If you are an expert in a particular field it tends to mean you know quite a bit about that subject. It doesn’t mean you are always right, but you can usually at least have an intelligent conversation about your field. When a “journalist” writes a story about your area of expertise, I would be willing to bet, the expert (you), often cringes about the content. So goes the latest thing I have seen written about dentists and dentistry.
“Is Your Dentist Ripping You Off?” is the title of an online column that was forwarded to me. One of the best parts of this type of column are the comments to follow from such… (Read More)
Are You Getting Ripped Off?
May 12, 2011
To Seal or Not to Seal
May 9, 2011
If you have kids and you take them to the dentist, I am sure you have heard about sealants. I don’t know what the statistics are, but I would assume that most dentists recommended dental sealants. In case you are unaware, a dental sealant is a flowable resin generally placed on permanent 6 and 12-year molars. It is placed on the top of the tooth in the grooves of the teeth. Its purpose is to help prevent decay from forming in this area, which happens to be the most common place for dental decay to occur. It does nothing in the prevention of decay between teeth or on any of the other 20 teeth in… (Read More)
Does your Face Hurt?
May 3, 2011
Orofacial pain includes a number of clinical problems involving the chewing (masticatory) muscles or temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Problems can include TMJ discomfort; muscle spasms in the head, neck or jaw; migraines, cluster or frequent headaches; pain with the teeth, face or jaw; or anxiety or depression.
You swallow approximately 2,000 times per day, which causes the upper and lower teeth to come together and push against the skull. People who have an unstable bite, missing teeth, or poorly aligned teeth can have trouble because the muscles work harder to bring the teeth together, causing strain. People with seemingly good teeth/bite are also susceptible. Pain can also be caused by clenching or grinding teeth, trauma… (Read More)
Everyone Needs a Mentor
April 20, 2011
In the 15 years I have been in Rowley, there has not been one time when I have wished I lived anywhere else. My wife is from Indiana, and every time we go out there to visit, the scenery has changed. The population has grown tremendously over the 20+ years I have been going out there. And the stores……you would not believe the amount of shopping plazas there are. I always wonder how so many stores can survive with all of their surrounding competition. Everything is new, there are tons of golf courses, the church is much more active, etc. However, I still always love coming back to this area and wouldn’t want to live… (Read More)
Hotter than Haiti!!
April 15, 2011
Well, I am back from Haiti and yes it was hot! I had such a wonderful experience I cannot wait to go back. It was no Caribbean vacation by any stretch of the imagination, but so much good work was done by everyone in my group.
I want to share my experience with anyone who is interested and will figure out a way to do so with some kind of public presentation. It is impossible to get the real feel for the condition of this poverty-stricken country without being there. However, between the 212 photos I took and the daily diary I kept, I think is possible to get an idea of how the… (Read More)
Doctors And Dentists Need To Work Together
April 10, 2011
Dentists play a key role in screening patients for many disorders relative to nutrition and in providing appropriate referrals into the health care system. Although the importance of integrating diet and nutrition guidance into dental care has been advocated for decades by educators, it continues to be ignored except by a handful of prevention-oriented practitioners.
Many of the world’s most significant health problems are linked to poor dietary practices, including over-nutrition and under-nutrition. Nutrition plays a fundamental role in health, and dental professionals have the opportunity to be a critical link between discovery and wellness.
There is a great deal of evidence linking oral infections, including periodontal disease, nutrition and immunological response. We… (Read More)
The History of the Toothbrush
March 25, 2011
It’s those simple things we use every day that I often wonder about how they got started. The toothbrush is one of those. There are several schools of thought on it, but you need to look far into the past for the first signs of oral hygiene.
The Chinese were believed to create the first real toothbrush, but it wasn’t much like the ones we use today. Those first toothbrushes, crafted in the 1400s, didn’t use nylon for bristles, or plastic for the handles. Instead, the handles were crafted from bamboo, one of the most readily-available regional plants. Attached to the bamboo handle was a set of bristles, taken from the tough hair of… (Read More)
March Madness
March 22, 2011
March is a busy month for me. Last week I was in Atlanta at a national study club I was invited to be a part of. Today I leave for my son’s hockey tournament in Lake Placid and next week I’m off to Haiti for 7 days. I have to find some time to work!!
The study club meeting last week was great. I presented some material but got the most out of just talking with other dentists from around the country. A major discussion was the economy and how it has affected our dental practices. The common thread amongst most dental offices was patients putting off treatment due to finances or needing to… (Read More)
50 Ways to Leave Your Dentist
March 17, 2011
Last month, Boston Globe columnist Beverly Beckham wrote a column with the above title. I contacted Beverly and she gave me permission to reprint her column. Due to the size of my column, I am printing an excerpt from her original.
I will tell him tomorrow. I will pick-up the phone and call his office and talk to his receptionist and say, “I have to cancel my appointment.” And she will say, “When would you like to reschedule?” And I will say…..What will I say?
I am trying to break up with my dentist, and I don’t know how. I don’t want to hurt his feelings. We’ve been together for 30 years, longer… (Read More)
The Dental Scam – Unveiled
March 11, 2011
Last week I told you about a Reader’s Digest headliner from 1997 called, “Exclusive Investigation: How Dentists Rip Us Off.” The author had traveled around the country with his dental x-rays to different dental offices requesting treatment plans. The recommended treatment ranged from nothing to $30,000. How could this be? Was he really getting “ripped-off”?
I bring this up from so long ago because this magazine was sitting in my reception area of my “new” practice back in 1997 and I still see the image every once in a while. I am sure that most dentists do not want people to think that they are trying to rip them off.
Every dentist has… (Read More)