Insurance Coverage - Are You Getting What You Pay For?

When a parent realizes that their child needs braces, they are usually very happy to find out that they have orthodontic coverage that will pay a portion of the costs. Unfortunately, more parents are now finding out that the rules are changing and if insurance paid a portion of orthodontic treatment for a Phase 1, they will not cover any of Phase 2, which is often more expensive for the parent and the insurance company. Depending on the insurance company and the patient's treatment plan, a 1st Phase of orthodontic treatment may only beneift the patient a few hundred dollars, while a Phase 2 payout by the insurance company may cost the insurance company a couple of thousand dollars.

I was recently speaking to a customer service representative at one of the nation's largest insurance company's, trying to get information on a patient's orthodontic coverage, when I was informed that insurance will no longer cover both phases of orthodontic treatment. I was told that if a patient has Phase 1 or braces on the primary teeth, then insurance won't cover a Phase 2 or braces on the permanent teeth later on if needed.

While on the surface, this may not seem like a big deal to a lot of people and the reasoning behind it is being touted as a way for employees to save money on their dental  premiums, most people who have had a 1st Phase of orthodontic treatment, don't realize that they often continue to pay for benefits that they will not be able to benefit from at a later date.  To compound the problem, the majority of patients that need a Phase 1, need a Phase 2 when the permanent teeth come in. Phase 1 is usually required when there is a potentially destructive dental issue at hand. An example would be a cross bite that can damage the teeth when they hit each other each time the child closes their mouth to chew their food. In this case, without a Phase 1 of orthodontic treatment, there is a possibility that the teeth will chip and/or break.

Lesson learned? If your child had a 1st Phase of orthodontic treatment, verify with your insurance comapny that if your child needs additional orthodontic treatment at a later date, he or she will be covered. If you won't be covered for a second phase, you need to make sure you are not paying for orthodontic coverage that you will not benefit from and you may want to shop around for another dental plan that will help you cover the expense at a later date.

Ever Wonder What Your Smile Would Look Like After Braces?

If you are anything like a lot of other people with crooked or imperfect teeth, you have probably wondered what you would look like if you had braces. Well now is your chance to find out. The American Association of Orthodontists are running a promotion where people can send in a photo of themselves smiling and they will edit the photo to show what you would look like after orthodontic treatment. The promotion is called Virtual Smiles and you can click on the link below to check it out for yourself. It's fun, fast and best of all FREE!

Virtual Smiles Promotion

Special Patients with Special Needs

At Eder Orthodontics, Dr. Eder and his team, work with patients of all ages and needs. These patients often include patients with special needs and disabilities. Dr. Eder is experienced working with these patients, and he and his team work hard to help create a comfortable & relaxing environment for them and their families.

Whether the patient is wheelchair bound due to an illness or accident, or suffers from Down’s Syndrome or other developmental disability, Dr. Eder and his team work hard to accommodate all the needs of all the patients entrusted to his care. It is not unusual for Dr. Eder to set aside extra time to work with some of his special needs patients at the parent’s request, so as to not overwhelm a patient that might not feel comfortable in a waiting room filled with patients.

Dr. Eder’s compassion and experience in working with patients with and without special needs is unsurpassed. He and his staff at Eder Orthodontics treat all of their patients special, regardless of their needs.

Play It Safe and Gear Up with a Sport Mouthguard

At Eder Orthodontics, we know how important it is to protect your teeth and your face while playing sports. With the arrival of spring and summer there is an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your mouth and teeth. Dr. Eder knows that sports-related injuries are very common among children and teenagers alike and is happy to be a part of the AAO "Play it Safe" campaign. The American Association of Orthodontists is promoting their campaign to encourage youth of all ages to gear up and play it safe by wearing mouthguards when participating in any sporting activity.  

The following are some interesting statistics that the AAO has listed on their website and should be considered when deciding if your child needs a mouthguard when participating in their sport of choice.

Injuries can happen at any age or skill level – More than half of the seven million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth between ages 5 and 24. *

• Collision and contact sports have higher injury rates. Baseball, soccer, basketball and football account for about 80% of all sports-related emergency room visits for children between 5 and 14 years of age.*
• Mouth guard use is very low – 67% of parents say their child does not wear a mouth guard – yet, 70% say their biggest fear when their child plays is that they will get hurt.**
• One out of every four (27%) parents say their child has sustained an injury during an organized sport resulting in a trip to the emergency room.**
• Most coaches and leagues are not advising the use of mouth guards – Of the parents whose children do not wear a mouth guard, 84% say it's because the league or coach does not require it.**
• Hard hits occur no matter what the sport – The average high school baseball pitcher can throw a fast ball between 75-85 miles per hour. This compares to being hit in the mouth by a speeding car.***
• Cheerleading is one of the most dangerous sports, accounting for 65% of all injuries in high school girls' athletics.****
• Children with braces need to wear mouth guards – One out of every three (31%) parents say their child has orthodontic treatment or braces while playing an organized sport.*
• Lacerations can occur if an orthodontic patient´s mouth is not properly protected.

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
** American Association of Orthodontists
*** eFastball.com
**** MSNBC.com

These are just a few reasons that Dr. Eder and the Eder Orthodontics team are doing our part to spread the word that facial sports injuries can be avoided simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. At our office we have a variety of mouthguards available for patients of all ages. We even has an in-house Jawzz Professional Mouthguard maker that specializes in  mouthguards for professional and amateur athletes of all ages.

                  Click Here to Check Out Some Really Cool Jawzz Mouthguards!

Poking Wires, Broken Brackets and All That Stuff!

Anyone that has had or has braces knows that it is not uncommon to have a poking wire or a broken bracket at some point during treatment. While they can be bothersome and annoying, it is no reason to panic. Poking wires often occur when the wire shifts due to tooth movement or broken brackets. Fortunatley, poking wires can usually be easily fixed by reinserting the wire into the tube on the bracket by using a pair of tweezers to grasp the wire and carefully placing it into the tube. If you are unable to reinsert the wire, you also have the option of clipping the wire with a pair of nail cutters that resemble cuticle cutters. You just need to clip the wire as close as you can to where it connects with the last tooth that it is attached to. By doing this, you can temporarily provide comfort and alleviate the pain that can be caused by poking wires.

Building Relationships at Eder Orthodontics

At Eder Orthodontics, Dr. Eder and his staff pride themselves in building relationships with patients that often lasts long after the braces have come off and orthodontic treatment has been completed. It is not unusual to have patients stopping by just to say hello, even after getting their braces off years earlier.

It is also not unusual for parents to come in for orthodontic treatment after their children are out of braces. The amount of trust that they have in Dr. Eder and the staff is something that we take very seriously and work hard to maintain. One of the greatest compliments that patients give our office, is the referral of their friends and family. Dr. Eder has even had a couple of patients that he treated as teenagers, grow up and start a family of their own and then bring their children for consultations. Now that's a compliment!

To find out more and to schedule a complimentary consultation, please call our office at (561) 737-8776.

American Association of Orthodontists Promotes Free Consultation Campaign!

Starting in February and lasting until June 2011, the American Association of Orthodontists is promoting a Campaign for a Free Orthodontic Consultation. This is the perfect opportuntity for anyone wondering what it would take to have a beautiful smile, do so, without having to pay a consultation fee. During the initial appointment, Dr. Eder will do an exam to determine if any orthodontic treatment is necessary and if so, what type of treatment is recommended. Our staff is also be available to check insurance and discuss possible payment options. If you or anyone you know is interested in finding out how Dr. Eder can help you smile, please call the office at (561)737-8776 and we will be happy to set up an appointment for a Free Consultation. Eder Orthodontics always offers a Free Consultation to their  new patients, so give us a call today!