Thursday, May 28, 2015

Tobacco and Your Mouth

 Tobacco and Your Mouth
 By Mina Levi, DDS, 05/28/2015

It is common knowledge that smoking and other tobacco use causes health problems such as lung cancer. However, not many people are aware of the dental andoral health implications of tobacco use such as cigarettes, chewing tobacco, cigars, and smokeless tobacco. In this week’s article, San Francisco dentist Mina Levi,DDS talks about dental and oral health concerns that are affected by tobacco use.

Tobacco use oral health implications San Francisco dentist

What are the dental problems that are caused by tobacco use?
Using tobacco:
· Increases risk of oral cancer – a disease that rapidly progresses and is often not diagnosed until the later stages III and IV, causing it to have a high death rate. See more about oral cancer here.
· Increases risk of gum disease, which is the leading cause of tooth loss in adults in the United States today.
· Causes bad breath.
· Causes buildup of tartar or dental plaque on the teeth, which if not cleaned professionally will cause tooth decay.
· Causes staining on the teeth causing them to turn yellow or brown in color and cannot be cleaned with a regular toothbrush – staining will need to be removed at a San Francisco dental office.
· Causes damage to gum tissue and causes receding gums, which leaves the roots of the teeth exposed to “the elements”. This increases sensitivity and also increases the risk of tooth decay.
· Slows down gum healing, so if you have an oral surgery procedure done or you cut your gums, the healing time will slow down and an infection can occur more easily.

Quitting
Quitting tobacco use is essential in ensuring future and present health and can provide long term health benefits. There are many different ways to quit using tobacco, such as:
· “Cold turkey”: quitting all tobacco use without the help of any chemical or medical remedy
· Nicotine patches/gum: nicotine patches and gum provide the tobacco user with small amounts of nicotine which is the addictive property in tobacco products. This can help reduce cravings for cigarettes and other tobacco products as the nicotine is being replaced. However, the use of the gum and patches will also need to cease eventually because nicotine can have negative health implications as well.
· Psychotherapy: therapy with a psychologist or psychiatrist can help a person mentally achieve overcoming the addiction and can provide self-control strategies. Therapy is also good for your overall mental well being and should be included in your regular health program.

If you have questions about how tobacco products such as cigarettes and chewing tobacco can affect your teeth and mouth, or if you have concerns about quitting tobacco use, visit Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Thursday, May 21, 2015

Dental Insurance: What are the Differences between HMO and PPO Plans?

Dental Insurance: What are the Differences between HMO and PPO Plans?
By Mina Levi, DDS, 05/21/2015

One of the most common questions we get asked here at the office of dentist Mina Levi, DDS in San Francisco is “what is the difference between choosing an HMO dental plan and a PPO dental plan?” along with “are you an in-network provider?” Many people who have dental insurance or are in the market for dental insurance have concerns and/or are confused about different plan aspects and sometimes can end up locked in with a plan that isn’t a good fit for them. Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS clears up some of the dental insurance lingo and answers some questions in this week’s article.

PPO Dentist San Francisco

What is an annual maximum?
Most dental insurance plans limit the amount that they will pay out for services per year. The average annual maximum in our experience is around $1500. This means that after that annual maximum has been paid out for the year, any services rendered after that will be an out-of-pocket expense for the patient until the new year comes and the annual maximum rolls back over.

What is an in-network provider?
Dental insurance companies have contracts with certain dentists in your area. This means that the dentist has agreed to see patients who have this insurance plan and only charge the fees for services as lined out in the contract. This means that when you see an in-network provider with your insurance, the services you receive will be charged at a “discounted” in-network rate. So even when you are maxed out of your dental insurance yearly maximum and all services are out-of-pocket, all services will be at this same discounted rate.

What is an HMO plan?
HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization and this kind of plan limits subscribers to choosing a dental care provider that is an in-network provider only. The patient must choose or is assigned a pre-approved dentist and if the patient seeks treatment elsewhere, the dental bills will not be covered at all.
                Pros: More affordable
                Cons: No freedom of choice, limited access to dental providers

What is a PPO plan?
PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization and offers flexibility for subscribers when choosing dental providers. A PPO dental plan will allow the patient to choose an in-network provider or an out-of-network provider, but will pay more or a higher percentage for an in-network provider.
                Pros: Freedom of choice, wider range of providers
                Cons: More expensive

If you have more questions about dental insurance, PPO plans or HMO plans, visit Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Breaking Down Flossing: A Three Part Series #3

Breaking Down Flossing: A 3 Part Series #3

By Mina Levi, DDS, 05/07/2015

In the dental office of Mina Levi, DDS, we highly recommend brushing twice per day and flossing at least once per day. We recommend a variety of products, including Listerine’s woven or “Gum Care” floss and the Waterpik water flosser. It can be unclear to many people what exactly each type of flossing is and the pros and cons of all of them, so in this 3-series article,Dentist San Francisco Mina Levi, DDS breaks down three flossing options: traditional dental flossthe Waterpik water flosser, and the Phillip’s airfloss flosser.

Week 3: AirFloss

AirFloss Dentist San Francisco 94108

What is it?
AirFloss is a device by Philips to remove plaque biofilm from between the teeth. It uses a rapid burst of air and water droplets to disrupt the biofilm from between the teeth. It is called “miroburst technology.”

How do I use it?
Direct the tip of the AirFloss to the spaces between the teeth. Once you have it in place, click on it for the microburst to remove the plaque. Then repeat this point-and-click method of cleaning between all teeth, which is a bit similar to the point-and-click feel of a computer mouse.

Pros:
1.  Is portable
2.  Good for people whose gums bleed with regular flossing
3.  Effective in removing plaque from tooth surfaces

Cons:
1.       More expensive than floss and the Waterpik
2.       Can cause pain in the gums

We have now discussed three flossing options: traditional dental floss, the Waterpik water flosser, and the Phillips AirFloss. Which one is your preference? If you have questions about flossing or water flossing, visit San Francisco Dentist Mina Levi, DDS on the web at www.minalevidds.com or give us a call at (415) 513-5066.