article recommends people “start by understanding the system.” For example, individuals can select Medicare Advantage, “which allows companies regulated by Medicare to cover dental care, eye exams and other medical services.”

The Jackson (TN) Sun (7/19, Thomas) added that “one of the biggest questions” for retirees is “whether to sign up for the original Medicare plan or an Advantage Plan.” According to the article, Medicare Advantage “bundles services and costs and might offer some extra benefits like vision and dental coverage but include some restrictions.”

MouthHealthy.org provides additional information on paying for dental care after retirement.

Analysis: Sugary Breakfasts Approximate Dessert

Vox food reporter Julia Belluz writes that American “breakfast is often nothing more than disguised dessert,” noting that common items like pancakes, muffins, granola, cereal, and yogurt are packed with sugar. For example, Belluz asserts that “companies like Yoplait and Chobani have built yogurt empires in America by saturating their products with sugar. Yoplait recently lowered the sugar in its classic 6-ounce strawberry yogurt from 26 grams to 18 grams (4.5 teaspoons), but that’s still more than the 15 grams you’ll get in a standard brownie.” For consumers looking for healthier breakfast alternatives, she recommends Siggi’s yogurt, which “has about 100 calories and 25 to 50 percent less sugar than mainstream brands,” and eggs.

Team Uses 3D Printer To Restore Patient’s Face

The New York Observer reports in continuing coverage on its website and in an online video that a team from Indiana University has designed a new jaw for a 68-year-old Vietnam veteran who “lost the lower half of his face to tongue cancer.” The team “digitally designed a prosthesis” to complement the man’s face “perfectly.” According to the article, “Their process, dubbed the ‘IU Shirley Technique,’ is now being used to help other patients—representing the latest breakthrough in 3D printing prosthetics.”

New HPI Report Details Troubling State of Oral Health in U.S.

A new study published by the American Dental Association Health Policy Institute (HPI), released in conjunction with Families USA on June 8, reports large numbers of adults suffer from dental problems that affect their quality of life. The report, “Oral Health & Well-being in the United States,” found across all income levels, nearly 30 percent of those surveyed said life is “very often” or “occasionally” less satisfying because of the condition of their mouth or teeth. The full report includes data for all 50 states and the District of Columbia, and is based on the responses of nearly 15,000 adults nationwide.

Budgeting For Dental Costs Advised For Those With Medicare

In a broader piece listing out-of-pocket costs those with Medicare can “expect to pay,” US News & World Report (5/9, Brandon) states that Medicare does not cover some medical services, including dental care. The article recommends budgeting for “commonly needed medical services that Medicare doesn’t cover,” including dental care.

Taking Steps To Promote Oral Health Encouraged For People With Diabetes

In its “Oral Care — Secret Key to Diabetes Success” blog, Diabetes Self-Management (3/23, Spero) stated that “caring for your mouth helps your diabetes,” adding research suggests that having healthier gums and treating gum disease may help people with diabetes. After listing symptoms of gum disease, the article provides dental hygiene tips, noting “the American Dental Association recommends brushing twice a day for two minutes each time, and flossing once a day.” The article also encouraged readers to avoid foods that damage teeth, as listed by the ADA.

Many Seniors Experience Xerostomia

Long-Term Living Magazine (3/24) discusses oral health problems that some seniors face, including decreased saliva production. According to the article, seniors are naturally at risk for xerostomia, with “nearly 30 percent of people age 65 and older” experiencing dry mouth. “There are 400 commonly used drugs that can cause xerostomia as a side effect, including antihistamines, diuretics, antidepressants and anti-angina,” the article states.

        The ADA provides additional information on xerostomia online.

Coverage Continues: Study Finds Patients With Diabetes Lose Twice As Many Teeth As Those Without The Disease

The Albany (NY) Daily Star (3/28) reports in continuing coverage that a study from Duke University researchers found “people with diabetes lose about twice as many teeth as people without.” In addition, the study found that “black people with diabetes in the US have a higher risk of tooth loss compared with white and Mexican Americans with the same condition.” Although the study did not examine the potential causes of the health disparity, “it’s possible that gaps in” dental care “played a role,” the article adds. Bei Wu, a nursing professor at Duke University and a co-author of the study, said, “For African Americans, the lack of access to care is profound.”

        MouthHealthy.org provides additional information on diabetes and teeth.

Many Seniors Lack Dental Coverage

The Provo (UT) Daily Herald (3/16, Cook) states that “according to the Center for Disease Control, a little over half (60 percent) of today’s senior adults visited a dentist in 2013 despite the fact that one in four of seniors aged 65 and older have gum disease.” The article notes seniors face several unique challenges when it comes to accessing dental care, such as lacking dental coverage and transportation. Stating that “regular dental checkups and good oral hygiene habits remain important for seniors,” the article provides several suggestions for helping seniors overcome these and other challenges.

Feline Stem Cell Trial Holds Hope For Treating People With Oral Disease

Reuters (3/17, Gruber) reports that researchers at the University of California, Davis are using stem cell therapy to treat cats with feline chronic gingivostomatitis or FCGS, a debilitating, inflammatory mouth disease. The researchers hoped to reduce inflammation and promote tissue regeneration with stem cell therapy, and so far the feline patients are responding favorably to the treatment. According to the article, UC Davis is planning to conduct human trials using stem cell therapy for treatment of inflammatory mouth disease in the future.

NHL Increasingly Focused On Players’ Dental Health

Many sources are carrying an AP (2/10, Lage) story reporting that although the National Hockey League is scrutinizing player safety “more than ever,” many NHL players still lose teeth as part of the game. Still, there is increasing interest in helping players keep their original teeth, and “when players do get hit in the mouth with a stick or puck during a game, they are moments away from getting professional treatment from a team dentist and perhaps an oral surgeon.” Several teams, including the Nashville Predators and Los Angeles Kings, are equipped with a dental chair in their arenas. The article adds, “Dental care is one of the progressive moves made by the NHL, according to Predators general manager David Poile.”

UCLA Researchers Find Protein Combination Could Improve Bone Regeneration

EurekAlert (1/28) hosted a release announcing “a UCLA research team has found a combination of proteins that could significantly improve clinical bone restoration.” The findings, which will appear in the February print edition of the American Journal of Pathology, “may be a big step toward developing effective therapeutic treatments for bone skeletal defects, bone loss and osteoporosis.” Dr. Kang Ting, professor at the UCLA School of Dentistry, said, “The combination of NELL-1 and BMP2 resulted in improved safety and efficacy of bone regeneration in animal models – and may, one day, offer patients significantly better bone healing.”

Some Groups Propose Expanding Medicare To Include Dental Coverage

Health Affairs (1/21, Pope) states that the majority of Medicare Advantage plans include preventive dental care, whereas standard Medicare coverage excludes “routine dental care.” According to the article, “As only 21 percent of Medicare beneficiaries purchase standalone dental insurance, while coverage for the 14 percent also eligible for Medicaid is threadbare to non-existent in most states, the majority of seniors lack dental coverage.” Given this, some groups have called for expanding “Medicare to include dental coverage, with Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders introducing legislation to cover dental care under Medicare Part B.”

        Meanwhile, Steve Chapman of the Chicago Tribune (1/20) discussed Sanders’ proposed “Medicare for All” plan, that would cover “‘the entire continuum of care,’ including long-term care and dentistry.”

When to Consider Implant Dentures

If you’re a removable denture-wearer, you enjoy the full and complete smile that dentures provide. However, there are some downsides to removable prosthetics that can begin to cause problems over time, or have an effect on quality of life.

It may be time to think about a more permanent restoration if you’re experiencing:

Ill-fitting prosthetics – Dentures that don’t fit comfortably can cause problems all day long – from shifting out of place more frequently, to making eating a hassle. While removable dentures can be re-sized to be more comfortable and secure, this is often a lengthy process that may be need to be repeated, depending on wear and tear of your appliance and whether gum tissues have shrunk
.
Soft tissue irritation – Because removable dentures are not fixed in place permanently, they can become loose and rub or slip on gums. As mentioned above, this causes tissues to shrink over time. In short, removable dentures can be hard on gum tissue and cause more problems than they solve.

Dietary restrictions - If you’ve begun to feel limited by the foods you cannot eat while wearing removable dentures, it may be time for a fixed prosthetic. Removable denture wearers typically do not have full biting and chewing power, so crunchy foods and foods that are difficult to bite into should be avoided. But having to refrain from eating some of your favorite foods in order to accommodate your dental restoration is frustrating.

Choosing Implant-Supported Dentures

Getting dental implants to permanently secure your full dentures provides a huge boost for your oral health and function. If you’ve been in and out of your dentist’s office for repeated fittings lately, a fixed denture could be the solution. Implant dentures rest on dental implant posts, not on gums, and therefore do not create soft tissue problems or limit your eating habits.

A few dental implants could be a significant difference in how you feel about your smile, and how your dental restoration improves your daily life – not detracts from it.  Dr. Richard Kinsel helps patients get strong new smiles with full-arch implants in Foster City. Contact our office today for more information on trading your removable dentures for a fixed implant denture.

Remineralizing your teeth is easier than you might think

Remineralizing your teeth is easier than you might think

The enamel on our teeth is made out of calcium phosphate, which are minerals. When you eat or drink flavored beverages, the bacteria in our mouths metabolize what been consumed and makes acids. These acids demineralize the teeth by removing minerals on the enamel.

In order to remineralize the enamel on our teeth and help protect it from cavities, we really need to do one thing: spit. The minerals in your saliva will allow that remineralization to happen. Saliva has calcium and phosphate in it and some other buffers that will help buffer that acidic state.

If our mouths produce saliva, then why do we get cavities at all? The answer, in part, is due to the way—and frequency— in which we eat and drink. If while sitting at our desks, we nurse a couple cups of iced-coffee all day, never giving our mouths the chance to return to that neutral state, then we leave our mouths freaking out on acid, so to speak— an intense state that compromises tooth health.

It takes a little over a half hour for your mouth to go from an acidic state after eating or drinking a flavored beverage, to a neutral state, in which the saliva can exercise its healing power. If you’re sipping coffee, and you take another sip, then you’re starting at square one again. And this all-day exposure to acidic foods or drink is what leads to cavities.

Optimally, we should take a two-hour break after eating a meal or finishing a drink in order to allow our saliva to remineralize teeth. If you want to accelerate your mouth’s healing time, the American Dental Association points to studies that show using Xylitol gum or mints (Spry) after meals can lower instances of tooth decay, by increasing saliva flow.

While our bodies are self-equipped to remineralize teeth, this biological auto-correct isn’t enough to ward off tooth decay and cavities on its own. Maintaining proper dental hygiene, including flossing once a day and brushing twice a day for two-minutes increments is vital.

Bottom line: keep your mouth off acid between meals, take some time with brushing and your teeth will find their way back to their mineral-hardened state—no hand-churned toothpaste or high-maintenance diets required.

For more information about what you can do to protect your teeth, click here.

The Healthy Impact of Dental Implants on Jaw Structure

Dental implants help you get a natural-looking and complete smile after the loss of one or more teeth. While this is certainly important for your oral health – strong replacement teeth support better oral function – the way implants are secured has a positive impact on bone in your jaw.

Bonding to Bone

The body of a dental implant looks like a small screw, or post, and is made of titanium. When placed into bone in your jaw, the post of the implant naturally bonds with the bone. This processed, called osseointegration, actually helps maintain healthy bone density levels.

The presence of your natural tooth root keeps your jaw bone dense, but the lack of a natural root from a missing tooth causes bone to shrink, changing the shape of your face.  The post of a dental implant, however, takes the place of a real tooth root and prevents bone from diminishing. 

Stimulating Bone

As you bite and chew, your tooth root actually stimulates bone in your jaw. This stimulation is necessary to keep bone strong and healthy. However, as we mentioned above, the absence of a natural tooth causes problems for bone, especially because it’s not getting the stimulation it needs.

Your dental implant extends into jaw bone and stimulates it in much the same way as your real tooth root. Other dental restorations, like bridges and removable dentures, do not touch bone and cannot provide the same benefits.

By choosing dental implants for teeth replacement, you’re able to maintain strong and dense bone, which enables you to maintain facial structure and enjoy full oral function. If you have questions about what dental implants can do for you, contact our Foster City dental office to speak to our implant dentist.