By Dr. Fung
Why do you ask so many questions about my health?
The mouth, like any other organ, is affected by and works in conjunction with the rest of the body. This means that medical conditions that affect one area of the body could affect the mouth. For example, many diseases can manifest as sores in the mouth. Also, diabetes is linked to periodontal disease, which might require a diabetic to be extra vigilant about oral health.
Medications can also have a dramatic effect on the mouth. Some medications are linked to nighttime grinding. Others cause dry mouth, which can lead to a sudden increase in cavities and gum disease. Certain medications cause hyperplastic gingiva (big swollen gums). Also before we administer anesthetics or other drugs we need to know what you have “on board” already.
So, while it may seem like we’re being nosy, information about your general health is utilized to give you the best care possible.
Why are you recommending treatment for something that’s not bothering me?
Some common, non-painful issues that we might encourage patients to seek consultation or treatment for are wisdom tooth removal, gum problems, and root canals.
If we are recommending treatment for something that doesn’t hurt, it’s because we want to make sure it never hurts or causes destruction to neighboring areas. Just like you wouldn’t wait for your car to have engine failure before you change your oil, we don’t want you to wait until you’re infected and/or in pain or have spread damage to nearby areas before you seek treatment.
As for those common concerns that might not hurt: wisdom teeth are potential problems because they are notoriously difficult to cleanse and are often in problematic positions; gums that have receded or have become infected usually get worse until the condition is treated; and we generally only recommend a root canal on a tooth that doesn’t hurt if there is a dramatic and unhealthy change in the surrounding bone.
While these are some of the most common issues, they are by no means the only issues that could create confusion, so we are always happy to answer questions and discuss any treatment recommendations.
Why should I get treatment that my insurance won’t help pay for?
We do our very best to create a thorough treatment plan that is in the best interest of each patient’s oral health, not his or her insurance plan.
Our job is to get your mouth as healthy as possible and then help you keep it that way. We know that times are tough and budgets are tight, so we always look at what treatment is urgent and what might be able to wait. Unfortunately, the potential for pain or infection doesn’t decrease with decreased insurance coverage.
We have nothing to do with how your insurance plan is structured or what it covers. We create your treatment plan with your health as the priority. For example, we recommend nightguards to address tooth or joint pain and/or prevent tooth damage, and we recommend more frequent cleanings when it is necessary for stable oral health. These are serious concerns that can affect quality of life. The fact that most insurance plans don’t cover these procedures is a mystery to us, unless we surmise that the less they pay out, the more of your premium they can keep.
We know it’s frustrating to have an insurance plan that doesn’t seem very helpful. The best things you can do are research your plan, talk to your employer (the source of the insurance) about your concerns, and let us know if you have questions about your treatment. We will do our best to help.
If you have any more questions about these or other topics, please feel free to let us know. We are always available to answer questions.