#dental bridges treatment in silver spring

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Understanding the Process of Dental Bonding in Silver Spring MD with KSDental

Dental bonding in Silver Spring, MD, is a versatile cosmetic dentistry procedure that can enhance the appearance of your smile. This non-invasive treatment involves the application of a tooth-colored resin material to repair chipped, stained, or misaligned teeth. Dental bonding is a quick and cost-effective solution to achieve a more attractive smile. Our experienced dental professionals in Silver Spring, MD, use this technique to improve the aesthetics and functionality of your teeth, helping you regain confidence in your smile. Go to our website for additional information.

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Why Are Dental Implants Necessary

In the realm of modern dentistry, dental implants have emerged as a revolutionary solution to missing teeth, offering not only functional benefits but also aesthetic advantages. For individuals in Silver Spring seeking to restore their smiles and oral health, understanding why dental implants are necessary can provide invaluable insights into the significance of this dental procedure. Let's delve into the reasons why dental implants silver spring are essential for optimal dental health and overall well-being.

Restoration of Functionality: One of the primary reasons why dental implants are necessary is their ability to restore the functionality of missing teeth. When a tooth is lost, whether due to decay, injury, or other factors, it can significantly impair essential functions such as chewing and speaking. Dental implants serve as artificial tooth roots, providing a stable foundation for replacement teeth (crowns, bridges, or dentures) to function just like natural teeth. This restoration of functionality enables individuals to eat a wide variety of foods comfortably and speak with confidence, enhancing their overall quality of life.

Preservation of Jawbone Health: When a tooth is lost, the underlying jawbone can gradually deteriorate over time due to lack of stimulation. Dental implants mimic natural tooth roots by integrating with the jawbone through a process called osseointegration. This not only provides stability for the implant but also helps preserve the surrounding bone structure. By preventing bone loss, dental implants play a crucial role in maintaining facial aesthetics and preventing further dental complications.

Prevention of Shifting Teeth: A gap left by a missing tooth can lead to adjacent teeth shifting or tilting into the empty space over time. This can result in bite misalignment, difficulty in cleaning, and increased risk of dental issues such as decay and gum disease. Dental implants fill the gap left by missing teeth, preventing neighboring teeth from shifting and helping to maintain proper dental alignment. By preserving the integrity of the dental arch, implants contribute to long-term oral health and stability.

Durability and Longevity: Unlike traditional dental restorations such as bridges or dentures, which may require periodic adjustments or replacements, dental implants offer unmatched durability and longevity. Made from biocompatible materials such as titanium, implants fuse with the jawbone and become a permanent part of the oral structure. With appropriate care and upkeep, dental implants have the potential to endure a lifetime, furnishing a dependable and enduring remedy for tooth replacement.

Enhanced Aesthetics: Beyond their functional benefits, dental implants also offer significant aesthetic advantages. Unlike traditional dentures, which can sometimes appear artificial or bulky, dental implants provide a lifelike appearance that boosts confidence and self-esteem.

Improved Oral Health: Dental implants promote better oral health by facilitating easier oral hygiene practices. Unlike removable dentures, which require special cleaning solutions and techniques, implants can be brushed and flossed just like natural teeth. This makes it easier to maintain proper oral hygiene habits, reducing the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, and other oral health issues commonly associated with missing teeth.

For residents of Silver Spring seeking comprehensive dental care, including dental implants, it's essential to consult with a qualified dentist silver spring who specializes in implant dentistry. A skilled silver spring dentist can assess your oral health needs, discuss treatment options, and develop a personalized treatment plan tailored to your specific goals and preferences.

Conclusion

dental implants are necessary for restoring functionality, preserving jawbone health, preventing dental shifting, ensuring durability, enhancing aesthetics, and improving overall oral health. By addressing the underlying causes and consequences of missing teeth, dental implants offer a comprehensive solution that not only restores smiles but also enhances quality of life. Embracing the benefits of dental implants can lead to a brighter, healthier, and more confident future for individuals in Silver Spring and beyond.

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Ten Various Ways To Do Cheap Dental Plans | cheap dental plans

According to research, acupuncture helps to lessen anxiety before, during and after a dental procedure or examination, a study by researchers from the University of Michigan Health System in Ann Arbor found. This natural procedure, coupled with inexpensive dental plans designed specifically to reduce the overall cost of dental treatment, could ease the stress involved in going to the dentist in order to have work done.

Dental work is vital in ensuring teeth and gums are healthy and free from disease. A visit to a dentist is essential for the health of your teeth and mouth. When an immediate need for dentistry arises, many people find themselves unable to afford the routine care they need.

Some people, who cannot afford dental insurance, turn to less expensive dental clinics in order to obtain basic care. Often, this care does not meet needs or is unsatisfactory because of lack of materials. Many people cannot afford to pay for dental care at these centers, or simply do not have the time to wait for the necessary appointment. By visiting a clinic that offers dental care at discounted prices, many people can receive care they otherwise would not be able to afford.

If you currently have a cheap dental plan but do not want to wait for a visit with your dentist, then you may consider visiting a clinic that provides affordable dental services. These clinics offer a variety of services at discount prices, including basic cleaning, routine cleanings, root canals, root canal treatments, orthodontic work, bridges and more. Most clinics also provide emergency care. They usually also offer an array of preventive care as well.

While you are at the clinic, you will meet a professional dental practitioner who will review your information and evaluate your circumstances in order to determine whether or not you are eligible for a cheap dental plan. Once you have been determined eligible, you will be given a short list of available clinics that offer dental care at discounted prices. You will be asked to complete a brief form that determines the type of service you require and how much the treatment will cost. After the information is entered, the clinic will contact you to let you know what services are available, and how much you will be charged.

Your cheap dental plan can help make affordable dental care affordable for you. Many of these clinics allow patients to see a dentist for a set amount of time, so that you are not required to pay for more than the fee that you would if you visited a traditional clinic. If you find yourself in need of a regular visit to the dentist, visiting a clinic offering discounted dental care could provide the comfort and relief that you need to make it easier for you to keep the dentist visits affordable.

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New Dental Treatment Helps Fill Cavities and Insurance Gaps for Seniors

DENVER ― Dental hygienist Jennifer Geiselhofer often cleans the teeth of senior patients who can’t easily get to a dentist’s office. But until recently, if she found a cavity, there was little she could do.

“I can’t drill. I can’t pull teeth,” said Geiselhofer, whose mobile clinic is called Dental at Your Door. “I’d recommend they see a dentist, but that was often out of the question because of mobility challenges. So visit after visit, I would come back and there would be more decay.”

But now Geiselhofer has a weapon to obliterate a cavity with a few brushstrokes.

Silver diamine fluoride is a liquid that can be painted on teeth to stop decay. Fast, low-cost and pain-free, the treatment is rapidly gaining momentum nationwide as the cavity treatment of choice for patients who can’t easily get a filling, such as the very young or the very old.

“It has been life-changing for my patients,” said Geiselhofer, who has been using the treatment for about 18 months.

Geiselhofer has not been able to go into nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, but she uses the liquid on the older adults she visits in private homes. She also uses it to treat the cavities of patients in homeless shelters, jails and Head Start programs ― now wearing greater protective gear, including gloves, a surgical mask, an N95 mask and a face shield.

The topical medication is an especially good option for seniors, dental industry experts say, because dental care has remained a major gap in health insurance coverage despite poor dental hygiene being linked to heart disease and other health problems like diabetes and pneumonia. Medicare doesn’t cover most dental care, and patients on a fixed income often can’t afford treatment. But because of the effectiveness and low cost of silver diamine fluoride, more state Medicaid programs now cover it — and older adults who pay out-of-pocket can afford it outright.

Silver diamine fluoride has been used in other countries for decades, and studies have proved it safe. Its biggest downside is that it permanently turns the decayed area black — a turnoff, in particular, for people with decay on a front tooth.

Dental providers say the black spots can be covered by tooth-colored material for an extra cost. For older adults, Geiselhofer said, a dark spot is a small price to pay for a treatment that stops cavities quickly, with no drilling, needle prick or trip to the dentist required.

Oral Care a Problem for Older Adults

Silver diamine fluoride was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2014 for reducing tooth sensitivity. But its off-label use to treat cavities was quickly adopted. It made headlines as a trauma-free treatment for tooth decay in children under age 5.

Pediatric dentists have embraced it as a solution for kids who can’t sit still for treatment and whose parents want to avoid general anesthesia. In 2018, the then-president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, James Nickman, said that, aside from fluoridated water, the topical cavity fighter “may be the single greatest innovation in pediatric dental health in the last century.”

But today, with more older Americans keeping their natural teeth than in decades past, the treatment is also serving as a boon for a different generation. Because of insurance gaps and the prohibitive cost of most dental treatments, many seniors miss out on preventive care to stave off dental decay, putting them at risk for dental disease that can trigger serious health problems. About 27% of Americans age 65 and older have untreated cavities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Residents in long-term care facilities are at especially high risk, studies show. Medications cause their mouths to dry, promoting decay. They also may have cognitive issues that make it difficult to practice good oral care. And many are either too frail for traditional dental treatment or too weak to be transported.

Dental Hygienists Lead the Way

Take 87-year-old Ron Hanscom, for example. A patient of Geiselhofer’s, he has been in a Denver nursing home since he had a stroke six years ago, and needs a mechanical lift to get into and out of his wheelchair.

On a visit to Hanscom’s nursing home earlier this year, before the pandemic, Geiselhofer spotted a cavity under one of his crowns. After checking in with his dentist, she used a small brush to paint on the silver treatment.

“It’s a good thing she had the silver, because I couldn’t get to a dentist’s office — no way,” Hanscom said. “She did it right in my room.”

Across the country, dental hygienists provide much of the care to patients like Hanscom who otherwise might never see a dentist. They also see patients in homeless shelters, schools, jails and low-cost medical clinics. Since the pandemic hit, Geiselhofer said she has received a flood of requests for in-home care from seniors who are too nervous to go into a dentist’s office, but she has turned them down because she is too busy caring for underserved populations.

Many states allow hygienists to work directly with patients in public health settings without a dentist’s supervision, and Colorado is one of a few that allows them to set up a completely independent practice.

Because the silver treatment is relatively new in this country and can leave a stain, the Colorado state legislature passed a law in 2018 that says hygienists must have an agreement with a supervising dentist to apply it. The law also requires them to get special training on how to use the liquid, which at least 700 hygienists from across the state have completed.

Other states, including Maryland and Virginia, have no special requirements for applying the cavity treatment but require some supervision by a dentist, said Matt Crespin, president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. In those places, hygienists apply it under the same rules that govern the application of other fluoride products.

Preventing New Cavities, Too

Studies show silver diamine fluoride stops decay in 60% to 70% of cases with one application. A second application six months later boosts the treatment’s long-term effectiveness to more than 90%.

In addition to killing cavity-causing bacteria, the treatment hardens tooth structure, desensitizes the tooth and even stops new cavities from forming. Applying the liquid on the exposed root surfaces of older adults once a year is “a simple, inexpensive, and effective way” to prevent cavities, a 2018 study concluded.

One of the most important benefits of the application on older patients is that the liquid can reach decay that forms under existing dental work such as crowns and bridges, said dental hygienist Michelle Vacha, founder of Community Dental Health, which runs clinics in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, Colorado.

Previously, a dentist would have had to remove the crown, drill out the cavity and make a new crown — a traumatic, time-consuming procedure with a typical cost of $1,000 or more, Vacha said. Unable to afford the cost, many patients would instead have the tooth pulled.

The paint-on liquid is significantly cheaper than traditional treatment. Estimates vary, but a private dentist may charge $10 to $75 for one application, compared with $150 to $200 for a filling. Hygienists often have lower fees. At Vacha’s community clinics, the cost is $10 a tooth.

About half of state Medicaid programs now reimburse for the treatment, said Steve Pardue, scientific officer of Elevate Oral Care that distributes Advantage Arrest, the main brand of the topical medication used nationally. Reimbursement rates range from $5 to $75 per application.

More private insurers — about 20% to 30% of them — have also started covering it, Pardue said.

Coming Soon to a Dentist Near You?

A small but growing number of mainstream dentists have begun to offer the treatment to all patients, not just the youngest and oldest.

It’s a good option for those who have anxiety about dental work or concerns about cost, said Dr. Janet Yellowitz, director of geriatric and special care dentistry at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.

A 2017 survey by the American Dental Association found that almost 8 in 10 dentists had never used the treatment. The ADA doesn’t have more recent statistics, but ADA spokesperson Matthew Messina said anecdotal reports indicate usage is increasing dramatically.

Yellowitz noted that dentists still have a financial incentive to drill and fill. She has made presentations highlighting the benefits of the silver solution at national conferences.

“We’re trying to get everyone to use it,” she said. “It’s a slow process because we’re asking dentists who have been trained for their whole careers to do things one way to completely change their mentality. It’s like asking them to go to another country and drive on the other side of the road.”

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

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This story can be republished for free (details).

New Dental Treatment Helps Fill Cavities and Insurance Gaps for Seniors published first on https://nootropicspowdersupplier.tumblr.com/

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New Dental Treatment Helps Fill Cavities and Insurance Gaps for Seniors

DENVER ― Dental hygienist Jennifer Geiselhofer often cleans the teeth of senior patients who can’t easily get to a dentist’s office. But until recently, if she found a cavity, there was little she could do.

“I can’t drill. I can’t pull teeth,” said Geiselhofer, whose mobile clinic is called Dental at Your Door. “I’d recommend they see a dentist, but that was often out of the question because of mobility challenges. So visit after visit, I would come back and there would be more decay.”

But now Geiselhofer has a weapon to obliterate a cavity with a few brushstrokes.

Silver diamine fluoride is a liquid that can be painted on teeth to stop decay. Fast, low-cost and pain-free, the treatment is rapidly gaining momentum nationwide as the cavity treatment of choice for patients who can’t easily get a filling, such as the very young or the very old.

“It has been life-changing for my patients,” said Geiselhofer, who has been using the treatment for about 18 months.

Geiselhofer has not been able to go into nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, but she uses the liquid on the older adults she visits in private homes. She also uses it to treat the cavities of patients in homeless shelters, jails and Head Start programs ― now wearing greater protective gear, including gloves, a surgical mask, an N95 mask and a face shield.

The topical medication is an especially good option for seniors, dental industry experts say, because dental care has remained a major gap in health insurance coverage despite poor dental hygiene being linked to heart disease and other health problems like diabetes and pneumonia. Medicare doesn’t cover most dental care, and patients on a fixed income often can’t afford treatment. But because of the effectiveness and low cost of silver diamine fluoride, more state Medicaid programs now cover it — and older adults who pay out-of-pocket can afford it outright.

Silver diamine fluoride has been used in other countries for decades, and studies have proved it safe. Its biggest downside is that it permanently turns the decayed area black — a turnoff, in particular, for people with decay on a front tooth.

Dental providers say the black spots can be covered by tooth-colored material for an extra cost. For older adults, Geiselhofer said, a dark spot is a small price to pay for a treatment that stops cavities quickly, with no drilling, needle prick or trip to the dentist required.

Oral Care a Problem for Older Adults

Silver diamine fluoride was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2014 for reducing tooth sensitivity. But its off-label use to treat cavities was quickly adopted. It made headlines as a trauma-free treatment for tooth decay in children under age 5.

Pediatric dentists have embraced it as a solution for kids who can’t sit still for treatment and whose parents want to avoid general anesthesia. In 2018, the then-president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, James Nickman, said that, aside from fluoridated water, the topical cavity fighter “may be the single greatest innovation in pediatric dental health in the last century.”

But today, with more older Americans keeping their natural teeth than in decades past, the treatment is also serving as a boon for a different generation. Because of insurance gaps and the prohibitive cost of most dental treatments, many seniors miss out on preventive care to stave off dental decay, putting them at risk for dental disease that can trigger serious health problems. About 27% of Americans age 65 and older have untreated cavities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Residents in long-term care facilities are at especially high risk, studies show. Medications cause their mouths to dry, promoting decay. They also may have cognitive issues that make it difficult to practice good oral care. And many are either too frail for traditional dental treatment or too weak to be transported.

Dental Hygienists Lead the Way

Take 87-year-old Ron Hanscom, for example. A patient of Geiselhofer’s, he has been in a Denver nursing home since he had a stroke six years ago, and needs a mechanical lift to get into and out of his wheelchair.

On a visit to Hanscom’s nursing home earlier this year, before the pandemic, Geiselhofer spotted a cavity under one of his crowns. After checking in with his dentist, she used a small brush to paint on the silver treatment.

“It’s a good thing she had the silver, because I couldn’t get to a dentist’s office — no way,” Hanscom said. “She did it right in my room.”

Across the country, dental hygienists provide much of the care to patients like Hanscom who otherwise might never see a dentist. They also see patients in homeless shelters, schools, jails and low-cost medical clinics. Since the pandemic hit, Geiselhofer said she has received a flood of requests for in-home care from seniors who are too nervous to go into a dentist’s office, but she has turned them down because she is too busy caring for underserved populations.

Many states allow hygienists to work directly with patients in public health settings without a dentist’s supervision, and Colorado is one of a few that allows them to set up a completely independent practice.

Because the silver treatment is relatively new in this country and can leave a stain, the Colorado state legislature passed a law in 2018 that says hygienists must have an agreement with a supervising dentist to apply it. The law also requires them to get special training on how to use the liquid, which at least 700 hygienists from across the state have completed.

Other states, including Maryland and Virginia, have no special requirements for applying the cavity treatment but require some supervision by a dentist, said Matt Crespin, president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. In those places, hygienists apply it under the same rules that govern the application of other fluoride products.

Preventing New Cavities, Too

Studies show silver diamine fluoride stops decay in 60% to 70% of cases with one application. A second application six months later boosts the treatment’s long-term effectiveness to more than 90%.

In addition to killing cavity-causing bacteria, the treatment hardens tooth structure, desensitizes the tooth and even stops new cavities from forming. Applying the liquid on the exposed root surfaces of older adults once a year is “a simple, inexpensive, and effective way” to prevent cavities, a 2018 study concluded.

One of the most important benefits of the application on older patients is that the liquid can reach decay that forms under existing dental work such as crowns and bridges, said dental hygienist Michelle Vacha, founder of Community Dental Health, which runs clinics in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, Colorado.

Previously, a dentist would have had to remove the crown, drill out the cavity and make a new crown — a traumatic, time-consuming procedure with a typical cost of $1,000 or more, Vacha said. Unable to afford the cost, many patients would instead have the tooth pulled.

The paint-on liquid is significantly cheaper than traditional treatment. Estimates vary, but a private dentist may charge $10 to $75 for one application, compared with $150 to $200 for a filling. Hygienists often have lower fees. At Vacha’s community clinics, the cost is $10 a tooth.

About half of state Medicaid programs now reimburse for the treatment, said Steve Pardue, scientific officer of Elevate Oral Care that distributes Advantage Arrest, the main brand of the topical medication used nationally. Reimbursement rates range from $5 to $75 per application.

More private insurers — about 20% to 30% of them — have also started covering it, Pardue said.

Coming Soon to a Dentist Near You?

A small but growing number of mainstream dentists have begun to offer the treatment to all patients, not just the youngest and oldest.

It’s a good option for those who have anxiety about dental work or concerns about cost, said Dr. Janet Yellowitz, director of geriatric and special care dentistry at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.

A 2017 survey by the American Dental Association found that almost 8 in 10 dentists had never used the treatment. The ADA doesn’t have more recent statistics, but ADA spokesperson Matthew Messina said anecdotal reports indicate usage is increasing dramatically.

Yellowitz noted that dentists still have a financial incentive to drill and fill. She has made presentations highlighting the benefits of the silver solution at national conferences.

“We’re trying to get everyone to use it,” she said. “It’s a slow process because we’re asking dentists who have been trained for their whole careers to do things one way to completely change their mentality. It’s like asking them to go to another country and drive on the other side of the road.”

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

USE OUR CONTENT

This story can be republished for free (details).

New Dental Treatment Helps Fill Cavities and Insurance Gaps for Seniors published first on https://smartdrinkingweb.weebly.com/

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New Dental Treatment Helps Fill Cavities and Insurance Gaps for Seniors

DENVER ― Dental hygienist Jennifer Geiselhofer often cleans the teeth of senior patients who can’t easily get to a dentist’s office. But until recently, if she found a cavity, there was little she could do.

“I can’t drill. I can’t pull teeth,” said Geiselhofer, whose mobile clinic is called Dental at Your Door. “I’d recommend they see a dentist, but that was often out of the question because of mobility challenges. So visit after visit, I would come back and there would be more decay.”

But now Geiselhofer has a weapon to obliterate a cavity with a few brushstrokes.

Silver diamine fluoride is a liquid that can be painted on teeth to stop decay. Fast, low-cost and pain-free, the treatment is rapidly gaining momentum nationwide as the cavity treatment of choice for patients who can’t easily get a filling, such as the very young or the very old.

“It has been life-changing for my patients,” said Geiselhofer, who has been using the treatment for about 18 months.

Geiselhofer has not been able to go into nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, but she uses the liquid on the older adults she visits in private homes. She also uses it to treat the cavities of patients in homeless shelters, jails and Head Start programs ― now wearing greater protective gear, including gloves, a surgical mask, an N95 mask and a face shield.

The topical medication is an especially good option for seniors, dental industry experts say, because dental care has remained a major gap in health insurance coverage despite poor dental hygiene being linked to heart disease and other health problems like diabetes and pneumonia. Medicare doesn’t cover most dental care, and patients on a fixed income often can’t afford treatment. But because of the effectiveness and low cost of silver diamine fluoride, more state Medicaid programs now cover it — and older adults who pay out-of-pocket can afford it outright.

Silver diamine fluoride has been used in other countries for decades, and studies have proved it safe. Its biggest downside is that it permanently turns the decayed area black — a turnoff, in particular, for people with decay on a front tooth.

Dental providers say the black spots can be covered by tooth-colored material for an extra cost. For older adults, Geiselhofer said, a dark spot is a small price to pay for a treatment that stops cavities quickly, with no drilling, needle prick or trip to the dentist required.

Oral Care a Problem for Older Adults

Silver diamine fluoride was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2014 for reducing tooth sensitivity. But its off-label use to treat cavities was quickly adopted. It made headlines as a trauma-free treatment for tooth decay in children under age 5.

Pediatric dentists have embraced it as a solution for kids who can’t sit still for treatment and whose parents want to avoid general anesthesia. In 2018, the then-president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, James Nickman, said that, aside from fluoridated water, the topical cavity fighter “may be the single greatest innovation in pediatric dental health in the last century.”

But today, with more older Americans keeping their natural teeth than in decades past, the treatment is also serving as a boon for a different generation. Because of insurance gaps and the prohibitive cost of most dental treatments, many seniors miss out on preventive care to stave off dental decay, putting them at risk for dental disease that can trigger serious health problems. About 27% of Americans age 65 and older have untreated cavities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Residents in long-term care facilities are at especially high risk, studies show. Medications cause their mouths to dry, promoting decay. They also may have cognitive issues that make it difficult to practice good oral care. And many are either too frail for traditional dental treatment or too weak to be transported.

Dental Hygienists Lead the Way

Take 87-year-old Ron Hanscom, for example. A patient of Geiselhofer’s, he has been in a Denver nursing home since he had a stroke six years ago, and needs a mechanical lift to get into and out of his wheelchair.

On a visit to Hanscom’s nursing home earlier this year, before the pandemic, Geiselhofer spotted a cavity under one of his crowns. After checking in with his dentist, she used a small brush to paint on the silver treatment.

“It’s a good thing she had the silver, because I couldn’t get to a dentist’s office — no way,” Hanscom said. “She did it right in my room.”

Across the country, dental hygienists provide much of the care to patients like Hanscom who otherwise might never see a dentist. They also see patients in homeless shelters, schools, jails and low-cost medical clinics. Since the pandemic hit, Geiselhofer said she has received a flood of requests for in-home care from seniors who are too nervous to go into a dentist’s office, but she has turned them down because she is too busy caring for underserved populations.

Many states allow hygienists to work directly with patients in public health settings without a dentist’s supervision, and Colorado is one of a few that allows them to set up a completely independent practice.

Because the silver treatment is relatively new in this country and can leave a stain, the Colorado state legislature passed a law in 2018 that says hygienists must have an agreement with a supervising dentist to apply it. The law also requires them to get special training on how to use the liquid, which at least 700 hygienists from across the state have completed.

Other states, including Maryland and Virginia, have no special requirements for applying the cavity treatment but require some supervision by a dentist, said Matt Crespin, president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. In those places, hygienists apply it under the same rules that govern the application of other fluoride products.

Preventing New Cavities, Too

Studies show silver diamine fluoride stops decay in 60% to 70% of cases with one application. A second application six months later boosts the treatment’s long-term effectiveness to more than 90%.

In addition to killing cavity-causing bacteria, the treatment hardens tooth structure, desensitizes the tooth and even stops new cavities from forming. Applying the liquid on the exposed root surfaces of older adults once a year is “a simple, inexpensive, and effective way” to prevent cavities, a 2018 study concluded.

One of the most important benefits of the application on older patients is that the liquid can reach decay that forms under existing dental work such as crowns and bridges, said dental hygienist Michelle Vacha, founder of Community Dental Health, which runs clinics in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, Colorado.

Previously, a dentist would have had to remove the crown, drill out the cavity and make a new crown — a traumatic, time-consuming procedure with a typical cost of $1,000 or more, Vacha said. Unable to afford the cost, many patients would instead have the tooth pulled.

The paint-on liquid is significantly cheaper than traditional treatment. Estimates vary, but a private dentist may charge $10 to $75 for one application, compared with $150 to $200 for a filling. Hygienists often have lower fees. At Vacha’s community clinics, the cost is $10 a tooth.

About half of state Medicaid programs now reimburse for the treatment, said Steve Pardue, scientific officer of Elevate Oral Care that distributes Advantage Arrest, the main brand of the topical medication used nationally. Reimbursement rates range from $5 to $75 per application.

More private insurers — about 20% to 30% of them — have also started covering it, Pardue said.

Coming Soon to a Dentist Near You?

A small but growing number of mainstream dentists have begun to offer the treatment to all patients, not just the youngest and oldest.

It’s a good option for those who have anxiety about dental work or concerns about cost, said Dr. Janet Yellowitz, director of geriatric and special care dentistry at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.

A 2017 survey by the American Dental Association found that almost 8 in 10 dentists had never used the treatment. The ADA doesn’t have more recent statistics, but ADA spokesperson Matthew Messina said anecdotal reports indicate usage is increasing dramatically.

Yellowitz noted that dentists still have a financial incentive to drill and fill. She has made presentations highlighting the benefits of the silver solution at national conferences.

“We’re trying to get everyone to use it,” she said. “It’s a slow process because we’re asking dentists who have been trained for their whole careers to do things one way to completely change their mentality. It’s like asking them to go to another country and drive on the other side of the road.”

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

USE OUR CONTENT

This story can be republished for free (details).

from Updates By Dina https://khn.org/news/new-dental-treatment-helps-fill-cavities-and-insurance-gaps-for-seniors/

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Dentist Near Silver Spring MD, Kids Dentist in Silver Spring MD, - www.Metdentgroup.com

Guided Tissue Regeneration in Silver Spring, MD

Periodontal disease causes bone loss around teeth, which can increase the chances for tooth loss. Once a tooth has been lost, the supporting jaw bone will disappear over time. This can make wearing dentures uncomfortable. However, simple techniques are now available to regrow lost bone, provide support for dental implants, or to improve esthetics beneath a fixed bridge.

Guided tissue bone regeneration does not always require the removal of bone from any other part of the body. Instead, many options use membrane barriers, tissue stimulating proteins, or bioactive growth factor gels. Occasionally bone grafting procedures are required; bone grafts can be from your own bone, tissue banks, or synthetic materials. The goal of each of these treatment options is to stimulate the body to grow new bone or to hold the space for the bone to regenerate into.

Dentist in Silver Spring MD,

Dental Implants in Silver Spring MD,

Cosmetic Dentist in Silver Spring MD,

Teeth Whitening in Silver Spring MD,

Root Canal Treatment in Silver Spring MD,

Dentist Near Silver Spring MD,

Kids Dentist in Silver Spring MD,

Pediatric Dentist in Silver Spring MD,

Emergency Dentist in Silver Spring MD,

Dental Fillings in Silver Spring MD,

Emergency Care Silver Spring MD

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Choosing the Right Dentist for Dental Crowns in Silver Spring MD | KSDental

Dental crowns in Silver Spring, MD, are a restorative dental solution designed to repair damaged or weakened teeth. Our experienced dental professionals use state-of-the-art techniques and materials to craft custom crowns that blend seamlessly with your natural teeth. These crowns not only restore your tooth's strength and functionality but also enhance its appearance. Whether you have a cracked, decayed, or discolored tooth, our Silver Spring, MD dental practice can provide you with high-quality dental crowns to restore your smile's health and beauty.

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Improving Dental Health with Dental Sealants in Silver Spring | KSDental

Dental sealants in Silver Spring provide a protective barrier for teeth, mainly in children, shielding them from cavities and decay. This painless procedure involves applying a thin, plastic coating to the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars, effectively sealing out food particles and bacteria. This preventive measure significantly reduces the risk of future dental issues, ensuring healthier smiles in the long run. For more information Visit Our Website.

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Dental Bonding for Restoring Chipped or Broken Teeth A Silver Spring Perspective with KSDental

Dental bonding in Silver Spring is a versatile cosmetic dentistry procedure that can transform your smile. This non-invasive treatment involves applying a tooth-colored resin material to repair minor imperfections like chips, gaps, or discoloration. Our experienced dental professionals in Silver Spring utilize this technique to enhance the aesthetics of your teeth while maintaining their natural look and feel. With dental bonding, you can achieve a more confident and attractive smile in just one visit, without the need for extensive dental work or downtime.

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Expert Insights: Discovering the Top Dentists in Silver Spring MD

The best dentist in Silver Spring MD is a beacon of oral care excellence. With a stellar reputation, this dental practitioner combines expert skills, cutting-edge technology, and a patient-centered approach. They offer many services, from routine check-ups and cleanings to advanced procedures, ensuring optimal dental health for all. Patients consistently praise their friendly demeanor, painless treatments, and commitment to personalized care. For more information Visit our Website.

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Dental Bonding in Silver Spring: Your Gateway to a Confident Smile

Dental bonding in Silver Spring offers a seamless solution to various dental imperfections. This non-invasive procedure involves applying a tooth-colored resin to repair chips, cracks, gaps, and discolorations. With minimal enamel removal, bonding affords a natural look and feel. It's a swift and economical option for enhancing smiles. Whether fixing minor flaws or rejuvenating your teeth, dental bonding in Silver Spring ensures a confident and radiant smile for all.

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The Importance of Regular Dentistry Services for Oral Health | KS Dental

Dentistry services encompass a wide range of oral care solutions, tailored to promote optimal dental health and a radiant smile. From routine check-ups and cleanings to advanced procedures like fillings, root canals, and dental implants, these services cater to both preventive and restorative needs. Dentists utilize modern technologies and expertise to diagnose, treat, and maintain oral well-being. With a focus on patient comfort and personalized care, dentistry services play a vital role in ensuring confident and healthy smiles for individuals of all ages. Visit our website for additional details.

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Affordable Dentist Silver Spring MD Quality Dental Services | KS Dental

Dentist Silver Spring MD refers to a dental practitioner situated in the Silver Spring, Maryland area. This dentist specializes in oral healthcare, offering a wide range of dental services to cater to the needs of patients. From routine check-ups and cleanings to advanced procedures like fillings, crowns, and root canals, they strive to provide high-quality, compassionate care. Using state-of-the-art technology and modern techniques, the dentist in Silver Spring MD ensures a comfortable and efficient experience for patients. They may also offer cosmetic dentistry services, such as teeth whitening and veneers, to enhance smiles and boost confidence. Patients can expect a friendly and professional atmosphere in the dental office, with a focus on patient education and preventive care.

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The Benefits of Dental Bridges in Silver Spring, MD

A Restorative dental treatment called a dental bridge is available in Silver Spring, Maryland, and it is used to bridge the gaps left by lost teeth. These specialized prosthetics are constructed up of artificial teeth attached to nearby healthy teeth or dental implants to restore both function and appearance. A variety of bridge choices are available from our skilled dentists in Silver Spring, Maryland, guaranteeing a snug fit and a natural appearance. You can restore your self-assurance in your smile and enhance your oral health with dental bridges, improving your quality of life all around. For more details, please visit our website.

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New Dental Treatment Helps Fill Cavities and Insurance Gaps for Seniors

DENVER ― Dental hygienist Jennifer Geiselhofer often cleans the teeth of senior patients who can’t easily get to a dentist’s office. But until recently, if she found a cavity, there was little she could do.

“I can’t drill. I can’t pull teeth,” said Geiselhofer, whose mobile clinic is called Dental at Your Door. “I’d recommend they see a dentist, but that was often out of the question because of mobility challenges. So visit after visit, I would come back and there would be more decay.”

But now Geiselhofer has a weapon to obliterate a cavity with a few brushstrokes.

Silver diamine fluoride is a liquid that can be painted on teeth to stop decay. Fast, low-cost and pain-free, the treatment is rapidly gaining momentum nationwide as the cavity treatment of choice for patients who can’t easily get a filling, such as the very young or the very old.

“It has been life-changing for my patients,” said Geiselhofer, who has been using the treatment for about 18 months.

Geiselhofer has not been able to go into nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, but she uses the liquid on the older adults she visits in private homes. She also uses it to treat the cavities of patients in homeless shelters, jails and Head Start programs ― now wearing greater protective gear, including gloves, a surgical mask, an N95 mask and a face shield.

The topical medication is an especially good option for seniors, dental industry experts say, because dental care has remained a major gap in health insurance coverage despite poor dental hygiene being linked to heart disease and other health problems like diabetes and pneumonia. Medicare doesn’t cover most dental care, and patients on a fixed income often can’t afford treatment. But because of the effectiveness and low cost of silver diamine fluoride, more state Medicaid programs now cover it — and older adults who pay out-of-pocket can afford it outright.

Silver diamine fluoride has been used in other countries for decades, and studies have proved it safe. Its biggest downside is that it permanently turns the decayed area black — a turnoff, in particular, for people with decay on a front tooth.

Dental providers say the black spots can be covered by tooth-colored material for an extra cost. For older adults, Geiselhofer said, a dark spot is a small price to pay for a treatment that stops cavities quickly, with no drilling, needle prick or trip to the dentist required.

Oral Care a Problem for Older Adults

Silver diamine fluoride was approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2014 for reducing tooth sensitivity. But its off-label use to treat cavities was quickly adopted. It made headlines as a trauma-free treatment for tooth decay in children under age 5.

Pediatric dentists have embraced it as a solution for kids who can’t sit still for treatment and whose parents want to avoid general anesthesia. In 2018, the then-president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, James Nickman, said that, aside from fluoridated water, the topical cavity fighter “may be the single greatest innovation in pediatric dental health in the last century.”

But today, with more older Americans keeping their natural teeth than in decades past, the treatment is also serving as a boon for a different generation. Because of insurance gaps and the prohibitive cost of most dental treatments, many seniors miss out on preventive care to stave off dental decay, putting them at risk for dental disease that can trigger serious health problems. About 27% of Americans age 65 and older have untreated cavities, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Residents in long-term care facilities are at especially high risk, studies show. Medications cause their mouths to dry, promoting decay. They also may have cognitive issues that make it difficult to practice good oral care. And many are either too frail for traditional dental treatment or too weak to be transported.

Dental Hygienists Lead the Way

Take 87-year-old Ron Hanscom, for example. A patient of Geiselhofer’s, he has been in a Denver nursing home since he had a stroke six years ago, and needs a mechanical lift to get into and out of his wheelchair.

On a visit to Hanscom’s nursing home earlier this year, before the pandemic, Geiselhofer spotted a cavity under one of his crowns. After checking in with his dentist, she used a small brush to paint on the silver treatment.

“It’s a good thing she had the silver, because I couldn’t get to a dentist’s office — no way,” Hanscom said. “She did it right in my room.”

Across the country, dental hygienists provide much of the care to patients like Hanscom who otherwise might never see a dentist. They also see patients in homeless shelters, schools, jails and low-cost medical clinics. Since the pandemic hit, Geiselhofer said she has received a flood of requests for in-home care from seniors who are too nervous to go into a dentist’s office, but she has turned them down because she is too busy caring for underserved populations.

Many states allow hygienists to work directly with patients in public health settings without a dentist’s supervision, and Colorado is one of a few that allows them to set up a completely independent practice.

Because the silver treatment is relatively new in this country and can leave a stain, the Colorado state legislature passed a law in 2018 that says hygienists must have an agreement with a supervising dentist to apply it. The law also requires them to get special training on how to use the liquid, which at least 700 hygienists from across the state have completed.

Other states, including Maryland and Virginia, have no special requirements for applying the cavity treatment but require some supervision by a dentist, said Matt Crespin, president of the American Dental Hygienists’ Association. In those places, hygienists apply it under the same rules that govern the application of other fluoride products.

Preventing New Cavities, Too

Studies show silver diamine fluoride stops decay in 60% to 70% of cases with one application. A second application six months later boosts the treatment’s long-term effectiveness to more than 90%.

In addition to killing cavity-causing bacteria, the treatment hardens tooth structure, desensitizes the tooth and even stops new cavities from forming. Applying the liquid on the exposed root surfaces of older adults once a year is “a simple, inexpensive, and effective way” to prevent cavities, a 2018 study concluded.

One of the most important benefits of the application on older patients is that the liquid can reach decay that forms under existing dental work such as crowns and bridges, said dental hygienist Michelle Vacha, founder of Community Dental Health, which runs clinics in Colorado Springs and Pueblo, Colorado.

Previously, a dentist would have had to remove the crown, drill out the cavity and make a new crown — a traumatic, time-consuming procedure with a typical cost of $1,000 or more, Vacha said. Unable to afford the cost, many patients would instead have the tooth pulled.

The paint-on liquid is significantly cheaper than traditional treatment. Estimates vary, but a private dentist may charge $10 to $75 for one application, compared with $150 to $200 for a filling. Hygienists often have lower fees. At Vacha’s community clinics, the cost is $10 a tooth.

About half of state Medicaid programs now reimburse for the treatment, said Steve Pardue, scientific officer of Elevate Oral Care that distributes Advantage Arrest, the main brand of the topical medication used nationally. Reimbursement rates range from $5 to $75 per application.

More private insurers — about 20% to 30% of them — have also started covering it, Pardue said.

Coming Soon to a Dentist Near You?

A small but growing number of mainstream dentists have begun to offer the treatment to all patients, not just the youngest and oldest.

It’s a good option for those who have anxiety about dental work or concerns about cost, said Dr. Janet Yellowitz, director of geriatric and special care dentistry at the University of Maryland School of Dentistry.

A 2017 survey by the American Dental Association found that almost 8 in 10 dentists had never used the treatment. The ADA doesn’t have more recent statistics, but ADA spokesperson Matthew Messina said anecdotal reports indicate usage is increasing dramatically.

Yellowitz noted that dentists still have a financial incentive to drill and fill. She has made presentations highlighting the benefits of the silver solution at national conferences.

“We’re trying to get everyone to use it,” she said. “It’s a slow process because we’re asking dentists who have been trained for their whole careers to do things one way to completely change their mentality. It’s like asking them to go to another country and drive on the other side of the road.”

Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

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