Profits Drive Corporate Dentistry | Sandy Springs Dentist OP-ED

When PBS’s Frontline turned its focus to corporate dental chain Aspen Dental, it should come as no surprise that they found major potential problems with the way the practices were being run.  One of the major concerns about corporate dentistry is that they recommend unnecessary tooth extractions just because it’s a good way to maximize profits.  We see it in patients who leave for insurance reasons and then come back because they received an enormous amount of treatment planning at an in-network corporate dental practice.

According to one dentist on Frontline, “They spend most of their time trying to talk people out of their teeth.”  Generally, when we are asked for a second opinion we find a lot of unnecessary treatment proposed.

New York Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman launched an investigation of the chain in 2013 after an investigative report by FRONTLINE. The news report found that Aspen Dental, which targets low-income patients, pressured dentists to increase revenue by using high-pressure sales techniques. Many patients complained of being overcharged or given unnecessary treatments.

The attorney general investigation reached the same conclusions and fined Aspen Dental $450,000.00.  One internal Aspen Dental document released by the attorney general showed the company complaining that hygienists were falling short of their revenue targets and instructing them to sell more products and services to patients.

In our Sandy Springs and Chamblee offices we are proud of our ethics and expertise, and invite you to see us for both your oral and cosmetic health care.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

ZoAnna Bock, MS, DMD

Hanna Orland, DMD

Howard Abrahams, DDS

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

and

3781 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

Chamblee, GA 30341

770-455-6076

www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

Cavities – the mouth is connected to the body

It is not merely semantics, but rather a paradigm shift in thinking to consider dental caries (cavities) as a ‘complex disease caused by an imbalance in physiologic equilibrium between tooth mineral and biofilm fluid’.[1]  A consequence of dental caries being a complex disease is that on a population basis we may have success with a particular preventive oral program in one select segment of population in our country, but not necessarily in another segment with different cultural and behavioral habits.

Moreover, society and the dental community may need to organize our dental health care very differently in neighboring counties, and apply fluorides, tooth brushing protocols and flossing in very different ways (mouth rinsing, toothpaste, water fluoridation and supervised brushing etc.) to obtain rather similar caries reductions from one locale to another.

Contrary to urban lore, the mouth is connected to the body.  So, whatever directions caries research should take from here it will require a multidisciplinary approach to solving complex problems and should be included in a well-planned healthcare approach. More than ever, well-educated clinical dentists set the stage and should be included in collaboration with colleagues trained in the multitude of new fields in the basic sciences (biophysics, functional genomics, proteomics, chemical biology, nano-technology, etc.) to address clinically relevant questions.

A higher standard of oral healthcare well planned.  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

ZoAnna Scheinfeld Bock, MS, DMD

Hanna Orland, DMD

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta, GA 30328

404-256-3620

and

3781 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

Chamblee, GA 30341

770-404-6076

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

[1] Fejerskov O, Nyvad B: Is dental caries an infectious disease? Diagnostic and treatment consequences for the practitioner; in Schou L (ed): Nordic Dentistry 2003 Yearbook. Copenhagen, Quintessence Publishing, 2003, pp 141– 151.

Sandy Springs Dentist: A Beautiful Smile Is Precious And Priceless

You know the shape, shade, length and spacing of your teeth significantly affects your smile? And your smile greatly affects your self-esteem. So obviously, the conditions that negatively impact your smile include broken, cracked or worn teeth, discolored teeth, missing teeth, crooked teeth, decayed teeth, gaps between your teeth and “gummy smiles.”

The good news is with our modern technology and improved materials, these situations can be dramatically altered to create natural looking, long-lasting beautiful smiles. Each patient’s specific circumstance must be evaluated on its own merits.  Factors such as occlusion [bite], oral habits, available space, health of the gum tissue, severity of the problem and patient expectation must be taken into account when planning your cosmetic makeover.

Depending on the situation, there are a variety of choices that all result in excellent esthetic outcomes. For whiter natural teeth, in-office or at-home whitening techniques are available. Repairing teeth or closing spaces may be accomplished with tooth-colored composite resin bonding, porcelain veneers or porcelain crowns.

These procedures vary in time and cost and have differences in longevity and appearance. If you’re not satisfied with your smile or want to learn if you’re a good candidate for any of these remarkable techniques, call our office for a complimentary cosmetic consultation.

Novy Scheinfeld DDS, PC,  ADA Accredited Prosthodontist

ZoAnna Scheinfeld, MS, DMD

Hanna Orland, DMD

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A
Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328
(404) 256-3620

and

3781 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

Chamblee, GA 30341

770-455-6076

info@rightsmilecenter.com
www.rightsmilecenter.com

 

Related articles

• Dentist Dunwoody: The Right Smile (by a prosthodontist) (therightsmile.wordpress.com)
• Dentist Dunwoody: What you probably don’t know about Cosmetic Dentists (therightsmile.wordpress.com)
• Dentist Dunwoody:Why you might be better off seeing a Prosthodontist (therightsmile.wordpress.com)
• Considering Veneers for a Hollywood Smile (everydayhealth.com)

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.

ZoAnna Scheinfeld Bock, MS, DMD

Hanna Orland, DMD

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta, GA 30328

404-256-3620

and

3781 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

Chamblee, GA 30341

770-455-6076

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

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

[2] Ibid.

Dental Implants Sandy Springs

There are so many advantages to tooth implants. It is a permanent solution to tooth loss that is durable and stable compared to the alternatives such as conventional dentures, crowns or bridges.  The implant generally prevents further bone loss, which may lead to additional tooth loss.  Implants make it easier to speak and most definitely, eat. They also fit naturally and when done right, look better cosmetically than their alternatives. And they also improve your oral health by making it easier to clean between teeth and they do not require destroying nearby healthy teeth in order to be installed.

Advantages

• Permanent and durable
• They are more cost effective over many years
• Natural and comfortable and functional – like regular teeth
• Require the same maintenance of regular teeth, i.e. floss
• Don’t require modifications to adjacent teeth
• 90 to 95%+ success rates

The risks are minimal as problems and causes of failure are rare and are often easily treated. The risks include but are not limited to: the bone not integrating with the implant, bleeding, the crown becomes loose or a lack of proper oral hygiene. Every patient is unique and therefore, success rates depend on a number of factors including the size and strength of the jaw bone and where in the jaw the implant is placed, but overall they are well above 90% (up to 98% if they are properly cared for) and are always improving. More specifically, the success rate is around 90% for the upper jaw and 95% for lower jaw implants. This is because the bone in the upper jaw is less dense than the lower jaw which makes successful osseo-intergration more difficult. It is very important to note that these numbers only include patients who were thoroughly assessed and approved for implants by a dentist since they had sufficient bone density and were good dental health. There is a chance of failure even when conditions are ideal.

In our Sandy Springs office you get an all-in-one team.

ZoAnna Scheinfeld Bock, MS, DMD

Hanna Scheinfeld Orland, DMD

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta, GA 30328

404-256-3620

and

3781 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

Chamblee, GA 30341

770-455-6076

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

Dental Implant Cost Factors

Factors That Affect the Cost:

• Initial procedures such as x-rays and CT scans
• Brand, material and type of post, abutment and crown
• Complexity of the surgery
• How many and what teeth need to be replaced
• The particular dentist/surgeon’s experience and specialty
• How many professionals are involved in your case
• Creation of the prosthodontics
• Additional procedures (if required) such as sinus lifts and bone grafting

When getting a quote, remember YOU ARE UNIQUE.  Every patient, every mouth is unique. This is not a cookie cutter process.  Uniqueness creates a particular approach to every patient. There is the cost of the procedure and the implant, the cost of the abutment and the cost of the crown, bridge or denture. There will be additional charges for the scans, anesthesia and modeling as well.  So please don’t be fooled by ads that sound too good to be true.  It’s your health at risk.

If you receive a quote or see a price that looks to good to be true, it most likely is.  In our practice we are oral physicians and safe, exceptional quality and long lasting implants come at a price. Some or all of these factors may or may not be included in a particular estimate.

In our Sandy Springs and Chamblee offices, our specialists are in-house, including the prosthodontist. With over 1000 five star reviews you are in good hands in our practice.  If we can be of assistance, please feel free to contact us.

ZoAnna Scheinfeld, MS, DMD

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS

Hanna Orland, DMD

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta, GA 30328

404-256-3620

and

3781 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

Chamblee, Ga 30341

770-455-6076

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

Periodontal disease and Alcohol

In a recent study in the Journal of Periodontology, Brazilian researchers found the consumption of alcoholic beverages to have adverse effects on the health of a person’s gums, aggravating existing cases of severe periodontal disease or increasing periodontal disease risk factors.   Moreover, other research indicates that poor oral hygiene is a common trait in alcohol users, thus increasing the drinkers’ susceptibility to developing periodontal disease.

“Although the topic of alcohol use and its effect on periodontal health requires further research, this report offers valuable insight on why our patients should care for their gums and teeth, especially if they enjoy the occasional drink,” remarked Joan Otomo-Corgel, DDS, MPH, president of the American Academy of Periodontology.

In the study researchers assessed a sample of 542 regular alcohol users, occasional drinkers, and non-drinkers both with and without periodontitis.[1]  Some key findings noted in the study include:

· The severity of a regular alcohol user’s existing periodontitis correlated incrementally with the frequency of his or her alcohol consumption.
· Drinkers without periodontitis saw an increased incidence of gums that bled with gentle manipulation.
· More frequently than the non-drinkers in the study, drinkers who did not have periodontitis presented clinical attachment levels of four millimeters or greater.[2]
· Drinkers without periodontitis exhibited a higher presence of plaque than their non-drinking counterparts.

Apparently, the consumption of alcohol slows the production of saliva, which neutralizes the acids produced by plaque, and an accumulation of these acids can lead to the early stages of periodontal disease.  Thus it is important to determine whether or not the patient is consuming alcohol in order to determine appropriate treatment solution.

Our in-house periodontal services (gum treatments) may be a necessary part of your oral health care. More than 50% of the adult population has some level of gum disease, which generally occurs when bacteria are caught between the tooth and gum. These bacteria without proper treatment slowly destroy the structure that supports your teeth and will eventually lead to a loss of the affected teeth and continued periodontitis if already present.

Your visits to pur dentist are as important as your visits to your physician which is why in our Sandy Springs or Chamblee office we recommend our patients see us at least 2 times per year.  If we can be of assistance please feel free to contact us.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

ZoAnna Scheinfeld, MS, DMD

Hanna Orland, DMD

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta, GA 30328

404-256-3620

and

3781 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

Chamblee, GA 30041

770-455-6076

www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@rightsmilecenter.com

[1] “Alcohol Consumption and Periodontitis: Quantification of Periodontal Pathogens and Cytokines”,
[2] 4mm or deeper pocket depths requires addition periodontal treatment.

 

Dentist Sandy Springs: Dental Plaque Cancer Indicator?

New research suggests that people who have more plaque on their teeth and gums are more likely to die prematurely from cancer.  According to the June 11 edition of BMJ[1] Open findings this is only a correlation, not a cause and effect relationship.

In the study, nearly 1,400 Swedish adults were followed for 24 years.  During this time, 58 of the subjects died, 35 from cancer.[2]  Specifically, people with high amounts of dental plaque were 79 percent more likely to die prematurely.  That said, the absolute risk of any person with dental plaque dying early of cancer was low.[3]

Although the study did not examine the causal connection, underlying inflammation may be the common denominator.  Calling the new findings “interesting,” Dr. Len Lichtenfeld, deputy chief medical officer for the American Cancer Society, said they raise more questions than they answer.

 “This study does not answer the question of whether or not dental plaque leads to cancer death,” he said. “We only know how many people died, so we don’t know if there is an increase in the incidence of cancer among people with plaque, or if, perhaps, it renders them more susceptible to treatment-associated infection.”[4]

While insurance companies only pay for two visits, we think the growing evidence of how your oral health care relates to your global health indicates that you should have your teeth cleaned at least 3, if not 4 times per year.  As long as I have been practicing, I have been ethically driven to inform you of your needs.  Unfortunately, insurance companies don’t take an oath of professionalism.  Learn more about healthy teeth and gums at the American Dental Association.  If we can be of service or answer any of your oral health questions, please do not hesitate to contact us or schedule a complementary consultations.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

ZoAnna Scheinfeld, MS, DMD

Hanna Orland, DMD

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

and

3781 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

Chamblee, GA 30341

770-455-6076

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

 

[1] Formerly the British Medical Journal

[2] June 11, 2012, BMJ Open

[3] http://news.health.com/2012/06/12/does-more-dental-plaque-mean-higher-chances-of-dying-from-cancer/

[4] Len Lichtenfeld, M.D., deputy chief medical officer, American Cancer Society, Atlanta

Overcoming Dental Fears – Dentist Sandy Springs

Experts on Webmd share tips to help you overcome your fear of the dental chair.

Don’t Fear the Dentist

Fortunately, our dentists are specially trained in handling fearful patients; a variety of methods and treatments are available to reduce pain and alleviate fear in the dentist’s chair.

http://www.webmd.com/oral-health/features/dont-fear-the-dentist

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

ZoAnna Scheinfeld Bock, MS, DMD

Hanna Scheinfeld Orland, DMD

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Sandy Springs, GA 30328

404-256-3620

and

3781 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

Chamblee, GA 30341

770-455-6076

info@rightsmilecenter.com

http://www.rightsmilecenter.com

 

Oral Health in America – Dentist Sandy Springs

For too long, the perception that oral health is in some way less important than and separate from general health has been deeply ingrained in American consciousness.  Most adults show signs of periodontal or gingival diseases.  Severe periodontal disease (measured as 6 millimeters of periodontal attachment loss) affects about 14 percent of adults aged 45-54.

A Report of the Surgeon General[1]:

• Oral health is more than healthy teeth.
• Oral diseases and disorders in and of themselves affect health and well-being throughout life.
• The mouth reflects general health and well-being.
• Oral diseases and conditions are associated with other health problems.
• Lifestyle behaviors that affect general health such as tobacco use, excessive alcohol use, and poor dietary choices affect oral and craniofacial health as well.
• Safe and effective measures exist to prevent the most common dental diseases—dental caries and periodontal diseases.
• There are profound and consequential oral health disparities within the U.S. population.
• More information is needed to improve America’s oral health and eliminate health disparities.
• Scientific research is key to further reduction in the burden of diseases and disorders that affect the face, mouth, and teeth.

Oral diseases are progressive and cumulative and become more complex over time.  They can affect your ability to eat, the foods we choose, how we look, and the way we communicate.  These diseases can affect economic productivity and compromise your ability to work at home, at school, or on the job.  Health disparities exist across population groups at all ages and incomes.

Oral health is essential to general health and well-being and can be achieved.  However, a number of barriers hinder the ability of some Americans from attaining optimal oral health. If we can be of service and eliminate some of these barriers, we’d like to help.  Our goals are to promote oral health, improve the quality of your life and eliminate oral health disparities.  Please contact us.

 Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

ZoAnna Scheinfeld Bock, MS, DMD

Hanna Orland, DMD

290 Carpenter Drive, 290A

Sandy Springs, GA 30328

404-256-3620

and

3781 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

Chamblee, GA 30341

770-455-6076

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

[1] Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Oral Health in America: A Report of the Surgeon General. Rockville, MD: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, National Institutes of Health, 2000.