In last week’s column I talked about the trend over the past few years of dentistry taking on a new look. This” new” look is a resurgence back to the days of prevention and maintenance and involves less elective procedures such as cosmetic veneers.
There are still many patients who would like to improve the appearance of their smiles with these elective procedures but are postponing treatment due to the economy. There are also many people who have taken professional dental care completely off their radar for the same reason. This group is in danger of many future dental problems.
I have a hypothetical question to propose. This question assumes you are not… (Read More)
What would you do?
January 10, 2012
Looking Forward
January 6, 2012
The end of 2011 is here and it is time to reflect on the good and not so good of the past year. We are in a very unstable time in the history of our country and the world. Even if 2011 was not the best year for you, there are always things that we can find to be grateful for.
“If you continue to do what you’ve always done, you will continue to get what you’ve always got.” I’m not exactly sure where this quote came from but it is a good way to reflect on the past year and think about the year to come. I also always publish the list below… (Read More)
Bridge vs. Implant
December 28, 2011
Over the past few weeks I have had numerous new and existing patients who have had the need to replace single and multiple teeth. Based on the conversations I have had with these patients, there seems to be some common misconceptions about replacing teeth. I would like to share my thought process that I communicate with patients when they are forced to decide between different treatment rationales.
Let me start by using an example of a new patient I had in yesterday. The patient presented with the chief complaint of pain. The diagnosis was an infection of a previously root canal treated tooth which was deemed non-restorable. The only treatment was extraction. The teeth… (Read More)
Interdisciplinary Dentistry
December 21, 2011
Last week I was invited to attend the annual North Eastern Society of Orthodontists (NESO) meeting in Boston. You may ask why I attended an orthodontic meeting when I am not an orthodontist? The reason I was invited was because of the strong interdisciplinary component of the meeting. What is interdisciplinary dentistry?
I’ll use the example of a 38 year old woman I saw just yesterday as a new patient. She had not been to a dentist in a couple of years and wanted to have her teeth cleaned. She saw one of my hygienists, had her teeth cleaned, and then saw me for an examination. My examination of new patients usually includes a… (Read More)
Amesbury Nixes Fluoride
December 5, 2011
Last week, Amesbury residents voted in a relatively narrow margin against the re-introduction of adding fluoride to the public water supply. Fluoride has been added to many public drinking water supplies all over the country for decades in an attempt to combat dental decay. The theory is that ingested systemic fluoride strengthens the developing teeth and makes them less susceptible to decay.
I would bet you would think that I am a proponent of public water fluoridation given my profession. I am not. In fact, I think it is unethical, unnecessary, ineffective, unsafe, inefficient, and unscientifically promoted. Although there is not enough space in this column to go into this in depth, let me… (Read More)
It Starts Before They Are Born
November 9, 2011
Research shows that babies are born without any harmful bacteria in their mouths. However, once bacteria colonize in the mouth, children are more prone to cavities in their baby teeth and permanent teeth. How do they get the bacteria? Caregivers.
Most parents don’t know that they can pass harmful bacteria from their mouth to their baby’s mouth. The most critical time is during the child’s first 2 and one-half years of life. Most children are born without a single tooth. Can bacteria passed to children without teeth affect their decay potential for their whole life? According to research the answer is yes.
Here’s a shocker…..If you have a history of poor oral health,… (Read More)
Google YOUR Dentist
November 7, 2011
It amazes me how far technology has come in the course of my lifetime. To think that I made it through my whole educational career without a cell phone and without the use of the internet is mind-boggling. I also never thought that my children would get to the point where I was asking them how to do things.
For many of us, technology consumes us. I spilled coffee on my cell phone this past weekend and spent the better part of a gorgeous day running around trying to replace it. I felt like I couldn’t live without it. Another morning this week my website was down and I could not post some new… (Read More)
Is Dentistry Becoming a Commodity?
November 3, 2011
There was a time when it would have been unusual to see an “advertisement” for a health care professional. In dentistry, dentists used to be able to hang out a shingle and patients would come. Today, it is the opposite. We are bombarded with advertising and it is very rare to see a “from scratch” practice open.
Times change, and that is okay. My concern is that dentistry and the dental profession are moving towards a more commodity-based service and away from a relationship-based, well-respected profession.
It used to be that dentists were among the most respected professionals. Dentists always received high marks for honesty, including high ethical standards, and trust. Today, those… (Read More)
But I Have Dental Insurance
October 14, 2011
It should come as no surprise that the insurance industry is out to make a profit. It’s a business just like any other business. Any place an insurance company can cut costs or deny a claim is more of a profit to them and that is their goal. Unfortunately, this is not always in the best interest of the patient.
When my son was born 15 years ago he could not keep anything in his stomach. We went through a battery of tests to determine the problem. Not once did I think, “I wonder if the insurance is going to cover this?” When the diagnosis was made and it was determined that surgery was needed… (Read More)
The Silent Epidemic
September 8, 2011
With more than 24 million diabetics and 57 million pre-diabetics in the United States, nearly a quarter of the nation’s population has already been affected by this disease. The connections between dental health and diabetes have never been more critical.
As an indication of our general health, the rapidly rising rate of diabetes should be ringing alarm bells everywhere. The litany of health implications from diabetes is a long and grisly list. It is the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. That is probably vastly understated because as many as 65% of deaths from diabetes are attributed to heart attack and stroke. People with diabetes have about twice the overall risk of… (Read More)