Fall Dental Tips

 

This season is one of the most beautiful in this writers opinion.  Pumpkins, scarecrows, hay rides, and candy apples all describe a perfect Fall day with loved ones.  During this activity filled month it is extremely important to brush and floss regularly.  Many dental concerns arise as a result of sugary ciders, sticky candies and devilish popcorn balls.  In order to enjoy Fall to the fullest it is important to remember these three tips.

1.) Brush after eating sugary drinks or candies.  Avoid eating caramels!  They are dental restorations biggest nemesis. ( Much like kryptonite to Superman)

2.)Floss regularly to avoid popcorn kernels getting stuck in between your teeth causing gum inflammation.

3.) Visit your Dentist for regular checkups!!

Whitening Toothpaste Review

In today’s society,  a white smile is achievable through many different avenues.  Each month a new dental product is launched that claims to “whiten teeth” or “eliminate foul odors”.  But which product is right for you?   Over the last few months I have taken home and tried Crest 3D White, Colgate Optic White, and Aquafresh 2X whitening.   In order to maintain some control for this study, I only used each  whitening toothpaste for two weeks.  In between weeks I brushed my teeth with regular generic toothpaste that had no affiliation with any of the brands.  Secondly, in between those weeks I also drank more coffee and tea.   Thus, allowing my teeth to “stain” more  and  reset the study.

Here were my findings in order from Best to Worst.

 

Colgate Optic White (Approx $4.00):  Having an anti-cavity fluoride bonus to this whitening toothpaste was definitely a plus for me.  The toothpaste foams up like baking soda in your mouth and feels like its working.  After about 5 days I noticed that portions of my teeth had become whiter.  It seemed like I went one to two shades whiter in that short time.  It also left my mouth feeling cleaner for a longer amount of time.

Aquafresh 2x Whitening (Approx $3.50): Another toothpaste with the added benefit of having fluoride, the Aquafresh 2x whitening was just not as powerful as the Colgate.  After 2 weeks I noticed similar results to the Optic White, but in a much longer span of time. It did not foam up as much as the Optic White, and did not have a very good flavor. (I tried Ice Mint).  Overall, it seemed to work given the time period, but did not leave my mouth feeling as clean or my teeth as white as its competitor.

Crest 3D White( Approx $4.25): STAY AWAY FROM THIS WHITENING TOOTHPASTE!!! Here is a direct link to a study that was performed and the results are horrifying.  Crest Study.  Not only does the toothpaste embed plastic into your gums, but it contains Stannous Fluoride.   This chemical has been proven to actually stain your teeth!  I started noticing heavy stain around the gum line of my teeth after using this toothpaste.  I’m not even going to get into the flavor or any benefits of using it because there are none.  Simply put, do not waste your money on this product.

So there you have it.  Before wasting your money on expensive whitening products, give the toothpaste a try.  Using the toothpaste alongside your whitening system may drastically increase your results.

We want to hear from you!

Want to save money? Get rid of your dental insurance.

A while back I did a blog on dental insurance. (found here http://goo.gl/Ac2OsZ)  Please read it and become familiar with the language because I promise you that when you shop for your next policy knowing the terms will help you make an informed decision.

Insurance companies love to proclaim that they cover 100% for any dental services.  Let me begin by saying that unless the provider has agreed to be “in-network” that this is simply not true.  (even then there are co-pays…)

I understand the enormous pressure that employees and employers feel when it comes to healthcare costs.  It seems that rising healthcare costs are accompanied by rising premiums.  Most of the time, our patients dental plans are supplemental to their health plans. But really how much are you paying each year for basic services?

67.5% of our clients come in for two cleanings and one set of x-rays per year.   This is the basic preventative standard of care that we advise all patients to follow.  ( Preventative measures will save you money in the long run!)   On average the cost for these preventative services is from $250-$300 per year.  I am writing this today to show you that you can go to your dentist and save money at the same time.

During my research I spoke with 25 different patients and they disclosed to me the cost of their dental policies. On average the patients maximums were $1000 per year.  They all stated that they believed insurance company paid “100%”.  They also felt that having insurance was the only way to gain access to a dentist.  

Rainy Day Dental Jokes

“Happiness is your dentist telling you it won’t hurt and then having him catch his hand in the drill.” — Johnny Carson

 

A young man saw an elderly couple sitting down to lunch at McDonald’s. He noticed that they had ordered one meal, and an extra drink cup. As he watched, the gentleman carefully divided the hamburger in half, then counted out the fries, one for him, one for her, until each had half of them. 
Then he poured half of the soft drink into the extra cup and set that in front of his wife. The old man then began to eat, and his wife sat watching, with her hands folded in her lap. 
The young man decided to ask if they would allow him to purchase another meal for them so that 
they didn’t have to split theirs. 
The old gentleman said, “Oh no. We’ve been married 50 years, and everything has 
always been and will always be shared, 50/50.” 
The young man then asked the wife if she was going to eat, and she replied… “Not yet…It’s his turn with the teeth!”

 

Marketing in Healthcare

My name is Nicholas Romano and I am the office manager at Ridgecrest Dental.  It has been 4 years since I first started a full on social media campaign for Ridgecrest Dental.   In that time I have researched, tracked, measured and analyzed what I could do to make them stand out as a business.

My findings led me to believe that it does not take a $2000.00 budget per month of print advertising, radio commercials or expensive software to reach your target market.   I attended a whiteboard presentation on Demandforce  last month ($350 per month!) and quite frankly was not sold.  The main issue I had was that it did not integrate with our software.  Secondly, it seemed that in an attempt to secure sales in every industry the software was unable to attend to direct needs that the dental world craves.  Don’t get me wrong the program is very capable of building business revenues, but it was not the right fit for us.

I am a consumer just like everyone else, but it just so happens that I tend to be a little more aware of the marketing that company’s use to lure us into buying.  My personal favorite are the logo urinal pucks in NFL stadiums, but I digress. I kid you not, the dental and medical world is years behind in terms of website development and social media.   Searching for the correct Doctor or office can turn into a nightmare really quickly.   In our demographic almost 70% of the Doctors do not have a website!  We live in an time where patients want to have the convenience of scheduling online,  paying bills online and researching what office to choose.  Why not make their choice easier by creating an informative website! So how are Doctors supposed to market their practices?

A few questions to ask yourself before launching a marketing campaign are as follows:

• What do we do as an office that is better than our competition? Examples include: technology,patient care, state-of-the-art facilities.
• What type of patients are we looking for? What is our demographic? (age,location, ect)
• If asked why someone should visit your office, what would you say?
• Does my staff recognize and understand the vision for my practice?
• How do we provide our patients with the best possible care?

These are just a few questions to start off with and I’m sure many more will follow.  Statistically, from the time I put our website online, our business has experienced 34.7% increase in brand awareness within our demographic.  I did not do anything elaborate to enhance the website (i.e no paid advertising), but what I did do is use keywords correctly, periodically change testimonials and keep it modern.  After a year of using Google Analytics (a free service) I was able to narrow down what words I needed to use. This service has helped me immensely, please check it out because it really can help your practice.

The benefits of an interactive website and social media has been a proven method to build brand awareness.  We use bufferapp.com (another free service) to help us post effectively to all of our media outlets.  Check it out because I promise it will make social media posting a whole lot easier.  The Hubspot website grader (free free free) can help you track your performance as well! Marketing effectively is being able to do something different then your competition.  Once you figure out what your competitive advantage is, market it using the above techniques and success will follow.  There are plenty of other tools that you can use.  Whatever your method is remember that the more exposure your office has, the patient is able to research you and make an educated choice!

 

Our First Newsletter

Hello everyone.  As a precursor to our new newsletter we wanted to share our “mock” draft with you.  Any suggestions are appreciated!  Thank you!

 

April newsletter

 

Secret to Fresh Breath

We have had numerous patients when asked what they are most worried about when it comes to their dental health they say, “bad breath”.  A survey taken by the ADA suggested that millions of people suffer and worry about “bad breath” or halitosis.  Bad breath can cause people to become self conscious.  Loved ones, co-workers, and bosses may even shy away from talking to you if the problem is not stopped!

Halitosis or bad breath is caused mostly by small food particles being left over in your mouth and stuck to your teeth. Mainly, bad breath is caused by untreated periodontal disease aka gum disease.  Secondly, if you suffer from dry mouth due to medications or otherwise, then you may notice bad breath.  Some studies even suggest that other medical problems may be occurring such as digestive problems or even circulation issues.

Fortunately, there are quick easy secrets that can alleviate bad breath and keep you feeling fresh throughout your day.

1.) Brush your teeth when you wake up in the morning, after lunch and at nighttime.  Brushing  or using rinses throughout the day will prevent the build up of food particles.  It will also keep  your mouth feeling fresh all day!

2.) Regular dental visits every 6 months or every 4 months if you have periodontal  problems. Only a certified dental hygienist can get those pesky hard to reach spaces and prevent the build up of calculus!

3.) Avoiding smoking is always a good start to fresh breath.

4.) Eating foods that are really fibrous such as vegetables and apples can actually keep you  feeling cleaner in your mouth!  Also drinking tea can help prevent the growth of bacteria.

5.) And finally the best kept secret if all else fails!  Baking Soda mixed with water!  This simple solution can be used daily. It helps kill smelly mouth bacteria, as well as, slightly  whiten your teeth!

All of these little hints can help prevent bad breath and keep you feeling attractive!  The bottom line is that bad breath can be prevented.

 

Composition of a Tooth

~Listen to your Teeth~

 Nicholas Romano

I have been around teeth my entire life.  Being a Dentists’ son, I was always interested in finding out new information about oral health.  Obviously, a starting point in my exploration was to find out what exactly tooth was made of.   I knew the importance of our teeth, but never really knew the composition.  Here were my findings:

A myth about teeth is that they are made strictly out of bone.  The tooth is made up of 4 layers that each provide unique benefits to the overall tooth.  Starting at the top of the tooth, we see the enamel.  This is the hardest material found in our bodies!  Enamel can be said to be the “armor” of the tooth.   I know you are probably thinking who the heck cares about “armor”.  If my enamel is so strong then why do my teeth stain or break?  I’d tell you its due to wear and tear on your enamel. Chewing ice, drinking acidic juices or sports drinks are all detrimental to the health of your enamel.  A tip to remember is that brushing after coffee or tea  can drastically improve the whiteness of your teeth.  It will also keep the tooth healthier by allowing the armor to not deteriorate. Unfortunately, once enamel wears all you can do to halt the process are fluoride toothpastes and rinses.  Once it is worn, it is worn for life.

So, now that we learned about the outside layer lets dive into the dentin.  This bone-like substance is the largest portion of the tooth.  The dentin is a porous material and has many microtubules running through it to warn the center of the tooth.  A fun fact is that dentin is the main material in Ivory!  A cool characteristic of dentin is that it can partially repair itself by creating secondary dentin.  This occurs due to irritation from decay and deep fillings.  However, due to its porous nature the dentin can be attacked by bacteria, which in turn may form cavities.   Once bacteria reaches the dentin it is important to get it treated by a dentist in order to prevent further damage or pain.

Diving deeper into the tooth we find the pulp of the tooth.  The pulp is the internal security system of the tooth designed to alert you that there is an issue. The pulp itself consists of many nerves and blood vessels all packed together and constricted by the pulp chamber.   Believe me when I tell you that it does a very very good job at alerting you.  I don’t know if my readers have had tooth problems, but it is because the bacteria has gone into the dentin..  When you have a tooth tooth pain often times the only way to save the tooth is to perform a root canal. This removes the pulp from the tooth when it is inflamed and infected.   A word to the wise- if you have an abscess or infection contact your dentist immediately.  Please please please listen to your teeth!

Last but not least the cementum is the cover for the roots.  It consists mostly of tissue and acts as an anchor for the tooth as well as a shield.  Oddly, this strange bone-like structure is not supported by blood vessels!

It is important to understand the composition of your teeth so that you can comprehend what they are telling you.  Tooth pain is not normal!  Listen to what your body is trying to tell you and avoid the pitfalls of dental pain.

The Stanley Cup Winner of MouthGuards

Its that time of year again and the Stanley Cup Finals start tonight!  Rochester star, Stephen Gionta has been stellar in the playoffs thus far and hopes to continue his hot streak in his NHL debut. In the picture above you can see Stephen is wearing an ArmourBite® mouthguard.  Developed by Under Armour, this mouthguard is the best of the best.

Unlock Your True Power

The secret behind these mouthpieces is that ArmourBite® opens your airways and eliminates the negative effects of clenching.  Its unique shape allows “25% less lactic acid build-up after 30 minutes of intense exercise” thus allowing for higher endurance.  It has also been proven to reduce the effects of G-force impacts to the jaw by up to 20% according to research centers around the nations top universities.  This mouthpiece is the only of its kind and can be used by any athlete.

The ArmourBite® mouthguards and  mouthpieces are made for contact and non-contact sports and are worn by hundreds of professional athletes ranging from swimming to football.

Next time you watch a New Orleans Saints football game take a close look at Drew Brees and notice the ArmourBite® mouthguard he wears.  Its no coincidence that the Saints won the year these mouthguards came out!  We have numerous patients that can attest to the added benefit of these mouthguards.

Ridgecrest Dental makes these amazing mouthguards with a few quick bite impressions.  Please ask how we can help you save your teeth and unlock the true athlete inside of you!