Dental Pain Tolerance & Dentistry for Softies

Volunteer Dentistry in Huatulco Mexico – It

Beautiful place. Beautiful people. Bad teeth.

Most of the people I saw had never been to a dentist before. Looking into their mouths indicated years of suffering. These people didn’t seem the type to ever complain about such things.

In fact they were great patients. No drama in the dental chair. No flinching at injections. Nothing.

What made them so calm and stoic in their manner?  My guess is the day-to-day challenges and hardships they endure. They don’t live pampered lives free of pain and inconvenience.

I found Dental Pain Management to be less of a concern down in Mexico. Overall, expectations and standard of care were  much lower.

Back here in Toronto, Dental Pain Management is at the top of my priorities.

What’s it mean?

My belief is that here in North America, many of us live a comfortable, sheltered existence. We’re far less tolerant of pain and hardship than those in other parts of the world.

We’re softies here…

We live a cushy life and our pain tolerance is lower. Particularly for our children.

Apparently there’s no urgency to grow up these days.

I take one look at my own children and I know this is true.

Now I came from a family of 8 children and compared to my father’s depression-era childhood, I had it pretty soft.

My father would tell those “Back when I was young…” stories about harder times. I do the same to my children and they roll their eyes.

I look at my 5 grown children and they’re living the life of Riley. My four older boys are now in their 20's but still holding on to their teenage ways. Apparently there’s no urgency to grow up these days.

With a soft life, tolerance for pain is less.

Dental pain tolerance is practically zero and that’s understandable. Dental pain is nasty. Besides, people already hate dentists. They don’t need additional reasons on top of that.

Are you a Softie about Dental Care?

If you have grown children still living in your basement, I can’t help you with that. Heck, I could use a few pointers myself.

What I can do is help you and your loved ones with comfortable dental care. Dentistry for softies.

Nowadays, comfortable dental care is the norm. Children can grow up today without fear of going to the dentist. Without the anxiety of expecting things to be difficult and uncomfortable. Adults can finally relax and let go of that anxiety they’ve been feeling for so long.

We’ll pamper you at Royal York Dental. We’ll make things easy for you. Gentle, comfortable dental care with all the modern conveniences.

Spa Dentistry? Perhaps that goes too far. After all, people want FAST dentistry so they can get back to the things they would rather be doing.

If I wanted a full spa experience I would go to the spa. Still, a little pampering at the dentist is always appreciated.

Fast, convenient, comfortable dental care – Dentistry for Softies – that’s what people want.

Stay healthy and keep smiling!

Dr. Joe

Prostate disease linked to gum disease

Approximately 8% of the population suffers from the disease of the prostate or prostatitis. Researchers from the Case Western Reserve University found that patients with prostatitis have a lower level of the (CAL) clinical attachment between gums and teeth. The link stems from the levels of inflammation in patients with prostatitis. Participants in the study with a severer prostatitis showed signs of periodontits, as well. Read the full report in the Journal of Periodontology.

Lasers in Orthodontics: New Technology Provides Results

 At SmileCare and our associated Coast Dental and Nevada Dental Associates practices, we are committed to providing the latest technology to our patients.  Now we're pleased to offer laser technology in some offices to help patients achieve the results they desire.

Here are five ways orthodontists are using lasers:

1. To speed up treatment time. 

Sometimes when soft tissue (the gum) partially covers a tooth, it prevents us from placing a bracket on the tooth.  Previously, we would wait for the tooth to erupt through the gum, which could take several months, or send the patient to an oral surgeon to remove the gum tissue blocking the tooth.  Now, orthodontists can use a laser to relieve the gum tissue and free the tooth.  Once the tooth can be accessed, the orthodontist can place a bracket on the tooth and begin the process of moving the tooth into its correct place.

2. To alleviate canker sores.

Canker sores can become uncomfortable and can last 10 to 14 days.  Previously, patients would have to just wait for the pain to subside, use a mouth gel, or have the canker sore cauterized. Now, a dentist can eliminate the pain from the mouth sore through laser therapy.  The treatment typically takes about four minutes and the relief is immediate.  Best of all, the canker sore should not return to that location again.

3. To treat puffy gums.

People with braces sometimes develop puffy gums because they can't get the toothbrush beneath the bracket to effectively clear debris and bacteria from the gum line.  That bacteria build-up leads to gum infection, which causes the gums to swell.  Orthodontists can relieve puffiness with a laser so patients can start brushing and flossing effectively again.

4. To treat excess tissue attachment.

Sometimes the tissue attachments that connect the lips or the cheeks to the gums can bulge into spaces between the teeth.  These tissue attachments are called frenums and the procedure to relieve the excessive tissue is called a frenectomy.  Before lasers, oral surgeons would remove the excessive tissue with a scalpel, which would require sutures to stop the bleeding and could lead to scar tissue that would prevent the gap between the teeth from closing properly.  With laser technology, there's no bleeding, sutures, or special post-operative care.  Also, the procedure is painless, the healing time is faster, and there's no scar tissue.

5. To even out the gum line. 

Imagine the day you finally get off your braces.  You're so excited to see how straight your teeth are.  It can be disappointing if your gums are uneven and some teeth appear shorter than other teeth, even though they're all in line correctly.  Your orthodontist can use a laser to contour the gum tissue to achieve symmetry and make the teeth look the same size.

Laser technology gives us another way to help patients smile more, through less-invasive treatment and faster healing time. Lasers are being used in many medical procedures including eye surgery, brain surgery, heart surgery and skin cancer treatment.  It will be exciting to see how they can be used in even more areas in the future!

 

TNT Dental Congratulates Dr. Jeff Dalin on Article in Dental Economics Magazine

TNT Dental offered a great big “Well done!” to Dr. Jeff Dalin this week, congratulating him on his recently published article “My Web site makeover”. The story appeared in the September 2010 issue of Dental Economics magazine and has the dental community buzzing. Over the years, Dr. Jeffrey Dalin has published many great articles in DE magazine, but this particular piece struck a collective chord among dentists.

With much debate in dental circles on whether or not to Web 2.0, Dr. Dalin, a St. Louis dentist, said in his article that he strongly believed in walking the walk, not just talking the talk. And so, using his own website as a case study, Dr. Dalin dove right into a re-skin of his old, stagnant website, hiring TNT Dental to lead the SEO charge. He also gave the go ahead to optimize his new site into a mobile friendly format for display on smart phones, such as the iPhone, Blackberry, and Droid mobile devices.

Besides being more visually appealing, what is Dr. Dalin’s goal with the new website? According to his article, it’s to place higher in search engine rankings, drive new traffic to his site, generate leads that will become new patient conversions, as well as keep his existing patients consistently engaged. Dr. Dalin also plans a series of follow up articles to appear in DE magazine over the coming months chronicling his website’s success. We’re certainly eager to see the results!

The Longer You Wait, The Higher The Cost

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The number one reason people delay dental care is because of the cost, according to a Consumer Reports survey published in February 2012.

But delaying dental treatment just allows decay and infection to worsen, and the damage becomes more extensive and more expensive to fix.

Here’s a quick look at retail costs of common procedures, based on the 80th percentile of the National Dental Advisory Service Comprehensive Fee Report® for 2012. 

The bottom line is that by brushing and flossing properly and visiting the dentist regularly, you can keep your mouth –and your wallet – in good shape.

For the Original National Dental Advisory Service® (NDAS) Fee Information: Copyright © 2012 Yale Wasserman, DMD Medical Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Halloween Candy Buy Back

The Halloween season is upon us. The aisles are filled with costumes. Kids are getting excited about Trick-or-Treating and the bucketfuls of candy they’ll be hauling home. We all know that sugar is bad for teeth and warn parents and children alike against the dangers of tooth decay. But around this time of year, we might as well throw up our hands and give in. After all, if we can’t beat them, join them! Right? YES!

If you haven’t been a part of the Halloween Candy Buy Back, it’s a great cause worth checking out. The Halloween Candy Buy Back enlists dentists across the United States to “buy back” all that extra Halloween candy that kids don’t need and parents don’t want. Dentists hold events to collect the candy in the days following Halloween and then donate it to Operation Gratitude as well as other military support groups. Operation Gratitude uses the candy to fill holiday care packages that will be sent off in December to our troops
overseas. This year, Operation Gratitude is set to deliver 60,000 care packages to service men and women who aren’t going to make it home for the Holidays.

Dentists are in a unique position to effect positive change in their patients’ oral health, and in their communities. Joining the Halloween Candy Buy Back as a participating dentist presents several opportunities for you and your practice. Not only will it give you a chance to further patient education on healthy habits and good oral health, there’s the opportunity to promote your practice though a candy collection event. Best of all, you’ll be helping to put smiles on the faces of our troops!

For more information on becoming a Halloween Candy Buy Back participating dentist, visit www.halloweencandybuyback.com. You can also learn more about

Treating Dental Injuries

It can happen in an instant.  Your child is running around on the playground, field or basketball court, and suddenly - wham! - he collides with another child and breaks a tooth - or worse.

Dr. Jeffrey May, a Coast Dental dentist in Riverview, Florida, has treated all sorts of dental injuries.  "I have five kids myself and I know the kinds of injuries you can get from tripping over a toy or running into a wall or bumping heads.  I've seen kids on the playground catch a ball in the face or fall off a swing.  If they're playing sports, they can catch an elbow in the face or get hit with a racquet."

It's not just kids who injure their mouths.  A squirming toddler may knock mom's chin hard, causing her to chip a tooth.  An adult who trips or who hits a patch of sand while biking might dislodge a tooth or even knock it out.  And the number one cause of broken teeth in adults is decay.  What began as a small cavity can spread, weakening the tooth so much that it cracks when you bite into food.

So what should you do if you chip, loosen or knock out a tooth?

"Call your dentist immediately," said Dr. May.  "A dentist will be able to see if the tooth is fractured and may be able to stabilize the tooth through bonding so it will reintegrate with the bone.  The best thing you can do is come in and get it checked."

Timing is important.  Click here for a field guide to dental injuries that shows when you need to take immediate action, when you need urgent treatment within six hours, and less urgent situations where you should get checked out by a dentist within 12 hours.

Why does the timing matter?

If you've knocked out a tooth, you have a small window of about 30 minutes to try to get it replanted.  The field guide shows the steps you should take as soon as the tooth comes out.

If the tooth is pushed out of alignment, your bite will be affected and the swelling and inflammation could worsen if it's not treated quickly.  "Most of the time, if you don't do anything, you'll end up losing the tooth," Dr. May said. "Definitely call your dentist's emergency number and get it checked.  The dentist can hopefully bond it or apply a stent to stabilize it and save the tooth."

The cost of stabilizing a tooth is less than the cost of a root canal.  If you wait so long that even a root canal can't save your tooth, then you'll need to have the tooth extracted and replaced with a bridge or dental implant – and that costs even more.

So take a minute to print out this field guide to dental injuries and put it into your car or hang it on your fridge - someplace where you can easily access it should you need it! 

Jeffrey May, DMD, provides general dentistry services to patients age 10 and up. Special services include bone grafting, laser crown lengthening, dental implant restorations, dental implants, extractions, gummy smile treatment, veneers, Lumineers, periodontal disease management, ridge augmentation, root canal therapy and retreatment, soft tissue graft, and laser therapy.  Dr. May has extensive training in cosmetic dentistry and in the advanced use of digital imaging, which enables patients to preview their smile prior to the start of treatment. He is also skilled in the use of digital x-ray and intra-oral imaging.  Dr. May is fluent in English and Spanish and has traveled to the Dominican Republic to provide free dental care on mission trips.  He practices at Coast Dental Riverview, 10625 Big Bend Road, Riverview, FL 33579.  The phone number is 813-549-0931.

Who Needs Premedications for Dental Treatment?

About 800,000 Americans have a hip or knee replacement each year, and more than half a million Americans have heart surgery each year, according to the National Institutes of Health. When you fill out your medical history form at the dentist's office, you'll notice it asks if you've had any of these procedures.

If you answer yes, you may need to take an antibiotic before certain types of dental treatment.

"Whenever a patient has an artificial heart valve or an artificial joint, there's a higher risk of infection," said Dr. Ajay Singh, a general dentist at Coast Dental Ocala South in Ocala, Florida. "When you perform a cleaning or an extraction where there may be bleeding, there's the potential for bacteria from the mouth to enter the bloodstream and travel to the valve or joint, triggering an infection. That's why we prescribe an antibiotic like amoxicillin. The patient takes one dose about a half-hour to one hour before the procedure, and that should be all he or she needs."

Either your dentist or your primary care physician will prescribe the dosage. If you forget to take it before your appointment, ask your dentist. You may be able to take it up to an hour after the procedure and have the same health benefits.

Joint Replacement Premedication Guidelines

The guidelines for when you need an antibiotic have changed in the past few years.  The recommendation used to be that patients take an antibiotic before dental cleanings, extractions or oral surgery for up to two years after a joint replacement surgery. Then the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons recommended all patients who have had joint replacement surgery continue to premedicate beyond two years. Now, the American Dental Association and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons are studying the clinical data to come up with a joint set of recommendations.  Ask your dentist or your orthopedic surgeon for what is best for you.

Dental Premedication Guidelines for Patients with Heart Problems

In 2008, the American Heart Association updated its recommendations for dental premedications.  It now recommends premedication for patients with:

artificial heart valvesa history of infective endocarditis, which is an infection of the lining inside the heart or heart valvesa heart transplant that developed a heart valve problemcertain types of congenital heart conditions

The good news is the AMA says many patients with heart problems who used to take prophylactic antibiotics no longer need them, including patients with:

heart murmursrheumatic heart diseasebicuspid valve diseasecalcified aortic diseasecongenital heart conditions such as ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy

If you have any questions about whether you need to take an antibiotic before your dental appointment, just ask your dentist.

Ocala general dentist Ajay Singh, DDS, provides general, restorative and cosmetic dentistry services to patients age 16 and older.  He earned his dental degree at New York University College of Dentistry and his undergraduate degree at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida.  Dr. Singh is a member of the Academy of General Dentistry, Florida Dental Association and the American Dental Association.  He practices at Coast Dental Ocala South, 1110 Southeast 18th Place, Building 200, Ocala, FL 34471.  The phone number is (352) 351-3891.

Tetracycline Teeth Stains: A Smile Makeover

Does your mouth look like this?  About 10% of Americans have tetracycline stains on their teeth.  They're especially common in people over the age of 45.

Tetracyclines are a group of antibiotics that were once widely used to treat ear infections, urinary tract infections, intestinal infections, severe acne and other conditions.  However, it wasn't until years later that doctors realized if children took the medication while their teeth were forming, then it could permanently discolor their teeth. If the medication was taken by a pregnant woman, then her baby could even end up having teeth that were permanently stained brown or grey.

 

Whitening kits, strips, gels and bleaching treatments can't hide the stains.  The stains are in the dentin of the teeth, not the enamel.  People with tetracycline stains usually choose to have veneers or crowns to achieve a smile they're proud to display.

Craig McEntyre, pictured, chose to have full-coverage, all-porcelain crowns.  The crown goes over the whole tooth, as opposed to veneers, which are thin coverings that are bonded to your tooth.  Dr. Diaa Ghabbour, a senior doctor at Coast Dental Wesley Chapel near Tampa, FL, placed crowns on eight of Craig's top teeth.  The initial visit took about four hours for Dr. Ghabbour to make all of the impressions for the crowns.  Then Craig returned about three weeks later to have the permanent crowns placed.  That procedure took less than two hours.

 

The change was immediate and the impact is still being felt more than five years later.

"I still get compliments every day about having a nice smile," Craig said.  Best of all, the crowns will never stain, change color or fade.

If you have tetracycline stains, there's no need to be embarrassed or ashamed of your smile.  Talk to your dentist about how you can have your own smile make-over.

Wesley Chapel dentist Diaa Ghabbour, DMD, has been practicing dentistry since 2000.  He provides general dentistry services to patients age 9 and up.  Special services include dental implant restorations, extractions and periodontal disease management.  He is a member of the American Dental Association, Florida Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. He practices at Coast Dental Wesley Chapel, 5348 County Road 581, Wesley Chapel, Florida, 33544.  The phone number is (813) 973-1837 or call 1-800-32-SMILE to find another office that is close to you.

Samsung and InnoDen introduce the future for dental chairs and units of delivery

Dental sky "M" is finally here and together to change the view of the dental!

Samsung and InnoDen are partnered to bring dentist across the country later in the Unit dental technology and design. Dental sky "M" has brought together all the characteristics of design and technology you could ask with the best materials available. All components create one aesthetic, functional and above all built to last. Together, they are changing the way display dental devices today.

Seattle, WA (FPRC) June 1, 2010 - Samsung and InnoDen are defined to provide the latest technology and design for the dental equipment industry throughout the country. "" M"unit Dental sky Chair incorporates American design and functionality which is from your leaders in the industry today," said Justin Taylor, Director of Marketing of InnoDen.  The "M" unit offers the same dental sky modern color schemes is known for which it has more advanced peer unit 'W' as well offer.  The standard on patient light and Touch Panel, it is clear that they create new standards of the unit in the industry.

Dental sky "W" offers an American design thin back that you to stay for the physician and the Patient with style and comfort.  The "M" unit is an affordable option for any dentist and is equipped with all the bells and whistles used today, without having to spend hundreds and hundreds of dollars on options and accessories.

"Samsung and InnoDen choose to represent the brand Sky dental because they pave the way for technology and design and we believe it will change the industry of dental equipment we know today" said Dr. Park, CEO of InnoDen.  Knowledge products and the sales support combined with extended infrastructure and the global reach of Samsung's InnoDen ensure that dental Sky will be a brand that is there to stay. Call your dealer today and get a dental sky "M" and change the way your firm is thought of and remembered.

About dental Sky:

Dental sky manufactures chairs and vectors for more than 27 years. Dental sky is currently distributed in 30 countries around the world and sells more than 3,000 units per year. Samsung and InnoDen are convinced that their president is the best quality and the best product on the market today.  All units are available with warranty 5 years standard manufacturer.

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The mouth looks like this?  If the old amalgam filling, you'll notice the stain around the edges.  Usually the silver metal fill lasts for 12 years, but some of them need to be replaced in as little as five years.  Teeth grinding, heavy on the bites and other conditions can impair filling, causing it to leak, crack or fall off.

In the picture the amalgam-filling, which is a 25-year-old.  On the other hand, the tight seal of the tooth metal leak and bacateria now to get it below.  You can see the tooth changes colour, goes white black; This is due to decay, within and below the tooth.  White line at the bottom of the tooth is a red flag for dentists; It shows what, or tile is eaten away tooth enamel, stripping off the calcium and tooth remains the underdog.

Decay below the fill may become quite large, before it is noticed; This is one of the reasons it is important to get regular dental check-ups.  There is usually no pain, when the first cavity shapes, but some patients Note, they are hot, cold or sweet drinks and food.  If the degradation of nerve, the pain can be summed up very quickly and the patient is just therapy or extraction.

To replace the amalgam of a dentist to use a drill to remove the original fill and decay and then decide whether we need a root canal.  If the injury does not require a root canal, a dentist may be able to repair a hole in a tooth filling or Crown either one, depending on the size of the cavity.  In this particular case, the patient will need a Crown.

The faster you catch a problem, the easier it is to keep.  Sealants cost less than the price of less than crowns, fillings and fillings Crown costs less than a root canal and Crown.  Examples of how you can help keep costs click here.

 

Wesley Chapel dentist DMD, Ghabbour Slide has been practicing dentistry since the year 2000.  She provides dental care to patients at the age of 9 and up.  Special services are the dental implant restorations, extractions and periodontal disease management.  He is a member of the American Dental Association, the Florida Dental Association and the dental Academy. He practices the coast dental 5348 County Road 581 Wesley Chapel, Wesley Chapel, Florida 33544,.  The phone number is (813) 973-1837 or call 1-800- -32 SMILE to find another Office that is close to you.

Written By: Beth Gaddis
Reviewed By: Slide Ghabbour, DMD
Reviewed By: Cindy Roark, DMD

How to Care for Braces

Getting braces is a huge milestone.  Whether you have teeth that are overlapped or teeth that are spaced too far apart, teeth that erupted in the wrong place or teeth that just do not seem to fit together correctly, you know that when your braces come off, your smile will be straight.

However, straightening your teeth is only half of the challenge. If you want your teeth to also be healthy, you need to make sure you do not get those white spots that plaque accumulation can cause around the brackets. Coast Dental orthodontist Mayuri Patel, DMD, recommends five ways you can take care of your braces to keep your smile healthy:

Brush 2-3 times a day, focusing on the gum line as well as around each bracket.Floss 2 times a day.  Talk to your dentist about products such as Superfloss and the Waterpik that will help you clean the space between your teeth and help prevent tooth decay.Rinse with water after drinking juice or cola, or any sugary or carbonated drink.Use a fluoride supplemental toothpaste such as MI Paste Plus in addition to your everyday toothpaste to help remineralize your teeth and help prevent tooth decay.Have your teeth professionally cleaned every four months.  At Coast Dental, your cleaning can be scheduled on the same day as your orthodontic appointment. This way, the orthodontist can remove the wire and allow the hygienist better access for cleaning away plaque and tartar. Then the orthodontist can replace teh wire.

"I have seen many patients who do not keep up with at-home care while they have braces," said Dr. Patel. "Patients who drink a lot of soda and sports drinks can have white spots occur around the braces. This is due to the acid and sugar in these drinks that break down the enamel.  The white spots can become permanent or lead to cavities; thus, we want to prevent them.

"Our goal is to emphasize brushing and flossing and taking care of the gums during each visit.  Oral hygiene is a pivotal part of success for orthodontic treatment," Dr. Patel said.

By following these five simple steps at home and at work or school, you can make sure you have a smile that is both beautiful and healthy!

Mayuri Patel, DMD, provides orthodontic services to patients beginning at age 7. Her services include traditional metal braces, clear bracket braces, Invisalign® clear aligners and comprehensive orthodontics. Dr. Patel earned a Certificate in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics from Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC and received her dental degree from Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston. She is a member of the American Dental Association, American Association of Orthodontics, Florida Dental Association and Florida Association of Orthodontists.  Dr. Patel practices at several  locations including Coast Dental Action Plaza in Tampa, Coast Dental Bayshore Gardens in Bradenton, Coast Dental Carrollwood, Coast Dental Sarasota Crossings and Coast Dental Spring Hill North. To make an appointment for a free orthodontic consultation with Dr. Patel, please visit www.CoastDentalOrtho.com or call 1-800-32-SMILE to find an office close to you.

Why Athletes Should Wear Mouthguards: One Player's Story

There were only three minutes left in the college basketball game when Lindsey Botts collided with another player.  Lindsey wasn't wearing a mouthguard and her teeth struck the other player's head, sending both women to the floor in agony.  Lindsey's mouth was bleeding heavily and three of her top teeth were loose.  All those years of braces, and now her beautiful, straight smile was ruined.

"You never think it’s going to happen to you," Lindsey said, even though she had close friends who lost teeth while playing sports.

In many states, college basketball players are not required to wear mouthguards.  Some players don't like them because the boil-and-bite varieties available at sporting goods stores are uncomfortable and hinder their ability to talk to their teammates.   The same is true for the unfitted, inexpensive models often handed out in the states that do have a mouthguard requirement.  Lindsey was required to wear a mouthguard in high school, but said she and her teammates would often just tuck them into their cheeks during play.

Here's what they didn't know:  Athletes are 60 times more likely to suffer an injury to the mouth when they are not wearing a mouthguard, according to the American Dental Association.  Mouthguards help spread the force of a blow over a larger area, which dilutes the impact.  Well-made mouthguards may also reduce the rate and severity of concussions, the ADA says. 

Lindsay needed three root canals and is now facing extensive restoration work.   However, it could have been worse.  She could have needed to have the teeth extracted and replaced with dental implants. Just 20 years old, that was a scenario she didn't even want to think about.

Now she's an advocate for custom mouthguards, and is getting a FIERCE™ Mouthguard so she can play basketball again.  While custom mouthguards are more expensive than the store-bought variety, they can easily pay for themselves if they prevent the need for emergency and restorative dental work.  Not convinced?  Just ask Lindsey Botts. She'll tell you.

Written by: Beth Gaddis
Reviewed by: Cindy Roark, DMD

Triumphant Athletics Group Introduces AgilityGuard

There’s a new player in the field of athletic mouthguards, and by experience standards, they are no underdog! Triumphant Athletics Group, Inc. is introducing a new product line, AgilityGuard, based on the Chan-Optimized Bite™. I doubt that most of us have ever said the words “technologically advanced” and “mouthguard” in the same sentence, but the AgilityGuard is changing that as we speak.

Dr. Clayton Chan and Dr. Joseph Andary have partnered with Triumphant Athletics Group to introduce the AgilityGuard products developed for elite athletes and sports enthusiasts. Dr. Chan is the former director of Neuromuscular Dentistry at the Las Vegas Institute from 1999-2006, the founder of Occlusion Connections, and developer of the Chan-Optimized Bite™,  a precise jaw position based on neuromuscular science shown to enhance athletic performance. Dr. Joseph Andary is a Las Vegas Institute trained neuromuscular dentist with extensive experience in the Chan-Optimized Bite™ and assisting world-class and Olympic athletes with performance mouthguards. Together, they have helped design a mouthguard to optimize performance through the bio-physiology of neuromuscular posture.

The AgilityGuard is the only sports mouthguard approved to use the Chan-Optimized Bite™. The family of products includes the Phi and Trophy lines and both contain a mouthguard specifically designed for non-contact and contact sports. Triumphant Athletics Group has already signed on three labs to create the AgilityGuard for your patients under Dr. Chan’s rigorous quality control. By becoming a Triumphant certified dentist, you can begin to offer a higher standard of care and performance to your patients. With the lab fee set at $250, you’re also free to align your fees with the appropriate level of expertise.

Your patients can join the likes of Apolo Ohno, Giddeon Massie, and Mark Fretta in the use of AgilityGuard, the most technologically advanced mouthguard, for maximum sports performance. There, now we’ve said it! For more information on Triumphant Athletics Group, Inc., their online training courses, and the AgiltiyGuard product line, visit the AgilityGuard website.

Free Google Tools for Dentists

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Google offers some pretty cool FREE tools that you may want to get on board with, primarily Google Local and Google Alerts.

Google Local (Google Maps or Google Places)
This little tool will get your business on the map. The Google Map.

If you don’t claim your listing, someone else may. And there’s nothing you can do about it! Google takes precautions to prevent this, but your best bet is to claim your listing now. It just takes a minute.

Go to http://local.google.com. In the left sidebar, you’ll see a hyperlink that says “Put your business on Google Maps.” Click it! If you don’t have a Google account, go ahead and set one up. If you do have an account, simply choose Google Places from your main Google Accounts page. Then just follow the instructions to get your business listed. Be sure to fill out ALL of the keywords, etc. Stand by your phone because the verification process involves a phone call. Have a pen handy to write down the verification number. Verify, and you’re golden.

You’re going to see ads about paid listings. You don’t need those right now.

Google Alerts
Find out when your business is mentioned online, and keep your finger on the pulse of topics close to your heart. Google Alerts will send you email notifications when keywords that you specify show up on Google that day.

From your main Google Accounts page, choose Alerts, and click Manage. Type in search terms that you want to be notified about: your business name, your competitor’s business name, your name, your city (for local news), and any other topic of interest (ie: cosmetic dentistry, LVI, sleep apnea dentistry). Complete the questionnaire, and you’ll begin receiving Google Alert emails the same day.

These tips were provided by TNT Dental, a leader in custom dental website design and hosting. Call TNT Dental today to discuss your Internet marketing strategy: 877-868-4932.

Maximize Your Practice with MaxDent Pro

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Computers should make our lives easier, but sometimes, they introduce a whole new set of complications. If you’re a Mac user, you know this all too well. You love the machine itself, but have become frustrated trying to find software options that fit your needs. Enter DDSMac, LLC. This group of dentists formed a business to provide software products that are fast, intuitive, feature rich, and just for Mac users like you!

DDSMac, LLC was born when a group of dentists who had a common goal –to grow their practices using the best technology available –met on the Internet Dental Forum. For them, Mac was the clear choice. However, they soon found there were extremely limited choices in the dental software department. Something had to be done! Work immediately began on a practice management software program for use on the Mac platform. Now MaxDent Pro is officially on the market.

The front desk, and the schedule, is the hub of any dental practice. A Mac-native solution, MaxDent Pro is built around the scheduler. Created by dentists, for dentists, MaxDent Pro boasts intuitive navigation with powerful tools. These are just a few of the features:

Reports, reports, reports! Information is crucial, and MaxDent pro is loaded with reports, including A/R monthly statements, daily activity, insurance aging, and more.Prescription printing and a full drug database come standard.E-claims and digital document storage help move your office closer to your paperless goals.A “smile reminder” feature allows you to set up appointment reminders, birthday messages, and much more, via email, text, and other electronic services.Fully HIPAA compliant.

MaxDent Pro is offering a free, fully functional demo that’s downloadable to one machine and holds up to 75 patients. Go to www.maxdentpro.com to sign up for your free download copy and take it for a test drive.

Tags: Administrative · Business of Dentistry · Managing Your Dental Team · Paperless Office · Patient Privacy/HIPPA · Practice Management · Uncategorized

It’s a Social Media Revolution! Make the Connection at the ACE Conference on Social Media & Marketing in Dentistry

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In order to market your practice effectively, you have to put your head in The Cloud and take the social leap. If you don’t know what that means, then you need this:

Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics Tampa 2011 Conference on Social Media & Marketing for Dentistry

Slated for April 1st and 2nd, 2011, there are just a few weeks left to sign up. Can you afford to miss it?

If You Build It, They Will Come

Today’s marketing environment has changed dramatically. It’s gone viral, to say the least. Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and blogs are the hubs of social media and you can use them to leverage your practice, solidify your brand, and grow your patient base. If you’re not in the social media game, you’re simply not reaching your full potential.

A Social Platform

The benefits of social media marketing:

Access is easy and inexpensive –anyone with the Internet can be a part of social mediaIncrease communication that fosters brand awareness and better customer serviceYour patients become your mouthpiece by sharing information with their social networksCreate content that attracts attention and generates buzzCentralize information and share new developments

For more information, or to sign up, visit ACE 2011 Conference on Social Media & Marketing for Dentistry.

New Mantra: I Like My Dentist

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AppId is over the quota
How do you feel about going to the dentist?

It’s rare that you ever read a tweet on Twitter or post on Facebook “I’m at the dentist… so excited to have my mouth cleaned!” In fact, it’s estimated that seventy five percent of Americans have some type of dental phobia, so it’s not just that they do not like visiting their dentist, but they are actually scared of having their teeth examined.

Take a look at the top five reasons why you shouldn’t hate the dentist.

1. Dentists Want to Help You, not Torture You: For many people, spending the day staring at other peoples’ mouths seems like a job only fit for the boogie man. But, in reality, dentists are not poking at your mouth to cause pain, but most go into the field because they like to help people look and feel their best.

Their job is to keep your mouth healthy and your smile beautiful. Keeping this tidbit in mind during your next visit, might eliminate much anxiety.

2. One Bad Dentist Can’t Ruin Your Teeth for Life: So many people hate their dentist because they had one bad experience with one provider. Not all dentists are created equal. It’s important to find the best match for your mouth.

Ask friends and family for a recommendation or you can check out this tool. Using online tools like this one, or word of mouth, will help you sort through for the best fit for your care.

3. A Healthy Mouth is a Healthy Heart: A little known fact is that your mouth is a direct tunnel to your blood stream. Gum infections in your mouth can eventually affect your heart. That’s why you must get approval from a dentist prior to any major heart surgery.

It’s been proven that periodontal disease and or gum diseases are connected to heart disease. If you’re eating oatmeal and watching your weight, you should also be going to the dentist. Going regularly and keeping your teeth clean, helps to eliminate the chance of spreading an infection from your mouth to your heart.

4. They’re There When You Need Them: If you see a dentist regularly, and follow their instructions it’s a lot easier to get an appointment with them when something goes wrong.

Almost everyone has been in a situation where a filling has fallen out or a tooth has cracked and you need dental care urgently because of the pain. Having a relationship with a dentist will help you get coverage in a pinch, when you need it. If you’re coming in as a new patient with an urgent matter, they might be less likely to squeeze you into their already busy schedules.

5. A Healthy Smile Can Get You a Job: What’s the first thing people see when they meet you? Your smile! Having a bright smile and healthy gums during a job interview can give you the edge over other applicants. Visiting your dentist and discussing cosmetic treatments such as veneers and whitening options is not just superficial procedure, but an investment in your future.

Shoshana Davis is a freelancer for www.TopDentists.com, a dental health resource site. She loves her dentist!

PR: Appoint AADOM Office Manager of the Year

Red Bank, NJ, July 2010 - The American Association of Dental Office Managers (AADOM) is accepting nominations for their sixth annual Office Manager of the Year Award by September 17, 2010.

Behind every successful practice is an Office Manager that displays innovative thinking, leadership qualities and strong sense of business within their practice and their community. Annually, the AADOM recognizes these outstanding individuals and highlights their achievements at their annual conference. "I have been in dentistry for more than 20 years.  When you've been around that long, you know what it takes to get results.  It must be a great team, clinical skills and offering excellent patient experience, "said Kay Valentine, head of Office of AADOM 2009 of the year.

The head of Office of AADOM 2010 year will be featured on the cover of The Observer, AADOM publication for dental office managers, receives free registration in 2011 at the annual Conference of dental office managers and a cheque for $1,000, courtesy of CareCredit, founding sponsor of AADOM. "We are delighted to support the AADOM recognizing the valuable contribution made by these professionals and support their professional and personal growth," said Cindy Hearn, SR. VP Marketing, CareCredit.  For application details, visit www.dentalmanagers.com.

About the AADOM: the American Association of dental office managers (AADOM) is the largest professional organization of the country office managers, practice administrators and other members of staff of practical management.  The AADOM is committed to creating and maintaining a network of professionals of dental care to share resources and information, helping all the members to achieve the highest level of professional and personal development. The dental office managers Annual Conference will be held in October in Las Vegas.

About CareCredit: for more than 20 years, CareCredit was and allows patients to obtain the dentistry, they need and want. Today, CareCredit is the work in more than 130,000 practices and has been used by more than 20 million patients.  CareCredit is exclusively selected for their members by most of the State and national dental associations including AADOM, ADA Business ResourcesSM **, AGD AAOMS and PAA and it should also be leading practice management consultants. For more information about CareCredit, please call 1-800-300-3046, ext. 4519 or visit www.carecredit.com.

##

** ADA is a registered trademark of the American Dental Association. Resources Business is a service mark of the American Dental Association. Resources Business is a program offered by ADA Business Enterprises, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of the American Dental Association.

Perfect harmony: CEREC and Galileos

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Personal Drama – Drama Queen Part I

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In previous posts, I’ve shared insights on Dental Fear & Anxiety, Dental Avoiders, and  Dental Pain Exploiters. These all relate to the topic of Reasons People Hate Dentists.

Drama Queens love to share all of their personal drama

Now I’m going to flip things around and reveal the bane of a dentist’s existence – Dental Drama.

Before I can tackle that, I’ll first explain more about Personal Drama, the Expressive Profile and Toxic Drama.

Personal drama is about taking how you feel inside, and revealing that to others around you. You feel fantastic and everybody knows it. You feel upset and everyone gets the message loud and clear.

Maybe you’re more reserved and not into drama. On the other hand, maybe drama is your thing.

Whatever the case, let’s explore what Personal Drama is all about…

Feeling itReflective PauseExpressing itOwning Your EmotionsDeveloping emotional maturity entails mastering each of these 4 steps. Weakness in any one step can easily become your undoing in your relationships and career.

Emotions can motivate you and help guide decisions, but they need to be tamed to be useful.

I’m still figuring out this stuff. Growing up with Spock as my role model didn’t exactly provide me with a deep emotional repertoire to draw upon.

I only made the breakthrough after reading Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman. That’s where I realized that emotions could be extremely useful IF they can be mastered and channeled properly.

That’s a big IF.

Emotions can motivate you and help guide decisions, but they need to be tamed to be useful.

These 4 steps are self-explanatory, so what I’ll focus upon are the huge pitfalls at steps 2 and 4.

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A common problem everywhere you look these days is a glaring lack of  Reflective Pause on emotions. That’s the step where your emotions are filtered and your reactions tempered.

The Rage Threshold seems to be disturbingly low.

A common mistake is to misinterpret emotions as “truth” instead of seeing them for what they really are – Action Signals that may or may not be helpful.

Without that Reflective Pause, your emotions would come rushing through you like a runaway freight train. When that happens, civility would be a casualty as you would literally crash into other people… much like that Oscar-winning movie Crash.

I loved that movie. It was more about cultural and racial conflicts, but the idea of emotionally-charged people crashing into each other certainly applies here.

We all have our worst moments.

Lately I see a lot more of those moments in people. The Rage Threshold seems to be disturbingly low.

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Negative emotions are powerful and can easily dominate your attitude if they’re allowed to grow unchecked.

Don't allow negative emotions to dominate

Suppressing your negative emotions is essential to have any hope of a productive life.

Without tempering, negative emotional outbursts would be practically reflex and your emotions would begin controlling your everyday life. People would steer clear of you to avoid the toxic fallout of your outbursts.

Without the emotional control provided by that Reflective Pause, you would behave like a sailboat without a keel – constantly being tossed about by every little breeze that comes your way. Without the calming affect of emotional stability, others could easily interpret your behavior as hostile or antagonistic.

The other pitfall to developing emotional maturity is in Owning Your Emotions. I’ll get more into that later with the topic of Toxic Drama.

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Does your life sometimes read like tabloid headlines? Those days where you experience moments of intense highs and lows?

How is it some people seem to attract far more drama than others? Each day becomes a string of dramatic adventures.

It comes down to your inclination to emphasize and express Personal Drama.

Some people diminish the drama, and some people emphasize it.

For those that emphasize, you can call that “wearing your heart on your sleeve.” Some would describe it as being a “Drama Queen.”

Whatever you want to call it, there’s plenty of theatrics going around these days. It seems we live in the Age of Personal Drama.

Disney has tapped into this trend with a slew of shows centered upon early-teens dramatizing on and on about relationships and everyday living. Young children can’t get enough of it.

Sharing Personal Drama online has become all the rage of late. You can chronicle your personal life on Facebook, share intimate details of your moment-to-moment activities on Twitter, and rant about the service at a local restaurant on Yelp.

No more living in quite indignation. Everyone gets to carry their virtual protest sign and vent their frustrations to anyone who’ll listen.

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Do you know anyone you would label a Drama Queen?

There’s actually a medical term for this called Histrionic Personality Disorder.  People with this disorder show a pattern of excessive emotional display and attention-seeking behavior.

According to Wikipedia’s definition, “Associated features may include egocentric tendencies, self-indulgence, continuous longing for appreciation, feelings that are easily hurt, and persistent manipulative behavior to achieve their own needs.”

A child throwing a tantrum is an obvious example of this behavior. Lots of children go through that stage and grow out of it as they mature.

What about adult tantrums? I’ll get more into that in Drama Queen Part II.

Stay healthy and keep smiling!

Dr. Joe

About the Author: Dr. Joe Bulger is a West Toronto dentist. He’s also the owner-founder of Royal York Dental – a respected dental clinic serving Etobicoke since 1950.

If you would like to learn more about your dental options, fill out our contact form or CALL 416 231-0550 for a FREE & Easy No-Obligation First Visit.

Tagged as: Dental Drama

PR: Dent-X Strato Digital Product Update – Lower Dosage Applications

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(Elmsford, NY, July 6, 2010) – Dent-X is proud to announce that its high-end panoramic/cephalometric x-ray, the Strato Digital, is now available with Low Dose and Frontal Dentition applications.

Offices now have the ability to conduct a low dosage scan that shows the full patient dentition. Doctors can use this view to see if a patient has his/her wisdom teeth or could require corrective practices, like braces, while using a fraction of the radiation. This scan has a faster rotation, and uses less x-ray dose, for an overall drop in radiation.The Strato Digital introduces its Frontal Dentition examination. This view allows a doctor see the frontal dentition only. This, combined with the ability to take half-pans, means one can see the right half, left half, or frontal view of any panoramic x-ray, without exposing unnecessary regions. The Strato Digital now comes standard with over 13 applications, including Digital Linear Tomography. The Cesium Iodide CCD sensor provides the highest quality images in any examination type. For more information visit www.ImageWorksCorporation.com/dental or call 914-592-6100.

The remarks contained in this press release and presented elsewhere by management from time to time contain forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, including statements regarding the Company’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions. The Company’s actual results may differ significantly from the results discussed in this press release or in other forward-looking statements presented by management. The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any such statement is based.
Tags: Clinical · News · Press Release

Invisalign Discontinues 10 Hour Continuing Education Requirement

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Are you one of the many dentists put off by Invisalign’s case submission quota and continuing education rules last year? Good news. Align Technology, Inc, the maker of the popular clear braces system Invisalign, has removed the quota from its requirements.

You might remember when Dentalblogs.com blogged about the unpopular rule change back in June of 2009. Since then, many dentists have voiced their opposition, and the AGD gave its members the ability to share their concerns directly with the president of Align Technology, Inc. A total of 1500 phone calls were made, and let’s just say they weren’t congratulatory in nature.

In response, Invisalign removed the 10 case quota from their requirements, leaving the 10 CE hours as a baseline for active accounts with Align Technology, Inc. Are you thinking that still wasn’t enough? You’re not alone; and finally, Align Technology, Inc. has seen the light.

Clearing the Air
In a recent press release, Align Technology, Inc. announced it’s no longer requiring 10 hours of continuing education courses as criteria for the Advantage Program or the Invisalign.com Find a Doctor feature. They will continue to offer elective courses and encourage dentists to hone their clinical skills through their CE programs. Citing the loyalty and trust of dentists as most important to them, the press release had this to say:

“While most clinicians believe that our training has been extremely valuable in helping to improve their clinical skills, doctors have told us that they want to make their own decisions on how much and what type of continuing education is right for them.  We know that the best way to meet this need is to continue to create excellent continuing education programs, when you want and where you want.

We will continue to improve our award-winning CE, and provide a wide variety of courses that offer CE hours, including 200+ hours of free online training and 100+ live courses each year.”

Tags: Uncategorized

Don’t Just Manage to Manage: Practice Management Advice from Dr. Mayer Levitt

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Managing a business isn’t easy. Managing a thriving dental practice is downright difficult. With staffing, record keeping, marketing, and financials, it may seem like you spend the majority of your time running the office instead of caring for patients. It can leave even the most seasoned dentist overwhelmed at times and wondering why they don’t at least cram a few business classes into dental school. But when it comes to success, practice management is as important as clinical skill and dentists are regularly turning to consultants for advice.

Enter Dr. Mayer Levitt, President and owner of Jodena Consulting, a firm that provides vital support and solutions to dental practices nationwide. Dr. Levitt spent nearly 30 years managing his now 12 chair dental practices before becoming a consultant, and during his last seven years in private practice, he balanced both consulting and practice management. Dr. Levitt knows the business of being a dentist and has worked with over 525 practices on everything from creating profitable hygiene departments, to practice transitions and helping doctors optimize their efficiency and effectiveness.

Dr. Levitt graciously allowed us to pick his brain about practice management today, and to let us in on a few secrets:

DB: As a dentist, what was the hardest thing about managing your own practice?
Dr. Levitt: Unquestionably, finding and keeping a talented, caring, customer service oriented staff. It’s still the biggest problem for dental practices now.

DB: What are some of the worst mistakes a dentist can make when managing his or her practice?
Dr. Levitt: Micromanaging the staff and not allowing them to grow and learn from their mistakes is a big misstep. Also, failure to think outside of the box and stifling creativity is an issue. Sometimes you simply have to leave your comfort zone and remain open to a different approach. If you continue to do what you have always done, you will continue to get what you’ve always gotten.

DB: What’s the latest piece of advice you’re giving to your clients?
Dr. Levitt: Get going with Internet marketing. It’s an absolute must if you want your practice to remain competitive. You have to have a great website as well as a social media presence. Google is king!

Dr. Levitt also let us in on another secret. Since he is no longer practicing dentistry, he doesn’t get the satisfaction of seeing patients relieved of pain and happy with their smiles. Now he gets his kicks seeing his clients become more successful as they grow their practices. For more great practice management advice, visit Dr. Levitt’s blog. Be sure to sign up for the Jodena blog RSS Feed to receive lots of consistent, practical advice delivered right to you email (you’ll receive a FeedBurner notice via email, so be sure to confirm after signing up). To learn more about Dr. Levitt and Jodena Consulting, visit his website at www.jodena.com.

Mastering the Bite, Doctoring the Patient

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Do you consider “neuromuscular dentistry” a bad word, but you’re not exactly sure why? The truth of the matter is that neuromuscular principles, e.g. a comfortable bite, can help you deliver longer-lasting results and contribute to happier, healthier patients. After all, who wants to live with headaches, bruxism, and chronic tooth wear?

The Academy of Comprehensive Esthetics understands that dentists are sometimes hesitant about all the neuromuscular bruhaha. At their upcoming conference “ACE Bite Camp,” they’ll dispel common myths about neuromuscular dentistry, explain the theories and principles, and most importantly, show how you can market TMD treatment to your patients in an easy-to-understand fashion.

Conference goals include:

Delivering a new set of clinical skills for the successful treatment of TMDTeaching a whole-office approach to treating TMD patientsProviding successful methods for TMD case acceptanceShowing dentists how to market and explain TMD to new patients

ACE Bite Camp will take place August 19th & 20th at the SuperMedia Center in Dallas, TX.

Click here to register and for more information.

Tags: Clinical · Continuing Education · Events · Neuromuscular

PR: Dental Vibe 3-in-1 Anesthetic Injection

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CRYSTAL LAKE, IL – Dentists seeking to offer a more comfortable experience for their patients can see, study and order an innovative new tool by visiting DentalVibe.com, the newly expanded website for dentistry’s first 3-in-1 injection comfort system.

BING Innovations, LLC, the Illinois-based provider of DentalVibe™, launched the new site in June to better educate the dental community about the benefits and uses of the product and to simplify the ordering process. Visitors to the site can view newly produced video segments depicting DentalVibe applications as well as the real-time reactions of patients who experience DentalVibe injections. In addition, the DentalVibe system and accessories can be conveniently purchased with a credit card through a secure e-commerce portal.

To produce the videos, develop the new website and introduce the breakthrough product to dentistry, BING Innovations enlisted Walter F. Cameron Advertising, an established dental products marketing agency based in New York. An educational communications campaign is being launched concurrently.

“You can’t really understand the ‘wow’ factor of DentalVibe until you see it in action with real patients,” said DentalVibe Co-developer Steven G. Goldberg, DDS, who demonstrates the product on the new videos. “On our website, you can see the expression of both surprise and delight on patients’ faces when they receive a dental injection without any pain whatsoever.”

DentalVibe takes unique advantage of cutting-edge research on the Gate Control Theory of Pain to enable the delivery of anesthetic injections without discomfort. Patented, microprocessor-controlled VibraPulse™ technology delivers a pulsed, percussive vibration to the mucosa ­– the ideal counter-stimulation to block the painful stimuli of injections.

Tags: Clinical · News · Press Release

Dental Emergency Scheduling Made Easier with Crumb’s Cranium

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You have a full day scheduled and as soon as the phones are off of forward, the emergency calls start; a patient with a severe tooth ache who waited a week to see if it would “go away”, another whose crown has broken loose, and a pediatric patient who knocked out a baby tooth when he fell rushing into kindergarten. Your team is doing their best to juggle the calls, calm and comfort your patients, and glean the right information in order to fit them all into a heavily booked day. However, between a hysterical mother, a busy executive inconvenienced by another office visit, a difficult patient in terrible pain, and the front offices’ lack of clinical experience, the important facts needed to schedule and treat your emergency patients fall short. Each of these urgent appointments winds up incorrectly prioritized and placed into inappropriate time slots, which sets back the entire day frustrating you, your team, and your other patients.

Does this scenario sound like something that’s happened at your practice? You’re probably nodding your head, “Yes”. Anyone who has handled a dental emergency call knows that patients are not consistent in describing their symptoms, their pain, and can often be uncooperative wondering why they are being peppered with questions when they are in such acute discomfort. Dentists listening to an emergency patient’s symptoms chairside have the benefit of diagnostic tools, as well as years of clinical experience and education, to help determine the condition that’s causing the problem. However, your front office team, who has limited, or no clinical training, relies on asking the emergency call a set of pre-selected questions to determine when they should be scheduled into the day. No matter how well you have trained your team, it’s just not an accurate system.

Now there is a better way to repair the disconnect that so often arises between patient, team, dentist, and schedule during dental emergencies: a new dental software program called Crumb’s Cranium. Developed by New York Dentist, Dr. Donald Crumb, Crumb’s Cranium is a simple scheduling tool that “thinks” like a dentist. Easily downloaded and installed on any PC in less than 30 minutes, Crumb’s Cranium works alongside your existing dental software and helps your front office team by:

Recognizing the most common reasons for dental patients to call your office with an emergencyProviding simplified, logical sequencing of diagnostic information questions for effective triage and prioritizing of emergenciesProviding scheduling recommendations, clinical impressions, and a printout system to prepare the dentist and clinical team for the emergency appointment

Crumb’s Cranium streamlines your dental emergency management, smoothes over the scheduling conflicts dental emergencies tend to create, reduces stress, and allows you to spend the time with your patients that they need and deserve. Best of all, it requires virtually no dental knowledge, minimal computer skills, and becomes a great training tool for the team members who handle dental emergency calls. To learn more about Crumb’s Cranium, how it can improve the day-to-day operations of your practice, and receive a free, 30-day trial, visit www.crumbscranium.com .

About Dr. Crumb: Since 1976, Dr. Crumb has practiced quality dentistry for patients in and around Syracuse, New York. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Notre Dame in 1971, achieved his DDS at New York University College of Dentistry in 1975, and completed a post-doctoral residency at Northwestern University in 1976. He believes strongly in giving back to his community for all that it has given him and has been an attending dentist on the clinical staff at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center since 1977.

Toxic Drama and Righteous Indignation

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Ever hear of the Scorpion and the Frog?

Beware of Scorpions! Drawing by Carolyn Bulger

A scorpion and a frog meet on the bank of a stream and the scorpion, in a charming manner, asks the frog to carry him across on its back.

The frog is familiar with the scorpion’s dubious reputation and replies, “But you’re a scorpion. How do I know you won’t sting me?”

The scorpion answers, “Well my good frog, I can’t swim. If I was foolish enough to sting you, I would surely drown.”

Satisfied with that answer, the kindly frog allows the scorpion to climb on his back. They set out across the stream.

In midstream, the scorpion cannot resist temptation and stings the frog.

The frog quickly feels the onset of paralysis and starts to sink. Knowing they both will drown, the frog gasps “Why?”

The scorpion snarls back, “Stupid frog. I’m a scorpion. It’s in my nature… “

There are different versions of this story. There’s one where the scorpion adds with an evil smile “By the way frog… I CAN swim.”

The point of that story is some people have a toxic nature and are very capable of hostile or self-destructive behavior.

Beware of scorpions.

In Drama Queen Parts I and II, I’ve covered Personal Drama and the Expressive Profile. Now I’ll reveal the extreme version of dramatic behavior…

Imagine stopping you car at a light. The light changes but you were momentarily distracted.

Toxic drama is potentially harmful.

The person behind you leans hard on their horn and then lets loose with a barrage of obscenities as they change lanes and roar past you.

What just happened? How could anyone flip a switch and display such extreme road-rage? Such Toxic Drama?

Being inside a vehicle has something to do with it. People feel a sense of invulnerability, power and control while driving. Also, our roadways represent an Arena of Performance where people are already more intense and edgy. People have their “game-face” on whenever they’re driving. All that leads to Road Rage.

Road-rage or not, why do some people act like they’ve just been handed a free ticket to be toxic?

It’s about breaking unwritten rules. When you get hit with a blast of toxic venom, in the other person’s mind you’ve broken some sort of rule and now they believe they’re allowed to attack you without mercy. Your perceived indiscretion is punished with a venomous outburst or even physical assault.

It’s disturbing that some people still abide by the ancient philosophy of revenge – “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

The medical term for this is Intermittent Explosive Disorder (IED) and according to Wikipedia’s definition is characterized by “extreme expressions of anger, often to the point of uncontrollable rage, that are disproportionate to the situation at hand.”

Such a toxic response is often drastically more severe than the instigating event. Along the lines of, “You accidentally stepped on my toe, and now I’m going to gouge out your eye!”

I’m exaggerating, but you get my point.

It’s disturbing that some people still abide by the ancient philosophy of revenge – “An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth.”

Couple that revenge philosophy with a tendency to disconnect from emotional responsibility, and you’ve got a powder keg ready to blow.

By the way, 2 sets of rules exist for these people. The easy, flexible rules they set for themselves and the harsh, firm rules they hold everyone else to.

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Here are the 3 easy steps to Toxic Drama:

The Insult.The Upset.The Drama.

The Insult may be something interpreted as a personal attack, or it may just be someone breaking their perceived rules of conduct as in the case of not noticing that green light.

Forget about the calm eye, these people are the storm.

Are you easily insulted? People who grow up amidst violence tend to see the world as violent and flee or fight back at the drop of a hat.

The Upset is the reaction to the insult. This is where your inclination to emphasize and express Personal Drama comes into play.

It’s been said that you can measure the size of a person by what it takes to make them upset. It takes a lot to provoke some people. They can remain the calm eye at the center of the storm.

Then there’s those who are very sensitive and emotionally volatile. It might take very little provocation to get them upset. Forget about the calm eye, these people are the storm.

There are huge differences form culture to culture. Some cultures are serious and stoic, others are seen as passionate and volatile.

Toxic people may seem friendly enough, but like scorpions, it’s in their nature to attack.

The Drama Step is “payback time” where theatrics are displayed, revenge is given, and punishment is delivered.

People inclined to toxic rage will make the jump from the Insult step to the Drama in a heartbeat. There’s no pause for reflection. They’re combat-veterans and if provoked, they’ll pull out their claws and rip you to shreds.

Toxic people may seem friendly enough, but like scorpions, it’s in their nature to attack.

Alcohol has been known to set off toxic drama. People lose their inhibitions and self-control.

Passive-Aggressive behavior can also lead to episodes of rage. Passive people can usually take a lot, but once they finally blow their top, their emotions overwhelm them and the drama can be extreme.

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Many who engage in Toxic Drama act out of Righteous Indignation. They act like they’ve been given the right to express outrage or strike an offender down with complete impunity. They feel completely justified in their outburst or in harshly punishing the targeted offender.

This can be a dangerous viewpoint, especially when collectively shared. It only takes two people in righteous agreement to create a mob mentality. Once that mentality takes hold, there’s a collective madness that ensues – a crowd hysteria that can lead to uncharacteristically violent behavior.

Last Canada Day weekend, I was at the Toronto Ribfest doing my annual volunteer work of serving beer for our Rotary Club. It was Friday night, some time past 10, and we were closing up after serving the last round. Two guys showed up late wanting some beer. They had driven from some distance to get there.

They were told “No” and to come back again the next day. They were disappointed and tried persuading us to serve them. After repeatedly hearing “No” they changed tactics. These two didn’t like the manner in which they were told and worked themselves up into a collective frenzy. Each one feeding off the others indignation over the situation. A clear case of “Bar Rage” except these two hadn’t even had anything to drink.

Some people, believing they hold the righteous side, will act swiftly and viciously.

Fortunately there was no violence, only a brief verbal barrage. I probably wouldn’t have taken much notice of them, accept I happened to have started writing this at the time.

In a mob, there can be rapid escalation of collective indignation as fuel is rapidly added to the fire. Anger feeds on anger. There’s also a sense of raw power within a mob that reduces vulnerability and inhibitions.

It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of the mob and feel that rush of power. People in mobs  stop making personal choices about their actions and behavior. They’ll start following the loudest, angriest voice in the crowd.

Such mob mentality has led to horrific crimes and genocidal acts.

Once people believe they hold the righteous side, they’ll tend to act swiftly and viciously. If their target counter-attacks with equal ferocity, now you’ve got a war and things can turn ugly in a hurry.

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How can anyone justify toxic behaviour?

Justifying Toxic Drama requires something called Emotional Transference. That’s where your upsets and actions are perceived as entirely the responsibility of someone else.

Drama is a choice, and you own that choice.

Case in point – Mel Gibson with that recorded phone call to his ex-girlfriend. He went into a toxic rage over her breast implants and how she dressed provocatively. His ability to blame his rage on her was astounding.

It’s all part of the Blame Game people play. As in “My anger is all your fault.” Once you can deny responsibility for your outbursts, you’re free to indulge in intoxicating rage.

You’ve granted yourself a free ticket to be toxic.

Remember those 4 Steps of Emotional Response that I covered back in Drama Queen Part I? The last step -  Owning Your Emotions – is completely ignored when someone engages in Toxic Drama.

Drama is a choice, and you own that choice. Once you finally realize you OWN your upsets, you forfeit the perceived right to make those mouth-frothing rants and acts of Toxic Drama. You also forfeit the right to be swept up in a mob.

Do you know anyone that displays extreme volatility, engages in Emotional Transference and has a tendency to indulge in Toxic Drama?

Beware of these scorpions.

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There you have it, Toxic Drama, Righteous Indignation, and Emotional Transference.

In previous posts you’ve learned about Personal Drama, the Expressive Personality Profile. Now you know about Toxic Drama.

Why do I drag all this drama stuff up? Drama is very relevant to the dental world. Recognizing and diffusing drama are vital skills for a dentist. Building a winning team involves getting everyone past the Drama Habit. Building a terrific customer experience involves helping patients avoid drama and get past their old stories.

Next post I’ll delve into the fantasy realm of the Drama Triangle. A place where evil ogres terrorize poor helpless damsels and battle heroic knights.

Stay healthy and keep smiling!

Dr. Joe

About the Author: Dr. Joe Bulger is a West Toronto dentist. He’s also the owner-founder of Royal York Dental – a respected dental clinic serving Etobicoke since 1950.

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