Stacking the Odds in Your Favor

Stacking the Odds in Your Favor -

by Rita Spantideas

Office Manager & Treatment Coordinator

The Oaks Dental Center, Ltd.

Do you feel that picking a new dentist is like spinning a roulette wheel?  If it’s a good spin, you pick a winner, and if not, you keep playing the game.  However, don’t despair.  There are ways that will help you stack the odds in your favor.  

First, determine what kind of dentist you should look for.  A general dentist is trained to perform all types of procedures. A general practitioner is what most of us should select.  If you have unusual or difficult needs, a general dentist may refer you to a specialist for the specific treatment.  Dentists, both general practitioners and specialists, can be degreed as D.D.S. (Doctor of Dental Surgery) or D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine).  

The degree the doctor is given depends on the school from which the doctor graduated. The requirements for either one of these degrees are identical: he/she must complete four years of postgraduate study for a general practitioner and an additional two to four years of advanced study for a specialty. They must then pass a state licensing examination to be allowed to open a practice.  

Okay, now that you have determined what kind of dentist you want, you need to do a little more research. Remember, you are looking to form a long-term partnership with your dentist and you need to pick someone you can trust and feel comfortable with. Establish what your priorities are in selecting a dentist. Try asking yourself the following questions and make a list in the order of importance. How important is a beautiful, healthy smile to you? Are you interested in longlasting quality work or just patchwork that will get you by? Are you concerned about price only? Is the dentist contracted with your insurance company network? Are you more interested in a dentist that does comprehensive, esthetic dentistry or the “drill and fill” type? Is the dentist gentle and compassionate? Do you have to wait a long time to get an appointment? Are you kept waiting long upon arriving for your appointment? Are the office hours convenient to your schedule? Is the doctor’s staff friendly and efficient? Is information about fees and payments given to you prior to treatment being done? Where was the doctor educated and trained? Is the office located close to your home and work? Will the doctor take time to answer my questions? You get the picture.  

Experience may be a priority to you.  However, don’t let that be the only criteria.  A new dentist comes prepared, with all the latest techniques, materials and technology available in the industry. You might want to ask a long-practicing dentist how often they attend dental conferences and continuing education workshops/seminars.

Once your priority list is completed, it’s time to start searching. Wow! That’s not so easy! In Crystal Lake alone there are approximately forty dentists. Sure, you could look them all up in the yellow pages or the Internet, then call all forty and ask your questions. Talk about time consuming! So, what’s your best approach?  The best way is to ask family, friends, neighbors or co-workers if they can recommend a good dentist. They may also be able to answer a lot of your priority questions. Once you have the name of the dentist, call the office and ask your questions. That first phone call can be very revealing! If you like what you hear, it’s appropriate to ask if you can visit the office before making your appointment.  An on-site visit will allow you to see if the office is clean and neat. You’ll also be able to determine if the staff is professional, friendly and cares about their patients.  

These tips should help make picking your new dentist a lot less of a gamble.  I can tell you with utmost confidence that when you choose The Oaks Dental Center, you will have chosen a winning spin!

Alzheimer’s and Dental Care

It is very important that the elderly receive the proper care.  Sometimes, because of advanced stages of Alzheimer’s disease, limited dental services can be performed.  However, it is very important that the patients are not left with infections and pain.  Sources of infection, such as a severely decayed tooth, or severe gum disease should be addressed as it may cause a serious abscess, not to mention pain and/or difficulty with eating. The elderly may need to come for dental visits more often as they may not be able to perform some of the oral hygiene regimens as well as in the past due to diseases such as Alzheimer’s or arthritis. It is very important that they maintain good oral hygiene, especially since a lot them have taken excellent care of their mouths and had extensive work. It is easier to maintain one’s oral health than to rebuild. Therefore prevention of big problems, even in the elderly, is critical. 

Tips for Dental Care

The Oaks Dental Center, Ltd.

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A Paradigm Shift in Dentistry

When most people think of going to the dentist, they think of getting checked to see how many “cavities” they have. While it is true that it is necessary to check whether the “cavities” are present, there are other equally important issues that get checked and addressed.

Let’s talk about the cavities first. When bacteria have entered a tooth through the enamel layer and into the inner part, the dentin, they can spread and not only destroy the tooth but also enter the nerves and blood vessels, causing a major infection. Those who have a high rate and amount of “cavities” have a problem. Three things need to occur in order to get cavities. One has to be a susceptible host, which means that vulnerable teeth have to be present. Second, bacteria that can cause the damage have to be present.
Third, the bacteria have to be fed sugar in various forms in order to survive. We can attempt to minimize these factors by having proper nutrition with limited “mealtime-only” sugar intake.

We can minimize the bacteria that are present by using specific mouth rinses in a prescribed regimen.We have xylitol gums and mints to help also. Xylitol is a natural sweetener that can be found in foods such as berries,
fruit, vegetables, mushrooms, birch trees, etc. It can be man-made as well. When you eat xylitol, the acid attack that would otherwise occur after a meal or a snack is stopped in its tracks. Because the decay-causing bacteria are unable to metabolize xylitol, their growth is reduced. The number of acid-producing lactobacilli and streptococci bacteria falls by as much as 90 percent. Because acids are not formed, the saliva and plaque pH do not fall. The bacteria cannot stick to the tooth surfaces as much then and the plaque decreases.
This leads to a reduced rate of “cavities.”

One of the paradigm shifts with cavities is that when there is a start of decay, it has a potential to stop or reverse as long as it hasn’t entered the dentin layer of the tooth. Using xylitol, mouth rinses, proper nutrition, fluoride, and meticulous oral hygiene can arrest the decay process in some cases. That is very exciting indeed!

In addition to cavities, your mouth gets checked for cancer at a dental office as well. This is a very important part of your overall health. Sometimes a biopsy of tissue with a small brush is necessary. Another important part of your checkup is the way your teeth meet together. It is important to check for signs of clenching,
grinding, and other improper forces on teeth as this may lead to severe damage to teeth as well as to the bone that holds your teeth.

Another paradigm shift in dentistry is that dentistry can be beautiful. When nature does not give one a perfect smile, current dentistry can make teeth look as beautiful as natural teeth or better.