Bad Brushing Techniques Could Result in Sensitive Teeth

Written by Dentistry TodayThursday, 31 May 2012 15:13



Brushing in the correct manner is just as important as brushing enough.

Many people brush their teeth too hard, and long-term problems could result. When brushing too hard, the gums can start to recede and make teeth more sensitive.

Teeth sensitivity from brushing too hard, among other reasons, is a common problem. Sugary drinks and teeth bleaching can also wear down enamel, leaving open the possibility of tooth sensitivity.

When people complain about sensitive teeth, their brushing technique is often called into question. Using a softer brush is the first step toward curbing the issue. Applying less pressure can be better then brushing one’s teeth firmly in many cases.

Informing people about the correct way to brush their teeth is the best step to prevent tooth sensitivity stemming from brushing too hard. After experiencing the initial sensitivity, seeing the dentist is the best option. If someone is encountering sensitivity to hot/cold drinks or food, the issue could be resulting from something other than poor brushing technique.

Dentists Attempt to Cut Down Patient Anxiety

Written by Dentistry TodayFriday, 01 June 2012 14:36



Dentists in Canada are trying to get more people to visit the dentist regularly. They figure limiting patient anxiety is a good way to make it happen.

Many people delay dental visits because they fear the possible treatment or the needles and drills that they may see. The result is obviously increased oral diseases and dental problems.

One Canadian dentist has even set up a Hate Dentists blog where people can express their fear of visiting the dentist and tell their stories. The goal is help people realize discussing these issues can help with their phobia of going for dental treatment.

Years ago, dentists weren’t as in tune with the fears that people encounter when facing dental visits. Based on the advances in dentistry, combined with the fact that dentists are more aware of dental fears, people don’t need to be as afraid as they were in the past.

The demeanor and attitude of the dentist can also be beneficial in allaying dental fears. That’s why the amount of people that fear dental visits isn’t as high as it was years ago.

Medicaid Fraud Busters Look to Prevent Repeat Occurrences

Written by Dentistry TodayMonday, 04 June 2012 15:17



Texas will try to make sure some dentists and orthodontists don’t try to pull any more Medicaid fraud.

The state hired a managed care firm to overlook all dental services provided in the state. Orthodontists now receive a flat payment for the work performed. The Texas Medicaid program now requires full dental molds to process a claim. The claims processing contractor also replaced the previous dental director. More orthodontists and staff have been added to cover all bases.

These sweeping changes were precipitated by the Medicaid payments Texas made two years ago. There was $185 million in reported Medicaid payments that year. The problem was that figure was more than the total the other 49 states combined spent on Medicaid.

This information led to an investigation in which it was discovered that people in Texas collectively don’t actually have teeth in that poor condition. Instead, some orthodontists were putting braces on children who didn’t them to drive up the cost of their Medicaid reimbursement payments—and making adjustments on the braces while keeping them on for an extended period of time.

Unfortunately for Texas, the figure in which the state has lost to fraudulent orthodontics is only a small portion of the total money Texas Medicaid loses. Nationwide, about $22 billion was lost last year due to improper Medicaid payments, according to some studies.

This national amount lost due to these fraudulent payments has declined in recent years, however. The percentage of Medicaid income lost due to fraud, abuse or other reasons was at 11 percent in 2008. In 2011, the figure was down to 8 percent. With more safeguards in place, widespread Medicaid fraud will likely continue to decrease.