Dental 101

Types of procedures

Oral Exams & Cleanings

Fluoride & Sealants

Space Maintainers

Dental X-Rays

Fillings

Simple Extraction VS Oral Surgery

Crowns VS Inlays & Onlays

Prosthodontics, Endodontics & Periodontics

Alternate Benefit Provision

Orthodontia

Oral Exams

cleanings

For new or existing patients.

Comprehensive oral exams can include but are not limited to:

• Compilation of the patient's dental history
• Charting of existing fillings/crowns
• Oral cancer screening

Frequency1

• One per consecutive 6-month period

Also known as Prophylaxis Cleaning

Purpose:

• Cavity prevention
• Stop tooth loss
• Freshen breath
• Boost overall health
• Save money on costly dentalprocedures in the future

Frequency1

• One prophylaxis or periodontal maintenance procedure per consecutive 6 month period

1 MD only allows 1 exam and cleaning per calendar year

Fluoride

sealants

Mineral that helps prevent tooth decay

Purpose:

• Controls bacteria
• Makes teeth stronger and more resistant to decay
• Helps repair teeth slightly damaged by plaque

Frequency1

• One treatment per 12 consecutivemonths (limited to under 14 years old)

A strong liquid plastic material put on the chewing surfaces of molars

Purpose:

• Prevents tooth decay on teethwith deep pits and groovestoo small for a toothbrush
• Bonds with tooth's enamel

Frequency1

• One per tooth per lifetime

Space Maintainers

Custom made acrylic (removable) or metal (fixed) device

Purpose:

• Space holders to make room for permanent teeth when baby teeth are lost prematurely
• Not meant to move or shift teeth
• Prevent adjacent baby teeth from moving into the open space

Frequency

• Limited to one otrhodontic treatment forprematurely removed or missing teethfor a person less than 14 years old

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Dental x-rays

BITEWING

• Most common, taken regularly
• "Routine" x-rays
• Shows the crown and contact areas of the back teeth
• Once per calendar year

PERIAPICAL (PA)

• Shows detail of 1 or 2 teeth - including root and bone around it

OCCLUSAL

• Shows the roof or floor of mouth
• Find extra teeth, those below the gums, and other serious structural issues

PANORAMIC

• Monitor changes over time i.e., wisdom teeth or orthodontic concerns
• Covered every 60 months

FULL MOUTH SERIES

• Also known as "FMX" - provides details about every tooth
• Combination of Bitewing and Periapical films
• Covered every 60 months

AMALGAMFILLING

Compositefilling

• Traditional type of filling
• Contain an alloy of different metals
• Upside: less expensive
• Downside: visually more noticeable than composite

• Bonds directly to your tooth - can adhere to areas that amalgam fillings can not
• Upside: can be color matched
• Downside: more expensive

alternate benefit provision

What does that mean to the customer?

A standard provision on all Cigna IFP Dental plans.

When there is more than one dental procedure that is professionally adequate to treat a condition, theless expensive procedure will beconsidered.

A common example is composite filling on posterior teeth.

• When a white filling is done onthe back teeth, it is consideredcosmetic
• Cigna will cover up to the costof an amalgam (silver) filling

The member is then responsible for the cost difference.

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Simple Extraction

Oral Surgery

SIMPLE EXTRACTION

ORAL SURGERY

A simple tooth extraction is performed on atooth that is visible in the mouth and nothidden underneath gums.

Reasons for Extraction:

• Baby teeth removal
• Crowding from extra teeth
• Broken or loose teeth from injury
• Decayed or infected teeth

Reasons for Extraction:

• Removal of impacted teeth
• Root removal
• Gum grafting
• Tooth transplantation

In addition to extraction of impacted teeth, oral surgery is any surgical procedure necessary to repair serious dental damage to:• Teeth, gums, jaw or other oral structures

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Crowns

Inlays & Onlays

CROWNS

INLAYS &ONLAYS

A procedure to fix a cavity too large for a filling or for cracks that compromise the integrity of the tooth’s function.Known as a “cap” it covers the whole tooth Always a Class III service

Often referred to as a “three-quarter crown” since it’s a procedures that fall between a filling and a full coverage crownIt is less invasive, helps preserve much of the healthy tooth structure

• Onlays rebuild areas (i.e. cusps) of the tooth that broke way
• Inlays fill a portion of the tooth

Prosthodontics

• Partial
• Complete

Dentures

Bridges

Endodontics

Periodontics

• Treatments thatdeal with the soft tissue of thetooth root

Root Canal

• Gum
• Jawbone

Gum Conditions

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orthodontia

Orthodontia is the treatment of misaligned teeth & jaw.

• Covered as Class IV

Orthodontia waiting periods cannot be waived and will also apply to treatment-in-progress.

invisalign & braces

Invisalign is a covered benefit but is based on the rate of metal braces

• The customer is responsible for the difference in material cost (Invisalign trays) up to the dentist's fee