Tag: American Dental Association

Dentist Chamblee: How Do You Find a Good Dentist?

by Drs. Novy and ZoAnna Scheinfeld and Hanna Orland, posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental emergency, dental implants, Dentist, orthodontics, prosthodontist, Root canal

mature women smiling3That’s really a tough question.  And for our practice (in Chamblee, GA) it’s even more difficult because we don’t advertise using conventional methods.  Ninety-five (95%) percent or more of our patients are referral based, either from an existing patient or another referring dentist.

Given our history and experience, we recommend asking for referrals from a co-worker or a neighbor.

If you have relocated from out of state to another city or state and want to find a good dentist, get a referral from your previous dentist or at least their second opinion.[1]  This is probably the best option as your previous dentist probably knows someone he went to school with or has a professional affiliation with.  It is unlikely that he would give you wrong advice.  If you simply are not happy with the services given by your current dentist, you can ask for recommendations from your co-workers, friends, family members, and other trusted individuals in your life.  We have found that once someone makes a referral, the referred patient will go to our web site or reviews to validate the referral.  A combination of a trusted referral borne out by independent research will usually lead you to the right dentist.

How to Find a Good Dentist?

If you are planning to undergo any kind of dental treatment, you need to make sure that you get the services suited to your needs.   Choosing a quality dentist with the right skills and experience is the deciding factor in the success of the treatment.  While price is a factor, a well-respected dentist with long standing roots in the community is not going to be overpriced.  You certainly would not want to base your decision on an inexpensive root canal and crown treatment which could turn out to be ineffective in just a few months.  Dental issues are no small matter. You should in no way compromise on the quality of the dental treatment based on price.

If it’s cosmetic dentistry you are seeking, then look for a prosthodontist.  Prosthodontic dentists are with the passage of time gaining popular recognition as patients become more familiar with the advances in dentistry and how they can enhance their everyday lives. They are expert dentists with a post graduate ADA recognized degree from a dental school centered around a complete knowledge of dentistry, where function and aesthetics are combined in the final result.

Location of the Dentist

Again this is a tough one.  You should not necessarily choose a dentist whose office is pretty close to where you work or live.  This will surely help you in case of a dental emergency, but with a quality dentist as a general rule you shouldn’t have emergencies.  Obviously, if you can find a quality dentist close to where you work or live in Atlanta, you will reduce hassle for you in driving many miles just for treatment which requires frequent visits.  But for twice a year cleanings and examinations a few more miles shouldn’t create any issues.

Whichever dentist you choose in your locality, always make sure that he/she is a certified member of the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Georgia Dental Association.  When you are comfortable with your referral, compare the services, charges, dental insurance formalities, and other determining factors, before choosing a suitable one.  After you find all the above conditions satisfactory, simply call for a consultation.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

ZoAnna Scheinfeld, MS, DMD

Hanna Orland, DMD

3781 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

Chamblee, Ga 30341

770-455-6076

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

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[1] Or you can make an appointment with us – 404-256-3620.

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Chamblee/Sandy Springs Top Dentist – ADA Sanctioned Prosthodontist

by Drs. Novy and ZoAnna Scheinfeld and Hanna Orland, posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental emergency, dental implants, Dentist, orthodontics, prosthodontist, Root canal

sunglassesMore and more dentists are calling themselves ‘cosmetic dentists’ when there is no cosmetic specialty in dentistry.   Regardless of this claim, the fact remains that the majority of dentist are general dentist who press the envelope of ethics by calling themselves ‘cosmetic dentists’. They all have undergraduate degrees and at least four years of dental school.   But not one of them has an American Dental Association sanctioned ‘cosmetic specialty’ in dentistry.   Those dentists who choose to make the claim do so by self-proclamation.   The American Dental Association (ADA) recognizes nine (9) post dental degree specialties and cosmetic dentistry is not one of them.  These specialties range in one to six years of advanced training beyond dental school.  At the end of this post doctorate training, these dentists receive additional certifications in their respective specialties becoming 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, Prosthodontics.

Prosthodontics: (crown, bridge, and implants) According to Forbes Magazine, a prosthodontist is the rarest dental specialty in the country.  The rigorous program creates a dental 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.  That’s a mouth full, pun intended.  Most dentists they take short weekend continuing education courses and utilize trial and error experience to be able to understand how size, shape, color and symmetry all work together to create what a prosthodontist is trained in their post graduate work.   The prosthodontist is trained at an ADA approved university to create the smile that implements the use of veneers, crowns, bridges and the new standard of care dental implants to ensure that the right smile is achieved, both functionally and aesthetically.

If anyone has a specialty in cosmetic dentistry or the right to call themselves a ‘cosmetic dentist’, it would be the ADA approved prosthodontist.  Of the 170 thousand dentists in the U.S., less than two (2%) percent are trained prosthodontists.  So when you are seriously looking for a cosmetic dentist, look for a prosthodontist.

Dr. Scheinfeld received her prosthodontics degree from Emory University School of Dentistry in 1988.  Her prosthodontics’ instructor, Dr. E. Neal Kopp practiced with her for 14 years until his passing in 2008.  In addition, Dr. Scheinfeld practices with her two daughters who are trained implantologists.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC
ZoAnna Scheinfeld, MS, DMD

Hanna Orland, DMD

3781 Chamblee Dunwoody Road

Chamblee, GA 30341
www.rightsmilecenter.com

info@righesmilecenter.com

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Dentist Alpharetta: Cosmetic Dentistry is not a specialty!

by Drs. Novy and ZoAnna Scheinfeld and Hanna Orland, posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dentist, health, Oral health, Uncategorized

mature women smiling3Cosmetic dentistry is not an ADA-recognized specialty.  In order to be a recognized specialty a discipline must demonstrate 6 requirements, of which in pertinent part,

[t]he specialty must document scientifically, by valid and reliable statistical evidence/studies, that it: (a) actively contributes to new knowledge in the field; (b) actively contributes to professional education; (c) actively contributes to research needs of the profession; and (d) provides oral health services for the public; all of which are currently not being met by general practitioners or dental specialists.[1]

These requirements as they relate to a post-graduate dental degree are fulfilled by the specialty in prosthodontics.  So the next time you read about a dentist claiming to be a ‘cosmetic dentist’, you need question by ‘who’s’ authority or recognition does he or she make that claim, because it doesn’t exist[2].

Prosthodontists make up less than 2% of all the dentists in the United States.  Dr. Scheinfeld is an Emory University trained prosthodontist and has practiced in metro Atlanta since 1988.  Go with a “PRO”.

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] ADA News November 5, 2012, Pg. 27.

[2] This has been considered unethical with a predominant objective of marketing to patients. The American Dental Association does not recognize cosmetic dentistry as a formal specialty area of dentistry. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmetic_dentistry

 

Alpharetta: Find A Dentist

by Drs. Novy and ZoAnna Scheinfeld and Hanna Orland, posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental emergency, dental implants, Dentist, Oral health, orthodontics, prosthodontist

Finding the right dentist:

mature women smiling31.  Searching the internet is probably the number one method used to verify who your trusted family members, friends and co-workers recommend to you.  If you search the internet, look for the number of reviews (450 verses 20 reviews) .

2.  Some suggest you ask your family doctor.  However, in today’s world of medicine, a) your doctor can’t be reached and b) he really doesn’t have a clue.  So forget that route.

3.  Contacting your local or state dental society for a referral will probably be a waste of time.  But if you are going to go that route, my associate of 24+ years was the past President of the Georgia Dental Association.  Look him up, Dr. Sidney Tourial. Search the Internet or look under “dentists” or “associations” for the dental society nearest you.

4.  Call your nearest dental school clinic.  Really, that’s about as good as calling your doctor.

5.  Consult the American Dental Association’s member directory.  I guess, but almost every dentist belongs to the ADA.  So how do you distinguish among the 170,000 dentists in the U.S.?

6.  Ask your current dentist for a referral if you are moving to a new area.  That actually makes sense.  Ask him or her if they wouldn’t mind checking out a few names you have narrowed it down to.

What to Look For in a Dentist:

7.  How long have they been in business?  We’ve been in business since I graduated my prosthodontics residency from Emory University in 1988.

8.  Determine how accessible the dentist is: Is his or her office near your home or job? If you work, somewhere between home and work seems to make the most sense.  In our multi-specialty practice like ours, there is always a dentist available for your appointment.

9.  How hard is it to get the appointment times you need to fit into your work schedule or other members of your family’s schedule? Again, in a multi-specialty practice like ours, there is always a dentist available for your appointment.

10. Survey the office to make sure it is clean and well-kept. We offer complimentary (free) consultations, so it doesn’t cost you anything to look at the office and our staff.

11.  Look for pleasant, respectful interactions between dentist and staff.  Again, we offer free consultations, so it cost you nothing to check us out.

12.  Consult with the dentist about your dental history and problems, and decide whether you like the way he or she explains preventive measures and treatments.  Realistically, we are going to be on our best behavior, but again realistically, how many group practices have associates for 20+ years who are the President of the GDA?  My other associate practiced with us for 14 years until his passing.  And my newest associate has practiced for 20 years.  And our in-house periodontist went to Emory Dental School with me.

13.  Ask about fees, payment and insurance plans. We both want to know about each other.  We want to know what your expectations and circumstances are and you want to know whether or not we are delivering a service that you value and trust. Check out the reviews.

14.  Find out whether your dentist provides a way for you to receive emergency, after-hours care.  Of course we do.  We give out our cell phones.

15.  Ask what sorts of continuing education he or she has pursued to keep up with new developments in dentistry.  Quite frankly, I am a prosthodontist, which make up less than 2% of the dentists in the country.  It’s a pretty rigorous post graduate program and very few dentists choose to put themselves through the process.  We are constantly taking courses and attending study groups to either validate what we do or learn new techniques.

If we can be of service or answer any of questions please feel free to contact us.  Also, visit our website, check our blog.  The website is long and some say wordy, but we are attempting to be informative and put in writing as much as one can tolerate on the internet.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

Scheinfelds, Orland and Tourial

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

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Dentist Alpharetta: Teeth Whitening

by Drs. Novy and ZoAnna Scheinfeld and Hanna Orland, posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dentist, health, Oral health, Uncategorized

magicjohnsonI’m not happy with the yellow on my teeth. How can I safely whiten them?

There are three ways that you can whiten your teeth:

•In-office bleaching, supplemented with,

•At-home bleaching

•Whitening toothpastes

The first thing you should do before whitening your teeth is talk to your dentist. He or she will be able to help you decide the best option for you. Whiteners will not fix all kinds of stains. Also, if you have bonding or tooth-colored fillings, these will not be affected by whiteners and they may stand out if you whiten your teeth. Remember that using a whitener does not make your mouth healthier.

In-office bleaching.

This kind of whitening, called “chairside bleaching,” is done in your dentist’s office. It may require more than one office visit. Each visit may take from 1 to 2 hours. During chairside bleaching, the dentist puts a whitener on the teeth and uses a special light to make the whitener work. Lasers are sometimes used during tooth whitening to make the whitening agent work better.

At-home bleaching.

There are a few different products that can be used to whiten teeth at home. Some come from your dentist, and others can be bought over-the-counter. These contain peroxide(s), which bleach the tooth enamel. Most come in a gel and are placed in a mouth tray that fits over your teeth.  These gels are designed to help many types of staining. Only the dentist-dispensed solutions have the American Dental Association (ADA) seal.

Other over-the-counter whitening products include whitening strips, paint-on products, gels, and trays are available with a low amount of peroxide.  For better results, have a cleaning at the dentist before you use these products. These gels and trays do not have the ADA seal.

Whitening toothpastes.

All toothpastes help remove surface stains through mild abrasives. “Whitening” toothpastes that have the ADA seal have special polishing agents or chemicals that remove even more stains. Unlike bleaches, these products do not change the actual color of teeth. They help remove surface stains only.

A small disclaimer is that these products can make your teeth temporarily more sensitive. They can also bother your gums. These side effects most often go away after you stop using the product.

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: Public Perception of Oral Health Care

by Drs. Novy and ZoAnna Scheinfeld and Hanna Orland, posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dentist, health, Oral health, Uncategorized

United Concodia StudyPerception always seems to trump reality.  And the perception of oral health as it relates to one’s global health are as misaligned as teeth are in Great Britain.  The American Dental Association, in collaboration with Crest and Oral-B conducted a national public opinion survey of 1,000 Americans age 18 and older[1] on oral health care and,

here are some of their findings:[2]

  1. While eight of 10 Americans say taking care of one’s mouth, teeth and gums is “absolutely needed,” only one-third of them say they do an “excellent” job  taking care of them.
  2. One parent in four says his or her kids do only a “fair” or “poor” job taking care of their own mouth, teeth and gums.
  3. Americans deem the smile the most important physical attribute but do not realize a beautiful smile is not always a healthy smile and can mask underlying oral health problems.  More than one in three Americans say:
  • They think a little bleeding from brushing is normal (33%), yet it’s not.  It could be a sign of gum disease or something even worse.
  • They are unaware that periodontal disease needs to be treated and cannot be left alone (33%).
  • They don’t know that poor oral health has been associated with serious health conditions such as stroke, heart disease and diabetes (37%).

It’s apparent and disappointing that Americans in these segments of the population need continued oral health education beyond high school.   One of the difficulties dentists face is the failure of our education system to bridge the gap where parental responsibility fails in teaching children the relationship of their oral health to global health[3].

If we can answer any of your questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta (Sandy Springs), GA 30328

404-256-3620

info@rightsmilecenter.com

http://www.rightsmilecenter.com

 

[1] Apparently with emphasis on African Americans, Hispanics and low-income Americans.

[2] http://www.crest.com/ada-webcast/pressrelease.pdf. Conducted by GFK Roper Public Affairs & Media, 2008

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Cosmetic Dentistry? Sandy Springs Dentist

by Drs. Novy and ZoAnna Scheinfeld and Hanna Orland, posted in Cosmetic Dentistry, Dentist, health, Oral health, Uncategorized

sunglassesGenerally, cosmetic dentistry performed by a general dentist is centered on improving your appearance, not the functioning of your teeth and its bite.  Many dentists refer to themselves as “cosmetic dentists” regardless of their lack of specific education, specialty, training, and experience in the field. This has been considered unethical particularly as it relates to the objective of marketing to patients.[1]  Cosmetic dentistry  has never been recognized by the American Dental Association as a formal specialty area of dentistry.[2][3]  However, there are still dentists that promote themselves as cosmetic dentists. It’s misleading and infers that a ‘cosmetic dentist’ has some form of credentialed training.  Ironically, ‘cosmetic dentists’ continue to tout themselves as members of the ADA.

Unfortunately, merely correcting the patients aesthetics without giving consideration as to how the mouth functions is a disservice to the patient.  There are only 2 specialties recognized by the ADA that consider the patient’s aesthetics and function during treatment, prosthodontists and orthodontists.  They are formally trained specialists[4] recognized by the ADA that undergo a minimum of 2–3 years full-time rigorous education program after dental school graduation.  These specialties are the paths that lead to board certification approved by the ADA.  Forbes Magazine ranks Prosthodontists as the rarest dental specialist in the U.S.

So the next time you are contemplating ‘cosmetic dentistry’ consider a Pro, a Prosthodontist.

Novy Scheinfeld, DDS, PC

Prosthodontist

290 Carpenter Drive, 200A

Atlanta, GA 30328

404-256-3658

info@rightsmilecenter.com

www.rightsmilecenter.com

[1]  Maihofer MG (February 2009). “Cosmetic dentistry is not a recognized specialty”. The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association 91 (2): 18. PMID 19288658.

[2] Ibid

[3] “American Association of Public Health Dentistry”.

[4] Dentist trained in a post doctorate University program.

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