February 2008 Newsletter
What´s New at Savon
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In every newsletter you will find a secret word or phrase. When you locate the word or phrase, copy the entire paragraph and paste it into an email along with your Savon membership ID number and your name.
Send the email to customerservice@savondentalplan.com. The emails will be printed and the winning entry will be drawn on the 15th of the following month. All entries must be received by the 10th of the month (July 10th for Junes newsletter, etc.). The winning entry will receive a check from Savon for $25.00. Only one entry per family is allowed and you may only win once per 12 months. The secret phrase for February is "healthy teeth and gums"
Quote of the month: I don't understand why Cupid was chosen to represent Valentine's Day. When I think about romance, the last thing on my mind is a short, chubby toddler coming at me with a weapon. ~Author Unknown
Cohen’s Corner – Straight talk from the Doctor:
Why won't my dental insurance pay for my veneers?
I hope that all of you have had your oral cancer exam by now but if not, make sure your dentist does an oral cancer exam on you at your next visit to him/her.
I have had many of you ask, “Why won‘t my dental insurance pay for my veneers?” The reason that dental insurance doesn‘t pay for this procedure is, in most cases, because they view dental veneers as cosmetic. We have all had our “fun” with the insurance companies and we all have found that when they say NO! They mean NO!!!
Dental insurance will only pay a portion of the dental bill if the insurance company feels that it is within their policy terms to pay it. One must read their policy limits very carefully to determine what, and how much, their dental insurance will pay. It has been my experience, after 30+ years in the dental field, that I would rather have a patient that is on a comprehensive dental plan then a patient with dental insurance.
With most of the better dental plans, you and your dentist will know exactly what is “covered” and what your cost will be ahead of time. If you can‘t figure out what your portion of the bill is or have a question that your dentist isn‘t answering to your satisfaction, with a good dental plan, you can call the office and actually talk to a human being that can help you. Back to the question at hand! If your dental insurance deems a dental procedure cosmetic, then it will not pay anything towards the treatment. Most dental plans help reduce the cost of dental care on most all procedures and the best dental plans, like Savon Dental Plan, cover 98% to 99% of all dental procedures at a fixed rate reduction.
Have a super February and keep those questions coming.
I want to personally thank all those who have sent their questions to me and also all those behind the scenes who help put this newsletter together so that we can serve you our old, new, and soon-to-be members of Savon Dental Plan.
Dr. Bruce Cohen
Blog this article with Dr. Cohen...
Congratulations to J. Harris of Yonkers, NY Winner of our January T. V. Drawing
Mr. Harris was the winner of January's T. V. drawing. A gift certificate for a 20" television was mailed to him last week.
Congratulations to G. Zigler of Dallas, TX Winner of our January Secret Word Contest
Mr. Zigler's correct answer was drawn and a check for $25.00 was sent to him.
Make sure that you look for the secret word this month, it could be worth $25.00 to you!!
To your health:
Metal allergies can affect dental work
A reprint from Ivanhoe Broadcast News 1/4/2007
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If you have experienced an allergic reaction to the metals in your jewelry, you may want to think twice about what your dentist puts in your mouth! Fairly inexpensive materials like nickel and chromium keep the price down on your dental work, but they can cause more pain and discomfort than they're worth.
Up to 16 percent of women and six percent of men are allergic to the metal used in costume jewelry. These same metals could cause allergic reactions in your mouth if they are used in your dental work. Metals used to make crowns, dentures, onlays and veneers can trigger mouth discomfort.
The most common metal allergy is to nickel, which is used in many dental fixtures. Patients may also experience allergic reactions to gold, chromium and molybdenum.
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Before you go to the dentist, be aware of the warning signs of an allergic reaction. Here are a few clues you may have a dental allergy:
- Swollen and red or purple gums
- Shrinking or recessed gums
- Painful or itchy gums
- Bleeding gums
- Unpleasant smell or taste
If gum allergy symptoms do not go away within a couple of days, see your dentist.
If it's not dealt with, over time your gums can get painful and gum tissue can pull away from the crown. If you catch it early enough, the dentist can help solve the problem by replacing the material and then your gum should come back," dentist Joseph Kravitz said. If you check back in to your dentist's office, your dentist will assess whether you have a gum disease or gum allergy. The symptoms for both conditions can be strikingly similar.
If you do have a dental allergy, your dentist may recommend you have your restorations replaced. Ceramic and zirconia are two of the most biologically compatible materials available for dental patients.
"These types of crowns will make your gum tissue healthier. We have new materials the gum tissue just loves," Kravitz said. Patients with dental allergies should notice an almost immediate change when they replace their restorations. According to Kravitz, allergy symptoms can go away in as little as one hour.
A question from a member:
Question: Is it better to go to a privately owned practice with one doctor versus a “clinic” with multiple doctors?
Savon's Answer:
The answer to this question lies solely on personal preference. Whether a facility has one doctor or one hundred doctors shows no reflection on the doctors' credentials or capabilities.
Privately owned practices with only one or two providers are ideal for those who prefer to see the same doctor on every visit. Larger practices with multiple providers, or “clinics,” if you will, are beneficial for those who have a multitude of dental problems that may require the skills of more than one doctor. Also, on-site specialists are common in larger practices and could be convenient if you get referred out.
Blog this article
Schedule of benefits updated for Arizona:
Our Arizona providers have been very patient with us. We have not updated our schedule of benefits for Arizona since 2005
Mark your calendar; make yourself a note! The Urban Fee Schedule for Zone 1 is being updated!
We anticipate the update to be finished by February 15, 2008. Don‘t forget to call, email, or log on to our website for your updated copy!
We are always working hard to keep your cost of dental care as low as possible. With this new schedule of benefits, we do not anticipate another adjustment until January of 2010.
Come blog with us:
On January 8th, we kicked off our new program Dental Talk with Savon Dental Plan. This is an interactive website that allows you
to comment on different subjects. New subjects are being posted by our team members on a daily basis. We want this to be a fun and interesting
site covering a wide variety of topics.
Some of the subjects posted in the past week are:
We cordially invite you to comment on any or all of these topics. If you would like to become a contributor to the blogs please contact () and he will email you an invitation.
For those of you that do not like to follow links, simply type "dentaltalk.savondentalplan.com" into the address bar on your browser.
Business partner of the month:
When you decide to buy a home or refinance a mortgage, it's a big step. You can trust us to find the loan program that's best for you.
In this time of market uncertainty it is important to have a company like this on your side. Please check them out before making any decisions. It could be your smartest move this year!!
February is National Children's Dental Health Month:
Each February, the American Dental Association sponsors National Children‘s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health.
Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
For more information please visit The American Dental Association's website.
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