7 Ways to Save Money on Expensive Dental Procedures

Going to the dentist can cost a small fortune. Between the rising costs of care and the increasingly available technology for dental procedures, it can be hard to figure out what you can and can’t afford. While more people have dental insurance now than in the past, the average cost of a visit is still quite high comparably. Fortunately, a little insight is all that you need to save money on your dental work, no matter what procedures you need done.

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Prevention and Proactive Habits

The best way to save money on costly dental work is to not even need it in the first place. If you are able to practice good oral hygiene and schedule regular cleanings and dental care, you may never need to worry about root canals, implants, crowns, partials, or expensive oral surgery procedures. Brush and floss regularly according to the ADA guidelines, and talk to your dentist about creating an oral care plan to keep your teeth in good shape for as long as possible.

Get Insured

While dental insurance will not cover every single expense that you may incur, it can cover a lot of the costs of routine dental care, including those expensive procedures that you need done. If your employers offer dental coverage, sign up. If they don’t, look for an insurance plan on your own. It is actually quite affordable, and definitely more affordable than paying for all of the dental work that you need out of pocket. There are some health plans in the ACA marketplace that include dental coverage. Some people can also get coverage from Medicaid or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Check Out Discount Plans

Dental discount plans are not dental insurance. They are, however, a great way to save money on dental procedures. These savings plans usually include an annual fee for membership, which grants members discounted pricing at a huge network of dentists. Some offer as much as 50% off services if you belong to a discount plan or service. This is usually a one-time expense that can be more feasible than insurance. It can also offer additional coverage for those who are already insured and simply want more protection from high out-of-pocket costs.

Ask Questions about What is Necessary

While a dentist is highly trained in his or her field, that doesn’t mean that they are the final word on what dental procedures you need done. Feel free to speak up, especially if cost is a concern, when a dentist suggests work that may be more expensive than you are comfortable with. Today’s dentists are much more willing to work with patients to find affordable solutions. Ask what alternatives are available, if any, to an expensive procedure that is recommended. Talk about your treatment plan and find out what needs done first. Some professionals refer to this as a triage -- assess what dental procedures are urgent, which can wait, and what temporary solutions might be available to help you avoid big bills if you are on a tight budget at the current time.

Check out Dental Schools and Community Health Centers

Both of these locations offer a lot of low-cost alternatives to traditional dental offices. While you may not be able to see your preferred dentist, you will be able to get a significant savings on work that you have done. Dental schools, in particular, are a great resource. They offer big discounts on dental procedures done by students who are still under faculty supervision. Plus, in addition to saving money, you are helping students complete their training and improve their skills in their profession.

Use Your FSA or HSA

Most employers today offer a flexible spending account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) option to their employees as a part of their medical insurance plan. This is money that is automatically deducted from your paychecks and put into a special account that can only be used for medical purposes. If you are facing serious dental work, such as needing a partial or implants, you can curb your out-of-pocket expense by utilizing whatever funds you have in this account.

Ask About Payment Plans and Cash Discounts

If dental insurance and discount plans aren’t enough, or if you are unable to obtain these things, you do have one more option to get more affordable dental work. A lot of providers offer cash discounts for patients who pay up front and cover the expense out-of-pocket. Not only does this save them credit card processing fees, but they don’t have to worry about billing insurance providers or chasing you down for payment. Therefore, they may be willing to pass the savings along to you.

In lieu of a straight discount, you can also inquire about payment plan arrangements that you can make with your dentist. Ask them if you can make a partial payment now and set up future payments so that you don’t have to cover the huge expense at one time. More dentists are open to this option than you think. After all, their main goal is helping you get the dental care that you need.

The Bottom Line

If you have been putting off expensive dental procedures because you don’t have the money, you no longer have to avoid the dentist. Even with insurance, procedures like oral surgery can get quite expensive, so it is important to have options. Make sure that you talk to your provider about the work that you need done as well as your financial situation to come up with an effective treatment plan. Whatever you do, don’t avoid the dentist just because of the expense, because you have plenty of ways to make even the most expensive procedures more affordable. Contact us today to learn how Morgan Street Dental Dentist can help.

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Meniere’s Syndrome: An Inner Ear Disorder

Ears are the tiny parts of our body that we sometimes neglect because they usually work just fine. Besides, the sense of hearing is taken so lightly compared to how we treat other senses. However, this idea and belief are not right, for each sense and each body part play a significant role in our whole being. Thus, even if our ears may seem small and insignificant, it must be taken seriously.

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Besides, our ears are not always free from harm and ailments. Few ear disorders creep and disturb its inner parts, resulting in hearing problems and ear damage to the worst case scenario- deafness. We don’t want to be walking on the street with nothing to hear for the rest of our lives, and never would we ever wish to never hear the voices of the people dearest to our heart, do we?

One of the disorders that our ears are prone into is the so-called ‘Meniere’s Syndrome’. Sounds strange, right? But, yeah, this condition exists and sometimes the cause of other serious health problems! So, if you want to know more about this ear disorder and prevent yourself from possible exposure, better read on!

Meniere Syndrome

Meniere Syndrome is a rare condition that affects the inner part of the ear and makes it dysfunctional. From a recent study, it was found out that there is only 0.2 percent of the United State’s population who suffer from this condition. Meniere syndrome is also categorized as a disease, and it is characterized as an episodic case. When it attacks, it may last up to 4 hours.

Moreover, people at the age of 40 and above are more susceptible to Meniere Syndrome. There are no exact causes for this disease, but there are few theories why it happens. Also, there is no specific cure for the condition. However, there are already suggested treatment to at least cope up with some of the symptoms associated with Meniere Syndrome.

Warning Signs

Like any other complications, Meniere Syndrome also shows warning signs but may vary in each. Meniere Syndrome may come in a sudden, and may also occur gradually to some. However, despite the frequency of its occurrence, people who are affected by this disease may share common symptoms.

The most common sign of Meniere Syndrome is Vertigo. Dizziness and queasiness are the usual manifestations of the condition. Also, the person may feel like he is spinning even if he’s not moving at all. Vomiting, sweating, and palpitation can also be associated with this syndrome. Your daily activities like driving, swimming, and even running are affected if these symptoms happen.

Other than Vertigo, a person may also experience anxiety, trembling, diarrhea, a blurry in the vision, loss of balance, headaches, and even the loss of hearing. Tinnitus is also a symptom linked to Meniere Syndrome where a person’s ear buzzes, rings, whistles, and hisses. These occurrences are noticeable during quiet times and if the person is exhausted.

Causes

There is no specific finding why Meniere Syndrome exists. However, it was said that it might be due to the abnormality of the inner ear structure and the amount of fluid in it. This theory is not entirely proven though. Moreover, some experts claim that this condition happens because of some human habits and are triggered by other illnesses.

To name a few, head injury, excessive alcohol consumption, and smoking are man conducts that may prompt Meniere Syndrome. Also, it can be a result of an allergic reaction, family history, head trauma, viral infection, stress, over fatigue, respiratory and inner ear infection, migraines, and side effects of certain medications.

Treatment

Treatment to Meniere Syndrome varies according to its stage. There are three stages of this case: Early, Middle and Late stages. Early stage is the worst point where a person suffers from almost all of the symptoms in a more extended period. Meanwhile, in the middle to late stages, the symptoms decreases and the person starts to feel relieved though not entirely.

There are activities which people can do to prevent or treat Meniere Syndrome like taking smaller meals, more salt intake, decreasing caffeine and alcohol consumption, smoke quitting and effective stress management. If these undertakings cannot be achieved or they are not enough, you can use doctor’s prescriptions like the Serc.

Serc is effective in combating vertigo associated with Meniere Syndrome. If you hesitate to take Serc because you are in a tight budget and additional medication is not your top priority, then worry no more because there are a lot of pharmaceutical centers who give away Serc coupons which you can use to lessen its cost. Besides, having a sound and healthy body should be everyone’s primary concern, including you!

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Tips to Remember When Writing a Thank You Note to a Friend

These days, it is easy to express how you feel towards another person because of internet access. If you want to say thank you or sorry to a friend, you can open your messaging app and send a message. However, it is still an excellent idea to use paper when saying thank you. It might seem like a conventional method, but it is something many people still appreciate.

When using regular paper, you can express everything that you want to say. You also don’t rush to type the message and press send. Once you finish writing, you can go back to what you wrote and try to edit it. By the time you send it to your friend, it is will be error-free.

Speak from the heart

When you want to say thank you to someone, it needs to be from the heart. Concentrate on expressing how you honestly feel from within. It is easy for you to write something on paper if you remain true to how you feel.

Say the reason for writing the letter

Sometimes, the words “thank you” are enough. The recipient already knows what you are grateful for. However, it also helps to be specific when expressing gratitude. Perhaps, the person only knows how thankful you are on the surface, but you still have other reasons why you want to say thank you.

Write some words on the side

You can be informal when writing a letter because you are addressing it to a friend. You shared a lot, and it is okay not to follow the formal writing standards. You can write some phrases or notes beyond the paragraph that you are writing. You can even draw some images on the side. You want to say thank you, but you also want to make your friend laugh with these side notes.

Use special paper

To make the thank you note even more special, you can use personalised correspondence cards. These are unique, and you can decide what to include in them. From the size of the paper to its design, you hold the decision on how it will look. You can add your photo on the paper or even your signature if you don't want to keep signing your name each time you write. These special customised cards might be expensive, but the recipient will know that the letter came from you.

Surprise your friend

Try expressing your gratitude in other ways. Your friend might feel that you don't care about the help received at all. However, upon receipt of the letter, your friend will know that you care. You can even invite your friend out for lunch if you want to express your gratitude further.

You don’t need more tips when writing to someone who is close to your heart. Before you even begin writing, you will already have ideas about what to say and how to say thank you.

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