Green Dentistry. Is there such a thing?
August 4, 2008
In my search for the best information for my blog, I’ve scoured the internet looking to see if there is such a thing called “Green Dentistry.” With it being hip to be green, from hollywood celebrities to corporate jaggernauts, I’m surprised not many dentists have adopted the concept.
It is common however for dentists to jump on the bandwagon. Though lately I’ve given more thought to it than most dentists, here ar e few things that any dentist may consider when going green.
1. Removing mercury fillings and SAFELY discarding them. I’m not going to mention too much about the mercury toxicity debate but I am going to mention that it is a requirement to dispose of the hazardous material properly. I know that in my previous office, strict protocols were needed to monitor the substance and extra equipment like amalgam separators.
2. Energy savings in the office. As dentists, we want to have nice well-lit offices to create a pleasant environment, but is it right to do at the expense of energy? Not to mention, the added costs to light up and power the computers and other dental equipment.
3. Conserve on disposables. A lot of dentists use barriers to cover up surfaces but all of these plastics and paper products add to landfills. Dentists should instruct their staff to use spray and wipe techniques to disinfect surfaces.
4. Paper in the office. Whenever you go to the dentist for the first time, the first thing they do is give you a clipboard with several pieces of paper… commonly called “The Paperwork.” Nowadays, offices are computerized and an online form is becoming more popular. They even have signature pads for you to sign. The term paperless would be difficult these days but a chartless dental office is now feasible with current software.
5. Chemicals. With the advent of digital xrays, dental offices are able to eliminate the need for x-ray developing chemicals. Choose an office with digital xrays.
6. Text and email communications instead of postcards and mailed statements. Another way to cut down on paper is with the use of the internet and cell phones. People actual prefer a text or email reminder as opposed to a phone call.
This list could be a whole lot longer but these 6 tips are a good way to start. Feel free to print this out and give it to your dentist. They may even give you a discount on your next cleaning!
Dr. Marvin
ps. I’m still working on a book for dentists on how to be environmentally friendly. Subscribe to this feed for the latest updates.
Dental Insurance: Why Dentists Don’t Take Your Dental Insurance?
July 30, 2008
“Do you take insurance?”
That’s one of the top 3 question people ask when they first find out that I’m a dentist. It is a good questions because yes, dental insurance is a benefit for most people.
However, here are my thoughts from the standpoint of a dentist.
1. There are so many intricacies with dental insurance, most dentists and dental staff members are clueless when it comes to explaining all of the details. Plus, insurance companies and the employers that purchase these plans are always changing things around to save money (and make a profit). Welcome to capitalism. The problem with this is that your health is at stake. Look at the issues with medical insurance, costs, and the masses who don’t have any coverage.
2. Managed care makes dentists work harder and faster. That means more patients per hour just to make a profit. That means less time with you and your questions. More is delegated to other people (staff members) and less time with the dental professional. Dental insurance makes us dentist look bad but how can we stay in business if we don’t make a profit.
3. Dental insurance companies pay dentists a lot less, 10-80% less than their normal fees. That cuts into the profit margin for dentists which is by the way typically 30%. That’s right, pre-tax dentists only make 30 cents on the dollar you spend. Take into account all the years of schooling and knowledge, that’s very little. That’s why they have to work more and see more patients (which again makes people feel cheapened). Dentists can’t charge by the hour like attorneys (unfortunately).
4. Dental discount plans. Have you heard of them? They’re membership card companies that ask dentists (who are gullible enough to sign up) to participate thereby getting more patients. Just like dental insurance companies, the fees are ridiculously low compared to their normal fees. My recommendation is to stay away from these because they put a burden on the dentist and the quality will (if not already) be compromised.
5. It costs dentists a lot of money. Most dentists have to hire a full-time person dealing with just insurance. That’s added overhead for the practice because dentists have over the years provided the service of filing claims for patients. As dental insurance companies “twisted” things around, they’ve made it more difficult for dental offices to get paid. That’s just another scheme dental insurances use to “keep the dentist’s money longer” and make more money on interests. This leads to more fraudulent dentists trying to take revenge against the dental insurance company. That’s another bad situation.
6. Your dental benefits are small. Did you know that most dental insurances pay out a maximum of $1000 per person per year? That number hasn’t changed for over 30 years while cost of living and inflation has quadrupled. Don’t expect that to change. Here’s a lesson for you, if you have dental insurance, be happy but don’t expect it to turn around your smile when your were 19.
7. Dental insurance covers prevention services like regular cleanings and exams. The cost of those procedures have gone up and by the time you get to the actual fillings, crowns, dentures etc, you will have exceed your yearly max. Some dentists think this is a hassle and are not willing to deal with it.
There are many more reasons but these are 7 of them that really start to make my neck ache. I’ve dealt with these issues and I feel strongly that the happiest dentists are the ones that deal directly with patients without the interference of dental insurance. I’m in that boat. If you want to schedule an appointment with me, just call my number at 888 825 5351.
Sedation Dentistry: What is it?
July 28, 2008
When going to the dentist, a lot of times you just sit in a chair and stare at the ceiling. That is of course if you are comfortable with the dentist or dental hygienist and know what is going on. For most people, dentistry is just something that has to be done. But as a patient, do we really need to remember the whole ordeal? Can we just sleep through the procedure and wake up with a mouth without cavities and filled with durable, pearly teeth?
You’re in luck because many dentists are getting trained to do oral conscious sedation dentistry.
What is Sedation Dentistry?
To be thorough, there are many forms of sedation dentistry but the one that comes to my mind is the dentistry where you sleep (or almost completely be knocked out) and wake up not only revived but also relieved that the visit is over.
The most common method of “sleep dentistry” is oral conscious sedation where the dentist gives you a script or the pills themselves. They’re mainly sleeping pills that make your really drowsy. While sleeping, the dentist will complete the necessary work. That’s it.
Sometimes, the drug has some amnesia effects that literally causes you to forget a lot of what went on. For me, that’s a bonus but don’t count on it working for everyone.
That brings me to another point. Because every person’s body is different, you may experience something very different than someone else. That is one of the challenges every dentist has when administering this type of dentistry. They must think, Do I give one or two or even three pills?
As a rule of thumb, the bigger the person the higher the dosage. But just like any drug or substance (take alcohol for instance) everyone reacts differently with sedation dentistry.
So if you are looking for a way to avoid the whining of the drill, or if you just want to “get it over with,” then consider sedation dentistry as your new option to google.
If you need to find a dentist that does this type of dentistry, just google “sedation dentist [your city]” and you’ll surely find one that will suit your needs.
Mercury Toxicity: Now Is The Perfect Time To Get Rid Of The Poison
June 30, 2008
If you’ve ever wanted the best time to have your metal fillings (aka amalgams or mercury fillings) removed, then today is a good day to start… because just a few weeks ago, the Food and Drug Administration changed their pitiful stance on the toxic substance.
Previously, the FDA and American Dental Association agreed that mercury toxicity from dental amalgam fillings were safe, despite known facts about the toxicity in humans. Debates over the safety of amalgam fillings have been staged for decades with many individuals, doctors and dentists included, rallying against the placement of these poisonous fillings.
However, the stubbornness of these large associations still insisted (until a few weeks ago) that it is unlawful for dentist and other medical providers to recommend removing mercury fillings for “health”reasons.
But, since being sued, the FDA has changed their view “slightly” on the topic and it shows on their website. We hope to see the ADA and state dental boards changing their stance.
What does this mean to you?
Well… now you can go to your dentist and have them removed without the dentist fearing litigation. You can have your amalgams removed for the purpose of health. Run a google search on mercury toxicity or visit
IAOMT International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology …
for more information.
This association actually has a protocol for removing amalgams safely. Unfortunately, about 99% of dentists don’t follow up but I’m optimistic they will in the near future with this ruling.
A couple features of the protocol involve a change in technique when removing amalgams… such as using a rubber dam and breaking the fillings in large chunks. You should also have a mercury vapor ionizer because it has shown that the most mercury is removed during placement and removal of the filling.
Because of this recently news, I’m going to dig deeper into the subject and determine what I can do to help my patients to safely remove the mercury fillings. I may also write a report about it… we’ll see. It depends on how much time I have in the coming weeks. If you want to be notified, just sign up for my newsletter.
Dr. Marvin
Free Dentist-Finder Report
June 8, 2008
Believe me… I know how hard it is to find a dentist… not just a regular dentist, but one you can trust.
I’ve gone ahead and wrote down the 5 biggest mistakes people make when choosing a dentist.
I hope you enjoy reading it.
Hypnosis And Dental Pain - Get Your Dental Work Done Without Needles
June 3, 2008
It sounds great. Imagine getting your rotten tooth taken out without getting injected or having that “fat lip” feeling. Well it may be a common occurrence.
An article (Click Here for the article.) explained how the procedure went. A man who couldn’t afford to get his teeth pulled joined a study where they hypnotize you before getting your teeth done… like mind over matter (or molars).
Many people in the hypnosis field know that the power of the brain is still yet untouched. Our brain can control a lot of systems in our body including pain. In this case, a hypnotist will help the dental patient picture a pain dial where he has complete control over the dental pain. As the pain increases, he simply dials it down with thoughts. On a scale of one to ten, he was able to maintain the pain at a 1. Even when he felt it going to a 2, he “turned it down.”
That’s quite remarkable and believable. I personally feel that this type of pain control can be achieved but the article does caution that it doesn’t work for everyone.
I’m currently not aware of anyone who is doing this here in the states but I am willing to give it a try. If you are a hypnotist and are willing to try something out, let me know by emailing me or commenting on this blog.
Dr. Marvin
Oral Hygiene Tips While Traveling This Summer
June 2, 2008
Surprisingly, we took our summer vacation early this year. This time… we had a whole week with disney on a Mexican Riviera cruise. It was tons of fun…. especially for our tummies. Being that we ate twice as much as we could, I did wonder what was going on inside my mouth at the time…. more food = more sugar = more acid = more dental problems when you get back home.
So I’ve compiled a checklist for you to take with you with regards to your summer trip.
- Don’t forget your toothbrush. I know some places have toothbrushes for you but they’re so low quality. Be sure to bring you “everyday” soft toothbrush with you. I like to cover the head of the brush with this neat cover which contains anti-bacterial herbs in it. The brand is Dr. Tungs and they come in pairs.
- Floss. Just because you’re on vacation does not mean you can take a vacation away from flossing… because the bacteria don’t care! Bring unwaxed floss with you. If you don’t already floss, then a vacation may be a good time to pick up that habit.
- Toothpaste. Get the small sample tubes that you get from dentist. That way you don’t have to “donate” it at the TSA line.
- Mouthwash. Don’t forget the germs in your mouth. Use an alcohol-free rinse that does more than mask the bad breath… but actually kills the odor-causing bugs and sulfur gases on contact (i.e. something that contains stabilized chlorine dioxide). Click here for my recommendation.
- A Tongue Scraper. When I go out of town, my diet changes… I end up eating more appetizers and more desserts, which means more gunk on my tongue. You’re wrong if you think your toothbrush will do the trick. Our studies show that brushing your tongue with a toothbrush will only get 50% of what a good tongue scraper will do. I like a very specific kind of scraper…. click here for my recommendation.
That’s pretty much all you need to bring with you (which is pretty much everything you use at home). I know it is a lot but the chances of getting a quick onset of gum disease, bad breath, or toothache are high when you least expect it (like when you are on vacation!)
If you want more info about a system I use to clean my own teeth, check it out here…. http://www.3minsmile.com