Finding the perfect dentist for you is not an easy task. Most of us simply make do with the dentist we have, unless they make a glaring mistake. Since almost all dentists are licensed, and insured, no single dentist referral source can accurately claim their dentists are the best. Besides your experience with that dentist is the only one that matters to you. Still, it’s a good idea to ask those who have experience with either the general dentist, or specialist, you are considering. Word of mouth is a great point of reference for dental quality care, but hardly the only one, since for all the good experiences others have had with a specific dentist, there are also those who’s procedures did not work out as hoped. Even if someone has had a negative experience with a dentist, it does not mean the dentist isn’t qualified, or capable. People’s expectations have a way of coloring their views.
Here are some basic questions you should ask of the dentist you are considering:
• When are their office hours? Is their office convenient to public transportation, or do they provide parking?
• How do they handle emergency situations? Some dentists are available after hours, while others use a referral service.
• What types of anesthesia is the dentist certified to give?
• Does the dentist strongly believe in heading off dental problems before they start?
• Ask the dentist to estimate the cost of common procedures like a cleaning, filling, or dental X-ray.
• Does the dentist participate in your dental plan? What form of payment do they accept? Do they offer a discount for one form of payment over another. Can paperwork be done online, or in advance?
• Are they currently licensed, without Board Review, and do they have insurance?
You missed a spot.
Brushing Daily is a BIG chore.
Puuuuurfect.
In 2006 golf star Tiger Woods won the best male athlete celebrity smile survey according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), the largest non-profit association of cosmetic dental professionals in the world. 59 percent of all respondents said Woods had the best male athlete smile.
Eldrick Tont “Tiger” Woods is currently the number one golfer in the world. He has won 14 major golfing championships, and 71 PGA Tour events. He also has major endorsements from major corporations like Nike, General Motors, American Express, and Pepsi. He has also designed golf courses at The Cliffs in Asheville, North Carolina, Tiger Woods Dubai, and Punta Brava in Ensenada, Mexico.
In 2006 tennis star Maria Sharapova won the best celebrity smile survey according to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD), the largest non-profit association of cosmetic dental professionals in the world. 42 percent of all respondents said Sharapova had the best female athlete smile.
Maria Sharapova has also been featured in U.S. Vogue’s edition about best dressed celebrities.
2006 was also Maria’s best year professionally. She won 5 tournaments, including the U.S. Open.
As great as her smile is, Ms. Sharapova still needs to frequent her dentist. I wonder if all their patients have smiles as universally liked as hers.
Most blog posts talk about the mundane. Kinda like a Seinfeld skit. “You know when I brush my teeth with that mouthwash toothpaste, am I really brushing my teeth, or rinsing my mouth?” Usually blogs on dental sites don’t cover the political, but sometimes it’s relevant to do so, if it concerns your dental insurance.
HR 1583, if it passes, will govern not only dental, but health insurance regulation nationally. It’s also called the Insurance Industry Competition Act of 2009, and basically what it does is apply anti-trust laws to insurance companies. For the last 65 years, the “business of insurance” has been exempt from antitrust regulation, per the McCarran-Ferguson Act.
Currently, insurance companies are allowed to share related information by cooperative ratemaking efforts, and to fix prices, and allocate markets. HR 1583 appoints the Dept. Of Justice (DOJ), and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to address unfair methods of competition in the insurance industry, such as price fixing, agreements not to pay, and agreeing upon geographical territories.
Now, of course not all insurance companies engage in such practices, but it is reassuring to know that those who did, will no longer be able to. Perhaps this legislation will make all insurance companies openly compete for your business. May the best company win.
Read more about HR 1583 below, and if you support it, write to your local Representative and let them know. Tell them you found out about it on Free Dentist Finder.com
http://www.opencongress.org/bill/111-h1583/show
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/billtext.xpd?bill=h111-1583
The other day I was in the dentist’s chair for a routine cleaning. The hygienist was going about her normal procedure, when she stopped and paid extra attention to my gums. I was thinking that’s fine, gums are as important as teeth, but I was surprised when she mentioned that I should have my gums measured.
It never occurred to me that gums should, or could be measured, but given that I trusted her, and my dentist I said ok to the idea, but why? She then explained that by measuring the gum line, dentists are able to determine gum health, which is essential for healthy teeth. The system uses measurements values of: 3 = good, 4 = needing attention, and 5 = needs work for the gum area around each tooth.
Fortunately for me, the measurements were almost all 3’s, with one or two 4’s, which she said I could improve with slightly better brushing techniques. If you have many 4’s and 5’s, then you are a candidate for a deeper cleaning than standard scaling. It’s called root planning.
Root planing is the process of smoothing the root surfaces of your teeth so your gum tissue can more firmly reattach to roots of your teeth. Roots that are are clean and smooth can help prevent tooth loss and sensitivity problems. After the procedure, it’s more difficult for plaque to accumulate along the root surfaces.
Depending on the level of root planning needed, you may require anesthesia, and more than one treatment. Talk with your dentist, or hygienist about your gum health, since your gums are as vital to your bite, and smile, as your teeth.
Best Celebrity Smiles Male and Female 2008
The AACD (American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry), a non profit association of cosmetic dental professionals, conducted a survey of it’s members to determine the best celebrity smiles in 2008. And the winner for best female smile was….
Eva Mendes who won for the best female celebrity smile with a 38% share of the vote. Anne Hathaway was second with a 12% share, and Kate Hudson came in third place. Perennial box office star Brad Pitt won first place for best male celebrity smile, while Will Smith came in third.
For best sporty smile, it seems David Beckham’s move to Los Angeles has been noticed, as he won the category.
Who had your favorite celebrity smile last year? If price were no object, would you pay to have smile more closely resemble any celebrity?
Reference:
AACD, 2008
A startling 20% of Americans say that they avoid going to the dentist unless it’s absolutely necessary. Another 5% refuse to go at all. Usually, this is due to a past dental experience gone bad. Overcoming “dental fear” is trickier than you think.
Fear of dentists seems to be caused by patients experiencing alack of control – the inability to stop what the dentist is doing to them. Because they’re lying back in a chair with the dentist hovering over them, they feel vulnerable and powerless.
Most dentists take steps to alleviate this fear, whether by providing distractions such as television, soothing music, art. Dentists also can calm patients by providing a running commentary about what they’re exactly doing, and offering frequent breaks. Some dentists specialize in treating patients with strong dental fear. These dentists do their best to make sure the dentist office is seen by the patient as a non-threatening environment.
If you’re about to undergo a dental procedure, and you find yourself unable to go through with it, talk to your dentist about the sedation options they have available for you, as not all dentists are qualified in all types of sedation. For many patients, an anti-anxiety pill before the procedure allows them to undergo the treatment with minimal difficulty.
If you have a overriding fear of dentists, one of the best ways to start overcoming it, is to talk with a dentist, especially one who’s sympathetic to your needs. We can help you find a dentist on Free Dentist Finder.com. Most dentists will be happy to discuss your concerns in advance.
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