Dr. Mogell Dental Blog

Boca Raton Cosmetic Dentist

Dental Insurance - End of Year Needs

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Dental insurance isn't like medical insurance and that basic fact gets a lot of people confused.

Medical insurance policies offer protection in case of catastrophic illness as well as day-to-day doctor visits.

Dental insurance typically has a small annual benefit that expires at the end of each year. Most policies are use-it or lose-it and will only cover a fixed dollar amount, say $1500 or $2500.

Because we are rapidly coming to the end of the year - November is here already - now is the time to check your remaining benefits and check to see if you have outstanding procedures that you have been putting off.

I hate to see patients who have to pay extra out-of-pocket because they put off their filling or new crown and then, whoops, there is a dental emergency and they reach their maximum benefit in January!

Give Samantha a call at 561-394-9000 if you don't remember what treatment is waiting for you. We can get you scheduled before the end of the year so you don't miss out on your benefits.

yourdentalblog

Cosmetic Dentistry Can Enhance Your Career

Thursday, October 24, 2013

How can cosmetic dentistry enhance your career? Unless you are hidden in the back of a room full of cubicles, most people have to interact with customers or the public on a regular basis. If your smile is lacking, it could actually be affecting your chances at closing a sale or getting that promotion.

Many studies have shown that one of the first things people notice about us is our smile. Research has also shown that people with nice looking smiles are perceived as smarter and higher achievers than those without this attribute. As much as we might argue that we should be judged solely on merit, this seems to be the nature of the human beast.

Often we start out with smiles that look pretty good when we are young. As we age our teeth begin to shift, they begin to discolor, and we may even lose a few. A smile filled with gaps is not going to inspire confidence!

Sprucing up your smile may be easier than you think. When people think of cosmetic dentistry they tend to think of full mouth makeovers like they have seen on TV. Yes, full cosmetic makeovers are something that we do on a regular basis, but this is not the only way to use cosmetic dental techniques.

You might just need to bleach those dingy teeth - that is a form of cosmetic dentistry. You may have one tooth that is chipped or misshapen - we can use dental bonding or dental veneers to make it look perfect once more. There may be a few teeth that have moved over the years and look a little crowded - orthodontics is great but it takes time - cosmetic dentistry can make your teeth "straight" in no time flat.

Find out more about your cosmetic dental options by contacting us at 561-391-9000 to schedule a consultation.

yourdentalblog

Pregnancy, Sleep Apnea and Diabetes - A Common Theme

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Pregnancy comes with it's share of challenges, including sleep disorders and gestational diabetes. New research shows that pregnant women with obstructive sleep apnea were much more likely to develop gestational diabetes than those without a sleep breathing disorder.

The article, published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, looked at a small group of pregnant women. Some of the women had gestational diabetes, some did not, and a control group of 15 non-pregnant, non-diabetic women. The researchers found that, no surprise, pregnant women had more sleep disturbances than non-pregnant women.

But the researchers also found that obstructive sleep apnea was more prevalent in the pregnant women with gestational diabetes than those pregnant women without diabetes, 73% to 27%. Because obesity is a large risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea the researchers adjusted for this variable and they were able to accurately predict which pregnant women would probably develop gestational diabetes based on their obstructive sleep apnea.

A healthy pregnancy is important for healthy babies (and moms). If you are thinking of becoming pregnant or if you are pregnant and overweight you should be checked for obstructive sleep apnea. Please contact us at 561-394-9000 today. Healthy teeth and gums and healthy sleep are all essential for a healthy pregnancy!

Labels: obstructive sleep apnea

yourdentalblog

New Year, New Smile

Friday, October 18, 2013

Do you make New Year's resolutions? Do you ever keep any of them?

Here's one you can keep, but we need to get started on it soon. Starting the new year with a new smile!

Getting the smile of your dreams may be easier than you think. Whiter teeth can be yours in just one hour at the office using the Zoom! system or you can control your shade of white by using custom whitening trays in the privacy of your own home.

If you've got a gap or a few crooked teeth you don't need to wear braces for years. Dental veneers can provide instant orthodontics to a not so perfect smile. Dental veneers are durable and look so lifelike that no one will know you've had cosmetic dentistry.

Find out more about how quickly and easily you can have your perfect smile by contacting LVI trained cosmetic dentist Dr. Ken Mogell at 561-394-9000 today.

yourdentalblog

Dental Emergencies

It has happened to all of us - usually at the most inopportune time. A dental emergency never seems to happen during the regular work week - that crown comes loose on Saturday morning or the toothache starts Friday at 7pm.

You don't have to suffer all weekend - just give us a call. I have a lot of patients that feel like they are bothering me if they call with an emergency. I have a lot of patients that are very nice people, obviously! But emergencies don't happen all that often and there is no reason to spend a weekend in pain.

Some dental emergencies can wait until Monday morning. If a dental crown comes loose, if the tooth isn't painful, you can probably wait until first thing Monday morning to call us. Try some Poligrip or other denture adhesive to hold the crown in place, just make sure you don't swallow it! DO NOT attempt to superglue your dental work, it won't work and you can cause severe damage to the soft tissues of the mouth.

A broken tooth that is causing pain or has a jagged edge that could cut your tongue should be looked at right away.

Many times a toothache will start earlier in the week but only becomes unbearable during the weekend. Please call us at the first sign of a tooth feeling "funny" or uncomfortable. Teeth can't heal themselves and any discomfort that is starting will probably only get worse.

So give us a call at 561-394-9000 when that dental emergency strikes.

yourdentalblog