People who have a dental plan and do not seek preventive care are leaving money on the table, writes Karyn Glogowski with Delta Dental of Illinois. Every dollar spent on preventive care saves $50 in avoided emergency and restorative treatment, and most plans cover the cost, Glogowski writes.

Richard Schott, a dentist and owner of Dental Excellence in Murfreesboro, Tenn., was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison and was ordered to pay $965,448 in restitution after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit health care fraud for orchestrating a scheme to defraud TennCare and other health care benefit programs. Authorities said Schott caused the submission of fraudulent claims to TennCare and other health benefit programs for unprovided or incomplete dental work from November 2013 to January 2018.

Orthodontic dental care can dramatically improve patients' self-esteem, might reduce bullying and can make brushing and flossing easier; and dentures restore function, says orthodontist Michael Durbin. Costs vary depending on various factors, some dental plans offer coverage of orthodontic procedures, and funds from flexible spending accounts and health savings accounts can be used to cover costs.

Benjamin Rosenberg, a dentist from Los Angeles, was sentenced to three years and four months in prison and was ordered to pay restitution of more than $1.4 million after pleading guilty to health care fraud. Rosenberg admitted to submitting fraudulent claims to multiple private insurers for unprovided dental care services, which resulted in about $1.4 million worth of improper payments, according to the plea.

Michigan state Rep. Scott VanSingel, R-Grant, introduced a bill that would require children to get a dental screening before starting school. A nonpartisan Mich. House panel estimated the cost at $1.7 million.

Teeth gradually change shape with age, changing how the cheeks and lips are supported, says dentist Joseph Hung. Aligners, orthotics and restorations can improve the height and projection of the face, making it look more youthful, plastic and craniofacial surgeon Darren Smith says.

People with prediabetes are more likely than those with a healthy blood glucose level to have severe periodontitis, according to a study presented at the American Diabetes Association's annual meeting. The same study found a link between severe periodontitis and metabolic syndrome, and another study presented at the meeting found a significant association between periodontal disease and diabetes-related nephropathy and neuropathy.

Aspen Dental offices across the US provided free care to veterans Saturday during Aspen's annual Day of Service. Most veterans are not eligible for dental care through the Veterans Affairs health program.

Miss the webinar entitled "Tele-orthodontics The Future is Here - Implications for Dental Plans"? No worries! Visit the Webinar Recordings section in the NADP Knowledge Center to purchase this presentation and others.

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