Is It Worth It To Replace My Missing Teeth? 

Missing teeth options

If you’ve lost one or more teeth in Searcy, you may be wondering if it’s worth coming to Today’s Family Dentistry to discuss your options for replacing missing teeth with Dr. Jared Cox. Is it really necessary to replace your teeth?

 

The answer is “yes.” Replacing your teeth is always worth it. In this blog post, we’ll look at several reasons why, and discuss why concerns about finances shouldn’t stop you from getting the restorative care you need from Today’s Family Dentistry. 

Why Is It Worth It To Replace Missing Teeth?

First, why is it necessary to replace your missing teeth? There are lots of different reasons, but here are the most important ones to understand.

  • Prevent costly oral health issues – Losing teeth will cause the surrounding teeth to start shifting, which can ruin your bite and teeth alignment. This could require costly orthodontic treatment to fix.
    Your jaw bone will also start to deteriorate below the missing tooth, which may affect your appearance eventually. It may also become too weak to support a dental implant without a bone graft, which adds more time and expenses to the procedure. Getting an implant right away after tooth loss is the best way to avoid this.  
  • Restore your speech & appearance – Missing teeth, particularly front teeth, will affect how others perceive you. Unfortunately, there is a very negative social stigma surrounding missing teeth, which can make your personal or professional life difficult.
    Missing teeth may also make it harder to speak clearly, which may make you feel even more self-conscious around others, even friends and loved ones.
  • Eat your normal diet & maintain your lifestyle – Losing one tooth may not have a huge effect on your ability to eat your favorite foods, but if you lose a few teeth in the same area of your mouth, you’ll definitely have to make some adjustments. For example, losing rear teeth makes it a lot harder to eat tough or fibrous foods like steak or fresh vegetables such as broccoli.

Financial Issues Shouldn’t Stop You From Getting The Care You Need! 

Obviously, restoring your smile is a good idea. But you may be worried that your finances will get in the way. Tooth restoration can be expensive, right? What if you can’t afford it?

 

Today’s Family Dentistry is here to help in a few ways. First, Dr. Cox can discuss all of your options for replacing teeth, including dental implants, dental bridges, and dentures, and help you choose the one that fits your budget.

 

We’re also in network with most insurance companies, so dental insurance can help reduce the cost of your care. In addition to that, we offer flexible payment plans with CareCredit to split your treatment costs into equal monthly payments.

 

Finally, we do our best to keep costs under control at our office, and offer flexible treatment plans that allow us to coordinate your care based on your schedule and your financial situation.

 

Contact Today’s Family Dentistry To Discuss Tooth Replacement In Searcy!

 

The sooner you replace your missing teeth, the better your outcome will be. If you’ve lost one or more of your teeth, don’t wait to get care. Today’s Family Dentistry is here for you. Just give us a call at (501) 268-3223 or contact us online to schedule an appointment and explore your options for replacing your teeth in Searcy.

HOW CAN I GET THE MOST FROM MY DENTAL INSURANCE PLAN?

Interested in getting more from your insurance policy in Searcy? There are a few things you may want to do in order to maximize your benefits and get the most from your dental insurance plan. Read on to learn more from the team at Today’s Family Dentistry.

  1. Come To Our Office For Checkups Twice A Year

Almost all dental insurance plans cover the cost of two annual visits to the dentist, complete with a cleaning and oral exam, as well as one set of x-rays per year. So to maximize your benefits, make sure you come twice per year! Don’t just visit Dr. Cox once per year, or you’re leaving money on the table.

  1. Know The 100-80-50 Benefits Scheme

Most dental insurers don’t offer full coverage for all types of dental care, and instead follow a 100-80-50 model, in which: 

  • 100% of preventive care is covered. This includes things like teeth cleanings and oral exams for patients of all ages, along with fluoride treatments and dental sealants for kids under 18. 
  • 80% of basic care is covered. This includes fillings and root canals, along with some other treatments.
  • 50% of major care is covered. This includes crowns, dental bridges, dentures, and most dental surgeries. 

As you can see, you’ll pay more out-of-pocket as your dental issues get worse. This is just another reason it’s important to take care of your teeth at home and see Dr. Jared Cox twice a year for preventive care in Searcy.

  1. Choose An In-Network Dental Provider

In-network dental care is always cheaper than out of network dental care with a PPO, and while dental HMOs are more rare, they don’t allow you to see out of network providers at all.

At Today’s Family Dentistry, we’re in-network with most dental insurers, and we will provide you with an up-front estimate of your treatment’s cost and other details. To learn more and get started, give us a call at (501) 268-3223. 

  1. Think About Your Yearly Deductible And Annual Maximum

Like health insurance plans, dental plans have yearly deductibles. These are usually between $25 and $250, and must be met before your plan begins to pay out toward your treatment.

Unlike health insurance, though, dental plans have an annual maximum, often between $1,000 and $2,000. This is the total your plan will pay toward your care each year, and it usually resets on January 1st, along with your deductible. If you exceed this amount in a year, you will pay the remainder of the cost out-of-pocket.

In some cases, it’s possible to plan your treatment around this by getting some treatments late in one year, and then planning further care in January of the following year. Today’s Family Dentistry will help you get the most from your insurance whenever it’s possible to do so. 

Get The Dental Care You Need In Searcy With Today’s Family Dentistry 

Dr. Jared Cox has years of experience in family dentistry in Searcy, and we always do our best to make your care affordable at Today’s Family Dentistry. Whether you want to make the most of your insurance benefits or you’re uninsured and looking for a local dentist, contact us online or call at (501) 268-3223 to get started today. 

How Often Should I Visit The Dentist? The Importance Of Preventive Care

Wondering how often you should visit the dentist to keep your mouth healthy? In this blog from Today’s Family Dentistry, we’ll answer that question, and explain why it’s so important to see Dr. Jared Cox for routine teeth cleanings and oral exams.

How Often Should I Visit The Dentist? Every Six Months! 

All major dental associations agree that dental patients should see a dentist for an oral exam and teeth cleaning every six months, and this is also our recommendation at Today’s Family Dentistry. 

Seeing the dentist every six months ensures that your oral health is being monitored, keeps your teeth clean, and enables Dr. Cox to learn more about your unique situation and dental needs. In turn, this allows the team at Today’s Family Dentistry to provide better overall care.

Some patients may need more frequent appointments, such as people with gum disease who require periodontal cleanings every 3-4 months. But for most people with a healthy mouth, six-month visits are the best option. 

Understanding The Importance Of Preventive Care

Why does it matter if you see a dentist like Dr. Cox every six months? Here are a few reasons why preventive dental care is so important. 

  • Catch & prevent oral health issues – Often, it’s possible to halt the progression of oral health problems like cavities and gum disease if they’re caught early. Seeing a dentist every six months ensures that any signs of these issues will be recognized right away, and you can take the appropriate steps to restore your oral health.
  • Save time & money – By preventing oral health complications like cavities, tooth infections, and gum disease, you can avoid costly and inconvenient dental treatments. This saves you both time and money.

If you have dental insurance, your six-month visits will also typically be covered at no out-of-pocket cost. Almost all plans cover twice-yearly preventive care, so this is another great reason to see the dentist regularly.

  • Enjoy a brighter, stronger smile – During your routine cleanings, your dental hygienist will use special dental tools to remove tartar buildup, which you can’t remove on your own at home. They will also buff and polish your teeth, which helps remove surface stains, keeping your smile healthy and bright. 
  • Get peace of mind – During your checkup, Dr. Cox will check for a variety of different oral health issues ranging from cavities to gum disease, teeth grinding, and even oral cancer. With routine preventive care at Today’s Family Dentistry, you’ll know that your mouth is healthy, and you can get valuable peace of mind between your six-month appointments at our office. 

Schedule Your Next Six-Month Appointment At Today’s Family Dentistry! 

Whether you’re new to the area, looking for a new dentist in Searcy, or you’re just overdue for a teeth cleaning and oral exam, Today’s Family Dentistry is here to help, and we’re always accepting new patients. Contact us online or give us a call at (501) 268-3223 to schedule your first consultation with Dr. Jared Cox right away. 

The COVID-19 outbreak continues to have major effects on our day-to-day lives, and if you have been delaying dental care due to COVID-19, you still may not be sure if it’s safe to see the dentist for treatment. At Today’s Family Dentistry, Dr. Jared Cox and the rest of our team members are taking a number of precautions to keep our patients and our staff safe during this difficult time. Learn more below!

Appointment Temperature Checks & Pre-Screenings

We will ask you about a dozen pre-screening questions and have you fill out a quick questionnaire before your appointment. 

You’ll be asked if you’ve felt any symptoms recently, such as a fever, loss of taste or smell, or other indicators of COVID-19. You’ll also be asked if you’ve been exposed to anyone who has tested positive, and you’ll be asked about recent travel. 

We are also taking temperature checks of each patient upon arrival. If your temperature is abnormally high, you may be asked to come back for a new appointment at Today’s Family Dentistry at a later date. 

Social Distancing At Our Office

We have reconfigured our office to encourage patients to maintain 6 feet of distance between each other and between our team members. We ask that patients come alone to their appointments in order to minimize contact while they wait for their appointments.

We ask that you wear a face covering to your appointment to protect yourself and protect our team members. You may remove the face covering before your treatment begins at our office, but it must be worn at all other times. 

In addition, we’ve made some scheduling changes at our office to reduce the total number of patients in our facility at any given time, ensuring your safety at Today’s Family Dentistry. 

PPE For All Team Members 

Our front office team members are wearing masks to protect themselves, and our dental team members are wearing additional PPE. Our staff will look a little bit different, but we’ll still be providing the same excellent dental care in Searcy! 

Enhanced Operatory & Common Surface Sterilization 

We always follow all requirements and recommendations from OSHA, the ADA, the CDC, and the Arkansas Department of Health to sterilize patient operatories and instruments between each patient visit. You can trust us to maintain a safe, clean environment where you and your family can get the dental care you need in Searcy. 

Don’t Delay Your Dental Treatment – Come To Today’s Family Dentistry Right Away! 

If you need preventive care in Searcy, you have a sore tooth, or you have any other issues with your smile, don’t wait to get the care you need. At Today’s Family Dentistry, we’re taking every step we can to keep you and your family safe. Contact us online or give us a call at (501) 268-3223 to schedule an appointment in Searcy right away! 

Hello, friends! Every person I serve wants to keep their dental costs down, so I think it will be helpful if I share with you some of the money-saving insights I have gained from my experience over the years.

Let’s be real and call it like it is…We all know that healthcare is expensive. However, like all other aspects of life, dedication and discipline pay off. (Did I lose you with those “D words,” or are you still reading?) I remember reading a report several years ago that showed the average hospital visit due to neglected dental care costs over $13,000! In almost every case, these costs are entirely preventable by going to the dentist as recommended every 6 months. 

In another report, statistics showed that elderly people who have lost their teeth had thousands and thousands of dollars of increased medical and living costs, because when they can’t eat for themselves, their nutrition and health deteriorated drastically, thereby increasing their need for nursing homes and medical assistance. Thankfully we know today how prevention, early intervention, and routine dental check-ups can prevent unnecessary costs and save money and worry for families of younger generations. 

These 2 scenarios happen more often than you’d think, but here is the one that happens every single day: Many people in the Searcy community procrastinate going to the dentist for routine visits because they are afraid of the experience and avoiding the cost. Those of you who have already come to see us know my feelings and commitment to extraordinary dental experiences, but I’m also here to advocate on your behalf about the cost.

Even though I used those 2 ugly “D words” above, this is the part where we need to make sure that you and I are connecting. This is the message that Today’s Family Dentistry is working diligently to get out to the public…to you. So, pretend you and I are talking face to face as friends and family do, and please hear me when I say that the only way anyone…you too…can avoid those unnecessary costs is to have a plan and be faithful to it! We are here to be your partner and your advocate! Here are 3 actions (ACTIONS!) I have seen in my patients who keep their dental costs down:

  1. They choose to be proactive. They come before they have a problem. They know that waiting until a toothache arises will cost them extra money and frustration. By being proactive, they get better results and better experiences with minimal cost. (This is especially relevant for those who have had cosmetic dentistry or want to keep their teeth looking their best.)
  2. They create discipline to come regularly. When they are with us, they make their next checkup appointment before they leave their current one. They immediately put it into their calendar, set a reminder on their phone, and keep the appointment a priority in their busy lives. Waiting for a problem to arise leads to untimeliness that results in missed work and unnecessary financial impact.
  3. They budget. People who budget for dentistry as part of their ongoing medical care are able to avoid credit card fees, financing fees, and cash flow shortages that often make the difference between keeping one’s teeth and losing them. Every day I see people who have waited too long to come, and inevitably their dental emergency conflicts with other expenses in their lives. So, they are forced to make difficult choices. Those choices are expensive financially and emotionally when someone loses their ability to smile, eat, and otherwise enjoy the life they want to live.

I know those “D words” don’t easily make friends, but I want you to know that we are always working in your best interest. Whether you need us for cosmetic dentistry or implants, we’re here to be your partners, your advocates, and your friends. Thanks for letting me extend our connection beyond the office by reading this blog.

If you haven’t been to Today’s Family Dentistry yet, we’d love to become your partner too. Nice people are always welcome at TFD 🙂 Call us today to book your appointment for cosmetic dentistry, wisdom teeth removal, or pediatric care.