Archive for the ‘Medicare News’ Category
According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, at 12 months, your baby is old enough to visit the dentist. Cavities are a common concern with children, so it is essential to take your child to the dentist regularly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one in four children have tooth decay by the time they enter kindergarten. Yet cavities are preventable with proper infant oral care that continues throughout childhood and the teen years.
Question: What’s the difference between Medicare & Medicaid?
Reply: Medicare is federal health insurance for anyone 65 and older, and some people under 65 have specific disabilities or conditions.
Medicaid is a joint federal and state program that provides health coverage for some people with limited income and resources. Medicaid offers benefits like nursing home care, personal care services, and assistance paying for Medicare premiums and other costs.
You will want to put your baby on your lap, facing away from you. Brush the teeth from behind, supporting your baby’s head. When you brush, focus your efforts between the gums and teeth—the most critical area. Consult with your dentist about frequency and if you should add flossing to your child’s routine.
Once your baby’s teeth start coming in, you may want to transition from the washcloth to a baby toothbrush and toothpaste. If you use toothpaste, ensure it is still safe for babies. One example would be Tom’s of Maine’s new toddler training toothpaste, which is specially formulated for ages 3-24 months, and is safe if swallowed. Once your child reaches the age of two and can spit, you may want to transition to another type of toothpaste. Remember that a small pea size is all you need when it comes to toothpaste.
Original Medicare:
- Original Medicare includes Part A and Part B.
- You can join a different Medicare drug plan to get Medicare drug coverage (Part D).
- You can use any doctor or hospital that takes Medicare anywhere in the U.S.
- To help pay your out-of-pocket costs in Original Medicare (like your 20% coinsurance), you can also buy supplemental coverage, like Medicare Supplement Insurance (Medigap), or have coverage from a former employer or union, or Medicaid.
Medicare Advantage (also known as Part C):
- Medicare Advantage is a Medicare-approved plan from a private company that offers an alternative to Original Medicare for your health and drug coverage. These “bundled” plans include Part A, Part B, and usually Part D.
- In most cases, you’ll need to use doctors in the plan’s network.
- Plans may have lower out-of-pocket costs than Original Medicare.
- Plans may offer some extra benefits that Original Medicare doesn’t cover — like vision, hearing, and dental services.
Give Cheese As A Tooth Friendly Snack. Instead of a bag of chips, serve cheese with lunch or as a snack, especially cheddar, Monterey Jack, Swiss, and other aged cheeses, which help to trigger the saliva flow. Saliva helps to wash food particles away from teeth
Fruits and vegetables: Try offering more fruits and vegetables as a snack instead of sugary treats. The best type of fruits and vegetables would be those containing a high volume of water, such as pears, melons, celery, and cucumbers. Limit banana and raisin consumption as these contain concentrated sugar, or if you serve these fruits, try to brush your child’s teeth immediately after they are eaten.
Question: What is Medicare Part D
Reply: Part D (Drug coverage): Helps cover the cost of prescription drugs (including many recommended shots or vaccines). You join a Medicare drug plan in addition to Original Medicare, or you get it by joining a Medicare Advantage Plan with drug coverage. Plans that offer Medicare drug coverage are run by private insurance companies that follow the rules set by Medicare.
Question: Why should I take my toddler to the dentist when his baby teeth fall out anyway? I just wondered because my parents never took me to a dentist until I was a teen with adult teeth.
Answer: It is true that our primary teeth eventually, but their health is still essential to our oral health over the long term. Once a baby’s tooth starts to decay, the bacteria in there progress pretty quickly, seeping through the tooth and going to the bone, potentially causing dental infections that can even be fatal. Sure, that is the worst consequence. But even if that does not happen, if bacteria lurk in the baby teeth, the enamel for the adult teeth may not be properly formed, and they can be permanently damaged.
Question: My son is 18 months of age, and I been told he should see a dentist for a regular dental checkup. However not sure if he can go to our family dentist or does he have to see a pediatric dentist.
Answer: This is a common question for parents to ask. For the same reason you do not take your child to your internist, you take her to a pediatrician. Children are not miniature adults. Their bodies are very different, and so are their teeth. A pediatric dentist has expertise in those differences.
Question: what Is Medicare Part B
Reply: Part B (Medical Insurance): Helps cover:
- Services from doctors and other healthcare providers
- Outpatient care
- Home health care
- Durable medical equipment (like wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds, and other equipment)
- Many preventive services (like screenings, shots or vaccines, and yearly “Wellness” visits)
By the time your baby is six months of age, your dentist should assess the likelihood of your baby having future dental problems, which may include a dental exam of the mother and her dental history, as the condition of her teeth can often predict her child’s teeth. Be sure your child sees a dentist after the first primary teeth appear. After your first visit, schedule regular visits every six months or as your dentist recommends.
Experts recommend that your baby see a dentist by 12 months of age. Babies with dental problems caused by injury, disease, or developmental problems should be seen by a children’s (pediatric) dentist right away. If these dental problems are not limited to the surfaces of the teeth, your baby should also be seen by a children’s doctor (pediatrician) or your family doctor.
Question: What is Medicare Part A?
Reply: Part A (Hospital Insurance): Helps cover hospital inpatient care, skilled nursing facility care, hospice care, and home health care.
Your baby’s first teeth usually begin to erupt through the gums at about six months of age, although the timing will vary among children. All 20 primary teeth should come between the ages of six months and three years. Your child will lose primary teeth between the ages of six and eleven. Your child’s first permanent teeth usually erupt behind the primary teeth at age six. The last permanent teeth typically erupt between the ages of 12 and 21.
If you move to a new city or state, you will need to change your address with Social Security.
Because Original Medicare is a federal program, benefits are the same nationwide. So, your benefits will stay the same.
However, if you enroll in a Medicare Supplement or Medicare Advantage plan, you may be required to choose a new plan or pay a higher (or lower) monthly premium. If you are in the process of moving, our Medicare agents will be able to help you quickly find a new top-rated plan in your area.
Oral health care at home does not stop at brushing and flossing your teeth. Many people need to remember their tongues. However, the tongue is a haven for most oral bacteria. Using a tongue cleaner, you help to ensure proper and thorough cleaning of the accumulated bacteria, food particles, and dead cells. Another reason to clean your tongue daily is that it will also provide fresh breath
Stephen Burch, DDS, of 3D Dental Solutions in McLean, Virginia, can Provide Sleep Solutions. Snoring and Sleep Apnea can affect your personal life and overall health care. According to a report by the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine (AADSM). An estimated 40% of adult men and 24% of adult women suffer from chronic snoring. In addition, the AADSM has found that 50% of snorers have Obstructive Sleep Apnea. Sleep Apnea is a dangerous, life-threatening disorder that affects nearly 20 million Americans. In addition, 75% of people with TMD/TMJ have sleep apnea, and 52% of sleep apnea sufferers have signs and symptoms of TMD. 3D Dental Solutions, located at 8270 Greensboro Drive, Suite 101, McClean, Virginia, can answer your questions about your sleep disorder, symptoms, and sleep deficit. Dr. Burch can provide patients with a solution to get tested, treated, and get the freedom to sleep better.