Happy Halloween!

This Halloween, let the kids enjoy the festivities without harboring guilt about all those sweet sugary treats they will be collecting.  Check out our “tricks” for protecting your kids’ teeth without depriving them the fun of getting dressed up and going door-to-door for candy!

Trick-or-Treat … Not Trick-or-EAT
Before heading out today – explain to your little trick-or-treaters that they shouldn’t eat candy while on the go. To be safe, a responsible adult should inspect all collected goodies before any are consumed. This will also reduce the amount of treats the kids will eat, and allow everyone to enjoy the activity instead of bickering over what can and can’t be eaten. After you get home, designate a specific time each day – optimally following a meal or snack time – that one or two pieces of candy can be enjoyed. 

Send a Sweet Message
Teaching your children the lesson of “everything in moderation” is an extremely important one, especially when it comes to sweets, since you don’t want to create a negative association. Halloween is a great time to enforce this idea, so once you get home go through their candy-cache along with the kids and let them pick a specific amount of items to keep and enjoy.  Then, be sure to remove the rest of the candy quickly!

Choose wisely
Not all candy is created equal, especially when it comes to impacting oral health. The worst offenders are sugary treats that are either sticky or long-lasting, such as gummy bears and lollipops.  Hard candies are doubly bad since they can also cause broken or chip teeth.  Encourage your kids to remove these items from their baskets – or better yet not pick them up at all!

To learn more about protecting your child’s teeth, visit Little Smiles of Roselle Park Dental or call us at 908-998-4698.

Ancient Teeth Found in Chinese Cave Change History

Photo credit: Reuters

Need yet another reason to take good care of your teeth?  They may be around A LOT longer than you think!

The recent discovery of ancient fossilized teeth in a cave in South China has disproven the long-held belief that humans did not live in Asia prior to 50,000 years ago. 

Scientists on Wednesday announced the discovery of teeth between 80,000 and 120,000 years old that they say provide the earliest evidence of fully modern humans outside Africa.

Read More …

Roselle Park Dental Hosts National Dentists for Educational Seminar

Earlier this month, Dr. Oshidar held an educational seminar for other dentists. The two-day event consisted of Dr. Oshidar teaching the latest technology and updates in science and implant dentistry.

Roselle Park Dental hosted other doctors from around the country - the day was an extreme success!

Learn more about Dr. Oshidar’s extensive dental implant credentialing or call us today at 908-998-4698.

FREE Educational Implant Seminar

 Join us next Tuesday for refreshments and a FREE educational seminar on October 6, 2015 at 6 p.m.!

Space is limited – call (908) 998-4698 now to reserve your seat …

Understanding Your Dental Insurance

Comprehending and navigating what is and isn’t covered by your dental insurance can be confusing, but understanding your plan is an essential step towards getting the necessary care and treatment to ensure healthy teeth and gums. Just because dental work is not completely covered by your insurance does not mean that the work is not necessary.

Maximizing Your Dental Benefits. Even if your dentist is “in network” or participates with your insurance plan, this does not translate into all of the dental work you receive being 100% covered.  As with most medical insurance plans, there is often an annual maximum dollar amount above which the patient is responsible for all additional charges.  Some plans also have a deductible – or an amount that must be spent on dental care costs – before insurance will begin covering any charges from the dentist. 

What is Covered by My Plan? With hundreds of dental insurance companies all offering countless plans – it is impossible for your dentist office to accurately answer this often-asked question.  Most dental benefits are calculated on an annual basis, but not necessarily from January to December. Check with your insurance company to determine when your annual benefits start and finish.  Many plans include fine print items, such as exceptions, frequency limitations, and exclusions, as well as the disclaimer that “benefits will be determined after the insurance company receives a claim”.

How Do I Know How Much Dental Work Will Be Cost? Since a dentist cannot submit a claim to the insurance company until after dental work has been completed, it is not possible to know exactly what will be covered vs. what the patient will be responsible for until after the dental work has been done.  While it is the patients’ responsibility to understand their dental insurance benefits, at Roselle Park Dental we will provide an estimate of coverage prior to completing any dental work.

To learn more, visit Roselle Park Dental online or call us at 908-998-4698 to learn how to maximize your dental benefits …

Head Back to School with a Healthy Smile

As summer winds down, it is time to send the kids back to school again! Along with shopping for new school supplies and getting back into a daily routine, now is the time to schedule your kid’s annual dental check-up as well.

A regular visit to the dentist is just as important as your child’s annual physical, since according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tooth decay affects U.S children more than any other chronic infectious disease.  Oral health issues can lead to speech impediments, trouble eating, and ultimately missed school days – all of which can hinder your child’s ability to learn and thrive at school.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, 40% of children suffer from tooth decay before starting kindergarten.  Routine dental visits can help ensure your child does not develop cavities over time, and can help to teach them proper preventative measures.

While getting back into the swing of a daily routine again, it is also the perfect time to reestablish good dental health habits including brushing twice a day and flossing properly daily. While finishing up your shopping, let the kids pick up a new toothbrush to help get them excited about caring for their teeth and gums!

To schedule your child’s annual dental visit at Little Smiles of Roselle Park Dental, visit www.littlesmilesofnj.com or call us at 908-998-4698.

FREE Educational Implant Seminar

Join us next Tuesday for refreshments and a FREE educational seminar on September 1, 2015 at 6 p.m.!

Space is limited – call (908) 998-4698 now to reserve your seat …