Use Your Dental Benefits

Use Your Dental Benefits Grand Junction CO

Use Your Dental Benefits

Grand Junction Denitst, Dr. Josh Eastham

Use Your Dental Benefits Before They Expire

Use Your Dental Benefits Grand Junction CO

We look forward to Thanksgiving, Christmas, and, of course, New Year’s Eve as the end of the year approaches. Typically, we are so focused with ringing in the new year that we overlook the fact that our dental insurance policies no longer give any benefits after December 31st. However, our dentist in Grand Junction explains that this means that the insurance will expire if the yearly maximum is not fulfilled. 

Today on the blog, our team dives into why it’s important to use your dental benefits before the end of the year. So, if you’ve been searching “dentist near me” and need to get seen ASAP, we’re here for you! 

Why You Should Use Your Dental Benefits Before It’s Too Late

Here are five reasons why you should see your Grand Junction CO dentist before the year is out:

Maximum Annual Exhaustion

First, every dental insurance plan has a yearly maximum value, which can range between $1,000 and $1,500 depending on the insurer and approved operations. Importantly, the vast majority of dental insurance plans are renewed on January 1st, Additionally, any unused benefits do not carry over to the next year. As a consequence, our emergency dentist in Grand Junction explains that taking advantage of the maximum coverage amount is only logical.

The Premium is Paid

You would be paying or have already paid a premium amount to the insurance plan in order to claim coverage for dental benefits. The same is true for FSAs, which allow you to make pre-tax contributions to your dental plan directly from your paycheck. Our friends over at Digital Doc, the best intraoral camera providers, explain that all of these contributions would be in vain if dental treatments were not utilized.

Dental Service Fee Increase

Fee hikes are common, as they are for the vast majority of services. Dr. Eastham, the best dentist in Grand Junction Co explains that all dentists musts also pay for equipment and medical supplies. When the cost of such supplies climbed, they would have little choice but to raise the service charge. In most cases, the new price arrangements would go into force in the new year. Delaying your dental visit may need a higher co-pay.

The Benefits of Overlapping

Certain dental procedures may quickly exceed your yearly limit, resulting in a higher out-of-pocket expense for you. To avoid this, consult with your dentist and plan your treatment so that your expenses are spread out over the course of the year, allowing you to make the most of your dental insurance coverage.

Dental Issues Extend

Aside from the aforementioned factors, the most important element is one’s dental health. The longer you put off oral health exams and dental procedures, the worse the condition may grow. Ignoring any type of oral health issue may exacerbate the condition and lead it to spread to other parts of the body. 

Use Your Dental Benefits Before They Expire in Grand Junction CO

Dental insurance is a genuine advantage since it gives complete coverage at an affordable price. Don’t throw it away; use it as soon as possible, ideally by December 31st. If you follow these simple dental care rules, you can keep your teeth and gums healthy while enjoying the Thanksgiving turkey, pies, and cakes. Happy Thanksgiving!

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Signs of a Dead Tooth

signs of a dead tooth - Grand Junction

Signs of a Dead Tooth

Grand Junction Denitst, Dr. Josh Eastham

Most Common Signs of a Dead Tooth

signs of a dead tooth - Grand Junction

Your teeth are incredibly sturdy, especially when it comes to biting down. Tooth enamel is the most abrasion-resistant substance in the human body, followed by bone. Your teeth are powerful, but they don’t grant you superhuman abilities. Teeth, like all living things, are subject to death. It’s not funny if you end up with a dead tooth. A dead tooth is not only unsightly and painful, but it also puts you at risk of developing an infection, developing an abscess, and eventually losing your tooth. As a result, understanding the signs of a dead tooth and when to seek treatment is critical. In this article, Dr. Josh Eastham, your emergency dentist in Grand Junction, explains what you need to know about a dead tooth.

What Does It Mean When You Say You Have a Dead Tooth?

It’s odd to consider a tooth to be defunct. Isn’t your tooth just a piece of enamel that’s attached to your jaw anyway? No, that’s not true. Enamel, dentin, and cementum are the hard outer layers of your tooth. There is, however, a soft, sensitive pulp chamber hidden beneath the armor, alive with nerves, connective tissue, and blood vessels. This chamber is the heart of the human body.

When the blood supply to your tooth pulp is cut off, it dies just like any other organ in your body. Dental professionals call a non-vital or necrotic tooth when the pulp inside it has died. A dead tooth is any tooth that is no longer vital to your oral health, explains Dr. Chris Green, an emergency dentist in Parker, CO. If you’re experiencing a dead tooth, you’ll need to get treatment right away, so other dental problems don’t arise.

Infection and Dead Teeth

The worst part of a dead tooth isn’t the pulp. The American Association of Endodontists says that as your teeth develop, they require the pulp in order to function properly. Even without the pulp, a tooth can function properly because the surrounding tissues continue to nourish it as it gets older.

However, this does not imply that you should ignore a dead tooth. Dr. Boals, Colorado Springs dentist, adds that living tissues transport white blood cells and other immune cells to the tooth pulp, which helps to keep it healthy on the inside. This pathway is closed off when a tooth falls out. The pulp chamber can become a breeding ground for infection if it lacks these immune cells.

You don’t need me to tell you that having an infection in your mouth is not good. A dead tooth infection, on the other hand, can be particularly problematic. It is possible for the infection to spread to the surrounding bone and gum tissue if it is located deep within your tooth(s). This infection, if left untreated, can lead to an abscess, which is a collection of pus that causes significant discomfort and swelling. A dead tooth, on the other hand, is no laughing matter. But why does a tooth die in the first place?

Dead Tooth Causes

Tooth decay and trauma are the two most common causes of a dead tooth. A cavity or crack in your tooth that is left untreated can allow decay to enter the pulp chamber, causing an infection. The pulp’s blood vessels constrict as a defense mechanism. However, the pulp eventually dies due to a lack of sufficient blood supply.

A sports injury or trauma to the tooth can also cause it to die. The nerves can be pinched, cut off, or damaged if your tooth pushes upward into the bone or is knocked out. As with untreated decay, the pulp dies from lack of blood flow when the tooth’s root’s blood supply is cut off.

Symptoms 

A dead tooth may be obvious once it has died, but it doesn’t all happen in one day. Watch out for these warning signs of a dead tooth: 

  • If you look closely, you may notice a discoloration similar to that of a dead tooth.
  • Smell. A dead tooth can leave you with a bad taste in your mouth or an unpleasant odor. Tooth decay or another infection is to blame.
  • Inflammation and infection in the pulp cavity or nearby bone are the sources of this pain.
  • The presence of a pimple at the gum line indicates the presence of a bone-piercing chronic tooth abscess.

Contact Your Grand Junction Dentist

If you’ve had a tooth injury or think your tooth may be decaying, call your dentist right away. An endodontist or dentist uses a drill to make a hole in the crown of your tooth and remove the dead pulp and root. If there is still a gap, a dental implant, partial denture, or bridge can be used to fill it. To keep a filling in place, your dentist may use a metal or plastic post inside your tooth. Contact High Desert Dental for emergency dental care in Grand Junction, CO. 

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What to Do When a Crown Falls Off

What to Do When a Crown Falls Off - Grand Junction CO

What to Do When a Crown Falls Off

By Dr. Josh Eastham

What to Do When a Crown Falls Off Unexpectandently

What to Do When a Crown Falls Off - Grand Junction CO

Did your dental crown fall off? Contact your dentist in Grand Junction immediately. Our High Desert Dental team will gladly schedule an emergency dental appointment for you. You may be surprised that your crown fell out, but try to avoid swallowing your crown. If it’s fully intact, then Dr. Josh Eastham may be able to place it back on. In this article, Dr. Eastham explains what to do when a crown falls off.

Crown Falls Off & Isn’t Damaged

If your dental crown didn’t break, you might be able to get it placed back on without having to wait for a new one. Try the following steps if your crown fell off and it’s not broken. These are not permanent solutions, so please contact High Desert Dental.

  • A dab of toothpaste may be enough to keep the crown in place until the appointment.
  • Because the exposed tooth surface may be fragile and prone to harm in its fragile state, clean it carefully with toothpaste.
  • Clean the crown from the inside out, being gentle with it. Remove any debris, old cement, or other materials from the inside of the crown. Take care of it and try not to harm it.
  • Before attempting to repair the crown on the tooth, be sure you understand how it fits in your mouth. If it is not inserted correctly, you could cause further damage.
  • To produce a light suction, apply a tiny dab of toothpaste or temporary crown cement (available in drugstores). Temporary dental cement is packaged with detailed instructions.

Crown Falls Off & Is Damaged

Most of the time, you’ll break your crown if it randomly falls off. This is usually caused by chewing on hard foods such as candy or ice. Excessive flossing, grinding your teeth, or an injury can all cause the crown to fall out. However, if there is additional damage to the crown, the underlying tooth or gum, or both, a more invasive dental operation will be required. If your dental crown is cracked, you will have to get it replaced. Don’t forget to contact High Desert Dental for emergency dentistry in Grand Junction. Here’s what you can do if your crown falls off and is damaged:

 

“I’ve been a patient here for close to a year now and have had only pleasant experiences. Would highly recommend” – Drew K.

What Procedure Does a Dentist Use to Replace a Crown?

In many circumstances, you will not require a new crown to replace the old one, says our friend Dr. Kim, a dentist in Lexington, KY. Your old crown should be reusable if it is not broken and the uncovered tooth is in the same condition it was when you received it. Before deciding whether a new crown should be constructed, your dentist will evaluate the old one and your tooth. However, seeing your dentist in Grand Junction as soon as possible after a dental crown falls off enhances the likelihood that you won’t have to wait — or pay — for a replacement crown.

Contact Emergency Dentist Grand Junction

Anyone who experiences a broken dental crown should make an appointment with their dentist right away. After a temporary tooth replacement, avoid eating hard or chewy foods. In any event, avoid chewing on the affected side. Our High Desert Dental team will make sure your dental crown is working as good as new. Give our dental office in Grand Junction a call today!

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