Porto Fino Dental

We are everything but business as usual!

ADVANCING TECHNIQUE FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR PATIENTS AND STAFF

From this COVID-19 Pandemic we are looking to add confidence in the safety and protection of us all.

In the wake of the recent global pandemic, in addition to our ongoing strict guidelines with regards to CDC mandates and “universal precautions”, we are pleased to announce an additional layer of safety we have added to facilitate the care and protection of both our patients and our staff.

The Extraoral Dental Suction System provides additional high volume removal of droplets and aerosols associated with dental care. With an extensive medical grade filtration system, along with a UV light disinfectant, viral and germ products will be eliminated.

From personal protection (safety eyewear shield/mask/gloves/fluid resistant wear/cover hat) to complete sterilization of all instrumentation to infection control protocol in all operatories, laboratories, bathroom facilities, hallways, front office reception area complete throughout our waiting room we are there to provide dental care in a safe and comfortable environment. We have extensive hand-washing protocols for all staff members in place. We meet the highest standard in training, including monthly testing and an annual training  session with our OSHA compliance coordinator.
We are confident the Extraoral Dental Suction is a great addition to our safety protocol.Take a look at the pictures below that demonstrates the power of the  system, and we look forward to seeing you at your next visit!

Check out the video to see how this equipment works to keep us all safe in the dental office!

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We are here for you!

As this coronavirus situation has unfolded, all of us have been faced with questions about how to lead our daily lives while being told, we must stay at home. We’ve all felt how uncomfortable and frustrating the uncertainty and restrictions can be. My staff and I have seen that those feelings are magnified when your health, or that of a family member, is the cause of that uncertainty.
We’re now getting numerous questions every day from our dental patients about handling their dental appointments, and needs, since the stay-at-home measures went into place. We hope that by sharing the answers to the most common questions that you’ll feel more confident in dealing with your dental health during this time.
Are we open?
The short answer is “yes,” but only for dental emergencies. On March 16, the American Dental Association issued guidelines advising dentists nationwide to postpone elective procedures for three
weeks (until April 6). Our state is asking that we continue this until at least May 8th. Not only will this help limit exposure to and transmission of the virus for patients and staff, but it also helps preserve and extend the supply of personal protective equipment that is needed in both hospitals and dental offices. Dental offices are allowed to see patients who are having an emergency. Right now, we are staffing the phones while we are all sheltering in place. So, don’t worry if you should run into a problem – we can and will provide emergency care. You may be asked to video conference with us first – a technology called teledentistry, which allows the patient and dentist to have a consultation to assess your problem without you needing to come into the office. After the meeting, we can determine what the appropriate next steps may be. We expect these guidelines to change… and then change again. So, please call us, and we can update on the current protocol.
What is a dental emergency?
Dental emergencies, according to the American Dental Association, “are potentially life-threatening and require immediate treatment to stop ongoing tissue bleeding, or to alleviate severe pain or infection.” What constitutes an emergency is pretty simple – it’s about pain or trauma. Some common dental emergencies include:
• Severe dental pain (most people think of this as a “toothache”)

• Pain from a wisdom tooth

• Post-operative pain from dental surgery or procedure

• An abscess or localized pain and swelling

• A broken tooth resulting in pain or cutting your tongue or cheek

• A knocked-out tooth

• Dental treatment if a temporary crown or bridge is lost, broken, or causing gum irritation

Other allowed emergency dental care includes extensive decay or defective fillings that cause pain. Removal of stitches, denture adjustments for radiation/oncology patients, denture adjustments, or
repairs to address difficulty chewing, replacing a temporary filling on a tooth with a root canal also are allowed. Loose and traumatic orthodontic wires or appliances that are causing pain also qualify. The ADA has a terrific website for patients called mouthhealthy.org, where you can download their guide to help decide if you have a dental emergency.

What if I have already scheduled a checkup?
This will be one of the few times where you’ll hear a dentist advise you to avoid your six-month checkup. However, routine hygiene and cleaning appointments are considered elective procedures. This is a basic list of elective or non-emergency dental procedures:
• Initial examinations (including x-rays)

• Periodic (six-month) checkups (also including x-rays)

• Routine dental cleanings and other preventive therapies

• Orthodontic procedures other than those to address a problem (e.g., pain, infection, trauma)

• Extraction of teeth that do not hurt (like having your wisdom teeth pulled)

• Fillings on cavities that aren’t causing pain • Aesthetic dental procedures (such as whitening)
Make no mistake — six-month exams are still essential. As soon as the crisis passes, let’s get that hygiene appointment rescheduled for you.

What happens when I get to the dental office with an emergency?
When you call for your appointment, we will ask a few questions to make sure that it is safe to care for you. We will also let you know the changes to our regular visit. We may request, for instance, that you stay in the car, and we will text or call you when it is appropriate to enter the office. We may have you sign a Patient Request for Treatment, Representations, and Consent document. Everything that we are currently doing is with your safety in mind. The questions that we will ask might include:
• Have you had symptoms commonly associated with COVID-19?
(For example: fever, shortness of breath, dry cough, runny nose, or sore throat)
• Within the past 14 days, have you traveled by airplane?
• Within the past 14 days, have you been at a gathering of 10 or more persons?
• Within the past 14 days, have you had close contact with a person who has been confirmed
positive or suspected to be positive for COVID-19?

If we are comfortable with the answers to the screening questions and your condition does need emergency attention, then we will do our best to render the appropriate treatment. That means that
even if you have what might qualify as an emergency, the dentist will evaluate if a procedure can be delayed for 30 days. This judgment would be based on assuring that waiting won’t cause you undue harm or pain. An example is a lost or broken filling where a temporary filling can be quickly and easily placed, allowing you to return in the future for the more involved final filling.

What safety measures will the office take if I have to come in for emergency treatment?

As health-care providers, we are trained on the CDC guidelines for infection control and using the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) such as masks and gloves. We continue to update our education and training to ensure your safety. We will do everything, including a referral to a different dental center, if indicated, to ensure your safety and our safety.

If I’m missing my checkup, should I do anything differently?
Make sure you are brushing and flossing. Do everything that we advise you to do regularly. It’s never been more important to do the best job possible to maintain your oral health. Since many of us will have extra time on our hands, make sure you brush at least twice a day for two minutes. If you feel like you want to take additional steps to protect your hygiene during this time, here are a few ideas:
1) Use a powered toothbrush.
2) Use an irrigation device like a water flosser.
3) Use interdental “pics” or the like to compliment your flossing.
4) FLOSS! If you don’t currently floss, it’s an excellent opportunity to start. You have the extra time, and
once you’re in the habit, you’ll like the extra clean feeling while also strengthening your gums!

If my child or I am in orthodontic treatment, will missing appointments cause harm?

The simple answer is “No.” Your teeth will just stop moving at some point. Once elective procedures are allowed again, treatment can easily be restarted, and your teeth will start moving from right where they left off. If you have aligners, you may be able to have a teledentistry consultation with us, and we may, if appropriate, send you your next set of aligners. Otherwise, continue to use your current aligner. Even though your teeth will generally stop moving after a week or two in the same aligner, it will act as a retainer holding the teeth in place until you can get in for your next aligner. The most important thing is to keep your teeth clean with brushing, flossing, and avoid sweets, especially between meals. Stay home, stay safe, and know that we’re here for you.
During this time, when we are all asked to stay home unless there is a dental emergency, which means pain or trauma, most of you will be just fine. Concentrate on excellent basic home hygiene. You can be secure that your dental health will likely be fine. If you’re still confused or unclear as to whether you need to be seen in the office, email us or call us. (Contact details are on our website at www.portofinodental.org or call us at 239-482-8806. We are here for you, as are our dental colleagues all over the country, and, for that matter, the entire world right now.

 

Stay safe and healthy!


Dr. Ricardo S. Bocanegra

Missing teeth?


If you’re missing teeth, implant dentistry may be the best option to get a new smile. Dental implants can improve your smile in a variety of ways, and some of them may even be surprising. Here’s what you need to know.

-Understanding the Basics of Implant Dentistry

Implant dentistry has existed since the 1980s, but it’s really gained popularity in the last decade. Essentially, when you get a dental implant, we put a small metal post in your jaw bone. The jaw bone ossifies around the post, and then we place a crown on the post. The result is a prosthetic tooth that looks and feels just like a natural tooth.

-Replacing One or More Teeth

The most noticeable way that implant dentistry helps to preserve your smile is by replacing missing teeth. You can replace one or multiple missing teeth with implant dentistry. If you just need to replace a single tooth, the process is exactly as described above. Typically, if you are missing several teeth, we will place implants in different locations in order to distribute the pressure of the bite. The hybrid denture is when they place a bridge between the implants. There are also full dentures that can work with implant dentistry. With this option, the implants work as anchors for your dentures, and you just snap the dentures into place. This creates a more secure, natural feeling fit.

-Preventing Future Decay

On an aesthetic level, implant dentistry helps to improve your smile, but implants also help your smile in other, indirect ways. When you are missing teeth, other teeth often began to move into those areas. Your mouth has a natural tendency to fill those gaps. As that happens, your teeth come out of alignment. This can lead to issues with chewing, headaches, and even TMJ syndrome. On top of that, when your teeth rub against each other due to misalignment, that can trap food debris and lead to cavities. By choosing implant dentistry, you help to minimize some of the risk of future decay.

-Preserving the Integrity of Your Jaw Bone

Implant dentistry can also help to preserve the integrity of your jaw bone. When you are missing teeth, your jaw bone starts to deteriorate. You can see this effect in many people who have lost all their teeth. Their jaw line loses its strength, and the mouth almost seems to collapse in on itself. Basically, this happens because when there aren’t any teeth with roots to stimulate the jaw bone leading to the atrophy and resorption of the jaw bone. Dental implants mimic the role of the root of the teeth. They convince the jaw bone that it is still integral to the body’s function. This prevents the jaw bone from deteriorating and safeguards your smile.

Dental implants are changing the way people live. With them, people are rediscovering the comfort and confidence to eat, speak, laugh and enjoy life. For more information about dental implants or to schedule a consultation appointment, call our office in Fort Myers, FL at
239-482-8806
https://www.portofinodental.org/patient-informa…/scheduling/

#ADA #MouthHealthy

Straight teeth to show off your smile!

ClearCorrect invisible braces are the clear & simple way to straighten your teeth, so you can show off your smile!

ClearCorrect is a clear aligner system used to straighten teeth as an alternative to traditional braces. Similar to other clear aligner brands (like Invisalign) available to dentists or orthodontists certified to offer them to their patients, ClearCorrect straightens teeth using a series of clear, custom-made, removable aligners that gradually move teeth a little bit at a time, eventually correcting the teeth and smile to elicit a new, revitalized look.

What You Should Know

Your records — including impressions, photographs and radiographs, along with a prescription for your custom-made aligners — are sent by your dentist to the ClearCorrect laboratory, where an exact 3-D model of your teeth is created. Your treatment team then maps out a complete treatment plan showing the gradual realignment that will reposition your teeth from their current position to where your dentist wants them to be.

The “treatment set-up,” a computerized representation of your teeth before and after treatment, is available for viewing after treatment planning. You receive your treatment set-up by email and respond with your approval or any adjustment requests. Using the most up-to-date digital mapping and molding technology, custom aligners then are created with computer precision.

How it Works

ClearCorrect treatment involves four phases of aligner therapy. Each phase requires a new set of aligners that are worn for a three-week period. The time between each phase allows for control and flexibility.

ClearCorrect aligners are worn all the time, except when eating and drinking, or while brushing and flossing. Designed with aesthetics in mind, the aligners are barely noticeable and won’t have an impact on your daily routine.

After wearing each aligner set, results will be noticeable as your teeth begin slowly adjusting and aligning to your desired smile. Periodic check-ups with your dentist are required so your progress can be evaluated and you can be given the next set of aligners. This sequence will continue until you have achieved your new smile.

Treatment time can vary from one to two years, depending upon your specific condition and degree of misalignment. There are three treatment options available:

  • Unlimited: Patients are provided with as many aligners needed to complete the case.
  • Limited 12: Patients are provided with 12 sets of aligners.
  • Limited 6: Patients are provided with 6 sets of aligners.

The cost of treatment varies from option to option, with Unlimited at the top of the cost spectrum. To determine the best treatment option for you and to further evaluate costs, setup a consultation with a ClearCorrect provider in your area.

Who Can Benefit?

ClearCorrect currently is available to treat adults and teenagers. (Compare with Invisalign Teen.) Children who might not have all of their molars and senior citizens who present with more complicated dental cases also may be candidates for ClearCorrect, but should consult with their dentists to determine the treatment option that best suits their needs.

ClearCorrect can be used to treat the following orthodontic conditions:

  • Crowded teeth
  • Spacing between teeth
  • Overbites
  • Underbites
  • Crooked or turned (rotated) teeth

ClearCorrect vs. Traditional Orthodontics

In cases where ClearCorrect is not suitable for certain misalignment cases or complex bite problems, traditional orthodontics can be used. However, traditional metal braces are attached to the teeth and adjusted periodically by your dentist, and they are not removed until your treatment is complete. Also, traditional braces might hinder your ability to perform routine oral hygiene tasks and might interfere with eating and speaking.

On the other hand, the aligners are custom fit to your teeth to provide an irritation-free treatment, with nearly no adjustment discomfort.

ClearCorrect vs. Invisalign

ClearCorrect and Invisalign both are a series of clear, custom-fit, removable aligners that slowly realign teeth into the desired position. Fabricated impressions then are used to create a 3-D model of the teeth. Both are possible solutions to correcting problems such as crowded or spaced teeth, overbites, underbites and crooked (turned) teeth. ClearCorrect aligners offer enhanced clarity (meaning they’re virtually invisible) and are minimally invasive. They’re also resistant to clouding from wear.

Both aligners are provided in sets, and periodic follow-up appointments with your dentist are required so he/she can check your progress. Invisalign requires 20 to 30 aligners for both the upper and lower teeth, and most adults complete their treatment within a year. ClearCorrect treatment for moderate cases requires 32 steps of treatment, which are delivered in eight phases. Minor cases require 12 steps of treatment, delivered in three phases. However, treatment times vary from one to two years, depending on the specific alignment problem.

Getting Started

Only your dentist can determine if ClearCorrect is the right orthodontic treatment option for you. Call Porto Fino Dental to schedule a consultation to determine if ClearCorrect is the right option for you!

 

 

Bruxism: Are You Experiencing It?

The term “bruxism” refers to tooth grinding and tooth clenching that many children and adults experience throughout their lifetime. Bruxism occurs when the teeth contact each other in a forceful fashion, this can be silent or cause a loud sound especially when sleeping.

Why Does Teeth Grinding Occur?

Many medical and dental professionals may not always know the exact cause, but bruxism can occur due to psychological stress that people may be dealing with during the week. Stress can be categorized in two ways — by internal and external factors.

Internal factors could be the foods you consume, your level of fitness, your emotional stability, overall health and well-being, and the amount of sleep you get each evening. External factors of psychological stress include the environment you are in each day, interaction with others when you are at home, and how you deal with challenges on a daily basis.

Bruxism’s Impact on the Mouth

There are several elements that can occur in the mouth when people are experiencing bruxism:

  • Wearing away the tooth enamel and possibly the dentin
  • Cracking or chipping teeth, bridgework or implants
  • Tooth sensitivity can occur
  • Teeth can become painful or loose
  • Facial pain due to clenching of jaw muscles
  • Headaches
  • Overall facial fatigue
  • Pain in the temporomandibular joint (jaw bone on either side of the mouth)

Ready to Schedule a Consultation?

Call us: 239-482-8806

Treating the Bruxism Problem in Fort Myers, FL

Most individuals suffering from bruxism should see their dental professional/specialist to determine why they are experiencing this problem. Your dental professional may recommend that you wear a mouth guard or a night guard to cushion the clenching or tooth grinding during sleeping. Additionally, your dental professional may suggest ways to reduce stress so you can decrease the level of bruxism. You should consider avoiding foods such as chocolate and drinks that contain caffeine and alcohol. Avoid chewing forcefully and your dentist or oral maxillofacial surgeon may suggest conducting exercises to relax your jaw muscles during the day. If your bruxism is more severe, an occlusal splint may be recommended as well as medication prescribed to help relax you or make you sleep more soundly. Your dental professional will be able to work with you to find the cause and the solution to alleviate this problem.

© Copyright 2009 Colgate-Palmolive Company

Bad Breath: Do You Have It? You May Not Know You Do

Most people are unaware of the fact that they have bad breath, or “halitosis” as dental professionals refer to it. Actually, one in four people have bad breath and some studies have reported that approximately 50 percent of the adult population does have it.1 In fact, it is estimated that nearly 60 million people will suffer from chronic halitosis in the United States.2

Causes of Bad Breath

Bad breath can be caused by external and internal factors. External factors can be the types of foods that we eat such as spicy or odorous in nature (certain spices used in cooking, garlic, onions even tuna or tacos). If you think your bad breath is related to the foods that you are consuming, consider recording the food you are eating to determine if this is the reason. People who use tobacco and alcohol can also experience bad breath.

Internal factors include oral factors that can affect the body systemically. The tongue provides a place for bacteria to attach and grow. Most odor-causing bacteria produce compounds that cause bad breath called volatile sulfur compounds (VSCs). These primary VSCs that cause bad breath are hydrogen sulfide and methyl mercaptan. Most of these odor-causing bacteria reside in the posterior area of the tongue.

Other causes of bad breath can include the following:3

  • Dental issues (poor oral hygiene, gingivitis and periodontal disease)
  • Dentures (plaque and food can develop on dentures)
  • Dry mouth (lack of saliva flow)
  • Mouth, nose and throat issues (sinus or throat infections and cryptic tonsillitis)
  • Systemic diseases (diabetes, lung infections or abscesses, kidney/liver failure, gastrointestinal conditions)
  • Patients who are dieting on a regular basis

Please see your dental professional for a dental appointment to determine why you are experiencing bad breath and continue to properly clean your mouth with an antibacterial fluoride toothpaste, floss daily and clean your tongue with a tongue brush or scraper.

©Copyright 2009 Colgate-Palmolive Company

References:
1. American Dental Association, Council on Scientific Affairs: Association report: Oral Malodor, J Am Dent Asso 134:209-214, 2003.
2. The American Breath Specialists. Causes and Treatment of Bad Breath. Reviewed information at www.breath-care.com.
3. Bad Breath, Mayo Clinic, Reviewed information at www.mayoclinic.com

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Gum Disease: What You Need to Know

Why do rheumatoid arthritis and gum disease often go hand in hand? Learn about the significance of the connection and what you can do to protect your overall health.

Fast Facts

People living with rheumatoid arthritis are more likely to develop gum disease compared to people who do not have RA. Inflammation related to gum disease or peridontitis may play a role in rheumatoid arthritis disease activity.

Controlling gum disease inflammation may help improve rheumatoid arthritis symptoms.

When you’re living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), brushing, flossing, and seeing your dentist regularly are especially important. Studies show a strong connection between RA and gum disease, an inflammatory condition that can lead to tooth loss and other health complications, such as heart disease.

At this point, experts aren’t sure which health issue is the chicken and which is the egg. A German study published in June 2008 in the Journal of Periodontology showed that people with RA had eight times the odds of developing gum disease as compared with people without RA. A study out of the University of Louisville in Kentucky published in September 2013 found that the bacterium that causes periodontal disease, Porphyromonas gingivalis, increases the severity of rheumatoid arthritis, leads to an earlier onset of the disease, and causes symptoms to progress more quickly. And a Swedish study published in March 2016 in the journal Arthritis & Rheumatology suggests that P. gingivalis may be a possible trigger for autoimmune disease in a subset of RA patients. “The connection is confusing,” says Terrance Griffin, DMD, chair of the department of periodontology at the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston. “There are so many factors that can come into play, like oral hygiene. RA can cause you to lose some dexterity, which may mean you can’t clean your teeth as well. But that may only partially account for this relationship.”

Gum Disease and Rheumatoid Arthritis: The Inflammation Link

Doctors may not know for sure how gum disease and RA are linked, but both diseases have inflammation in common, which may explain the connection. Inflammation is a protective immune system response to foreign bodies like viruses and bacteria. But with autoimmune diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, the immune system mistakenly triggers inflammation even though there are no viruses or bacteria to fight off. It’s possible that the immune system is stimulated by mouth inflammation and infection; therefore,setting off a cascade of events where inflammation develops at the site of joints or arthritis. Dr. Bocanegra strongly believes that controlling the inflammation through better dental care could play a role in reducing the incidence and severity of RA.

Treating One Condition May Improve the Other

People with a severe form of rheumatoid arthritis that have successfully treated their gum disease, have seen their pain and other arthritis symptoms get better. In addition , patients who have been treated with drugs for both gum disease and rheumatoid arthritis fared better than those who received RA medication alone. Dr. Bocanegra recommends that people who have both gum disease and RA should have an informed care team comprised of a physician, a dentist and a periodontist. Brushing and flossing can be challenging for those with RA, and you should work with your doctors to find out what works best for you. And if you don’t have a periodontist, get an evaluation from your dentist every year to monitor the status of your gums, since you are more likely to get it.

 

Dental Care for People With Rheumatoid Arthritis

Gum disease ranges from gingivitis, a mild form that causes swollen, tender gums, to more serious forms like periodontitis, in which inflammation affects the tissue and bone supporting the teeth. Some people with RA also develop Sjögren’s syndrome or sicca syndrome, an autoimmune disease of the glands, which causes dry mouth and increased tooth decay. If you have gingivitis, it can be reversed with twice-yearly dental cleanings and good at-home care.

Brushing and flossing can be challenging for those with RA, and you should work with your doctors to find out what works best for you. And if you don’t have a dentist, call Dr. Bocanegra at 239-482-8806 for an evaluation to monitor the status of your gums, since you are more likely to develop gum disease.

 

Your Mouth’s Dirty Little Secret

If you sometimes suffer from “not-so-fresh” breath, you’re not alone. Over 60 million Americans suffer from chronic bad breath. Heartburn, antibiotics, acid reflux, diabetes and certain diets can worsen bad breath.

It might feel clean, but your mouth is a breeding ground for bacteria, which feed on food particles trapped between your teeth and the fissures of your tongue. Bad breath is actually the smell of the gaseous waste produced by those bacteria — a foul odor comprised of what cientists call volatile sulfur compounds or VSCs.

Most breath care products just mask the symptoms and don’t attack the cause, allowing those bacteria to roam   free and continue their chain of smelly proliferation. That’s where Philips Sonicare BreathRx is different. BreathRx is the only breath care system specifically designed to neutralize   the gases and kill bacteria at the origin of bad breath.

The Philips Sonicare BreathRx system

                                     

Fresh breath is just three steps away:

  1. Brush –Sonicare’s purifying toothpaste starts you out on a fresh note, combining Zytex with advanced whitening power and fluoride in a refreshing blue gel. For best results, brush with Philips Sonicare FlexCare Platinum. With its 31,000 brush strokes per minute, the power toothbrush agitates the fluids that surround your teeth to disrupt plaque and efficiently distribute fluoride and Zytex to hard-to-reach areas.
  2. Scrape–Remove food particles and odor-causing germs from your tongue with our tongue cleaner and spray.
  3. Rinse–A powerful antibacterial mouth rinse sweeps away any leftover bacteria and gives you a minty-clean feeling.

Call Porto Fino Dental at 239-839-8774 and ask about how Philips Sonicare BreathRx can help you fight bad breath at the source.

 

 

New ADA Report Names Top 3 Oral-Health Problems


What are the most common oral health problems Americans are facing today? The Health Policy Institute, a research division of the American Dental Association, recently released the results of a wide-ranging survey of nearly 15,000 adults across every state. Here’s what they found:

For the population as a whole, the top issue — experienced occasionally or very often by 33% of respondents — was dry mouth. Also called xerostomia, dry mouth generally results from insufficient saliva production. This is a side effect of many medications, and it can also be caused by certain diseases. When it happens occasionally, dry mouth is an inconvenience. But if it becomes a constant problem, it can lead to tooth decay.

Next on the list, difficulty biting or chewing was an issue for 31% of people who responded to the survey — but younger people and people with lower incomes reported it at much higher rates than the population as a whole. A number of things can cause this problem, including teeth that are cracked, loose, or deeply decayed, or poorly fitted dentures. If your teeth are sensitive to pressure, it may indicate that you need a root canal to save a tooth with diseased or dying pulp tissue. Problems when biting or chewing may also keep you from enjoying healthy, nutritious food, because this is often more challenging to eat than processed foods.

Pain is the third item on the list, experienced by about 29% of all respondents. But pain was the number one oral health problem for both lower-income households and people aged 18-34: It was reported by over 40% of both groups. There are many possible causes of this issue, but in general tooth pain is your body’s way of telling you something’s wrong; if you ignore it, the pain may go away… but the underlying problem won’t. The longer you let it go, the more difficult it may be to treat.

If you are experiencing any of the problems mentioned above, don’t disregard it — Call Porto Fino Dental at 239-482-8806 and make a dental appointment as soon as possible. 

You pay for it, why not use it?

use-it2

This year is quickly coming to a close…NOW is the time to review any remaining benefits available on your dental insurance plan for 2016. Most insurance plans have an annual maximum benefit available. If you do not use this maximum amount, the remaining balance is lost at the end of the year.

Going into the new year with unused dental benefits is essentially like wasting the money you tirelessly worked for all year long. If you’re like the majority of insured people, your insurance plan runs on a calendar year. Once the calendar turns it’s page to January 1, you’re money doesn’t roll over- it disappears! Insurance companies aren’t going to call you to make sure you’re using up your remaining coverage. They’re actually counting on millions of Americans to overlook this so your money will end up back in their bank accounts.

Don’t Waste Your Preventive Care Services

Most dental benefit plans cover all, or a large portion of, preventive services. This includes twice-yearly teeth cleanings, exam, and x-rays. Did you remember to schedule your 6-month cleaning at your last appointment? If not, contact Porto Fino Dental in Fort Myers today to schedule a cleaning before  the end of the year. This not only helps keep your mouth clean and healthy, you won’t be wasting your benefits that you’ve been paying for all year.

Start A Treatment in 2016 and Complete A Treatment in 2017

If you need dental work completed that requires multiple visits, such as a dental implant or a dental bridge and crown, you can maximize your dental benefits across the two calendar years. If you are close to meeting your maximum, or have met your deductible, you can have part of the treatment completed in November or December. You can complete the treatment in January or February, which will help you to reach your deductible more quickly.

Call Us Today

If you have been putting off any dental work, contact Porto Fino Dental in Fort Myers today. We can help you understand your dental benefits and explain how you can get the most of of your insurance coverage. Start 2017 with a healthy and beautiful smile!