If anyone is familiar with the dentistry field, could someone tell me what a "full mouth scaling" is and why one would be deemed needed when insurance does not consider it a nessecery proceedure?

Thanks...

It is plaque removal.  It is standard in any cleaning and usually done 2x a year.  Insurance isn't covering it????  WTF?  If it is done the standard way it should be covered.  Perhaps insurance would not cover it if the proceedure was done with ultrasound.  (new method)

-P.

Pegg,
My daughter, Dana is a dental hygienist. A  scaling is a very thorough cleaning of the individual teeth, usually to remove tartar, generally at the gum line, coz, someone's got the beginnings of periodontal disease....gingivitis, receding gums. Full mouth indicates that this is in each quadrant of the mouth. It's fairly necessary. Do the gums bleed when brushing teeth? Do the gums get puffy? These are all indicators, so please take it seriously.
Dentists, like Doctors, can send letters of medical necessity to ins cos........this is FAR from a cosmetic procedure.
Hope this helps......... :-/
Cathi

It is basically a "Root Planing" Where the do a deep cleaning down to the roots of your teeth. Scaling is actually the older way of doing this procedure. They use a pick and scrape away all of the buildup on your roots.

The newer method is when they use the water jet to do the same thing.

I have had it done both ways and the water method is much better.

My guess is the beginnings of periodontal disease and they are trying to go after it.

Dr. Jimmers :) DDS

I had planing and scaling done due to early periodontal disease.  Took care of it really good!!  Also helped that I quit smoking, floss every other day and went on a low carb diet too.

Much more healthy gums, less cavities, etc.

Our insurance covered it, yours should too!  It's preventative.

Had it done. It sucks. Insurance covered mine. I was told that if it is left untreated it could lead to heart problems.

I have it done two times a year every year for the last several years.  My insurance covers it.  Dont know why yours isn't.  I would appeal.

I did some calling around, and come to fid out the dentist was submitting to the wrong insurance company.  My company switched from Delta Dental of WI to Delta Dental of VA (because VA is where the company is headquartered).

I'd given them the new insurance information but they kept submitting the pre-auth. to the old Delta Dental.  Idiots...

So I have an apointment this morning with a new dentist.  Maybe I can finally get the rest of my dental work done. >:(

Redd,

I see Dr. Seavecki, but the ones that clean my teeth do the scaling and planing.

Good luck!

It gets even curiouser...

So I had my exam and cleaning yesterday.  The report is that for not having had a real cleaning in what...over 12 years or better, my gums are in near perfect condition, very little tartar buildup and no root planing needed.  

I do need some old filling replaced, and have one small cavity that needs filled where a bit of tooth has broken away.  Another tooth that is broken away from the filling is not decayed any farther, just needs fixing.  

It appears that the first dentist was trying to order proceedures that simply weren't needed just to get more money.  

The dentist also wondered why on earth he would have put a very expencive "temporary" crown on.  It's of permanent quality already.  He's not even going to touch it unless there are problems down the pike with it.

Grrrrrr......