The Power of Smile ™ Blog
Meet The Clinicians
Learn about current topics and trends in dentistry and the importance of oral health as it relates to overall health from our team of experts.
Eileen Crespo, MD
Dr. Eileen Crespo is the Vice President of Medical Services at Delta Dental of Minnesota. Dr. Crespo is a practicing pediatrician of 20 years. She is currently a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and a member of the Board of Directors at Children’s Dental Service and the Minnesota Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Nirmala Prabhu, DMD
Dr. Nirmala Prabhu (Dr. Nina) is the Vice President of Dental Services at Delta Dental of Minnesota. Prior to joining Delta Dental of Minnesota, Dr. Nina was the Director of National Dental Policy and Surveillance and Utilization Review Subsystem (SURS) at Delta Dental of California for 18 years.
R. Bruce Templeton, DMD
Dr. Bruce Templeton is an oral surgeon and has served both on the board and as a medical consultant for Delta Dental of Minnesota since 2011. Dr. Templeton has served as both the Chief of Dentistry and Oral/Maxillofacial Surgery at the Minneapolis Veterans Affairs Health Care System, and as a clinical professor at the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry.
This information in this post is for general educational purposes only and does not warrant or represent any information as related to health as specifically appropriate for you. It is not intended to be medical advice or replace the relationship that you have with your health care providers. You should always seek medical advice on any diagnosis or treatment from a qualified health care provider. The information is provided “as is” without any representations or warranties, express or implied.
Recent Blog Articles
Asthma and your oral health
If you have asthma, you probably already know that winter = colder weather = thriving viruses = upper respiratory infections = asthma attacks. What you may not know is that those asthma symptoms can have an impact on your smile.
Answers to your frequently asked questions about senior dental benefits
Do you have a question about dental insurance for seniors? You’re not the only one! Our support team put together the most commonly asked questions they receive – and their answers! – below.
My Tricare Retiree Dental Program ended. What are my options?
If you’re a military retiree looking for alternatives to replace your Tricare Retiree Dental Program (TRDP), you’re not alone. The government announced an end to the program beginning Dec. 31, which has a lot of people wondering what their options are.
The bigger the network, the better for your business
When it comes to your business, the bigger dental network you have, the better. With a larger network size, your employees have a greater selection of dentists to choose from, which means lower cost for your and better convenience for your employees.
A full Thanksgiving menu of mouth-friendly nutrients
Did you know that typical Thanksgiving meals are packed with mouth-friendly nutrients? Here’s where they’re hiding
Vegan diets and oral health
A vegan diet is proven to be safe, although it may have some unintended consequences for oral health. According to the American Dietetic Association, nearly anyone can live a healthy life without meat, but giving up traditional sources of nutrients can increase the risk for gum disease.
Discount plan? Dental insurance? What’s the difference?
If you’ve been to your dentist recently, you may have seen advertisements for an in-house dental plan or discount plan. Are you wondering how that differs from your dental insurance?
Five ancient practices that will make you grateful for modern dentistry
Dentistry has been around in some form or another for thousands of years. From embedding precious stones in teeth to brushing with hog hair, people have been (attempting to) care for and bedazzle their teeth for centuries. Many practices from the past range from bizarre to downright disgusting. Below are five ancient dental practices that will make you thankful you’re visiting the dentist in the 21st century:
Use it or lose it: Your Flexible Spending Account (FSA) can be applied for dental!
The end of the year is near, and if you have a flexible spending account, you’re coming up on your use it or lose it date! Did you know that your FSA can be used toward some dental expenses? Here’s an example of what’s covered:
