Category Archives: Tips From Your Dentist

Affordable Dentistry is Available at GPS Dental in San Antonio

Posted by Genny Skrobanek on May 22, 2018

affordable-dentistry

Dental Insurance: The Elephant (or Piggy) in the Room!

As you know, certain aspects in life develop stigmas (or poor reputations) for numerous reasons. Although sometimes untrue, a bad stigma/reputation can have lasting effects on a person’s perception, and thereby be a source of distress when encountered. While this may certainly be a problem in some fields, among the dental industry this is certainly nothing new as professional dentistry has and continues to flourish, despite the misconceptions that have surrounded the profession for many years. (Remember visiting the dentist as a small child? Things used to be very clinical and sterile. Now, thank goodness, visiting the dentist is more like visiting a spa!)

Although the 21^st century has represented something of a renaissance in modern dentistry, marked by numerous new innovations in dental technology and a steadily increasing positive public perception.

Dental insurance can cause some stress for some families. The reason for this however, may actually have less to do with dentistry and more to do with general financial related stress; as many case studies have indicated financial concerns to be the number one cause of anxiety among the population today. However, at GPS Dental, we strive to achieve the most stress-free and overall pleasant experience for our patients as possible! Therefore, to remedy this issue we offer three fantastic methods of payment for patients, each of which may better assist you and your family in receiving the quality affordable dental care that you truly deserve!

Affordable Dentistry: Three Great Financing Options!

Option 1:

Affordable Dentistry | CareCredit

CareCredit is undoubtedly one of the highest preferred payment options among many of our patients here at GPS, as it may be the easiest and perhaps most stress relieving of the financing options available! By receiving a CareCredit health care card, you will be given the option of the CareCredit installment plan, thus allowing you to make small monthly payments as opposed a large payment all at once. This installment plan has proven itself to be a much more manageable solution to make affordable dentistry attainable for many patients, generally offering interest free plans for 3, 6, and even 12 months, in addition to extended financing for up to 48 months.

Click to Apply for CareCredit

Option 2:

Affordable Dentistry | Flexible Spending Account

A second and equally as efficient method of payment is what’s known as a Flexible Spending Account or FSA. An FSA is a personal account that’s designed to pay for specific out-of-pocket health care procedures, to prevent or treat any diseases or chronic illnesses. Many preventative and restorative dental treatments can be planned out, as can the process to pay for them and using an FSA plan can put more comprehensive treatment plans in the annual family budget and making affordable dentistry attainable for you and your family. While this can certainly include many different dental care expenses, it’s important to note that there is a certain criterion for what procedures can or cannot be covered.

Option 3:

Affordable Dentistry | Cigna Dental Insurance

While dental insurance is certainly intended to assist patients in providing coverage for some dental care, please remember that it will surely not cover all of it! That being said, at GPS we often recommend Cigna Dental Insurance to our patients, as Cigna healthcare provides care several care packages for both families and individuals, in which dental expenses can be added for easy access and make affordable dentistry more attainable! Additionally, the Cigna care package also provides extensive coverage for multiple types of dental services, including basic, preventative, and even specialized dental care.

Affordable Dentistry: Don’t Panic!

Let’s face it; we all need a little help sometimes and at GPS Dental we want to make sure you get all the care you need without any headaches or stress involved! Although it’s a topic that many patients dread, through any of these three carefully designed expense plans, we hope to give you peace of mind, in knowing that you and your family will receive quality affordable dentistry. If you have any additional questions or concerns, please contact our offices!

Click HERE to learn more about Dr. Gary Skrobanek?

Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek is a dental implant dentist and his experienced, friendly team at GPS Dental offer affordable dentistry and gentle family dental care in the San Antonio, TX area. Our Brooks City Base dentist office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at (210) 633-3477 to make an appointment.

Local Dentist vs Corporate Dentistry

Posted by Genny Skrobanek on January 30, 2018

Buy Local Movement

We’ve seen the shift of “mom and pop” locally-owned businesses to corporate conglomerates and big box stores. Many of these big corporations are wonderful and have given us countless options that we never had before. However, we’ve noticed a change in the “personal touch” that we loved receiving from local business owners. In recent years, there seems to be a new trend, a consumer push to “shop local”, “buy local”, and support local businesses. We’re even familiar with “Small Business Saturday” in our communities. This helps to differentiate many small businesses, as every dollar spent with local businesses is typically going back into our local communities, not lining the pockets of shareholders and their bottom lines.

Local Dentist VS Corporate Dentistry

Not only is this shift happening with retailers and businesses, it’s happening in dentistry too. In recent years, corporate dental clinics have become more available in large cities across the country and we’re starting to see them pop up in smaller communities as well.

That’s why we wanted to take a minute and talk to you about the differences in corporate dentistry and the local dentist practices, like Dr. Gary Skrobanek at GPS Dental.

Corporate Dental Clinics: The ups and downs

As far as corporate dental clinics go, there is an appearance of lower cost treatment; as we all know this is a major selling point. Another is that there are typically multiple dentists available, which can help these practices deal with dental emergencies a bit easier.

However, like any corporation, sometimes the process at a corporate dental center seems more like that of an assembly line, instead of a dental office. Most times, corporate dental centers are designed to give you the assistance you need and efficiently move onto the next patient. This may help keep them on schedule, but this leaves very little time to address any personal concerns, future issues or explanation of treatment options to the patient. You can feel more like a number than someone who needs care and support for yourself and your family.

We all know dental health is important and this impersonal approach can be upsetting, especially to small children and patients who have dental anxiety. In addition to these concerns, dental centers often alternate their practitioners and seldom do patients see the same dentist at each appointment. This makes it even more difficult to anticipate what type of care you will experience at your next appointment.

Local Dentist: the ups and downs

Many times a local dentist seems like a direct contrast to the corporate dental center experience. A local dentist, like Dr. Gary Skrobanek, is focused on creating personal relationships based on trust with their patients who strive to offer a very welcome and calming environment.

An office owned by a local dentist is a privately-operated dental practice that focuses on personalized care that they make available to their patients and their families. In a well-run private practice, like GPS Dental, you will be treated by Dr. Skrobanek and his expert team who know you and your family personally, understands your specific needs and concerns and is prepared to make sure you receive the dental care that is best for you as an individual, as opposed to just treating another patient.

In addition to personalized treatment, private practices generally show a much warmer, friendlier atmosphere where patients are treated out of care and concern, which eases most fears or anxiety that a patient may have during their dental appointment.

The perceived downside of a private dental practice is that they can be more expensive. Of course, that’s all relative and is based on the required treatment. Keep in mind that many private practices accept multiple dental insurance programs and have several financing options because they want to make dental care accessible for all of their patients.

Meet Dr. Gary Skrobanek: Local Dentist in San Antonio

Dr. Gary Skrobanek is a local dentist and native of San Antonio. He attended Highlands High School, just a few minutes from his office, GPS Dental. When it was time to go to college and dental school, he remained in San Antonio, where he attended UTSA and UTHCSA. When he graduated in 1994, he was recognized for his continuous excellence in clinical skills. He began private practice immediately, and joined a group practice on the Southside of San Antonio in 1996 where he remained for 16 years.

Dr. Gary Skrobanek formed GPS Dental, in January of 2013. His commitment to continuing education has allowed him to practice a broader spectrum of dental care in one setting, including implantology and sedation dentistry, as well as cosmetic dentistry and routine care. Dr. Skrobanek is experienced in complex wisdom tooth extractions and treats TMJ disorders by analyzing a patient’s bite and jaw function.

Bottom line, San Antonio and Brooks City Base is Dr. Skrobanek’s lifetime community. He takes great pride in offering the families who also call this area “home” quality dental care with a personal touch and lots of TLC!

Corporate Dentistry OR Local Dentist: What’s Right for You?

There are a lot of things to take into consideration when comparing corporate dentistry and a local dentist, but this decision ultimately comes down to you; the patient, based on what is best for you and your family to ensure that you receive quality dental care. Regardless of your choice, you and your family are always the first priority!

Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek and his experienced, friendly team at GPS Dental offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the San Antonio, TX area. Our office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at (210) 633-3477 to make an appointment.

New Year, New You: Dental Health Awareness

Posted by Genny Skrobanek on January 16, 2018

We begin the New Year with resolutions or goals in various areas of our lives … including family, finances, health, fitness and career. However, it’s also important to our overall wellness that we also strive for optimum dental health.

We have all noticed various articles urging us to brush and floss daily and make sure to visit our dentist twice each year for our dental appointments; however, sometimes we don’t make the connection as to why dental health awareness is so important to our overall health. Whether you’re resolved to improve your tooth brushing habits or prioritizing the completion of a dental treatment, understanding the benefits of doing so may keep your motivation high.

Just like a fitness goal, it is important to begin by taking small consistent steps each day to achieve your goals. There’s no use signing up to run a marathon if you can’t jog around the block!!

Here are some dental health awareness tips that you can turn into goals to help you strive for optimum dental health:

Dental Health Awareness: Improve your Brushing and Flossing Habits

Let’s start small … are you brushing your teeth and flossing every day? These are simple ways for you to begin improving your dental health. It is important to brush your teeth twice a day using fluoridated toothpaste and a soft-bristle manual toothbrush or electric toothbrush.

When brushing, position your toothbrush toward your gum line at a 45-degree angle and move the toothbrush across all surfaces of your teeth to effectively remove plaque. Remember to replace your toothbrush every 3 to 4 months; especially after you have had a cold or flu or if the bristles are frayed.

It is also important to floss once a day to remove any food particles and plaque that has accumulated throughout the day.

Daily brushing and flossing will help you prevent gum disease, tooth decay and bad breath. The additional daily use of antimicrobial or fluoridated mouth wash will also help to improve your oral health.

Dental Health Awareness: Make Healthy Food and Drink Choices

An important part of achieving your dental health goals is to make healthy food and drink choices, especially for snacks. When you consume food and beverages that contain acids and carbohydrates, you are contributing to tooth decay. That’s why it’s so important to brush after meals and snacking.

When making choices for beverages, the healthiest thing you can drink is water. It helps to rinse your mouth reducing the cavity-causing buildup of bacteria and plaque. We don’t realize how many of the “healthy” drink options we make every day that are not healthy at all. As, many of them are loaded with sugars and acids, even the sparkling waters that we assume are healthy.

Dental Health Awareness: Improve Your Smile

The fastest and most economical way to improve the appearance of your smile is to whiten your teeth. It’s quick and easy with lots of options and can help remove surface stains and deep stains. Many of these stains are caused by coffee, tea, red wine and the foods you eat; however, the medications you take can also be causing your teeth to look yellowed and stained.

Don’t be fooled by over-the-counter or trendy teeth whitening kits. They can be costly and dangerous to use, as some are so harsh that they can remove the enamel from your teeth! It’s always best to work with Dr. Skrobanek to directly to whiten your teeth. GPS Dental has several options to whiten your teeth whether you want to schedule an in-office whitening or you need an at-home option.

Whitening toothpastes are also available and some contain peroxide bleaching agents as well.

Dental Health Awareness: Cosmetic Dentistry

More than ever, a beautiful smile opens doors to new opportunities and may be one of your dental health goals for this year. Many choices are now available to resolve crooked, stained, or misshapen teeth. From tooth-colored fillings to nonmetal crowns and bridges; bonding to whitening and veneers, Dr. Skrobanek can give you options through cosmetic dentistry to maximize your potential for the gorgeous smile you’ve always wanted.

Dental Health Awareness: Restorative Dentistry

You may have decided that this is the year that you’re going to complete all of the restorative dental treatments that you’ve been putting off. Whether you need a new crown, implant or filling, when you complete these procedures, you are helping to preserve the structure of your teeth and maintain proper alignment which can improve your oral health.

Dental Health Awareness: Stop Using Tobacco Products

When you stop using tobacco products of any kind, you will improve not only your oral health, but also your overall health. If this BIG Resolution is on your list, there is no better time than the present to stop smoking or using smokeless tobacco.

If you think the vape craze is a healthy alternative to smoking tobacco, think again. Not only can vaping increase the chance for gum disease and eventually tooth loss, but it can cause a variety of other problematic health problems, including wounds that won’t heal, vaper’s cough (similar to smoker’s cough) and chronic bronchitis to name just a few. Many harmful, even toxic chemicals have been found in the liquids used in e-cigarettes, like formaldehyde. Some can cause cancer. Here’s an article from ScienceNewsforStudents called, “Concerns Explode Over New Health Risks of Vaping”.

There are a lot of free online tools, groups to help you stop smoking, even apps that can lend support if you or a friend or family member is trying to stop smoking. It could be the most important thing you ever do.

Below are several organizations that offer assistance and support to help you stop smoking:

Dental Health Awareness: Routine Dental Appointments

Making a resolution for you and your family to visit the Dr. Skrobanek at GPS Dental for their twice a year dental appointment is key. Not only can these routine visits help prevent oral disease, but they can also reveal an existing disease in an early stage. Make sure you’re visiting the dentist every 6 months to keep you on track with any treatment you may need.

We hope this has helped you increase your dental health awareness and knowledge, as patient education is very important to us and our team. If you have questions about any of these subjects, we are here to help you get the support and care you and your family need.

It’s Halloween… Why is Candy Bad for Your Teeth?

Posted by Genny Skrobanek on October 24, 2017

Why is Candy Bad for Your Teeth?

Halloween is the time of year that includes many traditions, such as carving pumpkins, dressing up in costumes and going Trick-or-Treating! Unfortunately, the candy sticks around longer and can create a lot of damage that we don’t usually think about. As grown-ups we think about all the calories in Halloween Candy and do our best to look for healthy options. However, as parents, we really need to take into consideration the sugar in these candies and understand why is candy bad for your teeth?

We all know that eating too much candy or sugar can lead to tooth decay, but few of us are really aware of the process and how that happens. It’s not the sugar itself that does the damage, but the chain of events that takes place after you eat that piece of Halloween candy. Your children may be more motivated to listen to your warnings about the effects of sugar on their teeth if they know about the continuous tug-of-war taking place inside their mouths every day. Here’s how taking certain precautions can prevent tooth decay from controlling your family’s oral health and help you understand why is candy bad for your teeth?

Related Article: Has Your Sweet Tooth Gone Sour?

The mouth is full of hundreds of bacteria; many are beneficial to your oral system. However, certain harmful oral bacteria actually feed on the sugars you eat to create acids that destroy the tooth enamel or the shiny, protective outer layer of your tooth. Cavities are a bacterial infection created by acids that cause your teeth to get a hole in them. Without treatment, cavities can progress past the enamel and into the deeper layers of the tooth, causing pain and possible tooth loss.

A Constant Battle in the Mouth

Your teeth are frequently under attack by acids, but the good news is this damage is constantly being reversed. Acids leech minerals from the enamel of your teeth through a process called demineralization. Fortunately, the natural process of re-mineralization replaces those minerals and strengthens the teeth all over again.

Did you know that your saliva is a key player? Saliva contains minerals such as calcium and phosphates to help repair your teeth. Fluoride is another mineral that helps repair weakened enamel. However, replacing lost minerals can only do so much to prevent the effects of candy and sugar on your teeth, especially if you eat lots of sweets and starches throughout the day. Limiting your sugar intake is vital if you want to give your mouth a fighting chance to fix the damage.

Ways to Remineralize Tooth Enamel

Experts typically offer several tips for preventing cavities:

In addition to cutting down on sugar, stimulating saliva flow is recommended to help bathe the teeth in minerals. Chewing sugarless gum and incorporating fibrous vegetables and fruits into your diet are good ways to salivate too.
Cheese, yogurt and other dairy products also contain calcium and phosphates to strengthen your teeth, and are much better choices for snack time than sugary or starchy treats.
Green and black teas contain substances that help suppress harmful oral bacteria, so adding a few cups to your daily routine (without sugar, of course) can help maintain a healthy balance in your mouth.
Fluoride is a mineral that not only prevents tooth decay, but also reverses it in its early stages. So drink plenty of fluoridated water and brush regularly with an ADA-approved fluoride toothpaste. The ADA also recommends professional fluoride treatments from your dentist too.

We thought we’d include the best and worst types of candy for your teeth as well.

Why is Candy Bad for Your Teeth: The Worst Candy

Gummy/Chewy Sweets:

From gummy worms, to dried fruit and taffy, some of the worst candy for your teeth has to be the sticky or gummy type. As they are chewed, this sticky material covers your teeth, getting stuck in any gap or crevice it can find. So you ask, why is candy bad for your teeth? It’s because, this can lead to a very sticky situation, because removing the material can be quite difficult. However if the sugary matter is not removed, the cavity-causing bacteria will most have plenty of opportunity to grow and spread.

Sour Candy:

Although increasingly popular among kids today, the highly acidic sour candy treats can easily weaken and damage the enamel of your teeth, which makes them more vulnerable to cavities.

Mexican Candy:

Mexican candy, like Chamoy and Lucas Candy, are known for their authentic and unique fusion of flavors. Sweet, salty & spicy is the most common flavor found among Mexican sweets. However, these candies, like sour candy, can erode the enamel of your teeth and cause other negative side effects.

Hard Candy:

Certain types of hard candy, such as jawbreakers, jolly ranchers, or even lollipops, can prove to be problematic for a couple of reasons. The first and most obvious reason is that biting down on the hard surface of the candy may break or damage your tooth. However, another less obvious reason would be because you keep this type of candy in your mouth for a long period of time, causing the excess sugar to get into your saliva, and continue coat your teeth.

Why is Candy Bad for Your Teeth: The Best Candy

Chocolate Candy:

Easily one of the most popular and beloved candy choices, chocolate or better yet, chocolate with nuts (if you’re allergy free) is also a relatively smart choice regarding your teeth due to its ability to be easily removed. While particularly hard or frozen chocolate would be an exception, regular milk chocolate treats are a perfectly safe candy choice, as long as your teeth are properly brushed afterwards.

Sugar-Free Candy/Gum:

While sugar-free gum or candy is certainly a much healthier alternative to the regular option, unfortunately sugar-free treats have gained an unpopular reputation among candy lovers as being a bit bland tasting. In recent years however, this has changed since sugar-free candy has improved considerably by using sugar substitutes to become much more flavorful and enjoyable.

Dark Chocolate:

Dark chocolate is one of the best candy selections in terms of oral and general health. Much like regular milk chocolate, dark chocolate can be easily removed from the surface of your teeth, making it a preferred choice. What makes dark chocolate an even better selection than milk chocolate, is that dark chocolate not only contains significantly less sugar than milk chocolate, but in recent studies, dark chocolate has been shown help lower blood pressure! And don’t forget dark chocolate with nuts, is an even better choice, if your Trick-or-Treaters are allergy free!!

Why is Candy Bad for Your Teeth: What’s Scarier Than Cavities?

At GPS Dental, we encourage both you and your children to have fun this Halloween. And if in fact your kids do indulge in some of the above-mentioned candy types, remember that a little candy every now and then is fine as long as it is done in moderation and their teeth are bushed afterwards.

Remember, constant attention is the key to preventing the negative effects of sugar on teeth. Encourage your kids to limit their sugar intake, brush away bacteria-filled plaque regularly and consume healthy foods that strengthen your teeth. Add regular dental visits to GPS Dental and fluoride treatments from Dr. Skrobanek and his team to the mix, and you and your loved ones will have the best shot at winning the battle against tooth decay.

At GPS Dental, we wish you and your family a happy, safe, and of course cavity-free Halloween!

Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek and his experienced, friendly team at GPS Dental offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the San Antonio, TX area. Our Brooks City Base dentist office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at (210) 633-3477 to make an appointment.

Dental Financing: A Healthy Mouth is Not Out of Reach

Posted by Genny Skrobanek on August 22, 2017

dental-financing

Dental Financing: Money doesn’t grow on trees!

In the San Antonio area, there is much opportunity in the present day job market for both personal growth and professional success. However, in spite of such promising opportunity, there are also plenty of financial concerns and pitfalls facing folks today. This leads some to assume that certain services (though important) are simply not feasible financially, and are out of reach.

For some people this has been the case with dental care. While everyone may love a beautiful smile, the perception of dental care being unnecessarily expensive is unfortunately a common misconception that continues to exist.

Okay sure, dental care isn’t the cheapest service out there, but neglecting your oral health is obviously a very bad idea. So what should you do?

Fortunately, here at GPS Dental we understand that dilemma and offer dental financing with several payment options available to help make sure that neither your smile nor your pocketbook suffer any major losses.

Dental Financing: With a little help from my Dentist

Let’s face it; we all need a little help sometimes and at GPS Dental, we want to make sure you get all the help you need. We want to keep your mouth healthy and keep you smiling. It is in this spirit of going the extra mile for our patients that we offer dental financing and have a few different plans for our patients to choose from to better assist with the payment process.

Dental Financing: Cigna Dental Insurance

One dental financing option is dental insurance. Obviously there are many different insurance providers to choose from, however we often recommend patients to consider looking at the Cigna Dental insurance plans. As one of the most prominent International health organizations, Cigna Dental provides both individual and family medical plans in which dental coverage can be added. This eliminates the hassle and confusion of having multiple insurance providers.

In addition to such convenience, Cigna Dental also provides extensive coverage for numerous types of dental treatments, including basic care, preventative care, and specialized care.

For example with Cigna Dental Preventative, there is:

No yearly maximum
No deductible
Cigna pays 100% of in-network* preventative and diagnostic
Discounts for orthodontia services

*Please check the coverage you receive from your dental insurance plan, as all plans vary and can change.

Dental Financing: Flexible Spending Account

Flexible Spending Accounts or FSA’s have become a very common dental financing option as well. A FSA is a special account you put money into that you use to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care costs. You don’t pay taxes on this money. This means you’ll save an amount equal to the taxes you would have paid on the money you set aside.

Flexible Spending Accounts can be used to pay for dental expenses, including deductibles and co-payments with your pretax dollars. However, not all types of dental procedures are covered.

Flexible Spending Accounts: Expenses that are covered

Typically the reimbursement rules follow Internal Revenue Service (IRS) deduction rules that are spelled out in the “Medical and Dental Expenses” in the following article: IRS Publication 502

The basic rule of thumb is anything that treats or prevents a dental disease is eligible for FSA coverage. This includes:

Diagnostic Services
Preventative Services
Teeth Cleaning
Fillings
Sealants
Tooth Extractions
Crowns
Inlays / Onlays
Dentures
Bonding
Treatments for Gingivitis
TMJ Syndrome and Disorder
Gum Recession
Implants
Oral Surgery

Flexible Spending Accounts: Expenses that are not covered

Cosmetic Dentistry
Teeth Whitening
Veneers
Cosmetic orthodontia

Please Note: Orthodontia has some discrepancies, as the IRS says that some procedures are cosmetic and some treat disease; however, there is not any specific set of rules that defines what should and should not be covered under an FSA. Make sure to ask us, we are very familiar with the coverage of most plans or can research an answer for you.

Dental Financing: CareCredit Installment Plan

A CareCredit installment plan is one of the easiest and perhaps most stress relieving dental financing options available. By obtaining a CareCredit health care credit card, you have the option of offsetting the cost of your dental treatment. You agree to make small monthly payments as opposed to making one large payment.

CareCredit offers 3, 6 and 12 month interest-free payment plans, and extended financing up to 48 months.

This provides a much more convenient and overall easier dental financing solution for many patients. GPS Dental believes the CareCredit plan has proven to be a very effective way to help our patients manage their dental treatment.

To learn more about the dental preventative, restorative and cosmetic procedures your CareCredit health care credit card can help you finance for you and your family go to: https://www.carecredit.com/dentistry

Listen to what others say about using CareCredit for dental financing: https://youtu.be/bJ-gyyooA-k

Dental Financing: You’re healthy smile awaits!

In the hustle and bustle of the working world, getting caught up in monetary concerns is something most of us are guilty of from time to time. However, when it comes to your oral health, remember there are ways to ease such worries and at GPS Dental, we are certainly here to help!

So don’t let those financial fears keep you from smiling, come see us so we can show you that a having healthy beautiful smile, might just be more affordable than you think!

Need Dental Insurance? Try Cigna Dental.

Posted by Genny Skrobanek on July 25, 2017

Scout’s Honor

What does Scout’s Honor have to do with Dental Insurance? Although it can occasionally be done, predicting the future for the most part is practically impossible. Despite this and keeping with the motto used by Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts everywhere, to deal with such uncertainty it’s best to always “Be Prepared”. Obviously this motto can be applied to numerous aspects in life, and dental care is certainly no exception.

While taking the time to brush, floss, and visit Dr. Gary Skrobanek at GPS Dental for routine oral exams is certainly an important first step. However, in order to ensure the continuation of good oral health, there are several important secondary steps required to make sure you receive necessary dental care. Having dental insurance coverage in the instance of an emergency ranks at the top of that list. A dental emergency may in include: repairing or replacing chipped or missing teeth. Of course, when you’re writhing in pain because you have an abscessed tooth or need a root canal, these situations count as a dental emergency too!

Related Article: Accidents Happen: Emergency Dental Care

Although many dental insurance plans can provide you with excellent coverage depending on the treatment you receive, it is extremely important to realize that the purpose of dental insurance is to assist you in covering some of, but not all of the care you receive. Additionally, certain types of dental treatments may not be covered by your insurance provider at all; therefore taking the time to make sure you and your family have adequate dental coverage is certainly a highly important step in being prepared for any future mishaps.

Why Cigna Dental?

As mentioned previously, while there are numerous insurance providers available, and many of which can provide sufficient coverage, there are few better options than Cigna Dental insurance. As you may know, Cigna Dental is a global health organization that offers assistance in medical care expenses and general coverage plans to people throughout the U.S. and abroad.

What you might not know however is that by signing up for the Cigna individual or family plan, you have the option of adding dental coverage to your medical insurance, thus providing a much more simplistic avenue for managing your dental and other medical expenses. (As all healthcare needs can be managed by one single insurance provider.)

By signing up for a Cigna Dental plan, you will receive coverage for numerous dental service types such as preventative care, (routine checkups and cleanings) basic services, (fillings/restorative oral procedures) and even major dental treatments, (crowns, root canals, and more) thereby providing some of the most comprehensive coverage available today.

Additionally, even if you are not signed up for a Cigna individual or family plan, you may still have the option of using Cigna’s dental coverage, as there are numerous Preferred Provider Organization plans (PPO’s) available to those who desire their own separate Cigna plan.

If you have Cigna Dental, we are happy to check on your available coverage for the dental treatment you need and answer any questions.

Cigna Dental: Act now!

Although this information may certainly provide you with some valuable insight into Cigna’s dental insurance plans, it is important to realize that there are considerably more benefits available. If you are interested in getting additional details about whether or not a Cigna Dental plan is best for you and your family, you’ll want to search their website. As it’s been said before, “There is no time like the present” and in the spirit of always being prepared, there are few better ways to prepare yourself than by signing up for any Cigna’s dental insurance coverage as soon as possible! While there’s no way you can predict the future of your oral health, by preparing yourself with a quality coverage plan, you have taken a major step in ensuring a positive outcome.

Wake UP, Gary!! Go Put in Your Mouthguard!!

Posted by Genny Skrobanek on July 11, 2017

Have you ever had a night like that? Your dream turns into an unsettling adventure on a freight train. Only to be jolted awake and realize that it’s your husband snoring and the sound of the freight train is their snoring? Maybe he needs a mouthguard!

The reality of the situation is that HE isn’t getting a good night sleep either! Most likely Sleep Apenea is to blame. Sleep Apnea causes you to temporarily stop breathing during sleep and snoring is the side effect. These disturbances in your sleep can occur repeatedly and result in restless sleep and daytime drowsiness. Long term, Sleep Apnea can cause serious health issues including increased blood pressure and the restriction of oxygen to your brain and your blood stream.

Now what? Dr. Gary Skrobanek at GPS Dental can help you BOTH get a good night sleep!

Will a Mouthguard will work?

By scheduling an initial consultation with Dr. Skrobanek and explaining your situation, he can work with you to recommend a dental appliance or mouthguard to wear at night that will alleviate the issue. A simple dental exam is all that needs to be done to figure out if you are a candidate for this treatment.

If so, Dr. Skrobanek can have a custom mouthguard made that fits over your maxilla and mandible (upper and lower jaw). The upper device hooks into the lower portion and enables the mandible to be pulled forward. You will be show how to use the dial mechanism to adjust the degree that the jaw needs to be held in a forward position so that it doesn’t fall open during the night causing your airway to collapse. By holding the mandible forward, the appliance (mouthguard) maintains a clear airway that improves breathing while you sleep and reduces snoring!

For more advanced cases of Sleep Apnea, a CPAP machine is the most effective treatment method; however, studies show that half of all CPAP patients cannot tolerate this type of therapy. Using a mouthguard type device is much less invasive and far more comfortable.

Benefits of a Mouthguard:

Alleviate Sleep Apnea without the need for surgery, a mask, or medication
Improve Sleep
Reduce Snoring
Easy to Use
Comfortable, Custom Fit
Durable

What Causes Snoring?

According to the National Sleep Foundation, snoring is a problem that affects approximately 90 million Americans. Needless to say, many couples are going through the issue of one person being a very loud snorer.

Snoring is caused by the muscles in your throat and your tongue relaxing too much while sleeping, which causes the throat to become more narrow. The air going in and out of the throat then causes the characteristic sound of snoring. Snoring becomes more serious with age and is more common in overweight individuals and males.

Sweet Dreams…

Mouthguards or oral appliance therapy is covered by many medical insurance plans so this may come at little to no out-of-pocket cost to you. We’re happy to contact your dental insurance provider for you and have payment options available.

Give us a call and schedule your appointment today, so you AND your husband can get a good night sleep!

Dental Financing: 5 Easy Ways to Pay for Your Care

Posted by Genny Skrobanek on June 27, 2017

The best things in life are not always free

Contrary to the classic Ray Henderson song, one often finds that the best things in life seldom come free. While this may be the case when it comes to your dental care, to quote another famous song; “Don’t worry, be happy!” as there are numerous payment methods available here at GPS Dental, that may make dental financing easier for you and keep you smiling!

Dental Financing: Five great options!

At GPS Dental, we have five payment options to choose from. Each of which can be implemented at your discretion upon receiving your treatment, and of course may vary depending on what has been agreed upon.

Dental Insurance: One of the smartest and perhaps most obvious ways to help pay for your dental care is through your dental insurance provider. Many dental insurance plans can provide excellent coverage depending on the treatment you receive. However, it’s important to realize that the purpose of dental insurance is to assist you in covering some of, but not all of your treatment. Additionally, certain types of dental treatments may not be covered by your insurance at all. Therefore it is very important to understand the full extent of your insurance coverage, or to be able to provide your insurance plan information when you visit us. By providing us with your insurance plan information, we will be able to make sure you receive the benefits your plan provides, and advise you on what treatments may or may not be covered.
Cash: While paying out of pocket is not always the most inexpensive solution, sometimes cold hard cash or even a personal check may be the simplest and most straightforward approach when paying for your dental care. Sure it may not always be the most popular method; sometimes the least complicated things are better!
Credit Card: Another straightforward but sometimes pricey dental financing option for your dental care, is to simply pay by credit card. For many patients, this has been the preferred method of dental financing due to its hassle free nature, and the wide variety of cards accepted. At GPS Dental, MasterCard, American Express, Visa, and Discover, are all accepted forms of payment.
FSA: A Flexible Spending Account or FSA is a special account you put money into that you use to pay for certain out-of-pocket health care costs. It is designed to assist you in paying for eligible medical, dental and vision care expenses that aren’t covered by your insurance plan using tax-free dollars. A FSA helps provide a certain amount of funding for out-of-pocket medical expenses such as prescription medication, co-payments, deductibles, or even medical devices. This of course, is a benefit that is offered by some employers and many of these programs have certain rules that you must follow regarding approved expenses. It’s a smart, simple way to save money while keeping you and your family healthy and protected.
CareCredit: CareCredit is another great alternative to help pay for your dental care, as it allows patients to pay for their treatment in a slower, easier-to-manage payment plan as opposed to paying in a lump sum. A CareCredit medical dental card essentially acts as a type of installment plan that allows the patient to offset the balance due by making convenient monthly payments, rather than requiring full payment at once. A CareCredit payment plan can range from 3, 6 to 12 months, and requires no interest. Extended financing up to 48 months is available as well. This makes it one of the highest recommended options for our patients who want dental financing. Because of the overall efficiency of CareCredit in helping patients, the necessary means and assistance for starting the application process can be provided upon your next visit to our office. You can select Payment Options/Insurance under the patient center tab on our website. Click Here to apply for CareCredit as a GPS Dental patient.

Come see us!

While we hope that you will find the information provided here useful, we understand that not all dental financing situations are the same. Sometimes a more personal approach is needed. Therefore we are more than happy to meet with you personally so that we may assess your dental financing questions or concerns, and assist you in deciding which payment method is right for you. Remember, here at GPS Dental we want to help you receive the best care possible, and be able to pay for it in such a way that is painless and easy to manage. While the best things in life may not exactly come free, with the right plan in place they certainly come a whole lot easier!

Oral Cancer Screening… You need to know

Posted by Genny Skrobanek on April 11, 2017

Oral Cancer Screening… safeguard your health

While the month of April is typically associated with long days, warm or rainy climate, and of course beautiful blooming flowers, there is another lesser known but equally important aspect of this month. Since 2003 the Month of April has been deemed as Oral Cancer Awareness Month.

As you may know, oral cancer is a particularly serious type of cancer that is concentrated within the oral cavity, where it primarily affects the lips, tongue, cheeks, and throat. Annually oral cancer causes approximately 7,500 deaths in the U.S. alone, often occurring in individuals 40 years of age and over, and is often directly linked to heavy alcohol and tobacco consumption.

Despite the obvious seriousness of the disease, the early signs and symptoms of oral cancer are actually quite minor. These symptoms may include; unusual lumps or swelling, oral bleeding, raspy voice, and the appearance unusually slow-healing mouth ulcers. Unfortunately the mild aspects of oral cancer end there, as the symptoms will become significantly more pronounced over time and eventually require numerous treatments and surgeries, and may ultimately result in disfigurement and even death.

Oral Cancer Screening: CAN save your life!

The procedure for receiving an oral cancer screening is not only simple and painless, but it may also save your life! Although oral cancer is extremely serious, it can easily be treated if detected within its early stages. As mentioned previously however due to the relatively benign nature of oral cancer’s early symptoms, these symptoms often go ignored, thus leading the cancer to go undiscovered until reaching the latter stages. This deception may in fact be the likely culprit for the high number of deaths attributed to oral cancer, thereby stressing just how important having regular dental checkups truly are. Generally most dental practitioners suggest that a patient should plan to receive a standard dental checkup every six months. This regular six month dental visit should be particularly prevalent among users of tobacco and alcohol, as the chronic use of tobacco and alcohol products increases the likelihood of developing oral cancer by almost exactly ten times compared to a non-user.

Your OralID

While you may already know this, but oral cancer screenings are a standard part of receiving a regular dental checkup. This means that not only is your dentist checking for cavities on your teeth, but they are also simultaneously giving you an oral cancer screening as well. What you may not know however, is some of the amazing new technology being used in this process today. In giving an oral cancer screening, the dentist gives a visual exam of the patient’s mouth, watching for and making note of any unusual bumps, swelling, discoloration, etc. However thanks to the experts at the Forward Science Company, a new cutting edge technology known as the OralID, is now available to patients and practitioners alike. Using fluorescence based technology; the dentist is able to scan the patient’s mouth with a blue light, thus enabling the practitioner to better identify cancerous or pre-cancerous abscesses, lesions, ulcers, or other abnormalities. This allows your dentist to not only easily recognize any of the telltale signs of oral cancer, but also identify any potential GI tract issues that a patient may be facing as well.

What to keep in mind

While Oral Cancer remains a serious worldwide health concern, remember that there are numerous ways in which your dentist can help you if in fact you are having such concerns. So remember while the month of April may present you with many opportunities to stop and smell the flowers, it may also present you with the opportunity to make that all so important dental appointment and get an oral cancer screening, it could save your life.

Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek and his experienced, friendly team at GPS Dental offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the San Antonio, TX area. Our office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at (210) 633-3477 to make an appointment. Don’t delay, schedule today!

Chipped Tooth? 3 Ways to Make Them Look Like New

Posted by Genny Skrobanek on March 21, 2017

Let’s face it, everyone hates a chipped tooth!

Not only is the act of chipping a tooth an unpleasant and often painful experience, the appearance of a chipped tooth can sometimes be a source of stress and embarrassment, which no one wants! Fortunately, dentists are well aware of this predicament, and are eager to help. There are three primary ways that a chipped tooth can be treated, and the selected treatment method often varies depending on the circumstances surrounding your needs.

Chipped Tooth Treatment: Bonding

Bonding or filling, is very common within dentistry and is a practice that dentists nationwide have been using for many years to treat a chipped tooth. This procedure involves the melding of composite resin to the remaining portion of the chipped or damaged tooth, thus repairing the damage. This process also provides an aesthetically pleasing solution that can last a number of years. While bonding has proven itself to be an easy solution for cavities or minor chips in teeth, if the damage is more significant, your dentist may suggest a crown as treatment.

Chipped Tooth Treatment: Crown

As mentioned previously, dental crowns are a more complicated solution that is necessary if a tooth has sustained significant damage, resulting in a large amount of the tooth being broken or destroyed. A crown is a cap often made of porcelain that encases much of the broken tooth, creating a permanent protective covering. Historically crowns have been one of the most popular solutions among dentists and patients alike to treat a chipped tooth. Due to advancements in the field of dentistry, crowns have continued to become an easier and more effective procedure to perform.

Chipped Tooth Treatment: Veneers

If your dentist determines you to be a candidate for dental veneers, then an interesting third option to treat a chipped tooth may be available to you as well. Appearing as a thin composite shell, veneers are designed to be fitted over the outside of the tooth, and conceal any imperfections (chips, cracks, or stains) that your teeth may have. While generally used in cosmetic dentistry, veneers have proven themselves as an effective tool in not only restoring the appearance of your teeth, but in protecting them from receiving continued damage as well.

If you have a Chipped Tooth: Make an appointment today!

While chipping your tooth is never a desirable experience, don’t prolong the experience when there are numerous treatments designed to help you. If you have a damaged or chipped tooth, you should schedule an appointment right away.

Dr. Gary P. Skrobanek and his experienced, friendly team at GPS Dental offer affordable family dentistry and gentle dental care in the San Antonio, TX area. Our office is conveniently located and offers early morning appointment times Monday through Friday to meet your needs. At GPS Dental, we provide most dental services, from family and general dentistry to dental implants, sleep apnea, TMJ / TMD Treatment, cosmetic dentistry and much more. We accept most dental insurance plans and offer affordable financial solutions for any budget. Call us at (210) 633-3477 to make an appointment. Don’t delay, schedule today!