Monday, August 19, 2019

Take Care of Others & They'll Take Care of You

"If you take care of others, they'll take care of you"

That's the philosophy of this wonderful gentlemen.

He has been an amazing member of our patient family for several years.  Every time he visits us he has a smile on his face and a positive attitude.  He's always respectful and appreciative toward our entire staff.  Today, he brought us cupcakes!

We've always made it our mission to provide our patient family with a high level of service and care.  We genuinely strive to make our patient family feel they are more than just patients.  Everyone is precious and valuable to us.  

When someone feels they are sincerely cared for, they reciprocate that care through acts of kindness, a show of commitment, and gratitude.  

Thank you for trusting us with your dental health.  We appreciate you!

Sometimes....It's not just a cleaning.

Patients often call to schedule an appointment for "just a cleaning". Because many dental plans cover two "dental cleanings" a year.
But did you know the reason "dental cleanings" are covered twice a year is because it is a preventative service to prevent dental conditions that require more than "just a cleaning"?
Preventative dental cleanings are performed when there is no presence of gum disease. Meaning, there is little to no inflammation or bleeding, bone loss, or calcified build up below the gum line. These conditions are generally an indication of gingivitis or periodontitis, an infection of the gums and jaw bone.
Preventative cleanings are performed above the gum line and generally removes soft deposits, buildup and staining. Periodontal therapy cleanings require trained and licensed dental providers to remove build up and deposits below the gum line, to reduce inflammation, eliminate infection and prevent progression of bone loss.
So if you're looking in the mirror and you notice that your gums are swollen, puffy, red or bleed when your brushing; your next visit may not be "just a cleaning".

Thursday, August 15, 2019

It's just a matter of time

Just a matter of time.

Here is an example of a very old silver (amalgam) filling that should be removed. It really is just a matter of time before pain is experienced or the tooth fractures.

Back teeth (Molars) are subjected to greater force during normal function, clinching and grinding. This tooth has little tooth structure remaining. In addition, there are clear fractures present. The margins of the filling are also severely compromised, allowing bacteria to penetrate beneath the filling. We often find, with similar conditions, decay present once the filling has been removed.
If left untreated, this tooth is at risk of an infection and severe pain or severe fracture. Leaving very little tooth structure remaining or possibly leaving the tooth unable to be restored. Resulting in removing the tooth.
The cost to restore this tooth in its present condition is nominal compared to the alternatives. It is 5 times the cost to replace the missing tooth and 4 times the cost to treat an infection and restore the tooth.
What would you do?