Health and Safety Update
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We are pleased to announce a new dentist joining our team at The Dentists on Bluemound.
We are pleased to announce a new dentist joining our team at The Dentists on Bluemound.
Dr. Elizabeth Schoenfeldt will begin her practice with us on Monday, July 6th! Dr. Elizabeth graduated from Marquette University School of Dentistry in 2019 and has spent the past year in a general practice residency at Illinois Masonic Hospital in Chicago. She has gained experience in many areas of general dentistry, including working with patients with special needs, and is looking forward to sharing her expertise with our team. As she winds down her residency, Dr. Elizabeth is looking forward to returning to her home state to begin private practice in Wauwatosa.
Dr. Elizabeth grew up in Bayside and completed her undergraduate studies at The University of Wisconsin-Madison majoring in biochemistry. While at UW she was on the rowing team all 4 years, which provided her the opportunity to travel and meet many amazing people. She also coached middle school rowing while in dental school.
In her spare time, Dr. Elizabeth likes to swim, run, read, hang out with friends and family, explore places around the city, watch movies, travel, and even knit. She likes to sing and is involved in her church choir, and she also plays the flute. Dr. Elizabeth loves Colectivo Coffee and can often be found there! She has three sisters that are a huge part of her life. She is also a dog lover; her family has a golden retriever named George.
We would like all of you to help us welcome Dr. Elizabeth Schoenfeldt to our dental family as she joins us in the tradition of providing excellent dental care to the people we are privileged to serve.
End Of Year Insurance Benefits
As we near the end of your insurance year, we wanted to remind you to take advantage of any unused dental benefits. Every year you receive a maximum amount from your dental insurance company, and in most cases the unused portion of this amount is lost when the new insurance year starts. These are benefits you have already paid for!
Your dental care is important to us, and we want to make sure you get the care you need without overpaying for it. If you have been postponing dental treatment or are overdue for a routine exam and cleaning, now is a great time to come in.
Please call us at 414-258-0120 to schedule!
THE INS AND OUTS OF DENTAL INSURANCE
THE INS AND OUTS OF DENTAL INSURANCE
Dental insurance gets more confusing every year, even for those of us who work with it every day! Approximately 65% of employers offer some type of dental insurance coverage. There are also several companies that offer individual dental insurance plans. We are here to help you understand how your insurance plan can help you cover the cost of your dental care. Below is a list of the dental insurance companies we are contracted with. If your dental insurance is not listed, that does not necessarily mean you will not have coverage in our office! Please give our office a call and we will be more than happy to decipher the coverage your plan will provide for you at our office!
WE PARTICIPATE IN THE FOLLOWING DENTAL INSURANCE NETWORKS:
Aetna Dental
Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield 300 Level Providers
Cigna Dental PPO
Delta Dental Premiere – Contact us if your plan is a PPO plan
Guardian Dental
Humana Dental PPO
Humana Gold – This is the Medicare Dental Option
Met Dental – Limited in network option – Contact Us!
We are NOT contracted with Medicaid, any of the state plans, or any HMO designated plan.
Retiring soon? Contact us with questions you may have in regards to Medicare Dental plan options! Some companies also offer an option to continue Dental coverage under Cobra plans, we can help you determine the cost effectiveness of that option. Many dental insurance options come at a cost that could be more expensive than paying for your care out of pocket.
We offer a 10% courtesy discount for our uninsured patients when they pay at the time of service, this could be your best option!
Call us with any questions you may have!
How Well Do You Know Your Dental Insurance?
Have you ever really thought about the answer to that question? If you haven’t you are not alone. Many patients typically are not in tune with how their dental claims are paid or what their plans pay for. The items listed below are just a few little snags your employer or the insurance carrier do not explain to you, the insured.
- Annual Maximums: This is the highest dollar amount that your dental plan will pay during your benefit year. Most dental plans run on a calendar year Jan-Dec, however there are other plans that run on a benefit year which may be different. Any costs that rise above your annual maximum will be considered out of pocket for you.
- Preferred Providers: This term means one thing, if you see a dentist within the preferred network, which solely means they are in their network (participating dentist). If you get dental care from someone who is not in the network, your costs out of pocket will be greater.
- Pre-Existing Conditions Clause: Your dental insurance may have a missing tooth clause. For example replacing a tooth that was extracted prior to you enrolling in the dental plan benefits will not be paid.
- Coordination of Benefits or Non-Duplication of Benefits Clause:(Applies only if you carry dual insurance with your spouse): Even though you may have two dental plans there is no guarantee that all of the plans will pay for your treatment. Every insurance company handles the coordination in its own way, it is best to discuss this with both of your insurance companies for details.
- Frequency Limitations: Your dental insurance will limit the number of times it pays for certain treatments. However this should never dictate your treatment. For example, a cleaning and exam may be covered twice per plan year or once every six months (which means it MUST be six months to the date in order to receive the benefit). Be aware of how your plan plays so that you can receive the maximum benefit from your insurance.
- Not Dentally Necessary: Your insurance carrier may claim that a procedure is not dentally necessary and will not be covered. If this is the case it does not mean that the treatment was not needed. Never allow your insurance to dictate what is necessary, only you and your dentist should be making that decision. If your insurance denies treatment, you can appeal the claim.
- Downgrading: This is what your insurance company will do to reduce their cost. They may downgrade on certain treatments. For example, you may want a filling done with a composite (white) material but your insurance will only pay for a silver filling leaving the difference an out of pocket expense for you.
- Least Expensive Alternative Treatment Clause: When there are two ways of treating a condition the plan may only pay for the least expensive option. However this may not always be the best option. For example: your dentist may recommend a bridge to replace a tooth, but your plan may only pay for a partial denture.
*Always Remember that although you might be tempted to make a decision based on what your insurance will pay, remember that your health is the #1 priority. Take the time to discuss the best possible options regarding your care so that you can keep your teeth for a lifetime!
PLEASE JOIN US FOR OUR OPEN HOUSE!
We are excited to have our family, friends, patients and neighbors join us for our open house on Saturday July 28th from 11:00 am until 2:00 pm. Stop on by for a picnic style lunch and tour.
Our new location is taking shape!
Work at our new location is taking shape!
Only 75 days until we open at 11407 W. Bluemound Rd.
Stay tuned for updates as the grand opening gets closer!
Dental Insurance
October brings with it beautiful fall weather as well as insurance open enrollment options. If you are fortunate enough to have an employer based dental insurance plan, reviewing and making sense of these options can often be overwhelming. We are here to help clarify your insurance decisions.
The most important thing to be aware of when reviewing your insurance information: Is this a Premiere, PPO or an HMO/DMO policy? A Premiere policy allows you to visit any office and receive benefits there with LESS out of pocket expense to you as the patient. A PPO plan also reduces your out of pocket expense as long as you are seen at an office that is part of the PPO network, you also are able to be seen at an unnetworked office but may have a minimal additional out of pocket expense. An HMO/DMO policy means you will be assigned to a specific dentist or office and can only receive coverage there for the entire benefit year. We are not networked with any HMO/DMO plans; that option would sadly mean you would pay for your dental care out of pocket. The good news: We are in network with many premiere dental insurance companies and several PPO companies.
Coverage details beyond this can vary greatly. Things you may need to consider are; your yearly maximum and deductible, and the percentage of each service that is covered. Some insurance plans also have waiting periods in which you will not have access to your full benefits for a designated amount of time. Because the details are so different for every insurance company and every employer, we would encourage you to call or stop in and talk with our educated front desk staff. They are happy to help you determine the best benefits to cover your dental needs.
This is also the time of year to consider utilizing any remaining calendar year insurance benefit that you may have. In most cases any unused portion of your benefit is lost at the end of the benefit year. If you are due for a dental cleaning and exam, or have dental work that has been recommended but not completed, give our office a call and we will be happy to schedule a time that is convenient!
Comprehensive Exams at The Dentists on Bluemound
Comprehensive Exams at The Dentists on Bluemound
When it comes to your health, your dentist is one of the first resources in your line of defense against disease and health concerns. Whether you realize it or not, your mouth shows signs of major health concerns that affect your whole body—not always dental issues. The team at The Dentists on Bluemound will keep an eye out for large problems and address them as soon as possible. This includes oral cancer, gum disease, and the diseases that could develop from advanced gum disease. Let’s explore what one of our dental experts could run into during your next dental checkup.
Gum Disease
Many patients don’t realize they could have been taking action to prevent gum disease by regularly visiting their dentist. During your appointment, you will receive a thorough cleaning that dramatically reduces the chances of developing gum disease. Your dentist and or hygienist may notice these symptoms if your mouth is becoming infected with gum disease.
- Red, swollen gums
- Tender gums
- Bleeding when brushing or flossing
- Buildup of pus between gums
- Loose fitting teeth
- Receding gums
- Pockets of infection along your gum line
- Chronic bad breath
Chronic Diseases Catalyzed by Gum Disease
It’s no secret—your mouth and the rest of your body have an intimate connection. In fact, if you don’t regularly and properly remove dental plaque and bacteria, your overall health could suffer. Healthy gums and teeth keep your body equally strong. When gums deteriorate from advanced gum disease, your body tries to protect itself with inflammation, leaving your bloodstream susceptible to dental plaque buildup. You could experience strokes, heart disease, kidney disease, and develop diabetes.
Oral Cancer
The signs of oral cancer can be hard to notice to the untrained eye, but our dental professionals will be able to look for these symptoms during a dental exam:
- A sore that will not heal or bleeds profusely.
- A lump in the hard or soft tissues of your mouth.
- Change in oral tissue color.
- Numbness or pain in areas around the mouth.
- Difficulty swallowing, talking, earing, or moving the jaw or tongue.
It’s important to seek treatment for oral cancer during its preliminary stages. The chances of surviving oral cancer is nearly doubled if treated early on.
The team at The Dentists on Bluemound is here to help!
When you make a visit to our office for a general dentistry appointment, our dentists always perform a comprehensive exam and review the information when it’s completed. No matter what issues we notice—or even if we don’t come across anything concerning at all—we will always keep open communication with you. At the end of the day, we want to work side by side with you—and even your physician if your health calls for it—to prevent advanced dental and overall health issues.
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