Date Archives March 2022

The value of dental insurance vs. paying out of pocket

read Insurance Resources and Dental Benefits
When you realize all the benefits of having coverage, it's easy to understand the true value of dental insurance. Several reasons below explain how much dental benefits are worth.

According to a Delta Dental survey, 86% of Americans agree that oral health is very or extremely important to their overall health. However, an estimated 76.5 million Americans do not have dental insurance. If a majority of Americans can agree on the value of oral health, why do nearly one in four opt out of coverage?

It’s possible that many people refrain from getting insurance because they don’t see the value of dental insurance or understand how much dental benefits are worth. The reason behind this misunderstanding could be due to a variety of things, such as a lack of resources or knowledge on what dental insurance can do or misconceptions that paying out of pocket is simply a more accessible option.

Why Have Dental Insurance?

When you realize all the benefits of having coverage, it’s easy to understand the true value of dental insurance. Several reasons below explain how much dental benefits are worth.

It Helps Control the Costs of Dental Care

Without dental benefits, you agree to pay the full dollar amount of a dental treatment, known as the out-of-pocket cost. Because dentists who participate in Delta Dental’s networks agree to charge discounted rates for their services, members automatically benefit from reduced rates. In addition, dental insurance will usually help cover a portion of the treatment cost, so you don’t have to pay the entire bill yourself. The exact amount that’s covered is dependent on your plan and the type of treatment.

Because dental insurance focuses on prevention, many services such as checkups and cleanings are often covered at 100%. For more major procedures, dental insurance can help reduce the out-of-pocket costs by covering a portion of the bill, depending on your plan.

When looking at how much dental benefits are worth, compare the costs for a family without insurance to those who have it:

**Preventive Coverage may vary.

*Dental service fees are for illustrative purposes only. Premium rates are dependent upon your location and your plan type. See your plan for specific information.

It Helps Prevent the Development of More Severe Issues

Dental insurance focuses on preventive care, which means those with insurance are less likely to have severe dental problems. By visiting the dentist more frequently, the chance is higher that dentists can detect problems early on and treat them before further development into more severe issues like a dental crown or root canal. For every dollar spent on cleanings and check-up services, or even teledentistry visits, it’s estimated that $50 or more is saved on more expensive procedures.

It Helps Save You Time

Visiting the dentist can also be a time-consuming affair. From finding a dentist you know and trust, to getting a quote from their office, there’s a lot to add to your to-do list. Fortunately, many dental insurance companies offer a variety of tools to ease the process as much as possible for their members. Some helpful resources include:

It Creates a Better Work Environment

If you’re an employer, there’s no doubt that you and your company are constantly looking for ways to better the overall workplace experience for your employees. One way to do that is by offering a comprehensive benefit package that includes dental insurance. Dental benefits are an affordable, flexible option that can be customized based on your company’s goals and needs. This is also a good return on investment for businesses and CEOs, as 67% of Americans agree that good oral health makes them feel more confident.

The value of dental insurance is that it helps protect both you and your family’s oral and overall health by promoting regular visits to the dentist, ensuring quality oral health, and reducing out-of-pocket costs and the likelihood of expensive and perhaps painful issues. Determining exactly how much dental benefits are worth is up to you and how much you use them.

Looking for dental benefits? Find a plan that fits your needs. To learn more about the importance of good oral health, visit our blog.

Tooth-friendly treats: Oatmeal cookie recipe

read Children's Oral Health, Lifestyle
Whether it’s National Oatmeal Cookie Day or just a regular day of the week, who doesn’t love oatmeal cookies? To celebrate our love for the delicious treat, we’re sharing a tooth-friendly oatmeal cookie recipe featuring chocolate chips.

Whether it’s National Oatmeal Cookie Day or just a regular day of the week, who doesn’t love oatmeal cookies? To celebrate our love for the delicious treat, we’re sharing a tooth-friendly oatmeal cookie recipe featuring chocolate chips.

Health-conscious recipes often call for ingredients that you’d have to purchase at a specialty store, but this oatmeal cookie recipe is made up of things you probably already have in your pantry. It only requires one bowl, so you won’t have a messy kitchen afterwards, and features very little sugar. Your smile will thank you.

Let us know if you try this recipe!

Ingredients

  • ½ cup coconut oil
  • 1 large egg, at room temperature
  • 1 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract
  • 4 tablespoons light brown sugar
  • ¾ cup oat flour (also called “powdered oats” – regular oats blended in a blender)
  • ½ cup old-fashioned oats
  • ¼ cup quick oats
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
  • ½ cup dark chocolate chips

Baking Instructions

  1. Melt the coconut oil until it’s liquid, then measure out ½ cup. Cool to room temperature before adding it to the recipe.
  2. Add regular oats to your food processor or blender. Grind until the oats are fine enough to resemble flour. You can stir and grind them again if they’re not all down to a fine powder. Measure out ¾ cup, gently packed, after you’ve made the oat flour.
  3. To a medium-sized bowl add the coconut oil, vanilla extract, egg, and brown sugar. Whisk together until they’re thoroughly mixed.
  4. Add your oat flour, old-fashioned oats, quick oats, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt to the wet ingredients. Mix until just combined, then add in the dark chocolate chips.
  5. Cover the dough tightly and let it chill in the fridge for no more than 30 minutes. This allows the dough to firm up. Remove the dough and use a spoon or cookie scoop to measure out dough balls. Tightly craft the balls and then slightly flatten them onto a plate or a sheet pan. You should get approximately 14 cookies. Once you have finished making the dough balls, put them back in the fridge to chill for another 30 minutes.
  6. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Place dough balls 2 inches apart on a lined sheet pan. Bake for 7-9 minutes or until they’re starting to firm on top. Remove the pan from the oven and let the cookies cool for 5 minutes. Then use a spatula to gently transfer the cookies from the pan to a cooling rack.
  7. Enjoy!

Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Identify the signs and risks of oral cancer 

read Adult Oral Health
Oral Cancer Awareness Ribbon.

*Updated April 2024

The American Cancer Society (ACS) estimates that more than 58,000 Americans will be diagnosed in 2024 with oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers, more commonly referred to as oral cancer. Learn about the disease, its risk factors, and how early detection can save your life.

What is oral cancer?

Oral cancer is a broad term for cancer that can impact the inside of your mouth and throat. It can develop on your lips, tongue, lining of your cheeks, roof and lower part of your mouth, and nearly all parts of your oral cavity.

The most common oral cancer affects the squamous cells in your mouth. According to the ACS, “Almost all of the cancers in the oral cavity and oropharynx are squamous cell carcinomas, also called squamous cell cancers. These cancers start in squamous cells, which are flat, thin cells that form the lining of the mouth and throat.”

Once these cells are compromised, the cancer cells multiply quickly and can spread to other areas in the body.

Signs of oral cancer

In its early stages, oral cancer typically doesn’t cause any pain or other symptoms.

However, if you notice any of the following changes in your mouth be sure to contact your dentist and physician for further evaluation:

  • A sore on your lips or mouth that doesn’t go away within two weeks
  • A chronic earache
  • Crusty or rough spots on your lips, cheeks, or gums
  • Difficulty chewing or swallowing
  • Difficulty speaking or moving your jaw or tongue
  • Areas of bleeding in your mouth with no obvious reason

The good news is your dentist can often spot early signs of the disease before it starts causing other symptoms. Therefore, it’s important to visit your dentist at least once a year for regular oral cancer screenings.

Click here to find an in-network dentist near you.

Causes of oral cancer

Oral cancer is caused by changes or mutations in the DNA of the cells that make up your oral cavity. These changes cause them to multiply uncontrollably and spread. Sometimes these changes occur for no reason. However, there are activities that may increase your risk of developing the disease.

Risk factors for developing oral cancer 

Using tobacco products: Using tobacco products of any kind, whether it is chewed, inhaled, or held and spat, dramatically increases your risk of developing oral cancer. According to the ACS, “Tobacco use is one of the strongest risk factors for head and neck cancers, including oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancer.”

Exposure to ultraviolet light: According to the Cancer Treatment Centers of America, people who work outside, use tanning beds, and have prolonged exposure to the sun have a higher risk of lip cancers.

Excessive alcohol use: Moderate and excessive alcohol consumption is linked to an increased risk of oral cancer. Studies have suggested that moderate drinkers have nearly double the risk of developing oral cancer. Heavy drinkers are up to five times as likely to develop the disease compared to non-drinkers.

Human papillomaviruses (HPV) infection: HPV are a group of more than 100 related viruses. Some are linked to the development of cancer, like oral and oropharyngeal cancers. HPV is believed to cause 70% of oropharyngeal cancers in the U.S. These viruses are mostly spread through skin-to-skin contact and oral-genital contact.

For more information on HPV and oral health, click here.

Early detection of oral cancer is key

When caught early, the five-year survival rates for many types of oral cancer increase. This is because it hasn’t had the opportunity to spread outside of the oral cavity.

Oral cancer screenings are one of the best defenses you have against the disease. Try to see a dentist twice a year as they do an exam of the entire mouth to look for signs of oral cancer.

For more information on ensuring you have a healthy mouth and smile, check out our blog My preventive dental care options.