Dental Insurance for Seniors

Gum disease and tooth decay advance more quickly in seniors, so it's important to schedule frequent checkups with your dentist. Even if you have no teeth, it would be wise to visit your dentist at least once a year for a comprehensive checkup. In fact, new studies show that seniors who get regular checkups and preventive dental care have lower dental bills overall. The dentist evaluates overall dental health and examines the mouth for signs of oral cancer. Often, dental insurance for seniors will provide discounts for preventive procedures like this. Some dental insurance companies even provide coverage specifically for seniors.

You don't have to sit back and watch your teeth deteriorate. You can maintain a healthy smile simply by brushing and flossing daily, watching what you eat and visiting the dentist regularly for exams and cleanings. If tooth issues become inevitable, taking care of the situation right away could help prevent more extensive problems in the future. Dental procedures can be expensive, though, so where does that leave you?

Medicare does not cover most basic dental expenses like checkups, X-rays and cleanings. These can be the most important part of making sure you don't encounter more serious problems in the future. If you want to extend the life of your teeth and keep them pain-free, you cannot avoid these routine procedures. Several companies offer senior-specific dental plans. Three of the most common options for seniors include:

1. AARP - Offered through Delta Dental, this PPO plan gives you access to a list of dentists within a network and offers discounted prices if you visit one of their providers. Seniors over 50 have access to this insurance by becoming a member of the AARP organization. You can choose between Plan A and Plan B. These two plans differ slightly on coverage and premium. This insurance is often difficult to obtain because of the high cost.
2. TRICARE - This HMO insurance offers civilian benefits to military personnel, retirees and their families. TRICARE assigns a primary care provider to each policyholder. That provider must supply in-network referrals for any specialist work.
3. Discount Plans - Discount plans typically do not have yearly maximums, so they are ideal for seniors who need to improve their oral health. You pay a low monthly fee to gain access to significant discounts at any dental office within a large network. Check out www.1Dental.com for a great discount dental plan.

Good oral care at home is essential, but no amount of brushing, flossing or swishing with mouthwash can get rid of tartar (an advanced stage of plaque that leads to oral decay). Regular exams and cleanings are necessary to prevent further problems. Financial constraints could inhibit you from taking these precautionary measures, however. By the end of 2010, Americans spent approximately $106 billion on dental care (Pew Center on the States).

Dental insurance for seniors can be costly. Most seniors are retired, which makes it more difficult to access dental insurance. Many dental insurance companies only offer coverage to members of a company or organization rather than to individuals. Seniors often find themselves in need of dental insurance for restorative procedures like dentures and bridges, but dental insurance for seniors often caps its financial assistance far below the price for an average set of dentures. Insurance for seniors can be costly and hard to find. State aid programs like Medicare or Medicaid offer little or no dental benefits. Financial burdens caused more than 50% of uninsured and 30% of insured Americans to skip necessary oral care visits during the last year (2009 Harris Interactive/HealthDay Poll). What if there's another option?

Most people are familiar with the concept of insurance, but many aren't aware of a much simpler option referred to as a dental discount plan. A discount plan essentially allows you to access discounts on oral health care within a wide network of dentists and specialists. These plans bypass complicated claims and expensive premiums to make it easier on both you and the dentist.

With most dental insurance for seniors, you pay expensive premiums, hand over payment-in-full for a procedure at the dentist office and then wait an indefinite amount of time for reimbursement from the insurance company minus the cost of a high co-payment. With a discount plan like the Careington Care 500, you can eliminate several steps and financially come out on top. With a discount plan there is no middle-man or waiting - you pay the dentist directly for services rendered. The price is simply much lower than what they would normally charge for their services. Unlike dental insurance, you don't pay in advance by way of premiums for treatment that you might need later. You only pay for what you use. Discount plans typically save the patient anywhere from 20-75% on most treatments. With such affordable options available to you, keeping your mouth clean and healthy is easier than ever.

Age itself is not the cause of additional dental problems, but age can contribute to several other factors that affect the health of your mouth. These include things like medications and previous dental work. Certain medications can make your body respond differently to oral injury and infection. Some completely unrelated medicines have dental side effects.

For example, a dry mouth condition called xerostomia is a common side effect for certain medications like antihistamines, diuretics, decongestants and heart medications. Xerostomia creates a favorable environment for decay in the oral cavity, because it prevents saliva from washing over the teeth to cleanse them and fight bacteria. This often leads to halitosis, or bad breath, as well. Always notify your dentist of any medication you take.

Previous dental work can cause problems as well. Older pieces like fillings or crowns may wear down and need to be replaced. This could invite decay into the open or thin cavities. Bone structure and tooth enamel wears down over time as well.

Seniors often face a higher risk for these oral health issues:

• Darker teeth - Dark dentin tissue inside the teeth is more visible through thinning enamel. A lifetime of food and friction tends to cause enamel to lose its resiliency over the years.


• Gum disease - The early stages of gum disease, called gingivitis, causes gum redness and swelling. The more advanced stage, called periodontitis, often causes infection, receding gums and bone deterioration in the teeth and jaws.


• Oral cancer - Red or white lesions in the mouth could indicate the onset of oral cancer. Alert your dentist immediately if you find any of these lesions. Smoking and regular alcohol consumption can put you at a greater risk for oral cancer.


• Reduced sense of taste - Advancing age is the main culprit for diminished sense of taste, but diseases, medications and even dentures can also cause sensory loss.


• Root decay - Similar to and often a result of periodontitis, receding gums expose the roots of the teeth. Since that area of the tooth has less enamel protection, it is more susceptible to decay from bacteria and acid reactions.


• Stomatitis - Fungal buildup, inadequate oral hygiene and ill-fitting dentures can cause this inflammation of oral tissues.


• Thrush - A poor immune system can lead to an overgrowth of Candida albicans, an oral fungus. Certain medications or diseases could cause the immune deficiency that leads to oral thrush.


• Tooth loss - As enamel wears down and the gum line recedes, seniors often face tooth loss when decay spreads across the exposed surfaces.


• Uneven jawbone - When teeth begin to fall out, the body notices that it's no longer supporting a full smile. It therefore decides to pull resources from the jaw bone and redirect them to other places. The jaw eventually begins to deteriorate from a lack of nutrients.


• Xerostomia - This disease, commonly known as dry mouth, occurs when the mouth doesn't produce as much saliva as it should, attracting more bacteria to the area. Saliva washes plaque-causing debris from the mouth, but certain medications like antihistamines, decongestants, heart medications or diuretics can dry it out.

Last year, 34%, of the American population did not visit a dentist at all (Gallup-Healthways poll). Almost 75% of American adults have some form of gum disease and are not even aware of it, according to the American Dental Hygienists' Association.

You can take simple steps to go a long way in preventing these oral diseases. Brush twice daily, floss once daily, rinse with mouthwash and regularly see a dentist for checkups and cleanings, and you could be on your way to a healthy, happy smile, no matter your age.