Hurry, 2015 is almost Over!

In the last blog post we talked about the Benjamin Franklin idiom “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” and how it relates to wearing a night guard to prevent damage from clenching and grinding of your teeth.  But with 2015 quickly coming to a close, we also wanted to share with everyone who has a dental benefit plan not to let those benefits that you have invested in go to waste.

Now is the time for you to plan to complete any proposed dental treatment prior to the end of the year.

Please contact our South Burlington dental office if you have any of the following:

• Unused insurance benefits.
• Unused flexible spending funds.
• Proposed treatment for which payment would contribute to medical tax deductions.

Our goal is to provide you with quality dental services, if in that process we can help you maximize your dental benefit coverage, utilize your flexible spending funds or contribute to your medical total for tax purposes; we would be so happy to do so. We are here to help you!

How much is prevention worth to you?

Preventive care is always the better choice, both financially and for your dental health.  Remember, something as simple and affordable as a filling can turn into a much more costly and extensive root canal later. Take advantage of your dental benefits now and schedule any preventive care you or your family would like to get done.

We encourage you to consider scheduling your appointment in the near future.  Many people will wait until the end of the year to schedule and if you wait, we may not have a time at the end of the year that will be convenient for you.

For anyone who values the highest quality dentistry and the lifetime benefits of a healthy smile, please visit our family practice at 110 Kimball Ave, Suite 230 in the wonderful community of South Burlington, Vermont 05403. Our phone number is 802-864-6264

An Ounce of Prevention…with Night Guards!

I’ve always loved the idiom by Benjamin Franklin “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.  Many people assume he was referring to health but he was actually speaking on fire safety measures.  However, through the years this has been used in medicine, so why not find a way to apply it to dentistry as well!

  Although it would seem obvious that I’m about to talk about how regular check ups and hygiene visits are the “ounce of prevention” that will help stave off major dental issues and headaches down the road.  Although this is certainly true, there is a treatment that we have been using for years that is even more powerful in many ways.

I’m talking about the power of night guards.  We utilize this simple yet incredibly effective treatment everyday with our patients (and I even wear one myself).  A night guard, or occlusal splint as they are sometimes called, is simply a piece of BPA-free acrylic that acts to cover the teeth on either top or bottom jaw and keep the teeth from grinding or clenching together.  Studies have shown that up 50-96% of adults experience grinding (or bruxism) during sleep.

 Night guards, when made properly, have many positive effects.  They help prevent enamel-on-enamel grinding and wear which over time can have serious consequences.  They help protect existing crowns, fillings, implants from breaking due to the excessive stress that grinding causes.  They can even help prevent jaw issues like TMD from progressing.  But most importantly, they will prevent healthy teeth from breaking and cracking in the first place.  Most night guards are less than half the cost of a crown, but can help save thousands and thousands of dollars over the years.  

Night guards should be made properly, meaning that they are customized and equilibrated to each patient’s individual bite.  We utilize the best and most experienced lab in the country for making night guards, Great Lakes Orthodontic Lab near Buffalo, NY.  Improper use and fabrication of night guards, such as many over-the-counter brands, can result in exacerbation or creation of Temporomandibular Dysfunction.

For anyone who values the highest quality dentistry and the lifetime benefits of a healthy smile, please visit our family practice at 110 Kimball Ave, Suite 230 in the wonderful community of South Burlington, Vermont 05403. Our phone number is 802-864-6264

Common Mouth Sores and What you Can do about it-an Update

Every week we see people that have the common conditions known as canker sores (apthous ulcers) and cold sores (herpes labialis).  They are painful and people want to know how to prevent them and how to treat them when they occur.  Almost everyone has experienced a canker sore on their tongue or the inside of their cheek, and most people (up to 90%) have experienced a cold sore on their lip.

So the question becomes what can I do to prevent them and how do we treat them? 

For canker sores, it is difficult to prevent them because their causes are varied and often times things we may not have control over.  Sometimes stress may be a factor, also certain endocrine issues such as progesterone levels in women.  Commonly we see trauma such as biting a lip while eating or food allergies can cause them.  Some factors we are in control of are smoking and use of products with sodium lauryl sulfate in them.

Treatment is mainly palliative unfortunately, as their onset is fast and difficult to predict.  Once they occur they last anywhere between 7-14 days.  They commonly occur on the lips, cheeks, floor of the mouth, back of the throat and top/sides of the tongue and are not contagious.  Here’s what you can try at home:

• take L-Lysine supplements (1000mg/day with increase to 3000mg/day) at signs of first canker sore.
• switch to a toothpaste that does not contain sodium lauryl sulfate like Tom’s of Maine, Biotene, Jason’s Sea Fresh
• Avoid known foods that precede an outbreak
• Switch your toothbrush every 3 months

What we can do for you in the office:

• Apply or prescribe topical anesthetics
• topical corticosteroids
• Debacterol treatment-offers rapid pain relief

For cold sores, it’s difficult to prevent them since most of us are infected with the virus that causes them (HPV-1) before the age of 5.  However, we can help reduce the severity of symptoms and duration if caught early.  Some of the triggers for an outbreak include exposure to sunlight or wind, viral infections, hormonal changes, stress and fatigue.  They are contagious at all times, but especially if the blister breaks open.  Here’s what you can do at home at the first sign of symptoms:

• Over the counter treatments like Abreva
• Topical anesthetics like lidocaine/benzocaine creams
• lip balms
• Propolis (synthetic beeswax 3% ointment)

What we can do for you in the office: 

• Viroxyn-applicator tip medicine available only through a medical professional
• Prescription medications such as Zovirax or Denavir (note: creams are typically not covered by insurance and pharmacies can charge between $400-800 for a tube.  It is much more affordable to take these in tablet form, 200mg 5xday)

For anyone who values the highest quality dentistry and the lifetime benefits of a healthy smile, please visit our family practice at 110 Kimball Ave, Suite 230 in the wonderful community of South Burlington, Vermont 05403. Our phone number is 802-864-6264

Back to Blogging…

It’s been a while since our last blog post.  Lots of exciting things happening at the office. We welcomed a new team member aboard, and have been having a busy summer enjoying spending time with our loyal patients as well as getting to know lots of new patients to the practice too!

Months ago we posted a blog on gratitude, so I think that’s where we’d like to start up again.  Kay and I have a new routine every morning where we list 3 things we are grateful for.  Many times we find ourselves saying the same things; our kids, each other, our families, our team, our patients, etc.  But what’s interesting is that it never feels forced or gets old.  It feels like we are saying it for the first time, every time.  That’s how we know it’s authentic.  We truly are grateful for all of the people we have in our lives.

Try this easy yet powerful morning ritual, either with yourself or someone you care about.  It helps get the day started on a positive note.

For anyone who values the highest quality dentistry and the lifetime benefits of a healthy smile, please visit our family practice at 110 Kimball Ave, Suite 230 in the wonderful community of South Burlington, Vermont 05403. Our phone number is 802-864-6264

CAMBRA: It’s the New Drill

The CariScreen Caries Susceptibility Testing Meter

Did you know that dental caries (the disease that causes cavities) is the #1 chronic infection in American youth, far surpassing obesity and asthma?  Did you also know that dental caries is 100% preventable? It is a mind-blowing paradox that dentists have been struggling with for decades. Unfortunately the traditional drill and fill method is like building a deck for a house that is burning down around you-it is a huge gamble for the patient and practitioner on whether or not the procedure will last for the long term.

Now that science is caught up with common sense, there is a new methodology for preventing and treating dental caries called CAMBRA or “CAries Management by Risk Assessment”. CAMBRA is simply a method of assessing caries (cavity) risk and making therapy (product) and restoration recommendations based on a patient’s caries risk.

A simple comparison used to understand CAMBRA methodology is to compare it to a risk assessment for heart disease. When assessing risk for heart disease your doctor will look for risk factors such as heredity, age, sex, tobacco usage, alcohol consumption, weight, dietary habits, physical activity level, stress level etc. to determine how “at risk” the patient is for a heart attack.

Based on what he or she finds, they provide you the best care possible.  Patients that are low risk may be good candidates for running a marathon or having cosmetic surgery, while a high risk patient probably won’t get the green light. They will likely find themselves needing medical intervention such as a prescription medications as well as diet and exercise counseling.

Dentists who perform CAMBRA are following the same formula. Based on an assessment of risk factors and disease indicators for caries (current decay condition, current bacterial challenge, decay history, dietary habits, current prescription medications, saliva flow, medical conditions, and oral hygiene habits etc.) the dentist can make the best treatment recommendations for the patient. 

High-risk patients may require medical intervention in the form of oral rinses, gels, gums, and sprays (and need decayed areas filled) while low risk patients may get the go-ahead for cosmetic procedures or whitening.

CAMBRA brings the medical model of prevention and treatment to Champlain Smile Solutions.  It provides our patients and our team with the tools and information needed to make smart decisions about your oral wellness. We are so proud and excited to offer this new and incredibly valuable service! 

For anyone who values the highest quality dentistry and the lifetime benefits of a healthy smile, please visit our family practice at 110 Kimball Ave, Suite 230 in the wonderful community of South Burlington, Vermont 05403. Our phone number is 802-864-6264

Why Dental “Insurance” is not really insurance at all

Delta Dental’s beautifully updated headquarters in Michigan.

One thing we all have in common is that we carry multiple insurance policies to help protect ourselves from significant or catastrophic events. Some examples of this might be loss of a house due to fire, medical diagnoses like cancer requiring significant treatment costs, or disability. The insurance companies collect relatively small to modest monthly premiums from a large pool of participants and pays out benefits on statistically rare events.  This is the original and true definition of what insurance really is.

Dental insurance does not fit into this model.  In fact, it really isn’t insurance at all. It is more like a dental “benefit” or bonus.  

For one thing, getting a cavity is not a statistically rare event.  According to the Center for Disease Control, 85% of adults experience dental decay at some point in their lives.  Although the cost of quality restorative dentistry may not always be inexpensive, it does not escalate to the costs of life-saving surgeries, extended medical stays, or replacing a house.

When dental insurance was developed in the 1960’s, it was designed as an employer-sponsored program to help their employees offset costs of regular dental maintenance.  But because so many policy holders needed restorative treatment (remember the 85%?), the dental insurance companies had to place a cap on the limit to their pay outs anywhere from $1000-$2000 per year.  This model is the only way that dental insurance companies can meet their needs for profitability.

However, as consumers, we are used to the model from our other insurance policies where most things are covered and there are no large “out-of-pocket” contributions on our part.  This is not true with dental. In fact, the $1000-$2000 maximums imposed by dental insurance companies have not increased since their original inception in the 60’s!!  However, one important fact that people forget is that the cost of training competent practitioners and delivering care increases every year.

As the market drives down prices on many commodities, employers, employees, and individuals expect a price point in dental insurance where they pay less and get more benefits.  This simply will not happen. Premiums are going up and benefits are stagnant or declining, in payouts to policy holders (you) and practitioners (us).  This is making it harder for dentists to continue to invest in quality products, materials, training, technology, and qualified employees to deliver care.

How does this affect you as the patient? Look to what is happening in medicine right now to get an idea of where it is heading. It translates into the current medical model of extreme volume, where practitioners are forced to see as many patients/hour to help cover the cost of increasing overhead and decreasing reimbursements. How enthusiastic would you feel about your dentist needing to rush through your crown procedure to hop in to see another patient (or two, or three, or four, etc).  However, many insurance companies are enjoying record profitability (see photo above).

Another important statistic to consider is that in 2015, 58% of employers plan on dropping dental insurance, leaving employees responsible for paying 100% of their premiums.

To help offset these trends, we are proud to offer a loyalty program that is better than many current dental insurance products on the marketplace.  And for those people without dental insurance, it is a no-brainer.  Check out our loyalty product called Illumisure.

We are also very proud and excited to be launching a new system and line of products called CariFree to help patients who are at-risk of or already struggling with cavities. This has already been proven to help reduce or eliminate development of future cavities for patients compliant with use of the products, thus reducing treatment time and costs for them.  More on this in future blogs, check out carifree.com to learn more.

For anyone who values the highest quality dentistry and the lifetime benefits of a healthy smile, please visit our family practice at 110 Kimball Ave, Suite 230 in the wonderful community of South Burlington, Vermont 05403. Our phone number is 802-864-6264

Your dentist reads a lot of books-here’s why and how…

I have always felt that you can find the answer to anything in books.  I am a very curious person.  Ever since I was a kid, I loved books.  I loved they way they felt, looked, smelled, everything about them.  Especially the information I absorbed between the pages.  Whether it’s reading about the latest dental treatments/technologies or great fiction, I love to read.  As my love of reading grew (and so did the complexity of my life), I found that I was having trouble setting time aside to read as much as I used to.

By the end of most days, I’m toast.  It’s the reason why we schedule complex procedures first thing in the morning rather than at 4 in the afternoon.  So I found that waiting until the end of the day to read was not working.  The answer, I knew, was to read at a different time of day when my energy and focus are better.

I found the deceivingly simple and effective answer at a conference I attended in Toronto called the Mastermind Talks.  There in attendance was entrepreneur, author and blog writer James Clear.  James has a great system for reading more proactively:

• Get up an hour before your regular time before the hustle and bustle of the day begins
• Read only about 20 pages per day  

If you do this consistently, that means finishing about 7 average sized books in 10 weeks.  Use the first hour of your day to work on improving yourself, and the quality of each day increases exponentially.

To read James Clear’s full blog article, click here  http://jamesclear.com/read-more

For anyone who values the highest quality dentistry and the lifetime benefits of a healthy smile, please visit our family practice at 110 Kimball Ave, Suite 230 in the wonderful community of South Burlington, Vermont 05403. Our phone number is 802-864-6264 

An Attitude of Gratitude…

Just the other week, one of our patients told me that every time he comes in for an appointment it feels like he is visiting with family and he is so thankful to be a patient of the practice.  I was totally floored to hear that comment and even became a little emotional.  Obviously, the first thing I did was thank him profusely for sharing such a kind remark .  I told him that that is what we’ve been striving to achieve here since we developed our vision for the practice almost 3 years ago.

I realized that the strong emotion I felt was gratitude.  I was so very grateful that he felt that way, and almost everyday in practice I’ve experience some level of gratitude while taking care of the people that put their trust in us.  To most practitioners, they are usually called patients-but like many guests that visit a home-they are our friends.  That is why we do what we do everyday.

Dr. Kay and I are so very grateful to all of you who have put your faith in us to take care of you and your families in the past 3 years.  We are also grateful to the amazing team that we’ve assembled whose goal it is to keep taking care of everyone with the highest level of professionalism and compassion.  We will continue to practice daily gratitude for the abundance of blessings that we feel we’ve been so fortunate to share in our lives!

 

For anyone who values the highest quality dentistry and the lifetime benefits of a healthy smile, please visit our family practice at 110 Kimball Ave, Suite 230 in the wonderful community of South Burlington, Vermont 05403. Our phone number is 802-864-6264

What happens to a cracked tooth?

Something we come across daily in the practice is looking at teeth that have cracks or fractures in the enamel.  Particularly, teeth that often have older mercury-based fillings are prone to developing cracks over time as when the mercury sets, it expands, creating lots of internal stress in the tooth.  Other causes of cracks in teeth are habits like clenching and grinding.

 

Cracked teeth often cause frustration for both patients and dentists as they sometimes do not have any signs of discomfort until its too late and the tooth breaks completely in half.  The recommended treatment is usually a crown to help protect the entire tooth from continued breaking and/or an appliance called a splint which acts as a mouthguard to protect the teeth from grinding.

 

Crowns are usually the best, first-line of treatment for cracked teeth to prevent the spread of the cracks.  As the crack within a tooth starts to spread, it often extends towards the center where the nerve resides.  This is when symptoms start to occur.  Now, however, the tooth may need root canal therapy in addition to just a crown.  The worst case scenario is when the crack spreads all the way through the center and fractures the tooth in half, which at that time requires the tooth to be taken out.

 

We often make the analogy that when multiple teeth show cracking, its similar to tires wearing down on your car.  All the tires have the same amount of miles, and you typically wouldn’t replace one tire at a time while the other tires wear completely out.  This is why we recommend treating multiple teeth that show the same signs at the same time.  Although more expensive up front, it often will save you from having more expensive treatments down the road that could have been avoided by early interventional treatment.

 

Notice cracks around mercury fillings before removal

Crack can be seen extending entire length of tooth after fillings are removed before crown preparation

 

For anyone who values the highest quality dentistry and the lifetime benefits of a healthy smile, please visit our family practice at 110 Kimball Ave, Suite 230 in the wonderful community of South Burlington, Vermont 05403. Our phone number is 802-864-6264

 

 

The Cost of Getting it Right

There is a story about a traveler who happened across Pablo Picasso outside painting a picture.  The traveler asked Picasso if he would consider painting a portrait.  Picasso accepted, and whipped up an incredible portrait of the traveler in the style that only he could pull off.  When the traveler asked Picasso what his fee would be, they were shocked. “Sir, it only took you a short time to paint that picture!”  Picasso replied, “I must disagree, it has taken me a lifetime.”

Often times, we tend to correlate the cost of something with how long it takes for that service or product to transfer to the consumer.  High quality dentistry is no different.  It may only take 45-60 minutes to finish a crown (or cap as they are sometimes called), and it tends to be a more expensive procedure then taking a tooth out.  However, if an expert dentist is to do this procedure for you correctly to get great long-lasting results, a lot of time and money has to go into that appointment.  First, the dentist must finish undergraduate college and then get accepted into and successfully complete dental school to get a license to practice (that one hour crown appointment used to take over 3 hours in dental school)!  This takes at least 8 years and can cost the dentist anywhere from $250,000-$400,000 in educational debt.

Then, the dentist must continue to improve their skills and knowledge of material sciences, techniques, and technology to maintain their expertise and deliver the best product to you-that crown.  This continues to take time and thousands of dollars in continuing education and training.  On top of what the dentist is responsible for learning, if they really want to deliver a different and exceptional experience for their clients, they also take their team members to courses as well.

After that, learning how to deliver a comfortable and pain-free experience to someone takes more time and nuance, and there are no shortcuts for that.

Then, there is the often overlooked overhead costs of running a practice (nationwide average at 75%) to keep the doors open so our clients can continue to enjoy the high quality services we provide.

So as we can see, a lot has happened behind the scenes to make that one crown (or implant, or veneers, or sleep apnea device, etc) work for you. And isn’t it nice to have it done quickly, precisely, and comfortably?

Why not experience the difference with us?

For anyone who values the highest quality dentistry and the lifetime benefits of a healthy smile, please visit our family practice at 110 Kimball Ave, Suite 230 in the wonderful community of South Burlington, Vermont 05403. Our phone number is 802-864-6264