YourDenplan 2015
See inside for information about your Denplan membership, and the chance to win a holiday to St Lucia!
That’s the world of Denplan for you.
Hello from Denplan! We’re delighted to welcome you to Your Denplan 2015, complete with a fresh new look. As always, we’re pleased that you’ve chosen to continue to prioritise caring for your teeth and gums as a Denplan patient, and we aim to support this as much as we can. We’ve gathered together information and articles that we hope you’ll find useful. To show you how making small changes to your lifestyle can easily help to improve your oral health, we have some top tips from our Deputy Chief Dental Officer, Henry Clover, on page 10. We’ve also taken a look at how diabetes can affect your dental health on page 8, and what you can do to manage this. For the keen bakers out there, there’s a tooth-friendly recipe for you to try out at the back of the booklet. We’ve enclosed a copy of the 2015 Supplementary Insurance policy document, underwritten by Simplyhealth Access, which includes full details relating to benefits, how to claim, eligibility and terms and conditions. We’d love to know your thoughts on this new layout, so don’t forget to find out details of our patient survey on the back cover, where you can be in with a chance to win an all-inclusive holiday to St Lucia!
Steve Gates Managing Director, Denplan
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Dental implants
- the closest thing to a natural tooth
Have you ever considered what you’d do if you needed to replace a tooth due to a dental injury? Denplan offers Implant Upgrade Cover to help you when the unexpected happens... When Denplan member Michael Fournier, 70, was assaulted in an unprovoked attack in Nantwich town centre during February 2014, his oral health was severely affected. Fortunately, Michael had taken out Denplan’s Implant Upgrade Cover which meant he could be offered the best possible solution for replacing his damaged teeth.
“My dental practice team and Denplan have been brilliant throughout the whole process and I can’t fault them,” says Michael. “Everyone should have Implant Upgrade Cover – I never thought I’d need to use it but I’m very grateful that it was an option offered to me by Denplan, otherwise I don’t know how I would have afforded my treatment.
“I went to my dentist soon after the assault and was told I needed two implants, as well as a crown and bridge restoration,” explains Michael. “I knew this was going to be thousands of pounds of treatment so I was very relieved when I realised my Denplan Emergency cover and Implant Upgrade Cover would take care of everything.”
“Since I began my restorative treatment, so many of my friends have asked me for the details of my Denplan plan – they have been impressed by how much of the treatment Denplan has been able to cover, as well as their outstanding customer support.”
Dental implants are fast becoming a popular solution for replacing teeth. If well looked after, a dental implant can last a lifetime and will look, function, and feel just like a real tooth. Having always taken care of his oral health, Michael had now experienced what it was like to have severely damaged or missing teeth. “The damage to my teeth has caused me a lot of pain and affected my eating and enjoyment of food,” he explains. “It’s been a huge weight off my shoulders to know that dental implants function and look like real teeth. It’s all been an essential part of the healing process – both physically and mentally after the ordeal of my attack.” Michael found claiming on his Denplan cover straightforward.
“Everyone should have Implant Upgrade Cover - I never thought I’d need to use it but I’m very grateful that it was an option offered to me by Denplan, otherwise I don’t know how I would have afforded my treatment” Michael Fournier
For more information go to www.denplan.co.uk
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Why Denplan? At Denplan, we believe in giving you and your dentist all the support needed to keep your teeth healthy for life. As a valued patient, let us remind you of all the things we do to make your dental care a breeze...
The top five benefits of being a Denplan patient: ✔ No financial surprises
Your dental plan includes expert advice and professional care for a set payment. Some of our plans cover restorative dental treatment, such as fillings, crowns and more complex procedures, which could cost hundreds of pounds if you weren’t with Denplan.
✔ Preventive care
Preventive dental care and advice can help to stop problems before they begin. The support Denplan provides your practice behind the scenes gives your dental team more time to spend with you during your regular appointments.
✔ Regular appointments
Your plan covers regular visits to your dental team, for a routine appointment or hygiene treatment. In turn, these regular visits help prevent dental problems from arising, saving you time and money in the future.
✔ Supplementary Insurance All Denplan payment plans include Supplementary Insurance. This provides you with cover towards the cost of dental treatment in an emergency, or following a dental injury, and can be used in the UK and abroad. 4 6
✔ Emergency support
If you need advice about what to do in a dental emergency when you’re abroad, or you need help finding an emergency dental appointment in the UK, you can call our Helpline team on 0800 844 999. They are available to assist you at any time, and can help you decide upon the best course of action in an emergency. By making it easy for you to budget for your dental care, you can visit your dentist regularly and receive the very best preventive treatment and advice.
Sensitive
matters
As the weather changes, we tend to consume more cold or hot foods and drinks, which may cause you to notice more sensitivity in your teeth. Some people may be more sensitive to cold items such icy drinks and frozen desserts, and others may notice that hot chocolates, teas and coffees bring on tooth sensitivity. Sensitivity can occur when enamel – the hard outer layer of our teeth – is lost or worn away, and the softer dentine layer underneath is exposed. It can also happen where the tooth and the gum line meet, as the enamel layer is much thinner here.
• Gum disease – a build-up of plaque or tartar can cause the gum to recede down the tooth and even destroy the bony support of the tooth • Teeth grinding – clenching and grinding the teeth together can cause enamel to be worn away
Sensitive teeth can affect anyone, and can be caused by:
• A cracked tooth or filling
• Toothbrush abrasion – brushing too hard (or with a brush that’s too firm)
• Teeth whitening – some patients may notice mild sensitivity for a short time after bleaching
• Dental erosion – caused by frequent consumption of acidic food and drinks
There are lots of anti-sensitivity toothpastes on the market which can alleviate symptoms – especially if you rub the toothpaste directly onto sensitive areas with your finger, and avoid rinsing it off afterwards.
• Gum recession – gums may naturally shrink back over time and the roots (which don’t have an enamel layer to protect them) will become exposed
Your dentist can also help you with tooth sensitivity by recommending a toothpaste, or by using fluoride gels, rinses or varnishes. They can also check to make sure you don’t have any significant underlying causes, such as gum disease, defective fillings or decay. If you’re suffering from ongoing sensitive teeth, speak to your dentist at your next appointment to discuss your options.
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IMAGE OF HENRY
Having worked as a dentist for 17 years, Henry Clover joined Denplan in 1998 and is now our Deputy Chief Dental Officer.
Top tips
from our dental team
Dentists are often asked by patients what the best way is to keep their teeth healthy, hoping that we will reveal a secret top tip, such as the formula to a super toothpaste! The answer is still ‘prevention’. A good oral health routine and regular visits to your dental practice is still the best proven way to achieve a healthy mouth for life. Here are our three top tips:
Be aware of how your lifestyle can affect your smile
Brush your teeth twice a day, for two minutes each time, using a fluoride toothpaste
Pick one sugary element of your current diet and try swapping this with a tooth-friendly one – this could improve your oral health as well as your overall wellbeing.
Brushing is essential to remove food particles from your teeth and gums. Whether you use an electric or manual toothbrush is up to you, although using toothpaste with a good fluoride content is vital. To find out which products are best suited to your needs, and for a guide to brushing correctly, speak to your dental team.
Simple things like reducing the amount of sugary food and drink you consume each day can really make a difference to the health of your teeth and gums. Try to limit these sugary items to mealtimes, and have just three snacks spread out between your main meals.
Finally, remember to visit your dental team regularly, as often as they recommend, and discuss any concerns you may have about your mouth with them. This can help to detect and address any dental problems before they begin, helping you to keep a healthy smile for life.
Clean between your teeth at least once a day Choose a type of floss, interdental brush, or an air/water flosser that suits you, and clean between your teeth at least once a day. This can be before or after brushing, in the morning or the evening. If you’re unsure you’re doing this right or effectively, speak to your dental team. Cleaning between your teeth removes debris that your toothbrush can’t reach, helping to decrease the likelihood of tooth decay and gum disease. 10
For more tips on how you can improve the health of your teeth and gums between appointments, visit www.denplan.co.uk/myteeth
Tooth-friendly blueberry muffins The whole family will love baking and eating these delicious blueberry muffins – and they’re tooth friendly! We’ve swapped the sugar for xylitol, a natural alternative to sugar that also has dental benefits. You can find xylitol in good health food shops and larger supermarkets. Makes 12
e Recip
Ingredients:
What is Xylitol?
• 300g self-raising flour • 100g unsalted butter, softened at room temperature • 250g fresh blueberries • 125g xylitol • 2 large eggs, beaten • 140ml semi skimmed milk • 1 teaspoon baking powder • 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract • Pinch of salt
Xylitol is a natural sugar alternative that is found in a variety of plants and fruits. It was first discovered in the bark of birch trees, which gave it its name (‘xyl’ is the Greek word for wood). Granulated xylitol looks and tastes just like sugar.
Method: 1 Preheat the oven to 190°C/fan 170°C/gas mark 5 and line a muffin tray with paper muffin cases. 2 Using an electric hand whisk, cream together the butter and xylitol until light and fluffy. Gradually whisk in the beaten eggs a little bit at a time until fully mixed in. Don’t worry if the mixture separates slightly.
Xylitol is already used in chewing gums, mints, toothpastes and mouthwashes, and there are calls for it to be used more in our diets. Studies have shown that xylitol inhibits the growth of bacteria in our mouths and reduces the likelihood of tooth decay and plaque build-up. Diabetics may find xylitol ideal for their needs as it has a glycaemic index (GI) value of just 7 and does not raise blood glucose or insulin levels.
3 Stir in the milk and vanilla extract then fold in the flour, baking powder and salt. 4 Fold in the blueberries and spoon the mixture into the muffin cases. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the middle of a muffin comes out clean (cakes made with xylitol tend not to brown as much as cakes made with sugar). 5 Leave the blueberry muffins to cool in the tray for a few minutes before transferring to a rack to finish cooling. As with many sugar alternatives, excessive consumption of xylitol may have laxative effects. 11
Time for a holiday? Now you have the chance to spend a fabulous week soaking up the Caribbean sunshine in St. Lucia. Denplan has teamed up with Elite Island Resorts to offer one lucky winner an idyllic seven-night all-inclusive holiday for two people, staying at the premium four-star St James’s Club, Morgan Bay. Set within 25 acres of beautiful tropical gardens and stunning beachfront, St. James’s Club Morgan Bay is located just minutes from the capital city of Castries and offers a selection of delicious restaurants, four freshwater swimming pools, tennis courts, spa, and fitness centre. We’ve also got five innovative dental care sets to give away from Brush-Baby - the experts in early years tooth care (RRP £10.50). For your chance to win one of these great prizes, just visit www.denplan.co.uk/yourdenplan2015 and complete our survey to be entered into the prize draw. Closing date is 31st December 2014.
Last year’s winner, Denplan patient Richard, bagged himself and his partner Andrea a trip to Tobago… “We were amazed and delighted to win this prize. We don’t often enter competitions and it was the first time we have ever won anything so valuable! Denplan made organising the holiday arrangements so straight forward and we’re both really looking forward to our week in the sun.”
If you would like to enter the free prize draw via post, please send a pre-paid envelope with your name and address to: Correspondence Team, Re: Your Denplan 2015, Denplan Limited, Denplan Court, Victoria Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 7RG. We’ll then send you a hard copy of the questionnaire to complete.*Full terms and conditions are available online at www.denplan.co.uk/yourdenplan2015
Editorial team: Sara Elliott, Jessica Gow, Caroline Batchelor Design: Skyline Advertising Email: pressoffice@denplan.co.uk Any correspondence for this magazine should be to sent to: The Editor, Your Denplan, Denplan Limited, Denplan Court, Victoria Road, Winchester, Hampshire, SO23 7RG Part of Simplyhealth, Denplan Ltd is an Appointed Representative of Simplyhealth Access. Simplyhealth Access is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Denplan Ltd is regulated by the Jersey Financial Services Commission for General Insurance Mediation Business. Terms and conditions apply.
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Win!
Win a holiday for two to St. Lucia or one of five runners-up prizes of Brush-Baby dental care sets worth over £10*