Handling dental emergencies

The trauma of injuries to the mouth and teeth may be reduced if action is taken as soon as the injury occurs. The suggestions below could help to lessen pain, speed the healing process and perhaps even save a tooth following a dental emergency.

Toothache

If you have a toothache, gently clean the painful area using a soft-bristle toothbrush and floss. Rinse your mouth with warm salt water. Do not place an aspirin on the gums or tooth, as this may cause a burn. Apply a cold compress if you have any facial swelling. Take acetaminophen (for example, Tylenol^®) and call your dentist as soon as possible.

Loosened Tooth

If you or someone you know experiences a tooth being pushed either inward or outward, try to reposition it using very little pressure. Do not force the tooth into its socket. Try to get to the dentist as soon as possible. The tooth should be stabilized and held in place on the way to the dental office with a moist tissue or gauze.

Broken tooth

First, rinse the mouth with warm water and keep it clean. Immediate dental care is necessary, so contact your dentist right away. The treatment will vary depending on the severity of the fracture and could range from smoothing out a chipped area to bonding with a tooth-colored material or placing a crown on the tooth. If there has been damage to the tooth's nerve, root canal therapy may be necessary as well.

Soft tissue injury

If the tongue, lips or cheeks are bitten, cut or punctured, there may be bleeding. Apply firm pressure to the injured area with gauze or a clean cloth. If the bleeding does not stop within 15 minutes, contact your dentist or physician immediately. Stitches may be necessary. If there is no bleeding, clean the area with warm water on gauze or a clean cloth. Apply an ice compress to the bruised or swollen area and contact your dentist for further instructions.
No matter what type of injury, keeping calm and getting to the dentist quickly are the best things you can do when faced with a dental emergency. To be ready for such an emergency, you can also carry a dental care kit that includes a handkerchief, gauze, a small container with a lid, saline solution, water and your dentist’s phone number. These extra preparations could go a long way toward speeding the healing process.

Cigna Dental Insurance

Cigna Dental Insurance
Dental insurance to keep you smiling. There
are probably a lot of things you'd rather do than go to the dentist. But your teeth and gums are the gateway to good health. If you're unsure if you can afford dental coverage, you're like many American adults1—but get ready to smile.

If you're enrolled in a Cigna medical insurance plan, you can add affordable dental coverage. That way, you can manage all your health care needs in one place. What's more convenient than that?

With a Cigna dental plan, you'll get coverage for many services, not just routine cleanings and X-rays. Save the most when you stay in network, but whether you choose an in-network or out-of-network dentist or specialist, you'll enjoy a wide range of dental coverage, including:

Preventive care (cleanings, X-rays, and more)
Basic care (fillings, basic restorative work)
Major services (bridges, crowns, root canals and more)

Benefits of Cigna Dental

It's easier to manage your medical and dental care with:

Convenient billing and payments. Get your medical and dental insurance statements on one bill.
No claims submissions. Cigna network dentists submit claims automatically.
No need to choose a primary dentist. You have access to our national network of over 70,000 dentists, and can choose one whenever you're ready.
No referrals needed for specialist care. Choose from in-network providers, and you'll experience the greatest value.
Customer Service. Call 1.877.484.5967 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM (ET), Monday through Friday, or download the enrollment from myCigna.com.
Online access with myCigna.com.View medical and dental claims online, anytime. Plus manage your health and budget with tools like an oral health assessment and awarding winning cost estimator2.
Mobile access on the go. Find a dentist, check coverage and show your ID card with the myCigna Mobile app.
Did you know?
Being your best self includes keeping up with your dental health. It's an important part of your overall health. Poor dental health can lead to other problems. For example, research shows a link between gum disease and conditions like pre-term birth, heart disease, stroke and diabetes3.

The connection between oral health and overall health has both lifestyle and cost implications. In fact, a 2012 Cigna study shows 27.5% medical savings when periodontal conditions are treated4.

Our affordable plans and services, 24/7 customer support and large national network of dentists are designed with you in mind.
And your visits to the dentist? We can help make those something to smile about.

1 In a 2012 federal survey, 42% of adults that cited cost as the main reason to forego a dental visit for an oral health problem said they could not afford treatment, or did not have insurance ("Oral health status measured in national survey ," the American Dental Association).

2 Top Technology Innovation, InformationWeek 500, September 2012

3 www.adha.org  (American Dental Hygienist Association)

4 "Appropriate Periodontal Therapy Associated with Lower Medical Utilization and Costs," presented at the International Association for Dental Research Meeting, March 2013, Seattle

FIND DENTAL INSURANCE THAT FITS YOUR BUDGET

Do You Really Need Dental Insurance?
Absolutely! Most individuals do not realize they are not covered. Not all health insurance plans include dental care. And if you are retired, you will find Medicare won’t pay your dental claims. Plus, research suggests that your dental health is connected to your overall health.
Here is a list of questions to determine your dental insurance needs. Having this list handy when you review dental insurance plans will help you save time choosing the plan that is right for you.

Check Your Dental Insurance Needs

 Does your current health insurance plan offer dental insurance?
 Are you over 65 and discovered that Medicare doesn’t pay for dental care?
 Are you self-employed?
 Are you temporarily between jobs?
 Do you want to keep your current dentist?
 Do you need dental coverage for just yourself?
 Do you need dental coverage for you and your spouse?
 Do you need dental coverage for your entire family?
 Do you need preventive care and cleanings?
 Do you need major services such as root canals or dentures?

Dental Health And Your Overall Health Care
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They are more connected than you may realize. Sometimes oral infections and gum disease can be a precursor to more serious health issues. Gum disease may also be a symptom of greater health concerns. Research and studies have shown oral health linked to:

Cardiovascular disease: People with gum disease were more likely to develop heart disease.1
Pregnancy and birth issues: Gum disease has been linked to preterm and low birth weight babies.1
Diabetes: People with gum disease have more difficulty controlling blood sugar.1
HIV/AIDS: People with AIDS are at special risk for oral health problems. Many of these problems arise because the person’s immune system is weakened and less able to fight off infection.1
Osteoporosis: Bone loss in the jaw has been linked to osteoporosis. The bone in the jaw supports and anchors the teeth. When the jawbone becomes less dense, tooth loss can occur

Dental Insurance

Flexible and Convenient
Taking care of your teeth doesn’t just help your smile. It’s good for your overall health, too. Because oral health is so important, we make it easy to pick a dental plan. Keep your smile healthy and happy with our plan benefits, including preventive care, basic services like filings, and major services such as root canals.1
Preventive care is covered at 100% with no deductible or waiting period.2 That means you can get coverage today and see your dentist for a cleaning as early as tomorrow.

Our private dental plans are family friendly. UnitedHealthOneSM dental coverage has no age limit requirement. Even those covered by Medicare can apply. Maintaining a healthy mouth is important to your general well-being, and our plans can provide comprehensive dental coverage for people of any age or at any stage in life.
Choose from Two Options

UnitedHealthcare Dental PremierSM is for people who prefer to keep their out-of-network dentist.
UnitedHealthcare Dental ValueSM has the lowest premium of our dental plans and is for those who prefer to access a dentist from the nationwide UnitedHealthcare Dental Network.
With either plan, you can access an extensive dental network with nearly 210,000 dental providers nationally.3 Plus, you can take advantage of the following:
We pay 80% for Basic Services, such as cavity fillings and simple (nonsurgical) extractions after the initial six-month waiting period is exhausted and the deductible is met.
We pay 50% on Major Services like root canals and bridges after the initial 12-month waiting period is exhausted and the deductible is met.
If shopping for coverage is new to you and your family, we can help simplify the process. Call (800) 944-4699 to speak with a licensed Product Advisor. You’ll receive a personalized recommendation. Or get an online dental insurance quote.