Cosmetic Dentists, what?

Dentist Sandy Springs:

The trend these days is dentists calling themselves cosmetic dentists when there is no such specialty in dentistry.   Contrary of this trend, all dentistry is cosmetic.   I don’t know anyone who took the ‘ugly’ teeth class in dental school.  Regardless, the fact remains that the majority of dentists are general dentists and marketing themselves as ‘cosmetic dentists’ is an ethics violation of the ADA[1].  Not one of them has a ‘cosmetic specialty’ in dentistry because it doesn’t exist.[2]   The ADA only has recognized nine (9) post dental degree specialties and cosmetic dentistry is not one of them.  These specialties range in one to six years of advance training beyond dental school that results in additional certifications considered experts within their fields of dentistry.  These ADA specialties are:

Dental Public Heath, Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, Radiology and Surgery, Orthodontics, Endodontics, Pediatric Dentistry, Periodontics, and the least known, but the closest to what would be considered a cosmetic dentist, Prosthodontics.

Prosthodontics: (crown, bridge, and implants) A Prosthodontist is the ‘holy grail’ of dentistry and has a specialty license pertaining to the diagnosis, treatment planning, rehabilitation and maintenance of the oral function, comfort, appearance and health of patients with clinical conditions associated with missing or deficient teeth and/or oral and maxillofacial tissues using biocompatible substitutes. Most dentists are not trained prosthodontic graduates of a dental school - rather they take short continuing education and utilize trial and error experience to be able to understand how size, shape, color and symmetry all work together to create what a prosthodontists is trained in their post graduate work.   On the other hand, the prosthodontist is trained at a university to create the smile that implements the use of veneers, crowns, bridges and the increasingly more common procedure of dental implants to ensure that the right smile is achieved, both functionally and aesthetically beautiful.  If anyone has a specialty in cosmetic dentistry, it would be the prosthodontist.  So when you are seriously looking for a cosmetic dentist, look for a prosthodontist.

If you are in need of a cosmetic dentist[3], we are here to serve you.

ZoAnna Scheinfeld, MS, DMD

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

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[1] ADA is the American Dental Association

[2] And yet we advertise as a cosmetic dentist because we have a prosthodontist in our practice.

[3] Cosmetic dentist equals Prosthodontist.

How Much Do Dental X-rays Cost?

A single dental x-ray should cost between $28-38. But with the Great Recession, you can probably get your first set for free.  YES, FREE..EEE.   Basically, that dentist is putting out a lost leader to see if he or she can find something wrong with your teeth.  Beyond that, 4 check-up or bitewing x-rays may cost between $60-80, and a full mouth series (18 x-rays) or panoramic x-ray would cost between $100-200.  If it’s a new practice or mature one that is trying to build or rebuild its patient base, often the x-rays are bundled with an examination that ends up as stated above – free.  Most dental insurance covers x-rays at 100%. It is usually considered adiagnostic or preventive service.

If you are a new patient, the dentist should recommend x-rays to determine the present status of your oral health and to help identify changes that may occur later, unless of course he has super powers and can see your tooth and bone structure without the aid of an x-ray machine.  (Wish we could do that.)  X-rays give your dentist a necessary baseline of your present condition.  They help your dentist detect any new cavities, determine the status of your gum health or evaluate the growth and development of your teeth. If a previous dentist has your recent radiographs, your new dentist may request copies of them.

A panoramic image is a single image of the entire upper and lower arch. This requires a different machine and can cost $125-175 or more. It shows the entire mouth on one image.

Dental x-rays are necessary to diagnose or detect tooth decay, impacted teeth, jaw problems, abscessed (infected) teeth, or current filling placement.  An x-ray exam can help your oral physician  see the small areas of decay between the teeth and fillings; bone damage from a tooth infection or cyst; bone loss due to periodontal (gum) disease; developmental defects; some types of tumors; the effects of trauma; and the position on unerupted teeth in children and adults.  Dental x-rays can also reveal bone loss from periodontal (gum) disease, locate tarter build-up, find foreign bodies within the gum or bone, and see if there is enough bone for the placement of dental implants.

Finding and treating dental problems at an early stage saves time, money and unneeded discomfort that helps prevent more serious health problems.  A good dentist will tailor a treatment plan to your finances, altering the ideal treatment as much as possible to help you  afford it.  If we can be of help, please do hesitate to call, email or make an appointment to be seen.

ZoAnna Scheinfeld, MS, DMD

Right Smile Center, LLC – Oral Physicians who care

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

http://www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

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Oral healthcare and the cancer patient

Sandy Springs Dentist - A higher standard through healthcare well planned

Management of a patient being treated for cancer, particularly where the cancer treatment is located near the head and neck should involve your oral healthcare provider, i.e. your dentist.  Unfortunately, there are very few published studies or guidelines on how to manage the cancer patient during therapy.  Accordingly, there is considerable variation across the medical community relative to specific non-medicated approaches to baseline oral care.

Oral-facial complications are common after radiotherapy to the head and neck, and after chemo-therapy for malignant diseases. Oral Mucositis, also called stomatitis is the most frequent and debilitating complication of cancer chemotherapy and radiotherapy, occurring in about 40% of patients. Oral mucositis is inflammation of the mucosa of the mouth which ranges from redness to severe ulceration. Symptoms of mucositis vary from pain and discomfort to an inability to tolerate food or fluids.[1]

All patients at risk should receive a standardized oral care regime as an ongoing component of their cancer therapy.  Additional interventions may include dental brushing with toothpaste, dental flossing, ice chips, and sodium bicarbonate rinses. These regimens typically include dental work to eliminate caries and existing gum disease before beginning cancer treatment, followed by thorough and frequent cleaning of the oral cavity with a variety of products, some form of pain relief, anti-inflammatory treatment as required and aggressive antimicrobial treatment for any new mouth infections.[2] Patient compliance with these agents can be maximized by comprehensive overseeing by the oral healthcare professional.

Get the facts, ask the Right Smile Center.  If we can be of assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC.

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta, GA 30328

404-256-3620

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

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[1] http://oralcancerfoundation.org/dental/pdf/mucositis.pdf

[2] Ibid.

Oral cancer by HPV is on the rise. Dentist Sandy Springs

HPV (human papilloma virus) is not only on the rise, but it is now the number one cause of oral cancer. This needs to be taken seriously because it is truly a 21st-century pandemic. HPV a sexually transmitted disease and the scary fact is that one out of every two people is at risk of HPV infection.[1] That is 50% of the population. The predominant mode of HPV virus transmission is oral sex.[2]

Oral HPV is the same virus responsible for the vast majority of cervical cancer.  Historically, oral cancer was caused by smoking and alcohol consumption.  But the rise in oral HPV will lead to death in one of four people with oral cancer. This happens because it is not diagnosed in time.  Yet, this type oral cancer is one of the easiest cancers to spot, diagnose and treat. 

Dr. Oz says testing for HPV is something everyone needs to do to prevent fatalities from oral cancer.  Here are the steps he suggests:

             * Demand an oral cancer screening with every dentist visit, but at least one a year.

 * Limit alcohol and tobacco use                                              

 * Limit exposure to UV radiation. Make sure your lip balm has a high SPF rating

 * Practice safe sex.

Dr. Oz advocates the need to change the way we have sex in America. Your partner must wear a condom throughout your entire sexual partnership or completely abstain from sex orally. The more we engage in unprotected oral sex, the more we will have oral cancer showing up.[3]

Unfortunately, we in the dental field find there is a disconnect in the patient understanding the relationship between their dental exams and their overall health.  Most patients do not realize or accept that the dentist is more than a just a tooth mechanic and their mouth houses more than just teeth.

Early detection is the key to stopping this pandemic before it’s too late. The first line of defense is through your dentist.  And when offered a salivary DNA test, realize it’s for your own preventive care.   Those who should be tested are:

o   Patients with traditional risk factors for oral cancer

o   Patients who are sexually active

o   Patients with a family history of oral cancer

o   Patients with signs and symptoms of oral cancer

o   Patients with suspicious oral lesions.

If we can be of help, please feel free to contact us for a Salivary DNA test conducted in our Sandy Springs Office.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

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[1] http://oralcancerfoundation.org/hpv/  (2010)

[2] Dr. Bert W. O’Malley, Jr M.D., Head and Neck Surgeon, on the Dr. Oz Show (2011).

[3] Dr. Oz Show (2011)

How much do Dental Implant Costs: Sandy Springs

The cost of a dental implant can range from $1800 up.  The exact cost varies because each patient presents a unique set of circumstances and factors.   The variables that may affect the procedure range from your age, oral health, jaw bone anatomy, bone grafting to whether or not more complex treatments such as a sinus lift are necessary.  In addition, the type of dental implant and the restorative crown or denture impacts the cost of the total restoration.  Finally, the number of times the patient needs to visit the dentist can affect the cost of the procedure.  It is not a cookie cutter process.

The dental implant procedure involves several steps between multiple specialties.[1]   The first step is the placement of the dental implant, which may involve the extraction of a tooth and the placement of bone grafting material.  The latter is done to fill the void created from the removed tooth.  Once this is completed, the dental implant needs time to properly integrate with the bone and create a healthy fusion in order for the crown to be attached.  In most cases the healing period is 3 – 6 months. The last step is the restoration, which is placing the crown on top of the dental implant structure.

Coverage under your medical plan may be available, depending on your insurance plan and the cause of tooth loss. If treatment is not covered by your dental insurance, or if you don’t have insurance, you may be able to setup a finance plan. Many dental offices offer financing plans, allowing patients to finance dental procedures, many times with no interest.

During your consultation we provide you with a breakdown of fees.   We also discuss the various dental implant options and try to cover all the costs that are involved.  It is during the initial consult where you should be given payment options and strategies to accomplish the treatment.

Feel free to give us a call to see if you are an implant candidate.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

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[1] Usually a prosthodontist and either a periodontist or oral surgeon.

Your Teeth - your step child. Dentist Sandy Springs

Here is the biggest lie propagated about healthcare and insurance companies.

“Edentulism[1] is not a risk factor for any other diseases, so it is not a liability to the overall health of a patient.”

That’s a lie that has been propagated for decades.  Bad teeth and long-term low-level infections can damage your lungs and heart, lead to increased and/or chronic lung infections and even lead to sepsis; death in extreme cases. In a cross-sectional study, Hamasha and others found significant differences between edentulous and dentate individuals with respect to rates of atherosclerotic vascular disease, heart failure, ischemic heart disease and joint disease.[2]

As a consequence of a lack of certain nutrition due to altered eating habits, various health problems can occur, from the mild to the extreme. Lack of certain vitamins (A, E and C) and low levels of riboflavin and thiamin can produce a variety of conditions, ranging from constipation, weight loss, arthritis and rheumatism. There are more serious conditions such as heart disease and Parkinson's disease and even to the extreme, certain types of Cancer.

The absence of teeth can damage your jaw bone’s structure.  In addition, the tongue, which consists of a very dynamic group of muscles, tends to fill the space it is allowed, and in the absence of teeth, will broaden out.  And the most ludicrous thing today that exemplifies the attitude I quoted, above, is that Medicare won’t pay for any dental work, or dentures – yet it will pay for a male erection (Viagra.)  Go figure.

If we can help you, please contact us.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta, GA 30328

404-256-3620

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

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[1] Edentulism is the condition of being toothless to at least some degree.

[2] Hutton, Feine, Morais, 2002

Dentistry Today - Sandy Springs Dental Care

While it may be difficult for many to move beyond past and antiquated perceptions, the dental profession today includes not only those who provide direct patient care, but those who teach, conduct research, and work in public and international health.  All of these individuals are vital links in the health care delivery system, necessary to promote social and economic change as well as individual well-being.

Traditionally, dentistry has been the branch of the healing arts and sciences devoted to maintaining the health of the teeth, gums, and other hard and soft tissues of the oral cavity and adjacent structures. Yet today, a dentist is a scientist and clinician dedicated to the highest standards of health care through prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of oral diseases and conditions.  The notion of dentists as merely a “tooth mechanics” is completely out of touch with the roll of modern dentists.

Today’s dentist is a highly sophisticated health professional providing a wide range of care that contributes enormously to the quality of your day-to-day life as it relates to your global health care.   Yes, dentists work to prevent tooth decay, periodontal disease, malocclusion, and oral-facial anomalies.  But just as important is the dentist’s role in diagnosing oral issues that may be affecting your overall health.  Dentists are instrumental in early detection of oral cancer and systemic conditions of the body that manifest themselves in the mouth, and they are at the forefront of a range of new developments in cosmetic and aesthetic practices.

As the world changes so does the role of the dentist.  As always, if you have questions or concerns, feel free to contact us in Sandy Springs. 

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

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