Oral health maintenance plays a very significant role in one’s life and is a prerequisite to having a healthy lifestyle. Therefore, preventing a dental problem before it occurs or preventing it from getting worse is a must. Failure to do so can lead to complications with teeth and the oral cavity and cause medical problems. Many people fail to realize how important it is to prioritize their dental health.

In the United States alone, many people do not have dental coverage. Not all employers offer dental insurance as a benefit, or it is limited in coverage. Therefore, people that care about maintaining their oral health try to look for other options that will allow them to secure dental benefits. This is where Dental Insurance and Discounted Dental Plans come in. But what are these two and their differences from one another? Below is a detailed explanation.

Dental Insurance

Private individual and family dental insurance plans can be expensive and vary in the scope of coverage. However, your employer may provide you and your family with a dental insurance plan that is usually separate from the medical plan. You may or may not pay a small monthly premium, while your employer usually pays the major part of the premium.

The coverages are usually well-defined. Basic cleaning, X-rays, fillings, and checkups are usually fully covered (twice a year) with no or a small co-pay. Some other procedures like extractions, root canals, crowns, and periodontal procedures are paid at 40-80 percent, depending on the procedure and your specific plan. Coverage of cosmetic procedures, implants, orthodontics, and other procedures vary according to plans and are not always covered.

Dental insurance (if you have one through your employer or can afford a private one) is a big help in minimizing expenses to maintain your dental health. However, it comes with some drawbacks. These are limitations and/or disease exclusions, deductible or non-reimbursable issues, the ceiling on spending, and waiting periods for some dental procedures.

Discount Dental Plans

For those who do not have access to dental insurance, many discounted Dental plans are available in the market. These provide benefits at reduced rates (fixed percentage) pre-arranged with a network of willing dentists. These plans reduce your cost of basic dental care.  These are also referred to as “reduced fee dental plans” or “affordable dental plans. It is easy to be a part of a discount dental plan as it does not involve a lot of paperwork. Some of these can be a kind of membership program that provides well-defined coverage on an annual basis with monthly membership fees.

These provide consumer-friendly discounts on dental services such as routine cleanings, oral exams, fillings, extractions, braces, dentures, and root canals. Consumers can save from 10-60% discount on the standard fee.

Although there are differences between these two, they still benefit consumers. Also, they can be joined together in some situations so one can get the most out of them by maximizing savings.

If you live in or around the Mukilteo, WA area, do not hesitate to call  Mukilteo Dentists Dr. Onishi, Dr. Sarsfield, and other experts at Harbour Place Dental who go above and beyond when it concerns helping their patients with ideal dental care and perfect smile.  Call them at (425) 493-8111, or visit and contact them through their website or by email: harbourpldental@gmail.com and ask them if at-home teeth whitening is right for you and advice on reducing and/or coping with Teeth whitening sensitivity and after-treatment care.

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If having a missing tooth makes you feel self-conscious, worry no more because dental implants are an effective procedure to replace a missing tooth. The procedure is desirable as it is specifically designed to blend with the natural color and shape of the surrounding teeth.  The development and use of dental implants is one of the biggest advances in the field of dentistry.

These dental implants are made from titanium and other materials compatible to the body. The posts are surgically placed in the lower or upper jaw to serve as a strong anchor for the replacement tooth.

For some, the thought of having a dental implant might be scary. But given the benefit of the procedure and how it can help a person live a better life, it is definitely worth it. To ease the worry, it’s important to have enough knowledge about the procedure. Knowing the things to expect during dental implant procedures will be a big help.

What to Expect

• The damaged tooth will be removed.
• The socket will then be prepared for surgery. This process may involve bone grafting.
• When the jawbone has completely healed, the oral surgeon will place the dental implant metal post in the jawbone. In some cases, immediate implant placement is possible.
• You’ll have to take a rest and let the bone heal around the implant. The healing period may last for a few months.
• The oral surgeon will place the abutment. This is an extension of the implant metal post. There are some instances that when the implant is at a stable condition, placing of the abutment can be done simultaneously at the time the implant is placed.)
• With the healing abutment placed and soft tissues healed, the dentist will make molds of your teeth and the implant site.  The final implant abutment and crown is then made at a dental lab and then placed by your dentist.

The whole process may take several months from the beginning to end. The majority of time is spent in healing and waiting for the new bone to grow in the jaw. For single tooth replacement, most people have minimal discomfort and heal quickly.

If you live in or around Mukilteo WA area do not hesitate to call  Mukilteo Dentists Dr. Onishi, Dr. Sarsfield and other experts at Harbour Place Dental who go above and beyond when it concerns helping their patients with ideal dental care and a perfect smile.  Call them at (425) 493-8111, or visit and contact them through their website  or by email: harbourpldental@gmail.com and ask them if at home teeth whitening is right for you and advice on reducing and/or coping with Teeth whitening sensitivity and after treatment care.

A dental implant is an artificial tooth root that is placed into your jaw to hold a replacement tooth or bridge.

A dental implant is surgically placed by a periodontist or oral surgeon and allowed to heal and  integrate with the surrounding bone.  After the healing period, the implant can be restored with a crown or cap, much like a crown on a natural tooth.  Dental implants are made of titanium metal  that is compatible with the body and integrates well within the jaw bone. This is a perfect choice for individuals who maintain excellent basic oral health but have lost one or more teeth due to gum disease, decay or traumatic injury.  Multiple implants can support bridges or dentures where a person has lost many teeth.

Dental implants do not depend on the support of surrounding teeth and therefore have minimal impact on them, in sharp contrast to partial dentures and bridgework. By following proper dental and oral hygiene these dental implants can last a long time.

Though less expensive, partial and full dentures have limitations. They just don’t act and feel like natural teeth. It can be a challenge to maintain a good fit and alignment to avoid embarrassing slippage. They need to be periodically adjusted and relined.  After seven to ten years, they may need replacement. The biggest problem though is the gradual loss of underlying bone or recession of the jaw. This leads to loose dentures that need frequent adjustment and replacement. With partial dentures, the surrounding teeth are also impacted due to the loss of support of the surrounding natural teeth. Clearly, dental implants are the best choice and closest to natural teeth in look, feel and function.

The greatest impediments to much wider use of dental implants have been their cost, complexity of the procedure and the time it takes to heal. Things are getting much better though. Costs have come down considerably. Surgical procedures and the time to heal have improved significantly. The goal of placing an implant and the porcelain tooth on the same day is getting closer and closer.

Therefore, for patients who have missing teeth or need partial or full dentures, it is important to have an in-depth conversation with their dental care provider to determine whether implants, in the long run, make financial sense and can help to achieve the goals of well-being and a beautiful smile.

If you live in or around Mukilteo WA area do not hesitate to call  Mukilteo Dentists Dr. Onishi, Dr. Sarsfield and other experts at Harbour Place Dental who go above and beyond when it concerns helping their patients with ideal dental care and a perfect smile.  Call them at (425) 493-8111, or visit and contact them through their website  or by email: harbourpldental@gmail.com and ask them if at home teeth whitening is right for you and advice on reducing and/or coping with Teeth whitening sensitivity and after treatment care.

Many people want to enhance their appearance and express their personality with near perfect teeth and a perfect smile.  One way to do it is through cosmetic dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry is the field of dentistry that emphasizes enhancing the smile and appearance of a person. With the help of a skilled and experienced cosmetic dentist, you can enhance your self image and well-being by freely expressing yourself with your uninhibited smile.

If you sense limitations and reservation in expressing yourself because of not having that perfect smile, cosmetic dentistry is here to assist you. With the advent of new technology, having a beautiful smile is now easily accessible.  With a variety of options and prices, you can find a solution to fit  your needs and budget.  With the help of cosmetic dentistry, you can improve your smile with the procedures that are focused on the brightening of color and correction and alignment of the teeth. This can result in opening more doors for social and professional success.

How does Cosmetic Dentistry redefine your Smile?

• brightens dull teeth
• whitens stained teeth
• close gaps in between teeth
• masks metal fillings
• repairs chipped teeth
• straightens crooked teeth

Procedures in Cosmetic Dentistry

• Dull or stained teeth will be better with whitening, laser whitening, veneers or bonding
• Chipped, misshapen, or worn teeth will be improved through bonding, veneers, or cosmetic contouring
• Crowded or crooked teeth will be corrected with bonding, veneers, or orthodontics
• Close up the gaps between your teeth with bonding, veneers, or orthodontics
• For missing tooth, the best solution is a dental implant or fixed bridge
• Old and/or unsightly fillings will look better with tooth-colored fillings
• Excessive and/or uneven gums can be corrected with gum grafts

To achieve a more natural-looking smile, one or more techniques may be performed. For instance, aside from bleaching, the dentist may follow up with minor orthodontics for better results.

If you live in or around Mukilteo WA area do not hesitate to call  Mukilteo Dentists Dr. Onishi, Dr. Sarsfield and other experts at Harbour Place Dental who go above and beyond when it concerns helping their patients with ideal dental care and a perfect smile.  Call them at (425) 493-8111, or visit and contact them through their website  or by email: harbourpldental@gmail.com and ask them if at home teeth whitening is right for you and advice on reducing and/or coping with Teeth whitening sensitivity and after treatment care.