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Have you made the most of your dental insurance this year? More than half of Americans have dental benefits, but few know the details of their plan. At the end of each year you loose all unsused benefits. They do not rollover. As your Bridgeport, Trumbull dentist, Dr. Michael Curtis can provide you with the preventive dental care your insurance provider knows you need.

Studies show that most Americans believe that a “smile is your most important physical feature.” However, studies have also linked poor oral health to stroke and diabetes.  New research has shown that people with gum disease are twice as likely to develop Type 2 diabetes and heart disease. By covering preventive care, like checkups and cleanings, insurance providers now realize they may save millions of dollars on medical and dental care down the road.

Because Dr. Curtis and our team care about your health, we offer several preventive and restorative dental services to keep your teeth and body healthy. They include:

Comprehensive Exams – During your comprehensive exam, Dr. Curtis will inspect each tooth for cavities, cracks, and other problems. He will also check your soft tissues for signs of gum disease and oral cancer. In our dental office, we use transillumination technology to detect dental problems more efficiently traditional X-Rays. Gum disease is the number one cause of tooth loss for Americans, and oral cancer causes 7,500 deaths each year. If caught and treated in its early stages, gum disease can be controlled.

Professional Dental Hygiene – The American Dental Association recommends at least two cleanings annually. Professional cleanings are the only way to remove tartar, bacteria, and plaque from below the gum line. In addition to cleaning your teeth and gums, our hygienist will check for cavities and signs of gum disease. If necessary, Dr. Curtis can treat gum infections with antibiotics and other therapies.

Fillings and Sealants – Fillings prevent cavities from consuming an entire tooth and spreading to surrounding teeth. Dr. Curtis uses composite resin (tooth-colored) fillings for durable, beautiful results. To stop cavities from ever forming, we recommend dental sealants. This thin, clear coating protects hard-to-reach surfaces from food particles and bacterial infection.

Crowns – If you have large cavities or cracked teeth, crowns may save your teeth from extraction. Also called caps, crowns fit over your existing tooth and protect it from pressure and further deterioration. Crowns will also restore your tooth’s beauty, form, and function.

Periodontal Therapy – The American Academy of Periodontology estimates that 45% of Americans have some form of gum disease.  Symptoms are generally mild and range from sore or bleeding gums to loose teeth. If Dr. Curtis finds that you have gum disease, he can treat it with non-surgical therapies, including:

• Scaling – the removal of hardened plaque from below the gum line
• Root Planing – smoothing of the tooth root to remove bacteria and toxins
• Antibiotic Therapy – the delivery of antimicrobials to battle infection

Root Canal Therapy – Many people don’t realize that a root canal is a tooth-saving procedure. When Dr. Curtis performs a root canal, he cleans out the bacteria-filled inner chamber of the tooth, fills it with an inert substance, and seals it to prevent further infection. Modern tools and medicines make root canal therapy more comfortable than ever, and Dr. Curtis often completes the procedure in a single office visit.

Dental Emergencies and Toothaches: We also specialize in dental emergencies in case you or a loved one encounter a dental problem. We’re here to help.

Preventive care reduces your risk of serious health threats and saves you time and money in the long run. Take advantage of your yearly preventive insurance benefits by scheduling your dental appointment today. We accept many insurance plans and will file your paperwork in our office. We work with Anthem, Blue Cross, Aetna, Delta, Metlife, Guardian, Ameritus, United Concordia, Assurant and numerous other dental benefit plans.

Call our Bridgeport, Trumbull dental office at 203-372-4296 to schedule your preventive treatment with Dr. Curtis, your general dentist.