Click this Link for more information about wisdom teeth and how your Oral Surgeon

Impacted Wisdom Teeth

decides whether your wisdom teeth need to be removed or not.

Many patients ask us about the importance of removing wisdom teeth which are not causing them pain.  Asymptomatic third molars are not the same thing as disease-free third molars.  Wisdom teeth which are not causing active pain, swelling, infection or other symptoms are described as “asymptomatic”, meaning there are no symptoms.  The term asymptomatic third molars does not indicate that there is no disease, just no symptoms.  Research and studies beginning almost fifty years ago have been one of the most valuable sources of information regarding the potential for disease in third molars, the frequency of problematic conditions, and demonstrates the linking of third molars to conditions such as periodontal disease, cysts and tumors and bone infection (osteomylitis).

Click on the link above to download the AAOMS Whitepaper titled “Advocacy White Paper on Evidence Based Third Molar Surgery” to find out more about how your oral surgeon decides whether your wisdom teeth should be left in place or removed.

For more information about your wisdom teeth, options and planning for surgery, contact us.

Dr. Robert Weinstein and his team at Texas Wisdom Teeth and Dental Implants is proud to be a member of the Crown Council, a prestigious alliance of leading-edge dentists around the world.  The Crown Council and it’s members are committed to promoting oral health, fighting oral cancer and serving their community.  [1]

It is important to Dr. Weinstein and his team to support their community through volunteerism, medical missions and charitable giving.  One of the ways in which we do this is through our support of the Crown Council’s charitable arm, the Smiles for Life Foundation.  Smiles for Life has donated over $30 Million to hundreds of children’s charities since 1998.  100% of donations collected go to children’s charities.

Some of the Children’s charities that participate in the Smiles for Life Foundation are:

We are proud to support children's charities

Children’s Miracle

Network

Children of Romania

St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital

CURE (In Cambodia)

Smile for Hope

Kids Cancer Care Foundation

How We Contribute

Traditionally, Crown Council member offices engage in a promotional event held annually from March through June, during which member offices offer professional teeth whitening at a deeply discounted price.  100% of the proceeds from this event go to charity.

Crown Council

As an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Weinstein does not offer teeth whitening in his practice.  He had to get creative about how he could participate in this worthwhile cause that has changed many lives.  One of the most popular treatments offered in Dr. Weinstein’s oral surgery practice is dental implants to replace missing teeth.  The simple idea occurred that Dr. Weinstein would contribute a portion of the consultation fee for a dental implant to the Smiles for Life Foundation.  He decided to do this all year long, rather than from March through June every year. We expect to raise over $1200 for Smiles for Life in the coming year.  We hope to exceed that estimation each and every year.

When you see Dr. Robert A. Weinstein for a dental implant consultation, you are supporting children’s charities at home and worldwide.

Thanks to all of our wonderful patients for helping us make a difference in the lives of children in need.

By Dena Rathbun

You pay for it every month, but most patients are not sure exactly how their dental insurance plans work.  As a result, many patients can overpay for treatment, delay needed treatment or even avoid having covered treatment performed because they aren’t sure their dental insurance will cover the cost.

Understand Your Plan

Dental insurance is a tool to help patients with the costs involved in maintaining good dental health. It is important to understand the provisions and limitations of your individual dental plan. Reading through the plan documents can be boring and time consuming, but you should definitely do it before using your plan benefits.  It is the responsibility of the patient, not the insurance company or the dentist office to pay for services rendered.  If you understand your plan and how it works, you will be far less likely to end up with claim denials and unexpected        dental bills.

Stay “In-Network”

Most PPO (Preferred Provider Organizations) have provisions for fee reductions when a patient has services rendered by a participating network provider.  The participating providers have agreed to an itemized fee schedule which provides for fee reductions of the total price of treatment even BEFORE any insurance plan payments are made. Dental implants may not be a treatment which is payable by your plan, but the network dentist or oral surgeon has most likely agreed to a reduction in the regular fee, which you are entitled to. Most covered services have fee reductions from 10-35% off the regular fee when you stay “in-network”. Some DHMO (Dental Health Maintenance Organizations) plans do not pay claims for any services performed by a non-network provider.  Make sure you know what your obligations are regarding choosing a provider and getting a proper referral if necessary.

Read Your EOB

An Explanation of Benefits statement is provided to both the dentist and the patient every time a claim is paid or denied.  Make sure to read it, understand it and compare it to your itemized receipt for services provided by the dentist. Make sure the plan has paid your claim correctly.  If any charges were unpaid or denied, find out why.  Don’t pay for services not paid by your insurance without first calling the insurance company and finding out why the payment was denied and what you can do to get it paid.

Ask for a “Pre-Determination” of Benefits

Most dental work is not an emergency.  There is usually some time in between when the treatment is recommended by the dentist and when the treatment is actually performed.  Ask your in-network dental provider to send a “pre-determination” of benefits to your insurance company before proceeding with treatment.  The insurance company will process the estimate just as it would an actual claim for services.  The difference is,  instead of sending a payment, the insurance company will send a statement showing exactly what they would have paid on an actual claim.  This is the best way to get the most detailed information possible before having an extensive treatment.

Know the Limits

Almost all insurance companies have an annual maximum.  An annual maximum is the total maximum amount your policy will pay per year.  Know what your limit is.  If you have had other dental work done in a calendar year, contact your insurance company to find out how much is still payable on your behalf BEFORE you have extensive treatment.  If a claim is filed by your dentist and not paid because you have reached your annual maximum, you will be responsible for the payment of the difference.  Do not try to beat the system by having extensive work done in multiple offices at the same time.  Your insurance company is very good at not over-paying on an annual maximum.

In addition to an annual maximums, most insurance companies limit the number of office visits, dental cleanings and x-rays which are covered annually.  Visits to specialists are usually billed differently than visits to your regular dentist.  Visits to specialists are also covered differently than visits to your regular dentist.  Know and understand how your plan manages these limitations.

Plan Multi-Stage Treatment Accordingly

If you know that you are planning extensive treatment, you can plan the stages of the treatment to maximize your insurance plan payments.  If possible, plan the stages in such a way that your annual maximum renews itself in between stages.  This will allow for insurance payment of your second stage of treatment.  In addition, your unused annual maximum does not carry over. If you need dental work performed and you have not used all of your benefit for the year, try to do it before it expires.  This will give you a fresh annual maximum when the policy year renews itself, leaving available funds for payment of other needed dental work.

Go for Your Exams and Cleanings Religiously!

The least expensive way to maintain good oral health is to go to your dentist at least twice a year for an exam and cleaning.  These services are usually covered 100% by your PPO plan.  When you do this routinely, you will find that problems are detected early and require less costly treatment to repair.  The best way to spend less on extensive dental work is to not need extensive dental work.  Always practice good personal oral hygiene and follow your dentist’s instructions for maintaining oral health, reversing gum disease and cavity prevention.

Dr. Robert Weinsteinis an “in-network” oral surgeon for most PPO and DHMO dental plans.  We offer the full spectrum of oral and facial surgical services including wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, bone grafting, jaw surgery and cosmetic facial surgery.  In addition to providing “in-network” fees for our insured patients, we also offer special rates for the uninsured.  For more information on your individual insurance policy, visit your plan website.  For information on the average cost of specific treatments, visit http://www.costhelper.com/cost/health/health-personal-care.html and select the appropriate procedure listed under “Dentistry”.

For information on how to use your dental benefits in our office, contact us or go to our website.

Here’s a question we’ve been hearing quite often lately. How can Dr. Weinstein offer dental implants for so much less than I’ve been quoted by other offices? By paying less, I must be giving up something important such as implant success, the surgeon’s level of expertise or the quality of the dental implant, right?

Don’t Compromise Experience and a Superior Product!

Thommen Medical SPI dental implants

As a high volume dental implant surgeon, Dr. Weinstein is in a unique position to provide his patients with the same high quality, successful dental implant hardware system that he has used for the last 10 years with incredible success. The only difference is the cost. With over 30 years experience in placing dental implants, Dr. Weinstein has researched and used many of today’s popular dental implant systems, often serving on a team who evaluated the systems before their release in the U.S. Dental implants have a success rate of about 97% over 47 years of research. Dr Weinstein has used the Thommen SPI Dental Implant for almost 10 years. Thommen Medical is a Swiss company headquartered in Waldenburg, Switzerland. “I have noticed that I have actually had an increase in my success rate for dental implants since using the Thommen system”, says Dr. Weinstein.

All dental implant systems function in the same basic manner

• The implant is placed into the bone without trauma to the bone
• The implant itself is made of a material which will not be rejected by the body and is inert such as titanium.
• The implant is given an afunctional healing period of 2-4 months after initial placement before applying a functional load on the implant.

For more information on the Thommen Medical SPI dental implant system, click here.

With Dental Implants, you can eat,laugh,talk and smile again with confidence!

A Simple Premise:

Dr. Weinstein offers dental implants for a lower fee than many dental implant specialists because he feels that the best treatment options with the highest success rates should not be priced out of reach for the average patient. When dental implants are easier to afford, patients are more likely to make decisions about their oral health that will be successful long term, provide the most desired results and have the greatest impact on their quality of life.

No more band-aids! You can afford to have your teeth fixed once and for all.

Our fees for dental implants do not include a substantial markup. We charge just what we need to cover our costs and make a modest profit. Dr. Weinstein believes in dental implants as the gold standard for tooth replacement and wants every patient to have access to this great treatment option. The bottom line is that our patients do not compromise quality of care, procedure success or appearance for cost. In fact, most of our patients find that they receive a superior level of patient service, compassion and personal attention from our team. The only thing affected by our lower fee is the income for the practice.

Do Your Research, Check Around, then Give Us a Call!

For more information on Dr. Weinstein, the Thommen Medical Dental Implant System and our Practice philosophy, visit our website. It is important to be an informed patient. Understanding dental implants and all your options empowers you to make the best decisions about your oral health. We have included information on our website to assist you in arming yourself with knowledge. Click here to go to texaswisdom.com now.

Regain your confidence, your quality of life and your SMILE!

Call to schedule your consultation appointment TODAY! 972-960-1111

Find out if Dental Implants are Right for You!

can change your life.

http://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-01-2011/the_bionic_mouth.print.html

Dr. Robert Weinstein is a leading oral surgeon with offices in Dallas and Valley Ranch. Along with our knowledgeable team, he’ll help you navigate the ins and outs of dental insurance to cover dental implants and wisdom tooth removal.

Things to Consider…

Make sure you know what your policy covers. If you have questions, call your insurance company’s customer service department. If they can’t help, bring your policy to us. We’ll help you decipher the oftentimes hard-to-read language.

Use an in-network dentist. Just because a dentist accepts insurance from a provider doesn’t mean that he or she is a preferred provider for the insurance carrier. Choosing a dentist that’s in network can drastically reduce any out-of-pocket expenses you may have to pay.

Check to see if your policy mandates a waiting period before specific procedures are covered. If so, wait until the period expires before scheduling your dental work, such as dental implant placement or removal of erupted or impacted wisdom teeth.

Make sure you obtain pre-authorization, if necessary, from your dental insurance carrier prior to having dental work performed. If you don’t obtain pre-authorization, and your policy demands it, your insurance carrier may not cover your procedure.

If you need dental implants, but your policy won’t pay for them, ask your insurance carrier to cover the cost of a bridge or denture. Then, you can pay the remainder out of pocket.

Remember to utilize your flex spending account, if applicable. These pre-tax dollars deducted from your paycheck can be applied to your dental implant surgery or your wisdom teeth extraction.

Don’t be intimated by your insurance company. Call and ask necessary questions, and follow up if you need additional information.

Call our Irving or Valley Ranch office for help, as well. Our team is experienced in dealing with insurance companies. We’ll be your ally to help maximize your coverage and determine that you get the care you need for the smile you deserve.

Dr. Weinstein is an oral and maxillofacial surgeon with over 30 years of experience. He’s built a reputation of excellence in dentistry, focusing on wisdom teeth removal and dental implant placement.

Wisdom Teeth Extraction
If only wisdom teeth made us smarter! These large molars are the last teeth to erupt in the jaw – if they erupt at all. Oftentimes, they becomes impacted, which means that they get stuck in bone or gum tissue. Pain, cyst formation, and infection can occur if this happens.

When they do erupt, wisdom teeth typically crowd existing teeth because our modern jaws just don’t have room for them.

Dr. Weinstein removes wisdom teeth to remedy the problems caused by the big molars and maintain or improve oral health. He uses advanced methods and skill honed by experience to make wisdom teeth extraction a safe, comfortable experience with reliable results.

Dental Implant Placement
We offer economical dental implant placement to replace missing teeth and rejuvenate smiles. Dental implants are the most natural tooth substitutes available. A tiny titanium post inserted in the jawbone functions as a tooth root and holds in place one or more replacement teeth, such as individual implant crowns or a full denture.

At our Dallas and Valley Ranch offices, Dr. Weinstein performs the surgery to place the implant posts in the jawbone. He’ll work with your cosmetic or restorative dentist, who will attach your custom-made replacement teeth.

Ask us how we’ve made implant dentistry more affordable than ever!

Your smile deserves customized care. Call our Dallas or Valley Ranch office today to schedule your appointment and take the first step toward an amazing smile.

People who are missing some teeth or all of their teeth experience a number of problems which can dramatically affect their quality of life, dental function and appearance.  When a patient is missing teeth or wearing a partial denture or a denture, a unique set of problems can occur.  Chewing on the front teeth to compensate for missing back teeth can cause excessive wear and misuse of the front teeth; leading to premature tooth loss.  People who are missing all of their teeth will experience loss of the jaw bone height and depth over time, resulting in a “sunk –in” facial appearance, impeded speech and an inability to keep a denture securely in place.  Loose dentures, missing teeth and bone loss are all great reasons to consider dental implants for a more functional and natural restorative option.

Some of the concerns of people who wear dentures and partial dentures are:

• Sores on the gums

• The use of adhesives

• Odor

• Inability to eat certain foods

• Poor diet

• Impeded speech

• Partial loss of sense of “taste” due to upper dentures

• Dentures that click, move or fall out during normal speech and eating

These concerns can be very embarrassing for denture wearers and have an adverse affect on quality of life.  Dental Implants can eliminate some, if not all of these problems be replacing the missing teeth.

Dental implants are used to replace a single missing tooth or a full mouth of missing teeth.  The implants function in such a way that preserves the jaw bone and prevents excessive bone loss.  Dental implants function the same as natural teeth and are a permanent solution for patients experiencing the embarrassment and dysfunction of missing teeth.

One of the most attractive attributes for dental implants is that they are 97% successful, going back over 47 years of research.  This means that people who choose dental implants will likely not have to replace them over time as they do other dental work. Because dental implants are a versatile and successful treatment option, more people than ever before are taking advantage of this option.

What about the Cost of Dental Implants?

While dental implants are not the least expensive treatment option, they are by far the longest lasting and most successful.  Many oral surgeons and other implant dentistry specialists have begun to offer low cost dental implants and other incentives to make this treatment option more budget friendly.  In some cases, a dental implant can be placed in the jaw for a similar cost as a “bridge”.  This is great news for people who want the best options available.

For more detailed information on dental implants and their uses, or to find out if dental implants are right for you, visit www.texaswisdom.com.