Benefits Dictionary G through L

Gingivitis: redness and swelling of the gums surrounding the teeth. It is the earliest stage of periodontal disease, usually caused by a buildup of plaque.
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Group: the company or organization that contracts with Delta Dental to administer its dental benefit plan. The group determines plan type, benefit levels, maximums, and member eligibility.
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Group Member: see Subscriber.
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Gum Disease: see Periodontal Disease.
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Halitosis: bad breath.
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HIPAA: the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. This federal law is intended to improve access to health insurance, limit fraud and abuse, and control administrative costs.
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Impacted Tooth: an un-erupted or partially erupted tooth that is blocked from fully erupting by another tooth, bone, or soft tissue.
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Implant: a device inserted into the jawbone to prove the anchor for replacing missing tooth/teeth.
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Inlay: a custom-made filling that is permanently placed in a prepared tooth. Gold and porcelain are commonly used materials for inlays.
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Insured: see Enrollee.
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Limitations: conditions, such as age and period of time covered, that restrict a dental program's coverage for certain services. (For example, in most programs, a prophylaxis is a covered benefit twice in a 12-month period.)
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More Definitions:

A–F (Abscess–Fluoride)

M–R (Malocclusion–Root Canal Therapy)

S–Z (Scaling–Waiting Period)