This Act will lead to wholesale changes in the way insurance benefits are written for those suffering with mental medical problems and addiction problems. Since 1973 when HMOS started limiting the treatment benefits for addicts and alcoholics the number of days allowed in drug rehabs has dwindled to what it is today. Some policies allow only detox with no reimbursement for any continuing care or aftercare.

Families faced with the financial cost for addiction treatment often felt betrayed by the provider when the coverage just wasn’t there. Some people would mortgage their homes others would be forced to put the bill on their credit cards and still others just went without treatment.

The Mental Health and Addiction Parity Act will impact over 100 million people enrolled in state regulated or employer-funded plans. The bill will go into effect in January 1, 2010. This is not a free pass for drug rehab centers and eating disorder treatment programs to bill providers outrageously. Benefits will continue to be managed and medical necessity will still have to be proven. What this bill does accomplish is group health programs will be required to raise the cap to match the health surgical programs giving the coverage required for addicts, alcoholics and those with mental medical problems to receive the help they deserve.

Choosing a dentist

Pediatric dentists specialize in the care of infants’, children’s, and teenagers’ teeth. They have 2 to 3 years more training to meet the special needs of these age groups. They have special training in making children feel at ease and may have offices designed for children. Whether or not you use a pediatric dentist for your child, asking the following questions can help you pick the right dentist.

* What experience does the dentist have with children?
* Is the office set up for children? For example, does it have children’s drawings on the wall, magazines for children in the waiting room, and smaller furniture? You might want to visit the office to see how it looks.
* Does the dentist dress the part? Will he or she wear something that puts the child more at ease? For example, if the dentist wears a face mask with children’s illustrations rather than a white face mask, it may help the child relax.
* Does the dentist provide special programs for children? Membership in the “Cavity Club” or “Tooth Tots” can make a visit seem more fun.
* If the dentist has audio headphones, does he or she have children’s material?
* Does the dentist allow you to be present during treatment? This may be important with young children, but older children and teens may prefer to be on their own.

The dentist’s “chairside manner” is also important:

* How does the dentist put the child at ease? Techniques that some dentists use include “Tell-Show-Do,” in which the dentist shows and names a dental instrument, shows how it works and tells what it does, and then uses it with the child. Some dentists will pair children of a similar age. They will work with a shy or scared child and a child who is used to the dentist at the same time.
* How does the dentist start the exam? Many dentists will start with something easy, such as “let’s count your teeth” or making it a guessing game. Your dentist could also ask your child to draw a picture of his or her mouth, or a “rotten” tooth to begin the visit. This helps put your child at ease.
* Does the dentist praise the child? Saying something good or providing a reward when the child does something “right” helps make a visit to the dentist more positive.
* How does the dentist deal with problems? Children sometimes misbehave during a visit. The dentist may need to take action to prevent injury. In this situation, the first thing to do is to speak calmly and firmly to the child. If this does not stop the child, or if the child needs to be physically held back, you should know in advance and perhaps help. If you feel your child may act up, talk to your dentist in advance about how to deal with the situation.

Preparing your child for a visit

When your child is old enough to understand a visit to the dentist and have worries or fears, it may be helpful to prepare him or her to limit or overcome any anxiety. This first visit can set the tone for all future visits. Here are some things you can do:

* Talk to your child about the visit. Explain what will happen, but make it simple. Tell your child that the dentist will “count” and “take pictures” of his or her teeth.
* Don’t communicate any fear you have to your child. Don’t talk about how the dentist scares you or how bad your last visit was. Don’t use words like “shots,” “drills,” or “needles.”
* Talk to your dentist about any worries your child may have. Work together to help limit them. For example, if you know your child does not like “scary tools,” the dentist may be able to keep them out of sight.
* Look for books that explain what it is like to go to the dentist. They usually contain pictures to help explain what happens. They also let your child see what the inside of a dental office looks like.
* Ask your child to draw a picture of his or her mouth or teeth to take to the dentist. Your child can then talk about this to begin the visit.
* Don’t bribe your child into going to the dentist or use a dental visit as a punishment.

Many people find that some of the more important aspects of dental hygiene are far too easy to overlook. For example, how many of us floss regularly? How often do we give in and drink sugary drinks? And when exactly is the right time to change that toothbrush and get a new one?

It is important to realise just how important your dental health is. If you are not looking after your teeth, then this will lead to tooth decay. Tooth decay is usually what causes toothache, and most of us would like to avoid that. But poor dental health can also cause a host of other problems. It can lead to halitosis, gum disease and gingivitis, to name just a few. There is also some evidence to suggest that people with poor dental health are more likely to suffer cardiovascular problems. The link has not been researched fully, but surely cleaning and flossing your teeth is easily done if there’s a chance you can avoid heart disease.

Don’t forget about the damage poor dental hygiene can do to your wallet too. If you don’t look after you teeth and visit your dentist regularly, it will eventually catch up with you. And when you do finally have to visit your dentist out of necessity, you may find that you end up with one large bill which could have been prevented.

By now, you must surely be starting to agree with us: maintaining good dental hygiene is a really, really good idea. So let’s cover the basics: what do you need to do to look after your teeth?

First things first, you need to make sure you clean your teeth twice every day. Most people clean their teeth morning and night and, unless your dentist advises otherwise, choose a toothpaste with extra fluoride. Flouride helps you to maintain healthy tooth enamel, which is vital in protecting your teeth against bacteria. You should also aim to replace your toothbrush every three months or so (or when the bristles have started to soften and bend), as it starts to become less effective at cleaning in between your teeth.

Speaking of cleaning in between your teeth, you should also floss at least once, preferably twice, every day. This will remove the trapped food and other debris that becomes lodged in the gaps between your teeth during meals. If it is left there, it attracts the bacteria which causes tooth decay.

If you are serious about looking after your teeth, you should also think carefully about what you eat and drink – and when you eat and drink it! There is nothing wrong with treating yourself to a sugary snack once in a while. But you will do much more damage to your teeth is you graze on sweet things all day, or sip sugary drinks constantly. Without a break between sugary foods, you are not giving the natural defences in your mouth time to work and protect your teeth.

Eating fruit after a meal, such as an apple, can also help to clean your teeth and to stimulate the natural defences in your mouth. Alternatively, you could try chewing sugar-free gum, which has the same effect. It can also help to keep your breath fresh during the day.

Finally, it is also useful to remind yourself from time to time that your dentist is your friend. You need to make sure that you see them regularly – as a minimum, you should visit your dentist at least twice every year. They will be able to monitor the health of your teeth and recommend preventative actions that you may need to take. If required, they can also refer you to a dental hygienist, who will specialise in oral hygiene and in ensuring that you are looking after your teeth in the long term.

Through today’s media (i.e., TV, magazines, computer ads) we are conditioned to expect bright white teeth to be the hallmark of an endearing and assuring smile. When this feature is missing, you can expect people to respond by searching your face, your attire, your posture and everything about you for other signals of that assurance. In short, their first impression might be uncertainty, rather than confidence in you.

Because teeth darken gradually the flaw may escape your notice. As the luster and brightness disappears it takes with it some of that good impression you hope to make. Tooth whitening is among the easiest fixes you can achieve, and it impacts you first impression immediately. But you can get it back, often with just one visit to a trained cosmetic dentist.

Natural Causes of Dark Teeth If your teeth are naturally dark, tooth whitening can lighten your tooth color a few shades. The same goes for aging teeth. As we age tooth enamel thins and the yellow-tinged dentine layer thickens. This gives the impression that the translucent enamel is yellowing. The good news is that if tooth whitening doesn’t lighten your teeth as much as you’d hoped, your cosmetic dentist can advise you of alternatives that will get you the results you want.

Keep Your Smile Bright You do have plenty of control over how well you maintain the brightness of your smile by controlling what you eat or drink and your daily tooth-care routines. Brushing and flossing two to three times a day are essential. Over-the-counter tooth whiteners may help brighten or maintain your tooth color. The biggest offenders are tobacco products, followed closely by the common tooth staining foods and drinks, like coffee, tea, red wine, dark soda and foods with dyes in them. Reducing or eliminating your use or consumption of these is completely under your control.

One other choice is yours as well. You can choose to have your cosmetic dentist whiten your teeth professionally.