Blog Posts

Cool Dental Apps for Your Smartphone or Tablet

5/5/2015

Most kids and adults— have a mutual favorite toy: Smartphones and tablets! Not only can they capture photos and videos, create shopping lists and serve as alarm clocks, but they also can help when it comes to your oral health. There are many apps out there, but I am going to limit it to 7 in the interest of space and time. I have categorized them according to use and need. The ones I have chosen are free unless otherwise noted, and available for ipad/iphone/ipod touch and android devices.
Toothbrush timer apps

Brush DJ-Brush DJ is an award-winning, NHS approved, free toothbrush timer app that plays 2 minutes of music taken from the user's device to encourage brushing for an effective length of time. The app also allows users to set reminders to brush twice a day, floss, use a mouthrinse and when next to see their dentist or hygienist. This is a really awesome app that is better geared to teens and adults. In addition to being able to customize the background colors-you can change up the music as you like. After you are done, you will receive a round of applause. It also can remind you when it’s time to see your dentist.
Aquafresh Brush Time- This app is geared toward children under age 7. With a few clicks, your kids can dance and hum their way to better oral care. The fun starts with a pea-sized squirt of toothpaste — called a Nurdle — giving your children directions on how to brush all parts of their teeth. A timer counts down for two minutes while a catchy song plays. Two minutes is the key — that’s how long is recommended for the best results. For every brushing he or she completes, your child earns points that can be used to customize his or her Nurdle. Multiple Nurdles can be saved, so everyone in your house can join in the fun.
Dental Definitions and Terms
Dental Dictionary Lite-
(Available on Android devices only)
This is a basic no-frills app that alphabetically lists dental terms, as well as some dental insurance terms. From “abfraction” to “zoster”, you can find out what you dentist is talking about when you have an examination done. Just tap on the word and the explanation of the word comes up.
Toothaches and Symptoms
ADA Symptom Checker- An app designed to help you monitor and maintain your dental health. The Symptom Checker can help you understand symptoms you may be experiencing and relate them to possible conditions. You simply answer a few questions based on your gender and age. You select where your symptom is located, and then select the symptoms. It will give a description of the symptom, risk factors, and possible treatment. It also advises having your dentist do proper diagnosis and recommend treatment. It also can refer to a dentist based on name or location. I had no problem finding myself on the app!
Dental Games for Kids
Toothsavers Brushing Game (Timer and game in one)-Children are given the opportunity to save the kingdom with their toothbrush. An evil sorceress has cast a wicked spell, leaving everyone’s mouths to rot and be overrun by cavities. Children have two minutes to brush and scrub away the spell for each of the kingdom’s quirky inhabitants.
Monster Mouth DDS-This is a free game that makes oral health fun! As a dentist for monsters, you’ll journey into the cavernous mouths of monsters in order to solve their dental problems before their mouths slam shut. Monster Mouth DDS lets you take control of being a dentist for an array of wacky monster patients, each of which has a unique complaint that you’ll have to deal with as quickly as you can, while inflicting as little pain as possible. It’s fun for all ages and kid-friendly.

Just For Fun
Last of the apps listed is one just for fun-It’s called Dental Drill (Free on Android, 99 cents for iphone) What is the most disgusting noise that exists? The dentist's drill! Everyone knows it, everyone hates it. With this fun app you can annoy your friends! Drive your girlfriend mad! Simply start the app and switch on the drill.

Have a terrific May!
Dr. Rachel

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The Great Vaccination Debate

4/7/2015

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Diseases such as measles, polio, tuberculosis and whooping cough were largely under control in the 20th century. However, they are starting to reappear due to some people choosing to opt out of vaccinations. I am going to touch on measles, and how symptoms of measles may appear in the mouth before manifesting elsewhere on the body.

Measles is a highly contagious respiratory infection that's caused by a virus. It causes a total-body skin rash and flu-like symptoms, including a fever, cough, and runny nose. Though rare in the United States, 20 million cases happen worldwide every year.

Interestingly enough, symptoms of measles may appear in the mouth before the disease manifests itself anywhere else. However, due to the successful control of the disease, not every dentist has had the opportunity to see the symptoms.

One of the signs of Measles is small red spots with blue-white centers that appear inside the mouth. These are called Koplik's spots. Parents may take their child to the dentist first for care when they notice the spots. Other signs and symptoms can help dentists recognize patients with undiagnosed measles. Fevers, malaise, fussiness, lack of appetite are symptoms that can occur 3-5 days before the rash starts. The rash starts on the face and moves down to the rest of the body.

Measles is highly contagious — 90% of people who haven't been vaccinated for measles will get it if they are near an infected person. Measles spreads when people breathe in or have direct contact with virus-infected fluid, such as the droplets sprayed into the air when someone with measles sneezes or coughs. A person who is exposed to the virus might not show symptoms until 8-10 days later.

People with measles are contagious (can spread the disease) from 4 days before the rash appears until about 4 days after it does and are most contagious while they have a fever, runny nose, and cough.

There is no specific medicine that kills the measles virus. Treatment aims to ease symptoms until the body's immune system clears the infection. For most cases, rest and simple measures to reduce a high temperature (fever) are all that are needed for a full recovery. Symptoms will usually disappear within 7-10 days.

If you are concerned about measles, or any other contagious diseases, I urge you to contact your pediatrician or primary care doctor.

Have a wonderful April!

Dr. Rachel

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Oil Pulling-Fact or Fiction? Help or Hype?

3/4/2015

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If you happen to be on the internet or Facebook, chances are that you have heard the hype about “oil-pulling”. Many have taken to the internet claiming it to be a “miracle cure” for everything from removing decay from teeth to removing toxins from the body. I am going to break it down for you and separate the fact from the fiction; the help from the hype.

First of all-what exactly is “oil-pulling”? The official definition according to Wikepedia is where oil is "swished" or "held" in the mouth. Practitioners of oil pulling claim it is capable of improving oral and systemic health, including a benefit in conditions such as headaches, migraines, diabetes mellitus, asthma, and acne, as well as whitening teeth. Its promoters claim it works by "pulling out" toxins, and thereby reducing inflammation. For obvious reasons, I am going to stick to the oral health aspect of oil pulling.

Oil pulling has its origins in India. Proponents of oil pulling claim that it has been practiced for thousands of years. However, many practitioners of Ayurveda (the traditional Hindu system of medicine) claim to have not found any solid evidence to that fact, the facts they have found are vague and do not describe the current practice of oil pulling. In the present day, it seems to lead back to a Dr. F. Karach. Apparently, Dr. F. Karach was a Ukrainian physician. Little is known about him. Dr. Karach claimed that oil pulling could cure a variety of illnesses ranging from heart disease and digestive troubles to hormonal disorders. It involves using oil (sesame or coconut are the preferred oils at this time) and vigorously rinsing with it for 20 minutes. When time is up, you spit it into the trash. Proponents claim that when you spit it out, it is milky colored, and that is the toxins that it has pulled from your body.

So, what are the benefits of it? Is it magic? The answer is this: In a nutshell-No. No magic is involved. The mouth is a gateway to your overall health. When we improve oral health, we improve so many other things in the body. People with bad oral hygiene have higher incidence for cardiovascular issues such as heart attack and strokes, and a higher incidence for pneumonia.

Even with diabetes, improved oral health can help control problems in diabetic patients. Also, pregnant women with gum disease have lower birth-weight babies. Everything is connected.

Oil pulling may seem like the new and improved thing to do. However, the mechanical act of swishing any fluid in the mouth will dislodge bits of food and clean the teeth. You would be giving your mouth the time and attention it deserves. And no, it can't heal cavities, but since rinsing and swishing reduces cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth, it could slow or halt ones that are already developing. However, you can achieve the same result with your old stand by-the toothbrush and floss. You just have to give it the time and attention it deserves. And as far as the toxins being removed-we have kidneys and a liver that does that. If you mix oil and water together, you get the same consistency as if you had swished. A simple chemical reaction-not toxins being removed from your system. Bottom line is this: Oil-pulling is not magic. If you put the effort into it, you may notice some changes. You will notice the same changes if you put the effort into brushing and flossing properly.

Have a wonderful March!

Dr. Rachel

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Are You In Love? Or In Need of a Root Canal? (Irreverent Thoughts on Love and Valentine's Day From a Dental Perspective)

2/11/2015

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Love and dentistry tend to run parallel to each other. Both can be messy, expensive, and painful. On the flip side, however, when everything is good-it's really good. Like love, when care is taken and attention paid, your teeth can serve you well and cause no problems. It’s when you ignore the obvious and don’t take care of things that problems can occur.

Other times, the symptoms of love and dental issues tend to mimic each other, so it’s hard to tell whether it’s love or a symptom of something else. That burning desire you feel-Is it really desire, or is it gum inflammation from not having your teeth cleaned?

When we are in the throes of new love, oftentimes we can’t eat/have no appetite. When we have a toothache, we may have trouble chewing. Heart throbbing/throbbing pain-is there a difference?

Regardless of what we may experience in the arena of love, or toothaches, the one thing in common is that they can DRIVE YOU CRAZY!

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Dr. Rachel Beyer

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E-Cigarettes; A Healthy Alternative, or A Health Risk?

1/30/2015

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E-cigarettes, or electronic cigarettes are a new take on cigarettes that uses technology to replace most of the classic cigarette. They are handheld nicotine vaporizers that deliver an aerosol made up of nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals to users. E-cigarettes come in a variety of shapes and sizes, from those that try to closely model the classic cigarette experience to those that introduce new ways to smoke.

The appeal of the E cigarette that has been advertised is that it is a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. It offers the promise of safe, harmless nicotine delivery without all the carcinogenic byproducts of looseleaf combustion of a traditional cigarette. Read any magazine or watch TV-The ads and commercials promoting the E-cigarette are numerous and not unlike the ads made for cigarettes in the 1970’s and ‘80’s.

Another reason why people like using e-cigarettes is because it helps them get around the various government bans on cigarette usage. People can smoke e-cigarettes in public areas that ban smoking.

But with most things that appear to be too good to be true, the same goes with the E-cigarette.

Some youth have their first taste of nicotine via e-cigarettes. Twenty percent of middle schoolers and 7.2 percent of high schooler e-cigarette users in the U.S. report never smoking cigarettes.

E-cigarette users could also be inhaling and exhaling low levels of chemicals such as formaldehyde, propylene glycol and acetaldehyde (to name a few), and this secondhand vapor could be a potentially toxic source of indoor air pollution. Formaldehyde, for instance, is a carcinogen that also irritates the eyes, nose and throat. Propylene glycol can also cause eye and respiratory irritation, and prolonged exposure can affect the nervous system and the spleen. Acetaldehyde, also known as the "hangover chemical," is also a possible carcinogen.

While the levels of the toxins were still much lower compared to conventional cigarette emissions, the findings fly in the face of the e-cigarette industries' claims that the handheld devices are just as safe as any other smoking cessation tool

So far, e-cigarette use is not associated with the successful quitting of conventional cigarettes. One clinical trial found that e-cigarettes was no more effective than the nicotine patch at helping people quit, and both cessation methods "produced very modest quit rates without counseling."

I would like to support any smokers interested in quitting to call and discuss options to aid in smoking cessation. Give us a call at 225-922-9540.

Portions of this article were based on materials provided by Science Daily and Huffington Post

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Dental Insurance 101

1/15/2015

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Dental insurance can be a confusing field to navigate. Even those of us that work with it daily can get confused with the changes and the different plans and coverage offered. Here is a breakdown of the different coverages that can be offered. In no way is this an endorsement or recommendation of any dental insurance. This is just offered to help the lay person understand how their particular benefits better. Specific questions are best directed to your insurance company customer representatives.

Let’s start at the beginning:
The history of dental insurance does not go back very far. The first dental insurance plans started in the late 1950's and did not get popular until the late 1960's. Unfortunately though, the benefits of the average dental insurance plan have not changed since the 1970's. Think about that. The dental insurance plan one had in the 1970's, which had about a $1,000 max on benefits, has the same benefit max as a dental insurance plan one can buy today, about $1,000. Now consider how much more dental insurance costs are now compared to the 1970's. With all the technology currently incorporated into one's dental care, it is obvious to see why many view dental insurance as an optional insurance choice.

Moving into the present, here are some dental insurances, and how they work. They may be offered by an employer, a group, or targeted to individuals.

HMO stands for Health Maintenance Organization

Dental HMO- a true dental “plan”. There are no maximums and no deductibles. You can have $5.00-$5000 worth of dental work done and it’s all covered at a reduced fee. There is no filing and no paperwork. How this plan works is that you choose or are assigned to a participating provider. Lists of participating providers are given to you when you sign up. YOU MUST SEE THAT PROVIDER TO GET YOUR DENTAL BENEFITS. You are not allowed to go out of network. If you go out of network, your dental benefits do not apply. Any services not listed will be given to you at a discount. If you need to go see a specialist, you usually need to be referred by your participating dentist to get your dental benefit. If the protocol is not followed-then you may be responsible for the full fee for the service done.
HMO pros: No paperwork or filing. No maximum or deductible.
HMO cons: Must go to assigned provider to get benefit. If you do not like the provider you see-too bad. You can request a change to another participating provider, but you must go through the insurance company to do so, and it is not always immediate. If your dentist that you have used forever and love isn’t a participating provider, that’s too bad too. You have to choose from the list and be assigned there if you want to use your benefits.

PPO stands for Preferred Provider Organization
Dental PPO-More like a traditional insurance, in that it has a yearly plan maximum and deductible. Benefits renew every calendar year or plan year. Services are grouped into categories. Preventative, Basic, and Major. The categories are each covered at a percentage. With a PPO-you may go to a participating provider or a non-participating provider. Participating providers have signed a contract with the insurance company agreeing to accept reduced fees for the services. The reduced fees are agreed upon by the dentist and the insurance company. Non-participating providers are not contracted by the insurance company, so they charge their usual and customary fees. The insurance company encourages members to go to participating providers by offering the reduced fees. If you go to a non-participating provider, and the fee is more than the insurance company allows, then you are responsible for the difference in cost. However, in many instances, the non-participating provider’s fee for service may be within what the insurance company allows, so the out of pocket cost to the individual may be the same.
PPO pros: Members can go in or out of network for services. They may receive a better benefit if seeing an in network dentist.
PPO cons: If going to an out-of network provider, members may be responsible for cost difference in what the insurance company allows for the services, versus usual, reasonable and customary fees of the non-participating provider. Also, if going to an out-of-network provider, some insurance companies will not accept assignment. What this means is, that even though the dentist may file the claim for you, the insurance company will not pay the dentist-they will mail the payment to the patient. That leaves the patient responsible for the full cost until the insurance company mails the patient the payment.

Indemnity Dental Insurance: This is the traditional insurance. There is a yearly maximum and deductible. Benefits renew every calendar year or plan year. You can go to any dentist, and they pay percentages of the three categories: preventative, basic, and major.

As I stated initially, the dental insurance field is tricky to navigate and understand. The front desk staff is ready to help you if you have any questions, or contact your insurance representative.

Here's to a healthy and happy 2015!

Dr. Rachel Beyer and Staff

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Welcome to our blog....

12/9/2014

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Hello all, I am new to this scene, but bear with me.
Do you want a nicer, confident smile? A nice smile can completely change your outlook on life. It doesn't mean you have to make drastic changes in your mouth. We can start with simple improvements. One easy one is to whiten your teeth. Just lightening your teeth can make a world of difference. Next, we can do cosmetic bonding which is tooth colored fillings on your front teeth to improve the appearance of your front teeth. Just to add another option would be straightening your teeth with clear braces.
All of these options, if they are right for you, can help you truly want to smile!
-Dr. Rachel

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Forward>>

Cool Dental Apps for Your Smartphone or Tablet

The Great Vaccination Debate

Oil Pulling-Fact or Fiction? Help or Hype?

Are You In Love? Or In Need of a Root Canal? (Irreverent Thoughts on Love and Valentine's Day From a Dental Perspective)

E-Cigarettes; A Healthy Alternative, or A Health Risk?

Dental Insurance 101

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