June 5, 2022 by Chameleon

Dental Benefits 101

So you just got dental benefits through your employer, hurray! Where do we begin?

Dental Plan Basics

Some individuals purchase their own dental plan, but most have dental benefits through their employer. When your employer chooses your insurance plan, they decide the plan’s cost and how often you use their benefits. Most employers will also deduct a portion of each of your paychecks to split the cost of the insurance premiums.

Although they choose the plan, your employer is not responsible for administering your dental plan. Instead, they enter into a contract with an insurance company who then acts as your dental plan administrator. Your dental plan administrator can answer questions about your insurance coverage and must reimburse you based on the terms of the dental plan contract. For some dental services, payment is based on a cost-sharing arrangement between you and your employer. In these cases, you pay for part of the cost, while the plan pays for the rest.

Your Responsibilities

Your dentist may not be familiar with your specific plan coverage so it’s important to know how your plan works. Always read the information booklet or other materials available from your benefits provider.

Some things you should know about your plan:

What is covered each year?
Is there a deductible?
Is there a total dollar limit on my coverage?
Can I choose a procedure other than the one my plan covers?
Will I still be covered if I change jobs?
How much am I covered for cleanings and X-rays?
How much am I covered for fillings and root canals?
What about other treatments like bridges and crowns, dentures and oral surgery?

You should also be aware of your co-payment. Co-payment — also called co-insurance — is the part of the bill you won’t be reimbursed for. Many dental plans have a percentage of the claim amount (typically 20 to 50 per cent) that is not covered by the dental plan.

Can my dentist waive my co-payment?

No — waiving a co-payment is insurance fraud and is against the law. Your dentist could be fined or even lose their license. The claim forms you and your dentist sign state which services were provided and how much was charged. The insurance company pays its share based upon the assumption that you will do the same.

Your Dentist’s Responsibilities

Dentists make their treatment plan based on your dental needs. Sometimes, your dental plan coverage and your treatment plan won’t align. If your dental plan only covers part of the cost of your treatment plan, you’ll need to cover the rest.

Your dentist will take you through your personalized treatment plan and answer any questions you may have. They can also help you understand how much may be covered before you move ahead by submitting a pre-treatment form to your dental benefits administrator. Your benefits administrator will provide you with a “predetermination of benefits”. This doesn’t guarantee that the treatment will be covered by your health insurance plan. But it will show you what services are covered and the limitations of your plan.

Remember that your dentist is treating you, not your dental plan. Read more about your dentist’s obligations according to the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario.

Your Plan and the Claims Submission Process

Once your dental appointment is over, it’s time to make your payment and submit your claim. The way you submit your claim and get reimbursed depends on:

whether the dentist submits it for you;
whether you assign your benefits to the dentist;
or have the plan pay you directly.

Some dentists accept the assignment of benefits. The assignment of benefits means your insurer pays your dentist directly. The dental claim can be submitted to the insurance company by the dental office. All you need to do is provide the dental office staff with your benefit plan number and/or benefits card. Any fees that are not covered by your plan must be paid by you to the dentist.

There are some dentists who do not accept the assignment of benefits; there are some dental plans that will not allow benefits to be assigned. This means that the plan member (you) will be paid by the insurance company. In both cases, this means you’ll need to pay your dental bill upfront. The dental office can still submit the claim electronically to your insurance provider on your behalf and then you wait to get reimbursed.

Getting reimbursed is much faster than it was years ago. Thanks to electronic claims submission, you can see the dentist on Monday and usually get reimbursement before the end of the week. Also, many dentists accept credit cards, which typically have a monthly billing cycle. If you need complex treatment, speak to your dentist about arranging a payment schedule that allows you to budget for expenses.

Benefits of Non-Assignment

The main benefit of the assignment of benefits is the convenient payment process for patients. However, the ODA opposes the assignment of benefits; instead, we believe that non-assignment of benefits is best.

Why does the ODA oppose something most patients find convenient? Because non-assignment means that patients are more involved in their care and the costs involved.

By being more involved you can:

Have a better understanding of your dental plan and can use it wisely.
Evaluate your dental plan and identify parts that could be improved.
Develop the confidence to discuss fees with your dentist.
Most dental offices can submit your claim for you electronically as a courtesy. If you need to submit your own dental claim form and need help, your human resources department or your dental plan administrator can assist you.

This article was adapted from the Ontario Dental Association: https://www.oda.ca/visiting-the-dentist/dental-benefits/

March 13, 2022 by Chameleon

Digital vs analog x-rays

Digital x-rays are the new standard

Many dental offices are going digital today, and there are so many benefits beyond keeping up with the times! Let’s talk about the differences and why #teamchameleon is investing in digital technology.

Conventional film

Conventional film techniques (“plain film”) required the use of plastic film packets which contain layers of lead foil, paper, and a plastic sheet with crystals of silver bromide (the “film”). After an x-ray exposure, the film was removed from the packet and all other components were discarded. The film was then processed in chemicals containing metallic silver, framed and organized in a cardboard or plastic film mount, and stored together with a patient’s paper chart. In order to properly view these, the viewers would examine them on a lightbox in a dark room. Often, a magnifying glass was needed to examine the film images. While conventional film continues to be the most affordable option to obtain radiographs, the equipment and technology is becoming obsolete and time consuming compared to the digital alternatives.

Digital radiographs

With digital x-rays, reusable phosphor plates and sensors are used to capture and digitize x-ray images. These capture devices are covered with a disposable hygienic plastic sleeve so that they can be used for thousands to tens of thousands of exposures before they need to be replaced. For the purpose of detecting cavities, the image quality of digital x-rays are comparable to plain film. Additionally, digital images can be resized, enhanced, and easily shared with other providers for a collaborative treatment approach. Best of all, digital x-rays can never be lost and easily stored!

Benefits of digital xrays

Educational. Because digital images can be scaled up in size, it is easy for providers to show and explain various findings to patients. We find that patients can relate to their treatment better and become motivated to improve their oral health once they understand what we see!
Portable. Digital images can be quickly and easily shared between different providers so that patients are getting the best medical opinions.
Green. Sensors can be reused infinitely until they get too damaged to use, do not generate significant amount of waste, and avoid environment-polluting processing chemicals.
Low radiation exposure. Digital sensors require less radiation doses than film!
Fast. Because digital sensors do not need to be put through a film processor, image acquisition is fast and so is diagnosis.

While the upfront cost of implementing digital radiographs is significantly higher than conventional film, we truly believe it is an investment in our practice, our environment, and our patients.

January 28, 2022 by Chameleon

In-house dental insurance 2022

In-house dental care plan 2022

In-house dental care plan 2022

Due to the demand for affordable specialist care, #teamchameleon brings you our first and very own in-house dental care plan!

Plan highlights

Opt-in when you need it without any commitments or automated renewals
Access to preferred pricing when families are not enrolled in government or company-sponsored insurance plans
Transparent policies
No limits on coverage
Pay one flat fee to access preferred pricing for all dependants in the same family
No complicated insurance claims forms are needed

This dental plan cannot be used in conjunction with insurance carriers; dental claims will not be submitted nor signed off for those who choose to participate in this plan. Eliminating the complicated rules and forms with most insurance carriers is how we are able to reduce costs and bring you value. Below are examples of fees for our most common services. Additional details about the plan are available in the office.

Treatment	Fee with In-House Plan	*Fee with Out-of-Pocket Payment**
New patient exam	$127.20	$212.00
Recall exam	$52.80	$88.00
X Rays	$0	Bitewings: $43.00 – $76.00 Occlusal: $43.00 Panorex: $77.00
Polish	$19.80 – 40.20	$33.00 – $67.00
Fluoride	$22.80	$38.00
Sealants	$50.40	$84.00
Primary tooth metal crown	$167.40	$279.00
Primary tooth white crown	$256.80	$428.00
Pulpotomy	$68.40	$114.00
Extraction	$101.40 – 135.00	$169.00 – $225.00
Tooth filling	$106.80 – 253.80	$178.00 – $423.00
Laughing gas	$127.80 – 148.80	$248.00

*Fees are in accordance with the Ontario Dental Association Fee Guide for 2022

*Click the image to view the plan brochure*

June 15, 2021 by Chameleon

Does Charcoal Toothpaste Live Up To The Hype?

About Charcoal Toothpaste

activated charcoal, healthy toothpaste, natural activated charcoal-5834893.jpg

In the “natural” or “alternative remedy” section of the stores you can now find products like charcoal toothpastes and charcoal powders as an alternative to modern society’s toothpastes. More than ever, we are now starting to see charcoal-based products in the regular dental products section as mainstream brands tout the natural whitening properties of charcoal.

What is charcoal?

Charcoal is a black carbon-based material made from the heating of coal, wood, nut shells, or husks. Charcoal powder for dental products is usually milled to a fine powder. The coarseness and abrasiveness of the charcoal powder can vary.

History of charcoal for oral use

The use of ash and charcoal for teeth dates back to ancient Greece. The abrasive property of charcoal was beneficial for removing extrinsic stains from teeth and for absorbing bad odors.

What is the research behind charcoal dental products?

A peer-reviewed article by the British Dental Journal found that there was no supporting evidence for the cosmetic, whitening, or detox claims of charcoal toothpastes¹. In fact, aggressive brushing with charcoal products was found to damage the enamel surface of the tooth by roughening it and removing the lustre/shine. There were no whitening effects seen with charcoal toothpastes, and the results were similar to using a regular non-fluoride toothpaste.

Based on the lack of evidence supporting superior benefits of charcoal toothpaste, dental professionals do not generally support their use. If patients prefer to use a charcoal product, we do recommend to choose one that contains fluoride. We also recommend against charcoal powder which requires you to dip your toothbrush into the jar because this is unhygienic!

Greenwall, L. H., Greenwall-Cohen, J., & Wilson, N. H. F. (2019). Charcoal-containing dentifrices. British Dental Journal, 226(9), 697–700. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41415-019-0232-8

May 27, 2021 by Chameleon

10 things you NEED to do before going to your dental appointment

10 Things You NEED to Do Before Going to Your Dental Appointment

1. You should brush (and floss)!

You dentist can tell if you have been brushing and flossing without all the extra bits of food between your teeth, so brush before your appointment!

2. Confirm you appointment

If you haven’t been called to confirm your appointment, it helps to give a quick call so that the reception staff know to expect you!

3. Complete intake forms

If you booked an appointment and you were not asked to fill out digital forms before the appointment, you should arrive 15mins early so that everything runs on time.

4. Find out your insurance coverage and know what percentage you may need to pay out of pocket

You can call your insurance company and ask about your coverage, the contact details are on the back of the card. If you send a copy to your dentist, they can also check this for you! Make sure you know what was done at a previous dentist in the last year. If you are coming in to look at a tooth that was previously treated, it helps to request your x-rays so that your radiation exposure can be limited.

5. Take pre-medications as advised

If you are coming for a subsequent appointment, your dentist might have advised or prescribed medication for you to take. Make sure you have taken the medication at the correct time you were advised to! If you have taken any medications prior to your appointment that wasn’t prescribed by your dentist, make sure you let her/him know what you have taken.

6. Eat something (unless told otherwise)

If you are getting a filling, or coming in for a toothache, the dentist may need to do freezing. This can make it tough to eat as the food can dribble out of your mouth! If you are coming for a cleaning, the dentist may apply fluoride and advise you not to eat or drink for 30mins. So make sure you are fed (but not too much) and hydrated unless told otherwise!

If you think you might need sedation, call and ask if you can eat something, as you may need to fast.

7. Go to the washroom

Have you ever needed to use the washroom midway through a dental procedure? You can spend less time at the dentist if you are prepared and have gone to the washroom before your appointment!

8. Arrange for a buddy to come along

If you are getting sedation, bring a buddy with you, as you may need help getting home after the appointment. If you are bringing a child along to your appointment, your buddy can keep your child company in the waiting room while you receive your dental treatment.

9. Bring your medications or write them down on a list

If you have a complex medical history, you probably already have a list from your doctor that you bring to every medical or dental appointment. Instead of trying to remember what you take, make a list and put it in your wallet or purse, or bring in the bottles/boxes for the medications. If you make a list, make sure it has the name of the medication, the dose, and how often you take it.

10. Bring relevant appliances

Not kitchen appliances! But things like, nightguards, mouth guards and dentures. If you have a concern about your appliance, the dentist will need to look at it.

May 21, 2021 by Chameleon

When Should Children Brush Independently?

We often find that young children are quite enthusiastic about their independence with brushing, yet they still get cavities! We know it is tempting to take a hands off approach when your youngster is able to brush with an appropriate amount of toothpaste, but if they are not doing a good job then food and plaque left on the teeth overnight can lead to cavities. There are a few considerations regarding the quality of brushing:

Time

When the recommendation for brushing is 2 minutes, this is the average amount of time needed to effectively clean all surfaces of the teeth and tongue. The 2 minutes is not a good indicator of the quality of brushing if some surfaces are left behind!

Dexterity

A certain level of manual dexterity is needed to reach all the surfaces of the teeth, particularly the backsides of the upper and lower molars. Because it is a difficult area to brush and not an area of the tooth that gets swept by the tongue, there is often a large build up of food and plaque that requires more time to clean. Cleaning behind the molars is also quite difficult because of how little space there is towards the back of the mouth. Young children can develop good manual dexterity/hand skills at different ages, and so it is important to recognize that some children will need more help that others.

Consistency

Just like we are motivated to brush and floss before and after seeing the dental hygienist, children can put more effort into brushing only when under supervision. It is possible that when they are not being supervised, young children are not doing as good of a job brushing as they used to!

In general, it is recommended that young children be supervised when brushing to check on the quality of the brushing. Especially when there are new teeth coming in (6 year and 12 year molars), it is important to make sure that the children are brushing further back. Once children are able to demonstrate tasks that require a certain level of manual dexterity (eg. tying their own shoelaces, or being able to write well) they are usually capable of all the toothbrush motions for adequate brushing.

May 20, 2021 by Chameleon

Can Infants Get Cavities?

It’s never easy to deliver the news of cavities to parents, let alone when their child is only an infant. It is absolutely possible for children under the age of three to develop cavities.

Let’s take a step back and talk about tooth development. We normally expect a baby’s first teeth around the age of 6 months old, give or take a month or so. Up until the age of 3 years, infants will continue to develop teeth in a symmetrical pattern (left and right sides). A full set of baby teeth comprises of 20 teeth (10 on the top, and 10 on the bottom).

At any point during development, babies can develop dental decay. That means that dentists can see cavities in babies as young as 4-6 months old!

There are usually five reasons why infants develop dental decay:

Goes to bed with a bottle
- Allowing infants to sleep right after having a bottle or right after nursing is a continuous source of nourishment for your baby AND the bacteria that causes cavities. Even though milk/formula does not usually have added sugar, it does contain some natural sugars which can feed cavity-causing bacteria.
Shares foods and kisses with a caregiver/parent who has cavities
- Individuals who have untreated cavities have higher concentrations of cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth, and these bacteria can be spread through close contact and sharing food utensils!
Does not clean teeth after meals
- Regardless if an infant is still nursing or using a bottle, the teeth and gums should be cleaned with a soft toothbrush or soft washcloth to remove milk/formula residue from the mouth because of the sugars in these foods.
Enamel defects
- It is rare, but new teeth can erupt from the gums with deformities. These deformities can make the teeth more prone to cavities than they ordinarily would be. Enamel defects can be the result of genetic or environmental disturbances that occurred when the teeth were forming.
Sugar-sweetened medications
- It is a little known fact that many medications formulated for infants and young children contain sugar syrups (‘simple syrup’) which help with medication compliance. It is important to try to take these medications at meal times if possible or brush the teeth after taking the medication.

The difficulty with treating infants at a young age is often the difficulty of cooperation. Additionally, when infants get cavities at such a young age the enamel is still very thin and immature which allows cavities to progress quickly and cause toothaches. Having toothaches at such a young age has the potential to cause lifelong disturbances in development if there are oral aversions and feeding issues due to tooth pain. For these reasons, it is recommended that infants under the age of 3 years get dental check ups 1-2 times per year.

May 20, 2021 by Chameleon

The Ugly Truth Most Dentists Won’t Tell You

So you’ve been told you have “soft teeth”? This implies that you are genetically predisposed to cavities because of how your teeth formed. It’s a little known fact that the odds of this are quite low. There are a few heritable clinical conditions where teeth are actually soft or defective, such as amelogenesis imperfecta (AI), dentinogenesis imperfecta (DI), or dentin dysplasia (DD) to name a few. In fact, the odds of having any of these clinical conditions ranges anywhere from one in 100,000 to one in 718 individuals¹!

But then if you actually don’t have soft teeth, then what the heck is going on? When it comes to cavities there are 4 contributing factors which are:

Cavity-causing bacteria
Sugars
Oral hygiene
Time

Cavity-causing bacteria

Biologists have been able to pin point a few groups of bacteria that are known to cause cavities. These bacteria are able to colonize the teeth and feed on the sugars in the mouth. Virtually everyone has bacteria that can cause cavities. The amounts of these harmful bacteria can fluctuate based on our habits and our ability to keep our teeth clean.

Sugars

Sugar is the main food source for cavity-causing bacteria. The constant supply of high carbohydrate foods (which break down into sugars) continues to supply bacteria with nutrition to thrive in the mouth.

Oral hygiene

Routine brushing and flossing is important for removing the remnants of food stuck in the teeth and on the tongue. When brushing and flossing are skipped or done improperly, the remaining food residue continues to feed bacteria. Even within an hour, it is possible for bacteria to form a thick film on the teeth known as plaque. Left undisturbed, the plaque allows a large colony of bacteria to establish and wreck havoc on a tooth.

Time

Clinical research has demonstrated that the frequency of sugar intake is much more destructive than the concentration of sugar eaten. When you are snacking throughout the day or sipping on juice, a near constant supply of food continues to nourish the bacteria in the mouth. Therefore, you can still enjoy desserts and candy without causing harm to your teeth as long as you are enjoying your treat at one point in time. We recommend to have sweet foods and drinks at or after mealtimes when your salivary glands are still active and can help clear out food remnants relatively quickly.

In short, there are several other likely factors for tooth decay besides having soft teeth. Most individuals have the ability to control these factors, and dentists or dental hygienists can help to identify which factors are contributing to your cavities. If you aren’t willing to change the habits that led to your cavities, then shifting the blame on “soft teeth” (which is not a clinical diagnosis) may help you sleep at night.

Click here to find out how to build a fool-proof oral hygiene regimen (brush, floss, mouthwash).

References

American Academy of Pediatric D Guideline on dental management of heritable dental developmental anomalies. Pediatr Dent. 2017 Sep 15;39(6):348-353.

May 20, 2021 by Chameleon

How to Care for Teeth

How To Care For Teeth

We are told that we have to brush AND floss, but then advertisements say that we should also use toothpaste and mouthwash. Is it all just a clever marketing ploy? Do we really have to do all those things?

The simplest answer to caring for teeth is: “it depends”.

In general, caring for your teeth is surprisingly easy. All you have to do is avoid letting food sit around in your mouth for hours at a time. Just like your dinner plate, our teeth will retain some food residue after meals. When left in the mouth for extended amounts of time, these food remnants supply nutrition to the cavity-causing microbes in the mouth. Unlike a dinner plate, cleaning food remnants in the mouth is more difficult because of all the spaces between the teeth and deep pits and fissures on the tops of the molars. Make sure to clean your teeth before going to bed because leaving food residue on your teeth overnight is a big no-no!

At the very basic level, brushing and flossing before bed is extremely important.

Because necessity is the mother of all invention, humankind has created a number of different dental products that serve different purposes. Once you understand the purpose of each dental implement, you will be able to build an effective oral hygiene regimen suitable to your needs. At the very basic level, brushing and flossing before bed is extremely important.

Toothbrush

This is the most basic tool in dental care. The toothbrush is able to mechanically scrub off sticky food particles and plaque build up on the teeth and the tongue. It is not necessary to use toothpaste, but toothpastes can often make the brushing experience nicer because it imparts a fresh, clean feeling. Some toothpastes will also contain ingredients like fluoride which help to remineralize the teeth and/or triclosan which is an anti-plaque agent. The toothbrush is NOT able to clean tight spaces between the teeth, so you may also need to use floss.

Floss

When there are tight spaces between the teeth or places where food is stuck, floss seems to be the only effective way to clear things up. There is no difference between string floss and floss on a stick (sometimes called “floss picks” or “Plackers®”). If you have really tight teeth that keep tearing up floss, try a waxed floss or a flat ribbon floss.

Mouthwash

With a toothbrush and floss you can get pretty clean teeth, and mouthwash can only help. Mouthwash was actually intended to help clean the surfaces of the mouth that we are unable to brush or floss. These areas include the roof of the mouth, under the tongue, and inside the cheeks. Although the bacteria that causes cavities likes to stick to teeth, they can adhere to the gums and the soft linings in the mouth. Using a mouthwash that contains essential oils, hydrogen peroxide, cetylpyradimium chloride, or chlorhexadine are all effective at eliminating harmful bacteria in the mouth.

What if you are brushing and flossing but still get cavities?

Certain individuals are more predisposed to cavities than others. These so-called predispositions are also known as risk factors, and there are easy solutions to reduce or eliminate these risk factors in many cases. It is much too complicated to provide a comprehensive list of possible reasons, so if you feel like you are doing everything you can but are continuing to have problems it is recommended to seek the opinion of one or more dentists.

The frequency with which an individual is recommended to see the dentist varies. After any necessary treatment has been done and we have determined that you are doing a great job taking care of your own dental health, we recommend coming in for a check-up every year. In addition, we recommending coming in for a clean every 6 months.

If you are on the right track, x-rays can be taken less frequently, sometimes just every few years. Your dentist will explain the reason for any x-ray taken, and will also discuss the findings, if any, with you. We welcome questions, and it also shows us that you are being proactive in taking care of your oral health. Prevention and routine is always our preferred care, and its also easier on your wallet! We want you to keep the teeth that you have, that’s why regular dental care is important. If you haven’t been to the dentist for a while, we recommend coming in for an exam so that we can assess your specific needs.

May 18, 2021 by Chameleon

How often should I see a dentist?