FYI to the smart consumer!!!!
I was talking with a patient the other day about hard times and economic challenges we’ve all had to face. I found it interesting that somehow he wasn’t even aware the dental business would be in the same boat. People that have lost jobs along with medical insurance, forget about dental benefits!!!! Well to us, those people were our patients. I’m sure most business owners’ have seen their share of hard times, and this too shall pass. In the meantime hard decisions and cutting corners to stay afloat has been practice. The laboratory we use to have dental restorations fabricated is a great facility. I was lucky enough to go visit and observe while I was in school. Wow what an efficient, clean friendly environment. When I started in 1993 with Dr. Artemenko, to find out he used this lab, I was excited!! My friend’s father used to run a dental lab out of his garage, so I realized this business could be conducted anywhere, and didn’t need a lot of people to do it. My eyes were open to dental facilities being different, offices & labs. Our lab started to offer a “global” option to have dental restorations fabricated in China. I know they have fallen on hard times as well and want to do everything they can to keep business too. Global option means less expensive, and I’m sure that has been a relief for those who have taken advantage of the service. I also know someone at the lab had to lose their job for that service. We have not used this service and don’t plan to, but someone must. What kind of metal is used? Metals can be very irritating to tissue and skin. If you are told to have a crown placed, ask about materials!!! What type of metal is in your mouth? Where was it made? The lab’s global option is a fair one, and the lab can identify and label the metal. What about the one your dentist uses? Talk to your dental care provider, this is not secret information, or shouldn’t be. Don’t take for granted that someone will do the right thing because Doctor is in the title. At the end of the day we are all husbands and wives trying to provide for our families. Stay smart consumer!!
Clinical Assistant, Robin
Christmas Blessings
The holidays are fast approaching and another new year is just weeks away. Reflecting on the many blessing we enjoy through the year, my staff and I are very thankful to all of our patients who choose us to maintain their oral health. Your confidence is appreciated and humbling. As a team we value the partnership that allows us to help you enhance your overall health. Even more so, we are especially grateful to those of you who have referred friends, family members and colleagues to become members of our “practice family.”
Please accept our sincerest wishes for a wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy, Healthy 2012.
From me & my team, Kathy, Michelle, Robin, Amy, Stephanie and Carolyn, we wish you a Very Merry Christmas and Happy & Healthy New Year.
Already THAT time of the year?
Hard to believe that byclosing the doors on Halloween, we are quickly opening the doors to the upcoming holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. I recently saw an interesting article on Christmas gift giving with the concept of gift giving centered on seeking out American made products or better yet, local American-run business gift certificates, IE, manicures, dance or music lessons, restaurant/meals, movie theatre or hey, here is a thought…dental procedures. Who would not like to receive a pre-paid teeth bleaching treatment or a nominal monetary gift certificate to go toward their pending dental treatment? What better way to make your “secret Santa” smile, than a thoughtful gesture to go directly toward their oral health. Supporting local business while giving the gift that keeps on giving…a dazzling smile (priceless!)
*Bleaching offer good toward currentpatients who are active in our preventive recare program.
I don’t feel any sensitivity- why do I need this treatment?
Most often people think pain and a dental problem go hand and hand. Pain is not the only indication of something going on. Patients frequently ask me ‘why am i have this filling/crown/etc done when I am not feeling anything?’ I can speak from experience!
Alongside this article I have posted a digital Xray of tooth number #32, #31, and #30- known as the lower right molars. The last tooth tothe left of the image is My wisdom tooth (#32) which is what we called‘mesially impacted’, in other words there is limited space in the jaw for thistooth it is not functional in my bite and because of its angle, is a food trap!If you look closely at the Image you will notice the large dark area eatinginto the second molar- the tooth in front of the wisdom tooth. With the angle of the wisdom tooth it can makeit almost impossible to keep the area clean opposed to the other areas of the mouth.
I had my lower wisdom teeth extracted over the summer. Now,
you would think with this large area of decay (commonly stated as a cavity) that I would’ve had a tooth ache or at least some sensitivity to temperature or sweets?! Surprisingly- I did not! This area of decay had appeared on the Xray so large that during removal of the decay it was a strong possibility of exposing the nerve which would’ve led to- you guessed it, a root canal. Fortunately that wasn’t the case. This just goes to show that decay can be extensive without any of the assumed symptoms.
We are here to educate you! The more you understand about your dental care the more we can be on the same page with keeping your mouth healthy and remember- just because you don’t ‘feel’ anything, doesn’t indicate there isn’t something going on. Next time your faced with the possibility of postponing treatment, you may want to think twice.
BY: Amy M- Clinicial Assistant
Trick or Treat
Years ago, when my daughters were still Trick or
Treating, I suggested that perhaps, as a
change of pace from passing out the routine candy or chips, I would give out
toothbrushes or floss. You would have
thought by the look on their faces and their exasperated responses that I was obviously,
“Anti-Halloween” (which by the way, I am not, I am just practical).
I have to admit, when they came back home from their door to
door antics, I was the first one to eye-ball my favorites and somehow they
would mysteriously disappear before the final inventory was completed. After each “candy binge” I kept in mind the
parental responsibilities to encourage the kids to follow, and myself as the
parent, to remember.
1)) Three times a day, “Brush, Brush, Brush”! At the very
least, brush after breakfast and before bedtime. (Rinsing periodically with water throughout
the day, especially after meals (at school) is really beneficial too!)
2) Try to discourage over indulgence of “sticky” candies
like caramel, taffy and licorice as they are harder for the saliva in the mouth
to “wash away” their sugary effects.
3) Encourage using floss, which is especially helpful in
getting the sticky and sugary substances out from between the teeth.
4) Have your children use a fluoride mouth rinse prior to
bedtime, making sure it is an age appropriate rinse and a flavor that will keep
them coming back for more the next night.
5) Keep your children on a regularly maintained preventive
schedule with our hygienists and Dr.Artemenko. (Contact our office, we would be
happy to help you schedule the visit.)
Prevention is the best course of treatment to maintain their
smiles for years to come…and certainly for next years Trick or Treating fun.
By Carolyn
Do you think I was ripped off?
My friend and I were hanging out the other day and he asked my advice concerning his last dental visit. He has had gum
therapy in the past, what we at the dental office call “root planing and scaling” He went to another office because he had new insurance. Turns out the professional wanted to do a “deep cleaning” or root planing and scaling. That meant he would have to go through all that again? I asked him when the last time he had been to the dentist for his periodontal maintenance appointment, and it had been a while. I explained to him that once you have a periodontal condition where deeper pockets are maintained you no longer have 6 month “regular cleanings” (or prophy’s in dental talk) anymore. Shorter intervals such as 3 to 4 months are recommended. The follow through and home care is essential and necessary to the long term success of gum therapy. We have patients who dedicate sometimes 30-45 minutes between night and day maintaining oral health with home care. He told me didn’t hear any of this information when he spoke to the hygienist, and the next hygiene appointment was not even discussed. This is where I believe my friend was short changed. I’m surprised how little he knew and understood about his condition. The procedure he went through can cost over $1200.00 easy, not to mention the 2 to 3 visits to complete. The professional did the scaling therapy so you could argue he got what he paid for. What bothers me is there was no discussion of what this really means for his future and possibly losing his teeth someday if he decided to never go back. Also the success is based on return visits and maintenance. The advice I gave my friend was he should find an office that will treat you as a whole person, not an open mouth someone can remove tartar and bacteria from for money. Many services should be provided at the dental office. We understand medical and dental health are connected and should be treated as such. Dentists in the metro Detroit area are a dime a dozen. With so many choices available don’t stay because you feel you have to, even if dental benefits guide what choices you feel you have. There is more than one dentist on the list. Make them work for you! In the long run whether you were ripped off or not, if you feel you were, that’s your answer.
Robin, clinical assistant
Handling Dental Emergencies Step by Step
You are relaxing on your deck with a good book one sunny autumn afternoon. Your children and the rest of the neighborhood kids are scrambling on the lawn next door, tossing a ball, jumping in piles giggling. Ahh… life is good! Then amidst the mayhem you
suddenly hear………..
Owww!!! Oh, Noooooo!!!! “My tooth is knocked out!!! MOM!!!.
OK, ok…Don’t panic….Which kid?….Which tooth?…..How
did this happen? …What do I do??
Knocking out a tooth can throw you and the injured party for a loop, but it’s not necessarily a permanent out. It’s just important to remember a few simple steps. There’s a good chance that with quick attention the tooth can be saved. If the tooth is broken and part of it is still in place, attention will still be necessary.
1-The first thing to do is find the tooth and keep it safe because you may be
able to salvage it. DO NOT pick the tooth up by the root. Instead, gently pick it up by the crown.
2- Next, rinse the mouth with warm water. If there’s bleeding, apply a piece of gauze or a moistened teabag to the injured area in order to stop the bleeding. You can rinse the tooth in a bowl of tap water, but do not scrub it
3-Place the tooth back in the socket if possible.
To help the tooth stay in place, gently bite down using a gauze or moistened teabag as a cushion. If not, place it in a container and then cover it with a small amount of milk or saliva. Maybe you already have a
“tooth-saving kit” to use that’s handy.
4- Time is of the essence. A knocked out tooth can often be saved if a dentist can begin repair within a few hours, especially if it is an adult tooth. Give your dental office a call right away or visit the emergency room of your local hospital.
From: Kathy the Hygienist
Stepping into Fall
It’s that time of year again. Kids are back to school, college & pro football is 
dominating television and the smell of Fall is definitely in the air. There is something for you to consider now that the year is promising to wrap up as fast as it flew by…your outstanding dental treatment.
Is there an area of decay or concern that was recommended at your last visit but not yet addressed? Perhaps with the holidays around the corner, your interests are on a dazzling new smile (we can accomplish that, ask us how). And exactly HOW long has it been since your last cleaning? (Gulp!)
Many patients fortunate to have the benefits of dental insurance are also realizing to optimally utilize their annual maximums, NOW is the time to “step in to” treatment. Keep in mind that lab-times and holiday hours many times reflect on the opportunity to schedule your visit in the most time effective way possible. This is something that we take great pride in… putting you, the patient first!
Please call, email or fax our office with your request to schedule your next visit with Dr.Artemenko or one of our hygienists. We look forward to hearing from you soon!
Kids: Sports and Energy Drinks, just say NO!
In previous blogs we’ve talked about how energy and sports drinks are not good for your teeth, they cause acid erosion. The high levels sugar change into acid in the mouth that eats away at the enamel of your teeth. In addition to this, the American Academy of Pediatrics is saying that sports drinks contribute not only to tooth decay, but also obesity. Energy drinks are even more harmful because they contain a number of substances that act like stimulants, such as caffeine. Caffeine has been associated with negative effects on kid’s health relating to both their neurological and cardiovascular development. 
So what’s the bottom line? For routine physical activity water is still the best way to hydrate. Hydrating should be done before, during and after sports. If it is necessary to consume a sports drink, alternate it with water and swallow it right away. Don’t swish it around in your mouth. Energy drinks are not a good idea period!
If you’re comcerned about physical activity, keeping hydrated and the health of your teeth or your children’s teeth, feel free to discuss it with Dr. Artemenko or one of our hygienists.
For more information, click on this link: http://www.ada.org/news/5970.aspx
Safe, Secure and Backed-up
In the age of electronic records and digital x-rays, have you ever wondered what would happen to your dental records if our building in Sterling Heights burned down or our computers crashed? Well you can put your mind at ease. Our entire network is continuously backed-up throughout the day by an external hard drive connected to our server. Additionally, each evening another separate encrypted back-up is run and stored securely off site. Dr. Artemenko also has a “if everything else fails” back-up that is run manually on a workstation. All back-up logs are checked daily for errors or problems and each quarter our fabulous technology specialists (Phillips Consulting) come on-site to verify all systems are working and properly maintained. Technical Support is available to us 24/7 in case of emergency or disaster.
