One of the most common areas of concern for the dental patient are topics related to their Dental Benefit Coverage (Insurance). Below are a few of the most commonly asked questions.

Do you direct bill to the insurance company?
We will direct bill as long as the policyholders Benefit Provider will allow us and as long as we have an active credit card number on file to cover any unpaid balances. However, sometimes assignment of benefits will not be permitted due to benefit issues or balance on account issues. Also, there are a few policies which will not permit the benefits to be assigned to the dental office and will only forward payment to the patient; we require payment at the time of treatment in these instances.

How much will my insurance cover?
Unfortunately, we are unable to know exactly what every patient’s dental benefits will pay. We will do our best to find out when asked – but it is the responsibility of the patient to know the details of their Dental Benefit Policy when changes occur to the plan, what is covered by the policy and who is covered under the policy. Sometimes your Benefits Provider will not let us know the information for your policy because of privacy legislation. It is helpful if you have a booklet or form with these details to bring to your appointment. Often you can also obtain this information from your Benefits Provider’s website.

My dental insurance said it pays 100% for my dental treatment; what do you mean I still owe you money?
We hear this question often. Usually, the patient has looked at his EOB (explanation of benefits statement) which tells you what the provider paid or they check their plan booklet and sees that the fee charged by the dentist exceeds the fee guide amount set by the Benefit Provider. The problem is that the fee covered by the provider is whatever has been negotiated between your employer and the Benefit Provider, and is directly dependent upon the premium paid for your specific benefit policy. That is why the coverage can vary even between the employees of the same company or other patients covered by the same Benefit Provider.

X-rays are an important part of your dental examination. Dentists use x-rays to assess your dental health and to diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions.

Digital x-rays are used in our office to diagnose tooth decay (cavities), loss or change in your bone density, periodontal disease, and abscesses or infections. Advancements in x-ray technology help us to improve your experience at the dentist.

Listed below are 10 benefits of this system.

	Cleaner, faster workflow
	Clear diagnosis
	Original image is protected
	Better practice management
	Lower radiation dose
	Reduced space requirements
	Effortless communication
	Reduced hazards
	Enhanced cost-effectiveness
	Uncomplicated image transfer referrals

All of us have suffered from bad breath at one time or another. The term for this condition is oral malodor.

Surprisingly, most people with oral malodor are not aware of their problem breath. That’s because our sense of smell has an amazing ability to adjust to odours. Unfortunately, there’s no cure for 90% of oral malodor. It requires long-term control and management of this condition.

Most people think that bad breath is a result of what’s going on in our stomachs. But that’s not the whole story. Most often, the actual odour is generated by bacteria that thrive in the mouth under the gums, and in the nooks and crannies on the teeth and the surface of the tongue. Left untreated these bacteria create volatile sulphur compounds that have a characteristic “rotten egg” smell. Most people would probably like their breath to be more pleasant than that.

Our staff at Rymal Square can provide you with a system that fights both the cause and the effect of halitosis.

Smoking and chewing tobacco are dangerous to your oral health and to your overall health. In addition to contributing to tooth loss through gum disease, tobacco use may also lead to serious problems such as oral cancer.

Depending on the amount of tobacco use, smokers can expect to develop a combination of the following:

• Persistent bad breath
• Discoloured teeth
• An increase in calculus tarter build-up
• Gum and bone disease that may progress more quickly and be more severe than in non-smokers
• Jaw bone loss
• Shifting teeth
• An increased number of missing teeth
• Oral cancers
• Mouth sores
• Root caries cavities
• Sinusitis
• Altered sense of taste and smell
• Delayed wound healing

Smoking has been established as a significant risk factor for gum disease. Tobacco reduces blood flow to the gums, depriving them of oxygen and nutrients that allow gums to stay healthy, and leaving them vulnerable to bacterial infection.

If left unchecked, gum disease can lead to the destruction of the tooth’s supporting tissues, abscesses and tooth loss.