Hypnosis in place of general anesthesia??

I thought this was a joke when I first read about it, so I decided to google it and find out for sure. And it's true. Some dental offices (mainly overseas) use hypnosis in place general anesthesia for many procedures. Apparently it's supposed to be a healthier, more comfortable alternative. It's a bit of a stretch for me personally, but they've even been able to successfully extract teeth! No needles, no pain! It's truly amazing. Check out this video I found on Youtube.com, it'll blow your mind!

Warning: This video shows a very graphic tooth extraction, not for the faint hearted!

Click HERE to view the video. Enjoy :)

Who Owns Your Dental X-rays?

This is probably one of the most common dental questions asked. The answer is simple but frustrating to the patient, who believes that since he paid for the x-ray, it should, therefore, be his property. Not so!!
Dentists are required by law to keep all dental records, including diagnostics, treatment plans and a complete history of the work performed by he and his office staff. The x-rays are the property of the dentist, but the patient may request a copy at any time, which the dentist is obligated to provide (in many cases, for an additional fee.)
Essentially, what you are paying for when you have x-rays taken is for the processing and development, and then for the dentist to read and interpret them and render a diagnosis.
Hope this clears up the issue for anyone out there who may have had this on their mind!

Ever been bored while waiting to see the dentist?

Have you ever been in this situation? You are sitting in the waiting room at your dentist's office and start to get bored. You then realize that you have forgotten to bring a book or something else to keep you occupied. The magazines are 2-3 months old and there is not any that you like. I know I have been there before. I have created a list of things that you can do to help pass the time of that dreadful wait. Try them out and let me know which one works the best!

1. See how many different words you can make out of the phrases on the signs hanging on the wall. For example, if there is a sign that says "payment is due at the time service is rendered", see how many words you can make out of that phrase. (team, meat, serve, pending) just to name a few.

2. Engage yourself in a magazine scavenger hunt. Pick a topic or a name and count how many times it is referenced in the mountain of magazines that surround you. (President Obama is one that can keep you occupied for hours)

3. If you brought your cellphone, update and clean up your contact's list. That is something that people always mean to do, just never find the time.

4. Correct and complete the puzzles in the magazines that other people "attempted" to do.

5. Play "name the noise". When you hear a sound coming out of one the exam rooms, try to identify it. (If you are unable to do so, chances are very good that you will experience it first hand very soon).

Some dental centers have created an office theme that is designed to keep you occupied and take your mind off the dental work that you are about to endure. However, if you are stuck in a boring waiting room, give these a suggestions a try. Feel free to comment with more ideas so I can update the list in a few weeks

Ever wonder what your teeth are made of?

Teeth are made up of four things;

1. Enamel - This is the hard white outer coating of your tooth.
2. Dentine - This is just inside the enamel. It's a yellow bone (connected to your jaw bone) that has some nerves inside it is
3. Pupil - At the center of your tooth, the pulp contains important blood vessels and nerves.
4. Cementum - This is what covers the root of your tooth (the part of the tooth that is below the skin), and a periodontal ligament attaches the cementum to the bone of the jaw.

Did you know the enamel is the hardest stuff in your body? And when you get a cavity it is normally a whole in the enamel that leaves the dentin exposed. The pupil is also the main message center to the brain.

So know you know what teeth are made of! (:

Smoking and Gum Disease: A Double Whammy For Your Heart

I know I've blogged about this before, but those were just articles I've read in the past. Well, a recent visit to my dentist confirmed everything for me. After a routine cleaning, my dentist asked me how many packs a day I smoke. A little embarrassed, I answered, reluctantly, just under a pack. He then went on, all joking aside, to give me a very informative piece of information. First he told me that I'm lucky I don't have gum disease and that I should stop smoking before I do. He said tobacco wreaks havoc on your gums causing gum and perio disease, and even oral cancer. At this point, I'm thinking this is typical advice from a dentist. He then went on to explain how smoking affects your cardiovascular system. Again, something I was familiar with, but didn't quite understand what it had to do with my teeth. So, I asked the question "what does this have to do with my teeth?" He told me that gum disease has been linked to cardiovascular disease and other heart problems. And smoking causes gum disease. So, basically, all I'm doing is doubling my chances of having heart problems later in life. This really freaked me out. Hearing it from your actual dentist is far more eye-opening than simply reading about it in an article. I just thought I'd put it out there that this is something that is happening more frequently and it's just one more reason to quit!

April is Oral Cancer Awareness Month

Too many people do not see a dentist regularly. Many will not seek dental treatment unless they are in pain or until it becomes absolutely necessary. This is why many cancers are left undiagnosed until they are in advanced stages, making treatment more difficult.

Here are some facts that should make EVERYONE want to get a screening for oral cancer!

• Smoking, chewing tobacco and heavy drinking are still the number one risk factors, so if you are among the many who do, consider stopping!
• The HPV-16 virus is resposible for a large percentage of oral cancer diagnoses, and a high number of those are people who do not smoke and are relatively young; in their 30's and 40's.
• Too often this disease is mistaken for simple canker sores or cold sores and is not caught until it has spread to other areas.

Here's the bottom line: Cancer treatment can be grueling, painful and costly. It can also be disfiguring. Prevention, on the other hand, is simple. So simple! This is a no-brainer, people! Get your screening!

Regular screenings for oral cancer should take place at least once a year. Talk to your dentist about doing a screening during your yearly exam. It could save your life. Here is a link to read more about the disease.

Bottled water & home water treatments…

The majority of bottled waters on the market do not contain optimal levels of fluoride. And, some types of home water treatment systems can reduce the fluoride levels in water supplies potentially decreasing the decay-preventive effects of optimally fluoridated water. So if you’re in an area that does not have fluoride in the water, use a water treatment system or primarily use bottled water be sure to try and get fluoride in other ways.

Savon's Second Annual Charity Golf Classic

Savon Dental Plan's Second Annual Charity Golf Classic is right around the corner! We still have slots available for sponsors and room for more players!

Come enjoy a day filled with fun and games, prizes and great food! Sponsor a hole and get some exposure for your business! Gather a foursome and come support The Salvation Army's Inner City Youth Programs!

Get your golf on and help improve our community at the same time!

Visit Savon's COMMUNITY EVENTS PAGE for more details and registration information.

We hope to see you there!

Financing your Dental Treatment Plan

Ok, so you've just been to the dentist and found out that you need thousands of dollars of restorative work. You have what we commonly refer to as "sticker shock". You know that you don't have that kind of money just laying around......
Whether you are in need of restorative work or cosmetic dentistry, there are a variety of creative financing plans available to help. Dentistry is among the most expensive in healthcare, with costs rising even as the economy is failing. Here are some suggestions for those who are in need of major restorative work, but who cannot afford the out of pocket expense.

First of all, make sure you have good dental coverage (a good dental plan used in conjunction with your credit plan will go a long way toward lowering the costs, thereby making your money go farther.)

Here are some credit organizations to consider:

• Care Credit Healthcare Plan is a financing company that is offered by GE Money Company. It offers financing for personal healthcare, i.e. dental, (cosmetic or restorative) vision care, surgical procedures, (and just FYI) there is financing available for pet care as well! This option does require that you qualify for a loan. Click here to read more....


• Capital One Healthcare Finance offers financing for Dental, Vision, Cosmetic Surgery, Fertility and more. Again, this option requires that you qualify for financing. Read more....


• All Care Financing is a program that offers dental financing with a variety of payment options. According to their website, they have high approval rates! If you think you may have a problem qualifying for a loan, this one may be the one to try. Here's the link....

Unfortunately, there are many who may not qualify for financing. Don't be discouraged. The options may be limited, but they are available if you are resourceful! There are still dentists out there who will arrange payment plans with a patient. Additionally, dental school clinics are a consideration, as they can perform most procedures at discounted fees and all work is done under supervised conditions.

Believe it or not, there is something out there for everyone in the way of affordable dental care!

When to file a complaint with the Dental Board

Too often when a patient encounters a problem with a dentist, he/she will go directly to the Dental Board of Examiners before exploring other options for resolution. This is a very time consuming and tedious process, for both the patient and the doctor. There is almost always another way! Here are some tips to resolving issues with your dentist:

• Make sure the problem is the kind of issue that warrants a complaint with the board. Issues such as billing, overbooking appointments and rudeness by office staff are not reasons for a Dental Board complaint. These types of complaints can usually be resolved with a verbal or written complaint to the office manager. If this is not effective, then a written complaint to the owner/corporate entity will usually do the trick.
• If the issue is a quality of care issue, and you feel that you are due a refund or wish for the doctor to re-do the procedure or replace an inferior product, the first option to try is to discuss the problem with the doctor directly, bypassing the office staff. Be clear and concise. State what you believe is the problem and let the doctor know what you expect him to do.
• If the above option fails, try putting your complaint in a formal written letter, addressed directly to the doctor (never the center or practice) and send it certified mail, registered (so only he can sign) and request a return receipt. Again, state very clearly what the issue is and what you would like the doctor to do. Let him/her know that you are aware of all of your options and that you are attempting a resolution before you take the problem to a higher level. You will most definitely get his attention. In my years of working in this field, I have found that this option is almost always the most effective.

Remember, don't make a hasty decision. Go to the Board of Dental Examiners only after you have exhausted all avenues for resolving the problem.