dental health

When times get tough, teeth just aren't on the top of the "take care of this now" list. And that's nothing to smile about. About half of Americans lack dental insurance, and 77% of those have postponed seeing a dentist because of the cost -- a choice that can have serious long-term consequences.

Want to judge a person's socioeconomic status? Check his or her teeth. There is still a wide disparity in our access to dentistry. A recent study by Men's Health ranks America's communities for their tooth health. Their plaque for the worst teeth in America goes to: St. Louis,...

At least 10 health care providers used high-pressure tactics to push consumers into using a credit card sold by General Electric to pay for hard-to-insure procedures, an investigation by the New York Attorney General's office found. More than 125,000 health care practices nationwide accept the...

If you're putting off a trip to the dentist to avoid the dreaded drill, a new technique may eliminate your cavity without the need to open wide and cringe. A new peptide embedded in soft gel or thin film placed next to a cavity encourages cells inside teeth to regenerate in about a month,...

William Shatner may not be available, but patients who use a new Web site to negotiate prices with doctors might want to use Shatner's tactics as "The Negotiator" for Priceline.com. PriceDoc.com started in Seattle in April and is set to go national in November, allowing people to name their...

I used to have twice-yearly teeth cleanings when I had a full-time job with great health benefits. Now that I'm self-employed with a not-as-great healthcare plan, dental insurance is an unaffordable luxury right now. I've postponed the $125 cleaning this year as other bills are more pressing, but...