Dental implants have revolutionized the field of restorative dentistry. Unlike traditional solutions like dentures or bridges, dental implants offer a permanent and natural-looking replacement for missing teeth. As we delve into the benefits, let's understand why dental implants are increasingly becoming the preferred choice for those seeking a long-lasting and aesthetically pleasing smile.

One of the most important issues to protect a patient’s privacy and collect the most amount from your insurance is to make sure we keep up to date with our patient’s data. In order to do that many times we will ask for you to provide us with an identification card, insurance card, or update our privacy forms. This is why we ask you to provide this information at each appointment. I wanted to take a minute to explain why we do these things and how they benefit our patients: Identification Cards: ID Cards are one of the best ways to protect our patient’s privacy and maximize their insurance benefits. By keeping an ID on file we have a reference for that person as well as their signature. If someone ever came to the office claiming to be someone they are not they could possible steal your information. Furthermore, having an ID on file can sometimes help us file claims faster with insurance if there is any missing information in the chart Insurance Cards: Many people may work at one company for many years and see their dental benefits change almost annually. Not only do companies change dental insurance providers, they also can change plan types, benefit levels, and even the type of services covered! Finally, the date on when your insurance “renews” also changes. Previously almost all insurances followed the calendar year January to December, but now these changes can happen at almost any time. By collecting this information and being able to verify your benefits we make sure you get what you deserve! Updated Forms: Perhaps the most important form in our office is the Patient Privacy form. It allows us to discuss treatment with you as well as any other people you may want (spouses, children, parents, etc) but, we must have explicit permission to do so. On top of that, we want you to know that we take your data and your privacy seriously and want to protect you from any one stealing your data and this part of that process. Thank you for understanding why we ask for this information. It may sometimes seem strange or invasive but everything we do and will always do is for the benefit of our patients and to make your dental experience as safe and secure as possible!

“…but, it doesn’t hurt.” I tell my patients all the time I almost wish things hurt a little worse a little sooner. The human body holds amazing abilities to mask important physiological issues in order for us to cope with day to day life. When these emergencies occur about 1/3 of the time the patient fears a costly dental bill. But just as likely they were too busy to address an issue before it becomes serious. Below are how I would breakdown the typical dental emergency: 1) Simple one tooth problems A dental emergency in this category is a single broken tooth, lost crown, or something smaller like a chipped filling or natural tooth. This category also includes anyone with recent dental work completed that may have some lingering sensitivity. Assuming the issue is dedicated to one tooth, normally a single x-ray can be taken. Treatment for this may vary from $0 (emergency exams are part of our In Office Savings Plan) to around $1500 (if you needed a crown) if we cannot save the existing restoration. If time is a factor, we can even treat this same day with our CEREC imaging technology minimizing your appointments. 2) Painful, throbbing tooth or teeth and extensively broken teeth Teeth in this category will need more complicated intervention. Teeth here have had large cavities or broken pieces for long periods of time and have hurt intermittently until they become unbearable. If a patient presents with this level of discomfort, we will almost always have to address the underlying pain first before we can get the tooth healthy again. For many patients in this category we would expect a root canal, post and core, and crown to save the tooth (upwards of $3000) or we may have to extract the tooth and place an implant and crown (which can start at around ($3900). Other times the tooth may not hurt at all if it had a previous root canal but broke in a way that the tooth can no longer be saved. One word of warning regarding these cases many times someone with a painful tooth has many other neglected areas and we may have to prioritize our treatment. 3) Swollen cheeks, pus, bleeding, etc. This is a serious dental and medical emergency. If there is swelling present or difficulty breathing, we will need to get you immediate care. These issues can lead to breathing difficulty and even death. If we see a patient with these symptoms, we will typically need to get you to a specialist to remove the infection. If the tooth is saveable it may mean several trips to an endodontist but in many cases we will have to send you to an oral surgeon for treatment and followup care The above information is just an initial guide to dental emergencies and obviously can be different for each individual. However, when we have the opportunities to see you sooner than later we can normally treat you safely in the office. The worse things get the more complicated and dangerous they become. Think of the above symptoms as warning lights on your car. Many times we may see a Check Engine light on and still be able to drive the car easily but as that problem persists it gets worse. The faster we can get you in to see you the easier the problem is to fix (which means less money and less time away from work or family!)

“I wish I could have them all pulled.” I cannot tell you how many times in my life a patient has expressed this to me. It is almost always out of frustration after dealing with another expensive, long process to fix a tooth. And while I can empathize with their frustration, I can promise you from many years of experience that nobody who has ever lost all their teeth (or all the tops or all the bottoms) would EVER say it was worth it. For many people reading this article the following information does not apply to you directly. However, over 36 million people in the United States are currently missing all or a majority of their teeth. If somebody you know whether a spouse, family member, or close friend does suffer from missing teeth or uncomfortable dentures, please share the following information with them. So, what happens to your BODY when you lose your teeth? It’s a great question and not one many people have answered. Most physicians will spend less than half a day learning about the role of the oral cavity on your overall systemic health. Here are some shocking facts: · 1/4 of all people missing their teeth (even with traditional dentures in place) are malnourished · Half cannot eat healthy recommended foods for their diet including fruits, vegetables, and complex grains · A three time higher risk of developing obesity · 3.5 times higher risk of suffering from heart disease · 1.6 times higher risk of dementia · And many more problems to list Furthermore, denture wearers report avoiding social interactions more often, feeling more isolated, and avoiding friends, families, and important events because of their self-consciousness around their edentulism (missing teeth). The good news is we have fantastic modern solutions for these very real and very ancient problems. If you or somebody you know would like more information please call our office so we can help. Our digital denture and implant consultations are always free and may be the solution you are looking for.