Showing posts with label Dental Health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dental Health. Show all posts
Monday, August 31, 2009
Help Improve Your Dental Health
Regular brushing, flossing and checkups are important for good dental health, but there's more you can do to keep your teeth and gums healthy. Read more
Monday, August 10, 2009
Scientists Bioengineer New Teeth in Mice
Researchers in Japan report that they've grown new teeth in mice with the help of bioengineered tissue, an early sign of progress in the effort to grow new organs in humans. Read more
Monday, July 27, 2009
Health Tip: If You Fear Going to the Dentist
Regular dental checkups and cleanings are key to having healthy teeth and gums. But the sights, sounds and potential pain of the dentist's office are enough to keep many people away. Read more
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Most Insured Adults Worry About Health Care Costs: Poll
(HealthDay News) -- More than three-quarters of adult Americans who have health insurance say they still worry about paying more for their medical care, and nearly 50 percent say they're "very" or "extremely" worried about the issue, a new Harris Interactive/HealthDay poll shows.
More than half (57 percent) of those polled said they feared losing their health insurance sometime in the future, which may explain another key finding in the poll -- sizeable numbers of Americans said they're skipping doctor visits or not getting prescriptions filled to save money.
Middle-aged Americans -- people too old to be blasé about their health but too young to be covered by Medicare -- seemed most worried about paying their health care bills. Among insured individuals aged 45 to 64, a full 84 percent said they were concerned that rising health care costs would exceed their ability to pay.
Only 8 percent of all insured Americans polled were "not at all worried" about getting health care coverage.
"Many are, in fact, not filling prescriptions, skipping a doctor's visit, not following up on something that was recommended by the doctor, taking a medication less or pill-splitting, doing without dental care," said Humphrey Taylor, chairman of The Harris Poll.
He added that with the economy in a tailspin and many Americans losing their employer-based health insurance, the problem may only get worse. "If the number of uninsured rises sharply, one would expect to see these numbers increase," Taylor said.
One consumer advocate wasn't surprised by the results of the poll, which included 2,078 adults surveyed between Feb. 25 and 27.
"Even for people who have insurance, increasingly, the costs have been shifted to them -- and those costs have risen," said Carol Pryor, policy director at The Access Project, a nonprofit group dedicated to making health care available to more Americans. More and more, she added, insured Americans are paying higher deductibles and co-pays, stretching their ability to get proper medical care.
Pryor agreed with Taylor that the situation is only likely to get worse, since "more people are becoming uninsured as a result of the economic meltdown."
Some other key findings from the poll:
78 percent of adults with health insurance worry about paying more for their medical care.
Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of all insured adults say they're worried about how they can afford to pay for medical care and prescription drugs, with that number rising to 76 percent among people aged 45 to 54. Even among those aged 65 and over -- most of whom are eligible for Medicare -- 62 percent say they worry about paying for the care they need.
Over the past year, one in five insured adults skipped filling a prescription because of the cost. That number jumped to 30 percent for those without insurance.
Similarly, cost concerns led 24 percent of the insured and 51 percent of the uninsured to forgo seeing a doctor for a specific medical problem. Twenty-one percent of the insured and 33 percent of the uninsured didn't get a recommended follow-up test or treatment for the same reason.
Trying to cut down on medical expenses, 14 percent of the insured and 19 percent of the uninsured took a medication at a lower dose than that recommended by a doctor.
Dental care took the biggest hit: 51 percent of the uninsured and 30 percent of the insured skipped necessary dental care over the past year due to financial concerns.
Forgoing care to save costs over the short term may not save costs over the long term, the experts warned. "Some things do go away on their own over time," Pryor said. "But there are a lot of conditions that get worse if they aren't treated, and they then require more expensive care later. So it's definitely a gamble."
Taylor noted that the statistics on the percentage of Americans skipping needed care have remained about the same since 2007, when Harris first asked these types of questions. That may seem odd given the recent downturn in the economy, he added. But, he noted that even if a few million Americans lose their health insurance, that's still only 2 percent of the adult population -- not enough to show up in this type of survey.
The new poll results come on the heels of a report released Wednesday by the nonprofit advocacy group Families USA. It found that a third of Americans under the age of 65 -- nearly 87 million people -- went without health care coverage at some point over the past two years.
The most recent U.S. government statistics suggest that 16 percent of all adults (including those 65 and older) have no health insurance. And a Commonwealth Fund report published last June found that the number of "underinsured" -- people who have insurance that doesn't fully meet their health care needs -- rose by 60 percent between 2003 and 2007.
The issue gained momentum in the nation's capitol last Thursday, when President Barack Obama convened a long-anticipated White House summit on health care reform. The Associated Press reported that Obama made a point of bringing a wide range of views to the table -- voices representing the insurance industry, patient groups, physicians and even those advocating a single-payer system.
"Every voice has to be heard. Every idea must be considered," Obama said during the summit. "The status quo is the one option that is not on the table."
According to Pryor, one item that should be up for discussion in Washington is the plight of the underinsured.
"Covering the uninsured is only part of the problem," she said. "Unless reform includes adequate, comprehensive and affordable coverage, just having insurance will not be protection -- either from facing barriers to care or concern over one's financial stability. And after all, those two things are the function of insurance."
More information
There's more on the underinsured in America at The Commonwealth Fund.
More than half (57 percent) of those polled said they feared losing their health insurance sometime in the future, which may explain another key finding in the poll -- sizeable numbers of Americans said they're skipping doctor visits or not getting prescriptions filled to save money.
Middle-aged Americans -- people too old to be blasé about their health but too young to be covered by Medicare -- seemed most worried about paying their health care bills. Among insured individuals aged 45 to 64, a full 84 percent said they were concerned that rising health care costs would exceed their ability to pay.
Only 8 percent of all insured Americans polled were "not at all worried" about getting health care coverage.
"Many are, in fact, not filling prescriptions, skipping a doctor's visit, not following up on something that was recommended by the doctor, taking a medication less or pill-splitting, doing without dental care," said Humphrey Taylor, chairman of The Harris Poll.
He added that with the economy in a tailspin and many Americans losing their employer-based health insurance, the problem may only get worse. "If the number of uninsured rises sharply, one would expect to see these numbers increase," Taylor said.
One consumer advocate wasn't surprised by the results of the poll, which included 2,078 adults surveyed between Feb. 25 and 27.
"Even for people who have insurance, increasingly, the costs have been shifted to them -- and those costs have risen," said Carol Pryor, policy director at The Access Project, a nonprofit group dedicated to making health care available to more Americans. More and more, she added, insured Americans are paying higher deductibles and co-pays, stretching their ability to get proper medical care.
Pryor agreed with Taylor that the situation is only likely to get worse, since "more people are becoming uninsured as a result of the economic meltdown."
Some other key findings from the poll:
78 percent of adults with health insurance worry about paying more for their medical care.
Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of all insured adults say they're worried about how they can afford to pay for medical care and prescription drugs, with that number rising to 76 percent among people aged 45 to 54. Even among those aged 65 and over -- most of whom are eligible for Medicare -- 62 percent say they worry about paying for the care they need.
Over the past year, one in five insured adults skipped filling a prescription because of the cost. That number jumped to 30 percent for those without insurance.
Similarly, cost concerns led 24 percent of the insured and 51 percent of the uninsured to forgo seeing a doctor for a specific medical problem. Twenty-one percent of the insured and 33 percent of the uninsured didn't get a recommended follow-up test or treatment for the same reason.
Trying to cut down on medical expenses, 14 percent of the insured and 19 percent of the uninsured took a medication at a lower dose than that recommended by a doctor.
Dental care took the biggest hit: 51 percent of the uninsured and 30 percent of the insured skipped necessary dental care over the past year due to financial concerns.
Forgoing care to save costs over the short term may not save costs over the long term, the experts warned. "Some things do go away on their own over time," Pryor said. "But there are a lot of conditions that get worse if they aren't treated, and they then require more expensive care later. So it's definitely a gamble."
Taylor noted that the statistics on the percentage of Americans skipping needed care have remained about the same since 2007, when Harris first asked these types of questions. That may seem odd given the recent downturn in the economy, he added. But, he noted that even if a few million Americans lose their health insurance, that's still only 2 percent of the adult population -- not enough to show up in this type of survey.
The new poll results come on the heels of a report released Wednesday by the nonprofit advocacy group Families USA. It found that a third of Americans under the age of 65 -- nearly 87 million people -- went without health care coverage at some point over the past two years.
The most recent U.S. government statistics suggest that 16 percent of all adults (including those 65 and older) have no health insurance. And a Commonwealth Fund report published last June found that the number of "underinsured" -- people who have insurance that doesn't fully meet their health care needs -- rose by 60 percent between 2003 and 2007.
The issue gained momentum in the nation's capitol last Thursday, when President Barack Obama convened a long-anticipated White House summit on health care reform. The Associated Press reported that Obama made a point of bringing a wide range of views to the table -- voices representing the insurance industry, patient groups, physicians and even those advocating a single-payer system.
"Every voice has to be heard. Every idea must be considered," Obama said during the summit. "The status quo is the one option that is not on the table."
According to Pryor, one item that should be up for discussion in Washington is the plight of the underinsured.
"Covering the uninsured is only part of the problem," she said. "Unless reform includes adequate, comprehensive and affordable coverage, just having insurance will not be protection -- either from facing barriers to care or concern over one's financial stability. And after all, those two things are the function of insurance."
More information
There's more on the underinsured in America at The Commonwealth Fund.
Saturday, January 31, 2009
Friday, January 02, 2009
All Dental Health Articles
Everyday Health's dental health articles have information on diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of dental conditions.... Read more
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
How Do I Get Over My Dental Fears?
I have a serious fear of the dentist. I am too ashamed to have anyone look inside my mouth. Is it normal to feel like I do?... Read more
Monday, November 10, 2008
Cosmetic Dentistry - Dental Health
Along with your eyes, your smile is the first thing a person notices when meeting you. So, when you hesitate to smile because of broken, discolored, or poorly spaced teeth, you may be sending an unintended negative message. But many people are finding they don't have to hide their teeth any longer.... Read more
Beyond Your Teeth
Beyond Your Teeth - Several other important oral structures enable the teeth to do their job.... Read more
Thursday, November 06, 2008
Nighttime Oral Care - Dental Health
Keeping your teeth strong, your gums healthy, and your smile bright is not just a day job; your mouth needs protection at night too. Donna L. Zak, D.D.... Read more
Monday, November 03, 2008
Dry Socket Pain - Dental Health
Learn about dry socket pain from Everyday Health's dental expert, and browse our Dental Center for more healthy living advice.... Read more
Saturday, November 01, 2008
You & Your Dentist - Dental Health
Even if you follow a diligent home care routine, regular checkups with a dental professional are still a must. Your dentist can watch for early signs of decay, gum disease, oral cancer, or other dental problems and take appropriate action.... Read moreTuesday, October 28, 2008
Oral Conditions - Dental Health
The two most common oral diseases — tooth decay and periodontal disease —originate in plaque, the sticky bacteria-laden film that collects on your teeth between brushings. Although both of these problems can ultimately lead to tooth loss, there are important differences.... Read more
Resources - Dental Health Center
This organization of general dentists provides patient education materials on a range of dentistry and oral health topics. It also offers a directory of member dentists, organized by location, on the Web site and by phone at (877-292-9327; toll free).... Read more
Sunday, October 26, 2008
The Secrets to a Healthy Smile - 11 Ways to Put Dental Problems to Bed - Photo Gallery
When it comes to dental health, consistency counts. Establishing simple routines and practicing them faithfully day and night are the best ways to keep your mouth... Read more
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Do I Need Antibiotics Before I See the Dentist?
I have bilateral total hip replacements and have always taken antibiotics before dental procedures. . Now my primary care doctor says I no longer need this. What would you suggest?... Read more
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Not Healing After Dental Work
Three months ago, I had root canals done on three teeth and six caps put on, none of which are healing properly. Some of the specialists I have talked to say I have osteoporosis of the jaw. Where do I go from here?... Read more
Could Dental Work Cause Migraines?
Saturday, October 18, 2008
101 - Dental Health
It's no surprise that a bright, white smile makes you appear younger and more attractive. But the mouth is also the gateway to the body, which means the state of your teeth and gums affects your overall health. Follow these seven steps to a better smile.... Read more
Dental Health and Overall Health
Do you know the link between your dental health and overall health? What your teeth are saying may surprise you.... Read more
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Dr. Group's Secret to Health Kit$39.94  Dr. Group's Secret to Health Kit offers simple at-home solutions for cleansing internally and externally thereby reducing toxins, restoring the body's natural healing process, and helping you achieve true health and happiness. |
Advanced Body Cleansing Kit$147.75 Advanced Body Cleansing Kit with Livatrex™, Oxy-Powder®, Latero-Flora™ and two bottles of ParaTrex®. |