Your Dentist Can Spot Osteoporosis

Here is one good reason to visit your dentist.

Using an innovative, automated technique, researchers in Europe have developed a software-based system to identify patients prone to osteoporosis. Apparently by using x-rays of the jawbone and the mouth, already common in dental evaluations, they were able to identify women with osteoporosis. To read more about the research you can read the full article at BONE: The Official Journal of the International Bone and Mineral Society.

It probably won't be available immediately, but keep bugging your dentist about it.

Dental Implants

If you have your dental benefits through AlwaysCare Benefits, effective on March 1, you can choose to use an implant to replace a missing tooth instead of a bridge. THey are also covering crowns for implants.

This is a pretty big deal in the dental benefits world. More and more companies are including implants in their plan designs

Gum is Good for Your Gums

Xylitol is a natural sweetener that has been found to prevent tooth decay by reducing the amount of bacteria in the mouth. If you have your dental benefits through Assurant Employee Benefits (except for New York policies and plans), you can now receive discounts on your purchase of xylitol products made by Epic Industries. The discounts are pretty significant, with 50% first-time discounts and 25% discounts thereafter.

So go out and chew your way to a health mouth.

Endocarditis Prophylaxis Information

If you know what this is, then it will be important inormation to you.

Basically, the American Heart Association has come out with new guidelines for using antibiotics to prevent Bacterial Endocarditis. If you have been told that you are susceptible to heart infections, make sure your dentist knows about this.

Endocarditis Prophylaxis Information