You can compare network sizes, utilization rates and the money saved – but the effective discount, which measures savings on claims both in and out of the network – is the most accurate way to measure the value of your dental plan.

Dental professionals have a vocabulary all their own! Each week we pick out some our favorite tooth terms to explain on Twitter. Have you been following along? Check out some of the tooth terms below:

You brush twice a day, floss regularly, and your teeth don’t hurt – why would you need dental insurance?

Choosing a plan can be tough. We lay out the basics to help you decide:

Just like an engineer or a seamstress, dentists have a host of tools that help them do their jobs. Though these instruments are designed to make dental work efficient, they can look a little intimidating to patients - especially patients who experience dental anxiety.

5 Pet Dental Health Facts

Nearly half of adults over 30 suffer from some sort of gum disease, also known as periodontal disease. Research shows a link between gum disease and many other chronic illnesses, including heart disease and diabetes, all of which are inflammatory diseases.

According to the Children’s Dental Health Project, this preventative measure is about ten times less costly than the amount of money spent on inpatient emergency care for children with serious decay and infection. Delta Dental of Minnesota Foundation’s initiative, Smiles@School, has placed sealants on over 14,000 children in Minnesota, in partnership with dental providers and the Minnesota Department of Health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) one out of two American adults aged 30 and over has gum disease. Ongoing research continues to confirm the importance of treating gum disease in people with one or more of the following conditions: diabetes, heart disease, stroke, kidney disease and pregnancy.