Reasons Why People with Soft Teeth Need Dental Insurance

The enamel on your teeth is the toughest outermost layer composed of 95% minerals. Some people, however, have soft teeth. When your teeth have weak or missing enamel, they are more prone to injury and decay.

Dental insurance is important for people with soft teeth or bad teeth. Protecting your teeth from decay, gum disease and other dental problems is essential, especially if you have soft teeth. 

Reasons Why People with Soft Teeth Need Dental Insurance

Many dental plans provide 100-80-50 coverage. This plan type covers all preventative and diagnostic treatment, such as two annual checkups and cleanings.

One advantage of dental insurance is that it encourages you to use preventative services. In addition, most dental insurance plans cover 80% of basic treatment costs, like fillings and root canals. 

Finally, 50% of the cost covers complex operations such as getting crowns and bridges. Typically, you pay the remaining balance, known as a copay, out of pocket. 

Below are four reasons people with soft teeth need dental insurance.

#1: Cover Preventative Dental Care Costs

The most effective way to avoid dental problems is to prevent them. Ideally, you should take care of your teeth as soon as you notice a problem. By going to the dentist regularly, the dentist can identify and treat minor problems that may advance and develop into more significant problems that can be harder to fix in the future. You should also take some preventative measures at home to avoid dental problems.

When you have dental insurance, coverage can help pay for x-rays, routine checkups, cleanings and other services. Typically, dental insurance covers 100% of the costs for preventative care. Routine dental visits can help you detect broken fillings and reveal early signs of damage. The sooner your dentist can find a problem, the cheaper and easier it will be to fix it.

#2: Discover the Cause of Your Soft Teeth

If you are unaware of the cause of your soft teeth, routine dental checkups could help you discover the problem. Your dentist can see whether your bite is misaligned, if you grind your teeth, have a vitamin deficiency or have other health issues. Some causes for soft teeth include: 

• Enamel erosion: If the enamel is damaged, it cannot regrow. When enamel erodes due to acidic meals, acid reflux, teeth grinding or other factors, tooth enamel can erode and reveal weaker inner layers.
• Hypomineralization: When the body's mineralization process is disrupted, this disease develops, causing soft or bumpy enamel. 
• Hypoplasia: Enamel hypoplasia is a disorder in which the enamel on a person's teeth show visible flaws, such as a brown or yellow tint and visible dentin.
• Amelogenesis imperfecta – This uncommon genetic condition impairs the production of tooth enamel, producing visible abnormalities in teeth, like pitting and discoloration. Some people with the disorder have smaller or more sensitive teeth. Sensitive teeth are defined as dental discomfort caused by temperature fluctuations or other triggering variables. 

In addition to saving money on unexpected dental treatments, dental insurance enables you to take control of your entire well-being with confidence. By determining the underlying condition causing your weak tooth enamel, your dentist can prescribe an appropriate treatment to prevent further damage.

#3: Prevent Diseases Linked to Oral Health

Your dental health and overall health are intertwined. By prioritizing your oral care, you are also taking proactive steps toward preventing diseases such as:

• Cardiovascular disease: Bacteria and gum inflammation can invade your blood and travel to the arteries, causing atherosclerosis or artery hardening. This disorder can cause blood flow obstructions throughout the body, thereby increasing your risk of a stroke or heart attack.
• Dementia: When bacteria enter the brain through the circulation or nerve pathways in your skull, it can cause Alzheimer's disease.
• Diabetes complications: Because people with diabetes are more prone to periodontal disease, it is vital to maintain adequate oral hygiene.
• Lung infections: Breathing in germs from diseased teeth and gums over a lengthy period can cause diseases in your lungs, including pneumonia.

These diseases can be life-threatening, but many individuals are unaware of how significant a role oral health plays in the progression of these illnesses. Dental insurance covers routine dentist visits and treatments to ensure you do not unknowingly develop severe issues from missing out on preventable maintenance. 

#4: Pay for Expensive Emergencies

A dental crisis can arise at any time of day or night. Unfortunately, you may incur unexpected costs. Dental insurance can assist in covering the expenses of emergency dental treatment and give peace of mind if you lose a tooth, experience jaw discomfort or have a severe toothache.

It is important to remember that dental insurance may not cover a dental emergency caused by a pre-existing disease for a specific waiting period following the start of your policy. Nonetheless, some dental insurers provide coverage with no waiting period.

Because individuals with soft teeth are more likely to experience a dental emergency than individuals with healthy tooth enamel, dental insurance becomes even more critical. For many people, the price of a root canal, dental implant or crown is unaffordable at a moment’s notice. 

Does Your Family Have a History of Soft Teeth? 

What happens if you continue to have dental health problems after flossing, brushing twice daily and following your dentist's advice? Some people blame bad teeth on genetics. 

Genetic disorders can impact the form and number of your teeth. If you have a family history of soft teeth, your genetics could mean you are more prone to developing the same issues. Other hereditary illnesses predispose an individual to develop cavities, and a few could lead to periodontal disease.

Enrolling in a dental insurance plan is necessary to maintain your general health and wellness. Even if you practice good brushing and flossing habits, regular dental visits are essential to long-term maintaining a healthy smile. You also lower your risk for periodontal disease, cavities and tooth decay.

Common Causes of Soft Teeth

The most common reason for soft teeth is the loss of protective tooth enamel. Enamel protects your teeth from eating, biting, crushing and grinding. Enamel also acts as a barrier between the teeth and potentially uncomfortable temperatures and chemicals. Even though enamel is a barrier between teeth and the outside world, it can chip and break.

Because they may get through gaps in your enamel to the nerves within, you may notice that you respond more to hot or cold meals, beverages and sweets as it erodes.

A broken or chipped tooth is permanent, unlike a fractured bone, which the body can heal. The body cannot heal broken or fractured enamel because it lacks live cells.

The process of losing one's teeth begins when a person stops producing enough saliva to wash away food debris and bacteria out of their mouth. This process leads to a buildup of plaque and tartar on the teeth, causing gums to recede and roots to become exposed. 

Individuals with these dental issues can develop cavities or inflammation and tooth sensitivity from nerve endings being exposed.

Causes for Deteriorating Tooth Enamel

Many factors can lead to tooth enamel being too soft. These include:

• Genetics: People who have a family history of tooth decay and gum disease are more likely to have softer teeth than those who do not.
• Medical conditions: Diabetes and other conditions can also affect tooth enamel thickness or hardness.
• Diet: Eating foods high in sugar can cause the mouth's pH levels to become too acidic, which will make teeth more susceptible to decay.
• Tooth brushing habits: Brushing too hard or not brushing enough can both lead to softened tooth enamel.

To maintain good oral health, people with soft teeth should pay special attention to their dental care and visit their dentist regularly.

Popular Treatments for Soft Teeth 

Preventative steps you can take at home include:

• Brushing your teeth twice a day with fluoride-containing toothpaste
• Cleaning with dental floss, a water flosser or an interdental device daily
• Avoiding acidic foods and beverages

When routine oral care is not enough, your dentist may recommend a treatment such as:

• Dental bonding: In some cases, advanced damage prevents tooth enamel from responding to conventional restorative methods. Dental bonding is an enamel repair therapy for restoring tooth enamel. This procedure can protect teeth from further damage while restoring the healthy surface by adding a dental resin to the tooth’s surface.
• Veneers: Enamel damage is most common across the front teeth. Porcelain veneers can replace the tooth if the enamel on the outside of your teeth has severe damage.
• Crowns: In the most severe deterioration cases, the afflicted teeth may require dental crowns, which cover the tooth’s entire surface of the tooth. A crown preserves the tooth's interior when damage is not restricted to the front teeth.

Depending on your dental health, routine appointments with your dentist may be enough to avoid these future issues. But if you need more costly treatments, dental insurance can significantly lower the price of these procedures. 

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