the right smile

Educating Patients on their Oral Health Options

Category Archives: Cosmetic Dentistry


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Dental Cleanings Sandy Springs

Mature woman smilingProfessional teeth cleanings performed by a certified dental hygienist are the foundation to maintaining a healthy mouth and preventing future gum disease and tooth decay.   Actively preventing periodontal disease and tooth decay starts at home, augmented with regular dental cleanings and oral exams, you should be able to maintain a healthy, beautiful smile.

In a professional dental cleaning, our hygienist will:

  • Remove plaque and tarter from the teeth and gum line
  • Remove calculus below the gum line with procedures that can only be performed by professional and may even require anti-biotics
  • Remove stains and polish your teeth
  • Administer x-rays where and when necessary
  • Check for signs of oral cancer

Our practice offers preventive care that includes comprehensive cleaning, fluoride treatment, sealants, oral examinations and periodontal treatments that help you maintain your smile’s health and beauty. Brushing your teeth twice-daily and regular flossing at least once a day are necessary for maintenance between office visits, but a healthy mouth and beautiful smile can only be achieved with routine general and preventive care by a dentist.

The added advantage of a multi-specialty practice is our in-house periodontist.  So if you have an issue that exceeds the ability or training of our hygienists, you can still be examined and treated in our office.  If we can be of service please contact us for a complementary consult with one our team.

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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Sandy Springs Teeth Cleaning

mature women smiling3Professional cleanings are the key to your healthy smile.  And a healthy smile begins with healthy gums.  If you or a family member has not had a professional cleaning recently, please consider the importance of regular cleanings and maintenance of your dental health. Regular cleanings will keep you healthy and save your smile in the long run.

The ADA recommends the following for good oral hygiene:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day with an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste.
  • Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Decay-causing bacteria still linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can’t reach.
  • Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.  While some study results[1] indicate the use of a mouth rinse can be as effective as flossing for reducing plaque between the teeth, the American Dental Association (ADA) recommends you brush twice a day and clean between  teeth with floss or interdental cleaners once each day to remove plaque from all tooth surfaces. Plaque is responsible for both tooth decay and gum disease.
  • Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.
  • Visit us regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.
  • Talk with us about what types of oral care products most effective for you. The ADA Seal on a product is your assurance that it has met ADA criteria for safety and effectiveness. Look for the ADA Seal on fluoride toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss, interdental cleaners, oral irrigators, mouth rinses and other oral hygiene products.
  • Replace your toothbrush every three or four months or sooner if the bristles become frayed. A worn toothbrush will not do a good job of cleaning your teeth. Children’s toothbrushes often need replacing more frequently than adults because they can wear out sooner.

It is possible to have periodontal disease and have no warning signs. That is one reason why regular dental checkups and periodontal examinations are very important. Treatment methods depend upon the type of disease and how far the condition has progressed. Good oral hygiene at home is essential to help keep periodontal disease from becoming more serious or recurring. You don’t have to lose teeth to periodontal disease.

Schedule dental visits for you and your family today by calling The Right Smile Center in Sandy Springs at 404-256-3620. Our dental office is conveniently located on Carpenter Drive in Sandy Springs, and we serve patients from Sandy Springs, Roswell, Dunwoody, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, Buckhead, Marietta, East Cobb and surrounding communities. We welcome new patients and will be happy to answer all of your questions with a complimentary visit. Our team includes in-house periodontal specialists.  We look forward to making you, and your loved ones, smile!

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

[1] Sharma, et. al., Am. J. Dent. 15:351-355, 2002. Bauroth, et.al., J. Am. Dent. Assn. 134:359-365, Mar 2003

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Dentist Brookhaven: Need to know about Dental Implants

dental-implants2Many people are unaware of the consequences of losing their teeth or the effects of wearing partial or full dentures on their jaw bones. When teeth are lost, the surrounding bone immediately begins to atrophy. Implant replacement therapy is the optimal treatment plan. Here are some important facts to take into consideration.

  • Wearing dentures accelerates bone loss. it is possible to watch and wait for bone to disappear to the point where treatment success of any kind becomes doubtful.  Implant-supported dentures have 95% success rates over 10 years without the severe loss of supporting bone.
  • At the end of a five-year period, only 40% of patients are still wearing the original partial denture made for them. This is not a great testimonial for value and utility.
  • Of those patients who wear a partial denture, 50% chew better without it.
  • One study showed that after 8 years, 40% of the supporting abutments the partial hooks onto were lost through tooth decay or fracture.
  • Patients with natural teeth can bite with about 200 pounds of force. Denture wearers can bite with approximately 50 pounds of force. Those wearing dentures for 15 years or more can bite with only about 6 pounds of force, which results in their diet being modified.
  • Denture wearers have decreased nutritional intake, a ten year shorter life span, and 30% of denture wearers can only eat soft foods.
  • The single tooth implant success rate is above 98%, and unlike a bridge, the teeth adjacent to the implant are no more at risk than if was never lost.

For bone maintenance, the health of adjacent teeth, the longevity of the restoration and patient comfort, implant therapy is the treatment of choice. Implants can restore chewing function to the equivalent of someone with natural teeth. If you have questions or want to know if you are a good candidate for implant tooth replacement therapy, please contact us.  We have in-house implant placement by Dr. Will Zinney and restorations by Drs. Scheinfeld, Tourial and Lubell.

Novy Scheinfeld DDS PC
290 Carpenter Drive, 200A
Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328
(404) 256-3620
info@rightsmilecenter.com
www.rightsmilecenter.com

 

Thank you for all your referrals.  We truly appreciate them.

Information included is not dental or medical advice.  For your specific information

 be sure to consult your dentist.

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The Right Smile Center : the Advantages of a Multispecialty Practice

UniqueOur healthcare delivery model is a Better Way to Coordinate Care.  In a group practice setting, our dentists have an opportunity to share ideas and develop professionally.

Our multispecialty group is composed of dentists from a wide range of specialties who practice under the umbrella of the same organization, Right Smile Center.  Through collaboration among these specialists, patients receive comprehensive dental treatment that is efficient and thorough. Systems and services are designed by the Right Smile Center to assist our providers in the delivery of high-quality, coordinated, patient-centered care.  Our providers believe they can improve your patient care by having multiple dental professionals with whom to consult on and refer to for alternative patient care under one roof.

When entering into private practice, our providers chose the option to work with other dentists instead of working alone. In our case, dentists of different specialties work together so that patients can receive care that requires multiple solutions at a single location. While most group practices have dentists with a single area of specialization, we have in-house prosthodontics, endo, perio and implant placement and restoration. A practice with a diverse array of specialists is designed to attract more patients seeking a one-stop place for their oral health concerns.

Improved diagnostics, new therapies, more sophisticated equipment – as dentistry progresses, is impossible for a single dentist to know everything the discipline of modern dentistry has to offer.  A multispecialty group fosters an environment of collaboration among many dentists – each an expert in a particular aspect of dentistry – to provide the greatest benefit to patients.  We of course have experience to provide a cross-over of patient care that allows us to cover for each other’s patients when one is out of the office or out of town.  Group practices can assemble a team of dentists and other experts to meet the unique oral healthcare needs of all our patients.  We believe better patient care is a direct result of our multispecialty practice.

Another aspect of a multispecialty practice is the use and sharing of highly expensive equipment to perform diagnostic screenings and deliver patient treatment. By working in a group practice, we can share the cost of deploying equipment that may have been too costly for a single provider. Group practices distribute both the administrative costs and the risks associated with owning and running a solo practice.

An overview of the direct and indirect advantages to you as a patient.

  • Multispecialty group practices promote an environment that encourages and enhances communication, collaboration and peer review, leading to high-quality care. This is especially beneficial to patients with multiple or complex oral problems.
  • A multispecialty group practice can offer “one-stop shopping” and save patients time by scheduling appointments with several doctors on the same day at one location, coordinating testing, obtaining on-the-spot referrals and consultations and reduce the needless time involved in rescheduling when one of us unavailable.
  • Multispecialty group practices provide a setting in which physicians can specialize in a particular area and become experts. This means there are experts on hand to diagnose and treat unusual oral problems.
  • Many multispecialty practices have dentists in rare specialties such as prosthodontics or implant and perio surgery that you can’t find in smaller, solo practices.

So when you’re here for regularly scheduled routine maintenance, take advantage of having fresh set of eyes examine you when one of us is out of town or indisposed.  We practice together because we have confidence in each other.  We hope you will too.  And when we can’t meet those needs, we’ll refer you out.

If we can answer any of your questions or concerns about the Right Smile Center, please feel free to contact us.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC  - Sidney Tourial, DDS, PC – Nanci Lubell, DMD, and William Zinney, DDS

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Dentist Sandy Springs: Patient Questions About Dental Implants?

mature-female-smilingIt turns out that there’s a real difference between the questions dental implant patients do ask — and which questions they should be asking.

The top 5 questions dental patients ask -                              

  1. How much do dental implants cost?
  2. How long do dental implants last?
  3. Are implants painful?
  4. How long will it take to get my new teeth?
  5. Does dental insurance cover implant surgery?

Versus . . .

The top 5 questions dentists want patients to ask -

  1. Am I a good candidate for implants?
  2. What are the potential complications of dental implant therapy?
  3. How much implant experience does the doctor have?
  4. What is the healing time for my implants?
  5. Can implants improve my appearance?

Many dental implant patients seem to have the same questions about dental implant therapy. Unfortunately, these questions aren’t necessarily the ones dentists think they should be asking.

There is really a disconnect between the doctor and patient. This really is no surprise, since patients are thinking about how they are going to pay for the implants, and whether the procedure will be painful.

But doctors can’t afford not to address the primary concerns of the patient first: cost and pain.

If you would like to learn more about implants, how much they cost and your candidacy please call or email your question.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

http://www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

Related information from <http://www.thewealthydentist.com/blog/1509/survey-what-questions-do-patients-ask-about-dental-implants/>

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Dentist Sandy Springs – May is National Arthritis Month

ArthritisBrushing your teeth, buttoning your shirt, or opening a child proof bottle are all routine daily activities that most people take for granted.  But if you have arthritis and it affects your hands, performing these and other basic tasks can be challenging, if not impossible. Theoretically, “exercising” your hands should reduce the pain, improve your range of motion, and, ultimately, enable you to perform more easily the various tasks of daily living.  However, early in the morning use of your hands may aggravate your situation.                                                       

Arthritis of the hands manifests differently depending on what kind of arthritis you have.  Osteoarthritis, which is the most common cause of hand arthritis, involves the protective cartilage that covers the ends of your bones and its gradual deteriorates is due to wear and tear or, in some cases, to injury. If your hand pain is caused by osteoarthritis there’s a high probability that flossing and brushing your teeth may be affected. 

By contrast, rheumatoid arthritis, sometimes referred to as RA, is an immune system disorder that damages the cells in the tissue that lines and lubricates the joints in your hand.  If rheumatoid arthritis is the cause of your hand pain, the distinction between osteoarthritis – and rheumatoid arthritis -induced hand pain is important for several reasons*:

First, if your pain is caused by rheumatoid, you should not attempt to alleviate it with exercise alone. So the exercise associated with brushing your teeth could exacerbate your joint problems.  Second, strengthening exercises can be harmful if performed aggressively and should be done in moderation by people with rheumatoid arthritis.  Third, you should perform any type of exercise with caution while you’re having a flare up of the joints.

So that your oral health does not suffer due to the deterioration and pain associated with either arthritis I would suggest the purchase an electric toothbrush.  My preference is the Oral-B, but it really doesn’t matter which one you use, you just need to use one.  Regardless of your condition, my experience with patients who use the Oral-B regularly has shown results in the positive care of their oral health.  With respect to flossing, which is just as important in maintaining your oral hygiene, you may need to increase the number of visits to the dentist to clean your teeth where you can’t otherwise preform the task.  If you discuss this with your dentist, you should be able to make arrangements just to have your teeth cleaned on alternating appointments and forego unnecessary exam fees. Interestingly enough, there is a possibility that the prescription by your physician may afford you insurance coverage for the extra visits.   As a side note, if you utilize a health savings account, you certainly should be about to cover the costs of all your visits with pre-tax health dollars.  If there is anything we can do to assist you, please do not hesitate to contact us.

*This information is not intended to substitute for the advice of a physician. Some of this information was provided by Johns Hopkins website on arthritis. (http://www.johnshopkinshealthalerts.com).

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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Dentist Sandy Springs: The Tongue and stories it tells

Sticking TongueDid you realize your own tongue can alert you to hidden problems about the rest of your body’s health?  Recognition and diagnosis of tongue abnormalities require examination of the tongue’s shape, structure, color and pattern along with a thorough history, including the onset and duration of the symptoms and the use of tobacco and alcohol.  A thorough neck examination, with careful assessment of the lymph nodes, is essential.  Although routinely examined during a patient’s semi-annual hygiene examinations, abnormalities of the tongue can present a diagnostic and therapeutic dilemma for dentists.

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the point prevalence of tongue lesions is 15.5 percent in U.S. adults. Lesion prevalence is increased in those who wear dentures or use tobacco. The most common tongue condition is geographic tongue, followed by fissured tongue and hairy tongue.[1]  Patients presenting with a tongue lesion or other abnormal appearance of unclear etiology should be referred to an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, head and neck surgeon, or a dentist experienced in oral pathology for further examination and biopsy.

Probably the best article providing a short synopsis of what to look for in a patient self-examination is presented in the American Academy of Family Physicians’ article:

http://www.aafp.org/afp/2010/0301/p627.html  Common Tongue Conditions in Primary Care.

If you haven’t received an oral examination in recent history we recommend you make an appointment and see your dentist to do so.  If we can be of service or answer any of your questions please feel free to contact us.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

[1] Shulman  JD, Beach  MM, Rivera-Hidalgo  F.  The prevalence of oral mucosal lesions in U.S. adults: data from the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1988–1994.  J Am Dent Assoc.  2004;135(9):1279–1286.

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Will Zinney : Periodontist : Dunwoody

mature women smiling3Emory trained Will Zinney, DDS, practices a full scope of periodontics with expertise ranging from placing dental implants, cosmetic periodontal surgery, gum grafting, to crown lengthening. Dr. Zinney, has the training and experience to correct a wide variety of periodontal defects and diseases.  On the north side of Atlanta, Dr. Zinney works in conjunction with Right Smile Center’s prosthodontist Dr. Novy Scheinfeld, also a graduate of Emory University School of Dentistry.

Dr. Zinney has a reputation of making your visits calm and soothing.  The entire team is dedicated to providing you with the personalized, gentle care that you deserve.  Take the first step towards a beautiful, healthy smile and schedule an appointment. Please contact the Right Smile Center by phone or complete the appointment request form on the website below. Our scheduling coordinator will contact you to confirm your appointment.

Right Smile Center

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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Dentist Alpharetta: How Much Do Teeth Cleanings Cost?

mature women smiling3So you get a mailer coupon with the offer of $49.95 for a regular cleaning & $19.95 for an exam & x-ray.  Is it a cheap gimmick?  A lot of the time it is, it just depends on the practice.  If it’s a mature practice you might want to question why they are giving away services.  Is it a loss leader used to get you in and pressure you into other dental procedures?

On the other hand, if it’s a new practice, then providing discounted services is one of the few methods a new practice has to introduce itself to the surrounding community, no different than a new restaurant trying to showcase its menu.  The genuine intent is to build a relationship by showcasing the practice.

Dental costs will vary widely, depending on where you go and the quality of the practice you see.  With respect to continuing care (on your next 6 month visit), a teeth cleaning charge is going to range somewhere around $65 to $89.[1] Often dental insurance will cover some or all of this cost for a specific number of cleanings per year.  The doctor’s exam is $45 to $55 and the 4 basic bite wing x-rays are around $59 to $72.  Depending on your insurance this might be covered anywhere from 60 to 100% after a small deductible is met.   Periodic X-rays ($32 -$135) are needed to see if any problems are developing inside the teeth or around the jaw bone, and are generally required before cleaning the teeth of a new patient (which is why some practices offer coupons to defray the initial cost of a first visit). These are also often covered by dental insurance.

The main goal of professional teeth cleaning is to prevent gum disease, which is the primary cause of tooth loss.  Dental hygiene is imperative, and cleaning your teeth is the first step toward their long term preservation.  In a standard cleaning, a dental hygienist (working under a dentist’s supervision) removes soft plaque and hard tartar (mineralized plaque that builds up on the teeth and can only be removed with professional instruments) from above and below the gum line on all the teeth. The process requires one office visit and usually takes about 30 to 60 minutes.

The more extensive deep cleaning process called scaling and root planing is done by quadrants (upper right, upper left, lower right, lower left) at a cost of about $100 -$400 per quadrant depending on the severity of the problem or $400 -$1,600 for the entire mouth. This is where you run into problems with couponing dentists.  But more often than not, if the mouth is in such poor health the dentist will refer the patient to a periodontist.   Most dental insurance includes these procedures.

Again, your goal is a healthy mouth which an integral part of your overall health.  Oh, and by the way, just because you had your teeth cleaned professionally, the jobs not done.  You have to do your part by brushing and flossing daily if you want to keep them.   If you have additional questions, feel free to email or call our office.  As a part of our services, we offer additional consultation and oversight by our in-house periodontist.  Our goal here is to create an informed healthy patient.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

http://www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

 

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[1] However, depending on how long it’s been since you have been to the dentist and what extent your oral healthcare has been neglected, it can be more if there’s a need to do a full mouth root scaling.


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Dentist Alpharetta: How much does it cost to have a tooth extracted?

tooth extractionThe cost of a simple tooth extraction can range anywhere from $95 to $250 depending on whether the procedure is being performed by a dentist or specialists known as periodontists or an oral and maxillofacial surgeon.  If the tooth is broken at the gum line, it will be considered a ‘surgical extraction’ and usually costs $150 to $300.  Extracting a wisdom tooth, which is usually done by an oral surgeon, can cost anywhere between $150 and $350, but if it’s a partially or completely impacted wisdom tooth then the cost could climb as high as $650.

The cost of the tooth extraction can be higher; for example, if the tooth disintegrates, it can take the dentist a while to get all of it out and the dentist may charge you extra if that happens.  Each patient and each tooth is unique.  It can be cookie cutter, but it doesn’t have to be.  The bottom line is the harder the tooth is to get out, the more it costs, hence the range.

For a soft tissue surgical extraction of a partially impacted tooth, an incision usually has to be made into the gums and once again the cost will increase to about $200 -$350; and for a partial bony extraction (the tooth has some bone covering it) expect to pay anywhere from $300 -$600.

The above fees often include a follow-up office visit to check healing or to remove sutures.  What should also be included is the understanding that a tooth is firmly encased in a bony socket and attached by a ligament.  The socket needs to be gently widened to allow the tooth to be removed; patients will feel pressure but not pain during this procedure. Sometimes a tooth is so firmly anchored that is has to be removed in sections.

Additional related fees, particularly with an oral surgeon may include an initial surgical consultation ($50 – $135), x-rays ($13 – $135) and sedation ($200 – $400 or more) if required.  Many dental insurance plans cover 70 percent to 80 percent of tooth extraction costs if the procedure is considered to be medically necessary and not done just for cosmetic reasons.

Typically, dental insurance permits only about $1,000 per year coverage so if there are other teeth needing to be extracted then the cost can escalate above the annual limit.  Because of the limited coverage that dental insurance provides, most people have come to realize that they don’t have much protection from the high cost of dental care with dental insurance alone.

Our goal is to help you understand a procedure which may vary depending on the circumstances surrounding the tooth being pulled.  If you have additional questions or concerns, do not hesitate to contact our office or email us.  Consultations are always welcome and many times these procedures are accomplished in-house.

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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