Book your appointment today to use your benefits before they expire.

You pay into dental insurance all year, use your dental health benefits before the end of the year to maintain your oral health and reduce your out-of-pocket expenses.

As the year draws to a close, it’s essential to take a moment and consider your dental benefits. Many people overlook the fact that their dental insurance benefits come with a deadline. Most dental insurance plans operate on a “use it or lose it” basis, where any unused benefits at the end of the year don’t roll over into the next year. This means that if you don’t take advantage of your benefits before December 31st, they simply vanish.

Maximize Your Benefits
One of the key reasons to utilize your dental benefits before they expire is to maximize the value you receive from your insurance plan. These benefits are designed to help you maintain good oral health, covering a variety of services such as cleanings, X-rays, fillings, and more. By scheduling necessary treatments or procedures before the year concludes, you make the most of the premiums you’ve paid throughout the year.

Preventive Care Matters
Regular dental check-ups and cleanings are fundamental for maintaining excellent oral health. These preventive measures not only help in detecting potential issues early but also contribute to preventing more extensive and costly treatments down the line. By using your benefits for preventive care, you not only safeguard your oral health but also save yourself from potential future expenses.

Addressing Dental Issues Promptly
For those who might have pending dental work or ongoing treatment plans, utilizing your remaining benefits allows you to address these issues promptly. Delaying necessary dental treatments might lead to the worsening of conditions, which can result in more complex and expensive procedures in the future. Don’t let a small issue turn into a major dental problem due to procrastination.

How to Make the Most of Your Benefits
To make sure you maximize your dental benefits before the year concludes:

Schedule an Appointment Soon Contact your dentist and schedule an appointment at your earliest convenience.

Understand Your Coverage Familiarize yourself with the details of your dental insurance plan to know what services are covered.

Plan Ahead Discuss any pending treatments or procedures with your dentist to create a plan that optimizes your remaining benefits.

Taking care of your oral health shouldn’t be delayed or taken for granted. By using your dental benefits before they expire, you not only maintain a healthy smile but also make the most of the investment you’ve made in your dental insurance throughout the year. Don’t wait until it’s too late – schedule your dental appointment today and ensure your smile stays bright and healthy for years to come.

Dr. Paul Mikhli

This month, it is important to talk about Penicillin allergies. We have a lot of patients who need antibiotics before dental treatments, additionally, we have patients who require antibiotics for infections or to prevent infections when placing implants. The best antibiotic for these circumstances is Amoxicillin which is closely related to Penicillin. The rule is that anybody who has a Penicillin allergy should not be placed on Amoxicillin. This means we must look for another less effective antibiotic for coverage. The next option for these patients has typically been Clindamycin. However, because Clindamycin can lead to C-diff, which, in rare circumstances can be fatal, the current recommendation has been to use Azithromycin as the antibiotic of choice. Azithromycin is not as effective as Amoxicillin, neither is Clindamycin. 

Interestingly, most patients who report a penicillin allergy are not actually allergic to Penicillin. Some studies have shown up to 90% of people who report an allergy are not truly allergic to Penicillin. An upset stomach is not an allergy. A true allergic reaction will cause a rash, hives, or a closing of the airway, no different than a nut or bee allergy. 

Cleveland Clinic is currently launching a campaign to raise awareness and make it easier for patients to be screened if they have a true allergy to penicillin. I encourage Beachwood Dental patients who believe they are allergic to Penicillin to take advantage of this campaign. If you go to a different hospital system, your doctor can still screen you. The process is simple. It will start with an interview to find out if you know for certain you had an actual allergic reaction to Penicillin. If there is any doubt, the follow-up can be with skin testing, or taking a supervised oral dose. 

Being able to take Penicillin has several advantages. First off it is a better antibiotic than many alternatives for treating oral infections. Second, the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics creates an environment that is perfect for the generation of superbugs like MRSA. These infections are resistant to many antibiotics and aside from being a risk to the individual, when they spread, they have the potential to cause a public health crisis. 

So, my message this month is if you think you are allergic to Penicillin, please get tested. You will not only be significantly helping yourself but also helping others to lower the incidences of antibiotic-resistant bacteria outbreaks.  

I am happy to answer any questions that you may have so feel free to reach out to the office at 216-831-5661.  

Rachel, Patient

Ingredients

3 large eggs 
1 cup of creamed corn 
1 package of frozen corn (10 oz.) thawed and drained 
½ cup yellow cornmeal 
1 cup sour cream 
½ cup grated sharp cheddar cheese 
½ cup grated Monterrey jack cheese 
1 can (4 oz.) of green chiles 
¼ teaspoon of Worcestershire sauce 
½ teaspoon of salt 
¼ teaspoon of pepper
¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease a round pie dish generously with cooking spray.  

In a large bowl, mix all the ingredients. 

Pour into prepared baking dish and bake for 60 minutes, slice into wedges and serve. It is meant to be served as a side dish, not a dessert, and is a perfect complement to the Thanksgiving meal.