The State of Salivary Diagnostics

At the core of the dental profession is the desire to better the oral health, and by extension the overall health, of all patients. As time passes and technology continues to advance, dental professionals have discovered better, more accurate, and more efficient means of diagnosing and treating their patients thereby elevating the standard of care.

One such advancement in dental treatment that’s seen a lot of discussion as of late is salivary diagnostics and its role as a rapid point-of-care tool for the prevention and treatment of diseases. A statement from the American Dental Association emphasizes the importance of furthering the research and use of salivary diagnostics in the profession. Specifically the ADA “recognizes the importance of continued research in oral fluid diagnostics, and welcomes the development of rapid, point-of-care tests that provide accurate measurements of clinically validated biomarkers… Advances in the science of oral fluid diagnostics may lead to identification of disease signature patterns of candidate biomarkers and/or confirmation of genetic susceptibility to some conditions.”

While blood has been the go-to medium for diagnosing the majority of diseases for a long time now, an article from DentistryIQ highlights that many of the same biomarkers found in blood are also available in saliva but in much smaller quantities. “Biomarkers in the blood are commonly measured in micrograms, which are one millionths of a gram. Biomarkers in saliva are commonly measured in picograms, one trillionth of a gram, or nanogram quantities, one billionth of a gram. Technology is now at a point where those minute quantities are readily detectable using a number of methodologies…” In the past the limits of technology made salivary diagnostics an impossibility, but in the near future salivary diagnostic tools could become available to all dental professionals.

A specific application of salivary diagnostics in dentistry could be the early diagnosis of periodontitis. Today the traditional approach to diagnosing periodontal diseases consists of measuring periodontal pocket depth and associated bone loss by manual probing of the gingival sulcus mixed with visual examination from a dental professional and radiographic imaging. Ultimately, this approach can leave dental professionals with limited information on disease classification and treatment planning.

In Salivary Diagnostics: the Future of Precision Dental Medicine, an article from Colgate’s site dedicated to the future of oral health, salivary diagnostics’ role in the diagnosis of periodontal disease looks bright: “By virtue of science and research, there is much we know about periodontal disease… the oral health community also knows that there is a variety of salivary biomarkers that can be used to predict disease progression. Now, despite there not being a solitary biomarker as of yet, we are aware of several combinations [such as matrix-related mediators, inflammatory mediators, and microbial mediators] that cater to the multidimensional pathology of the disease and help to identify the patient’s oral health status of his/her dentition.”

These are just a few insights into the evolving world of salivary diagnostics, what are your thoughts on its role in dentistry? Let us know in the comments!

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Integrated Healthcare in Burlington

Dr. Currie and the team at Pearl Dental would like to wish our patients, Lori and Laurent Pinci, the best of luck in their new venture.

Lori and Laurent will soon be opening a multi disciplinary wellness centre in Burlington called Pillars of Wellness offering alternative and integrated healthcare services.

We’re certain the new facility will be a resounding success and fill a much needed healthcare niche for Burlington residents.

You can find out more about the services to be offered at:    www.pillarsofwellness.ca

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Understanding Dental Coverage for Your Child

Understanding dental insurance can be quite a hassle, but we know it is essential to keep your children’s smiles healthy. Not every plan is the same, and learning about your insurance coverage isn’t always a simple task. If you’ve been left scratching your head about your dental insurance plan and how it applies to your family, keep reading.

Read Your Explanation of Benefits

It might seem daunting to sift through the giant stack of paperwork you receive when you sign up for benefits, aka: your explanation of benefits. However, it is inherently necessary if you are going to thoroughly understand your coverage.

You won’t be able to ask the right questions if you don’t know where to start. Reading your explanation of benefits is a good place to begin. Doing so will allow you to form plan-specific questions.

Get Familiar With Insurance Vocabulary

Oftentimes, the most difficult part of understanding dental insurance is the vocabulary. In order to understand your coverage, you need to understand the language. Get to know familiar terms such as:

• Deductible – Total dollar amount the patient is responsible for covering before insurance begins paying benefits
• Benefits – The amount your insurance company is contracted to pay for services and/or procedures
• Co-Pay – Dollar amount the patient is responsible for at the time of services rendered
• In-Network/Out-of-Network – Services provided in a dental insurance policy either by a contracted or non-contracted dentist. In-network dentists are considered to be contracted and are therefore obligated to provide treatment coverage as outlined by certain guidelines
• Open Enrollment – Period of time when you can enroll in dental insurance or make changes to your existing plan
• Preauthorization – Recommended treatment is presented to the insurance company to determine how much will be approved for coverage

Those are just a few of the basics. Familiarize yourself with more common insurance lingo here.

Take Advantage of Resources

Dental insurance is something that is inherently necessary for the health and well-being of your child, so you want to have as much knowledge as possible about what you’re paying for.

Don’t be afraid to research and ask for help.

If you are unsure, ask! Have a customer service representative for your insurance company walk you through any portions you are unsure of. It is better to ask many questions than to be left with a bill (or multiple bills) that you don’t understand. Don’t forget to utilize blogs, podcasts, and Google to assist you with general questions that aren’t plan-specific.

Ask Your Pediatric Dentist

Still unsure of how the terms and coverage apply to your child’s needs? You’re not alone. Dealing with insurance companies can be time-consuming and headache-inducing. Oftentimes, your pediatric dentist will offer to call your insurance company and acquire a detailed explanation of your benefits. This helps give you and your child’s dentist a more clear understanding of the services your insurance company will cover.

Maximize Your Benefits

Your trusted pediatric dentist will be able to suggest needed treatments and maintenance for your child. Leftover insurance benefits don’t roll over into the new year, so make sure you get the most out of your plan and schedule an appointment for your child to use up the rest of your benefits.

Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry will be able to help you understand procedures covered and requirements given by your insurance company. We want to make you and your little one’s experience as simple as possible, starting with taking the guesswork out of insurance coverage. We also have a simple and clear bill pay system. If you have questions about how your insurance works with our practice, contact us today!

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Parent Perspectives: Charlotte Pediatric Dentistry Waverly

Trust, convenience, and care are three things that we provide to our patients every day. We know that choosing a pediatric dentist is a big decision. Your child’s dental health is so important, which is why we are dedicated to upholding our values with each visit.

Knowing that parents trust us to care for their children’s smiles is a heartwarming feeling. Our dentists are passionate about what they do, and they truly care about the health and well-being of every patient that they meet. We aim to make trips to the dentist, dare we say it, fun!

Dr. David Moore made the decision to open a office in South Charlotte after learning that parents were seeking a more convenient location for pediatric dentistry. We are proud of how far our Waverly location has come since opening their doors in the fall of 2016. Our Waverly Grand Opening gave us the opportunity to meet many new families!

Parent feedback is crucial to our growth. We are constantly striving to make a better pediatric dentistry experience for our patients and their parents. We have made tremendous strides in growing our Waverly practice to provide the same great care you’ve come to know and expect at our other locations. Here’s what some parents had to say about our new Waverly office.

From a happy parent and child after a great visit

Dr. Dunlap and the staff at Charlotte pediatric dentistry in the new Waverly location were excellent. Not only is the facility top-notch but the friendliness and knowledgeable staff above and beyond. That combination makes for great patient care. My son Parker wore his sticker with pride the rest of the day and the following. He talks about visiting the dentist office there all the time. Thank you for your excellent care. -Parker B.

From a parent that needed convenience

We love CPD!!! My kids have gone to the Billingsly location for 3 years and we’ve always loved every visit! We just went to our first appointment at the new location in south charlotte and it’s so nice! We love it! It’s closer to home and everyone is awesome!!! My kids get excited to go to the dentist -William D.

From a mom with a tight schedule

Dr. Dunlap and staff were great! They made my (almost) 4 year old daughter’s visit a breeze! Super friendly and professional and got us seen and on our way within 30 mins. Looking forward to our next visit at the Waverly office! -Abby M.

From a mom with a first-timer

Today was my daughter’s first dentist appointment and it could not have gone any smoother thanks to an amazing staff at Charlotte pediatric dentistry at Waverly! -Alisha M.

(See more parent reviews of our Waverly office here.)

We invite you to take a tour of our office, schedule a consultation, and/or come in and meet the Waverly crew! Come get to know Dr. Leigh Wilson, Dr. Carrie Dunlap, and their team. We are looking forward to caring for your little ones’ smiles!

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Your Next New Patient: Will you make this mistake?

Many businesses, large and small, have a huge source of great ideas that can help them improve, innovate, and grow, and yet so many of these companies never think of using this amazing corporate asset. What is this highly valuable asset? Its own people. http://ift.tt/2G66wzn

Five Ways to be the Best Associate

When I was in dental school, we were told tons of scary stats about being associates and the number of associateships that don’t pan out. It can be easy to get overwhelmed. Below are five recommendations that will pay dividends for your entire career and allow you to get the most out of any job.

1. Communicate—Everyone has heard the saying communication is key; this is my number one tip for a reason. Every patient should be educated on his or her situation. They did not go to dental school, so you need to talk on a level that they understand and inform them on what has, is, and could happen. I make sure that every patient understands that my job is to educate them on what they have and/or need; and if they want, I will fix it. Most of those patients appreciate the fact that I say, “these are your options and needs, what do YOU want?” I typically do not have to sell treatment once I have educated the patient and sold the patient on me as a provider.

2. Sell yourself—Teddy Roosevelt said, “Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care.” An easy way to jumpstart the process of showing you care is simply using the patient’s name. Some patients want a dentist that will talk to them about life. Some want one that will coddle them. Others want you to be candid and joking. It is important that every patient has a personal experience and feels special. Service with a smile is just the beginning of a very pivotal aspect of your career.

3. Win the staff—Throughout a long career, you will encounter all sorts of staff. They will all need to see you as a leader and respect you. Lead by example to win the staff’s respect and loyalty and show them appreciation. The staff will generally work harder and go out of their way to make your life easier once they believe in you. And if all else fails, just buy them food. Who doesn’t love free food?

4. Set goals—Being goal oriented is a natural incentive for both you and the staff, which allows you to lead with metrics. Once you have a goal in mind, print it out, share it with the staff, and make sure everyone is on the same page. This is another area where you as a leader must set the example and show them the standard. If they see you sell a nightguard or braces, they will understand that you are making the effort to help them get their incentives. This “team mentality” lights a fire under them when they see you working to help them.

5. Be present—It is hard to be a leader from behind your office doors. Being there for your staff is a simple way to show that you care about the practice in general. It starts with showing up on time and staying until close. A simple rule to help you would be never asking your staff to do something you would not do. Make sure that they know you are always on their side and willing to step in and stand up for them if needed.

A happy staff leads to a happy life. If you set clear goals, communicate them, and then execute them in front of your staff, all while serving the patients, then your office and associateship will prosper. It will be a fun and professional environment. Everyone will be more productive and happier once you set the foundation with these five tips.

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Up Close & Personal with Dr. Lina Shaar

Meet Dr. Lina Shaar, one of our general dentists at Dr. Michael’s Dental Clinic – Umm Suqeim branch.

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Your next new patient: Will you make this mistake?

Many businesses, large and small, have a huge source of great ideas that can help them improve, innovate, and grow, and yet so many of these companies never think of using this amazing corporate asset. What is this highly valuable asset? Its own people. http://ift.tt/2DQZDkP

12 Tips for Successfully Using Group Interviews to Hire Team Members for Your Dental Practice

With variable retention rates and Gen Y entering the workforce full-throttle, today’s business owners and management find hiring new team members a time-consuming, but necessary task. The desire to streamline the hiring process is at an all-time high, and while there are many strategies to do so, group interviews are becoming an efficiency trend. Not […] http://ift.tt/2DdOx8q

Up Close & Personal with Dr. Maysoon Abdelmajeed

Get to know more about Dr. Maysoon Abdulmajeed, a general and cosmetic dentist at Dr. Michael’s Dental Clinic.

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Welcome to Our West Jordan Location

Burg is constantly trying to make ourselves more accessible, both location-wise and accommodation-wise. We all understand how difficult it can be to get the kids ready, in the car, and to the dentist in a time that works for everyone. That’s why Burg has ten offices that you can visit around the Salt Lake valley. Did you know that Burg Children’s Dentistry has an office in West Jordan? As it’s one of our newer locations, we wanted to do a highlight of surrounding businesses and activities so when you need to take your kids to the dentist, you can combine trips. Need to run some errands and it was just too good to be true that you somehow managed to get all the kids in the car at the same time with the shoes on the correct feet and jackets correctly buttoned? Don’t waste an excellent accomplishment, and check out these awesome local businesses around our Jordan Ridge office just off Redwood Road in West Jordan.

The Chocolate

One of the best ways to convince your children to come to the dentist (besides our awesome superheroes), is to offer to take them to get ice cream or dessert after. The Chocolate is a lovely dessert cafe that offers anything from warm, gooey, Cazookies to hot chocolate and glasses of milk. Your children will love entering this adorable little cottage to enjoy a sweet treat after the dentist, and it’s less than a mile away!

AMC Theaters

Make it a movie day by heading down the street after a dentist visit to AMC Theaters. Seeing a movie in the theater is an equally good bribe to convince your children to go to the dentist. This local theater is showing all the most recent and popular movies, but is small and feels more welcoming than a bigger theater. Reward your little superheroes with a movie, and maybe you’ll just become their hero. Just check out those recliners!

River Pointe Plaza

Need to do a little shopping today? Lucky for you our Jordan Ridge office is incredibly close to the River Pointe Plaza shopping mall. Because the mall features more unique options for shopping, you can pick up some exciting food or just explore the different goods they have to offer. Or, if your dentist appointment was a little later in the day, you can grab some dinner to take home to your family.

Branches Event Floral

This local flower shop is a delight for any flower needs! Within walking distance from our Jordan Ridge office, you can swing by on your way home and pick up some flowers for a loved one, or for yourself! Just look at how pretty their arrangements are, and for an excellent price too.

Gardner Village

Have you ever seen this quaint little village right within the city of West Jordan? If you haven’t visited Gardner Village  yet, you should go there immediately. Not only is it adorable, it offers amazing candies, pastries, and antique shopping. If you enjoy themed shopping, and like beautiful events during the holidays, definitely give this place a visit.

Rock On Climbing Walls

Is it time for a little exercise? Did you know that you can actually rent a rock wall for a party or just for fun? Check out Rock On Climbing Walls just off 1300 W. Though this isn’t necessarily a “day trip” kind of thing, we still think it’s worth a feature because it’s so unique! If you’re looking for a fun activity for your child’s birthday party, give these guys a visit!

Brigadoon Park

Take the kids to the park. This 2.3 acre park and pavilion is only a mile away from our Jordan Ridge office, and is a great place for a spring picnic or a game of kickball.

Schmidt’s Farmers Market

Do you love fresh fruit, vegetables, and locally-made goods? So do we! Your family will love this local market, and you’ll love how close it is. Schmidt’s Farm offers amazingly fresh fruits and veggies, but also offers eggs and even Christmas trees! Definitely go check this place out if you’re in town.

Hopefully we’ve given you a few ideas for your next outing, or at least helped you fill your day with activities after your visit to our Jordan Ridge location. We always want to support local businesses, and we are really pleased at all the amazing things that West Jordan has to offer! If you need us, we’ll probably be at the Chocolate…or maybe the Farmers Market…

Burg Children’s Dentistry specializes in making your child’s visit to the dentist a great one. We love helping your children feel comfortable and unafraid of the dentist, and we even manage to make it fun for them! You can always come visit us at our Jordan Ridge location, or you can just come back to our blog in the future! We strive to keep our parents and patients updated on all things dental hygiene, so come back if you’d like to learn more. Or fill out this form to make an appointment with us.

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4 Strategies for Transforming Your Front Office Team

Your front office team represents the face of your practice. Because they’re often the first people your patients will interact with, and the communication medium for appointment scheduling and customer service, properly training your front office team is imperative to your office’s success. Read this article to discover how to increase productivity with your front […] http://ift.tt/2Dm8OJU

WELCOME TO THE WORST DAY OF THE YEAR

Many businesses, large and small, have a huge source of great ideas that can help them improve, innovate, and grow, and yet so many of these companies never think of using this amazing corporate asset. What is this highly valuable asset? Its own people. http://ift.tt/2miU1Ym

EY Entrepreneur of the Year Harry Hughes keynote speaker at Claremorris Career Day

Senior cycle and pre-senior cycle students, and their families, are invited to attend the second annual Claremorris Career Day 2018, which takes place in the McWilliam Park Hotel, Claremorris, on Saturday, January 20 (11am to 2pm).

Last year’s inaugural event attracted a bumper attendance of over 500 students and parents.  The list of this year’s guest speakers has just been announced:

– 11.30am: Harry McCann, teenage entrepreneur; Topic: The Road less Travelled.

– 11.50am: Sarah Farragher, fourth year Occupational Therapy student at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen; Topic: Studying Abroad and Coping with Dyslexia.

– 12.30pm: Fiona McHale, Mayo ladies football star and PhD student; Topic: A Healthy Mind in a Healthy Body: Good for School Days, Good for Life.

– 12.50pm: keynote address, Harry Hughes, EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2017. Topic: Lessons from a Life in Business.

Workshops (in ante-rooms):

11.15am: Making an inspired career choice – by Paula Ballester Murat, a participant on the Erasmus Entrepreneurship Programme with Sli Nua Careers. Paula hails from Castellon in Spain and holds a degree in audio-visual communication. Other workshops will be announced closer to the time.

The purpose of the event is to arm students and families with key information on the various options available to them upon completing second-level education. Admission is free of charge.

Among the exhibitors confirmed are NUI Galway, University of Limerick, GMIT, IT Sligo, LIT, DCU, Athlone IT, An Garda Siochana, the Defence Forces, ESB Networks, Bank of Ireland, AIB Bank, youth support agencies and many others.

The event is being organised by the South Mayo GAA Board and the Mayo GAA Coaching Committee, and is open to GAA and non-GAA members alike. It is being sponsored by Tuam Credit Union and Claremorris/Ballinrobe Credit Union supported by the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) and South West Mayo Development Company.

“As a community-based sporting organisation, it makes absolute sense to throw the doors open so that GAA members and non-GAA members can attend,” said John Farragher, Chairman, South Mayo GAA Board.

The colleges and other bodies attending are being updated here http://ift.tt/2qI4cLB  and on http://ift.tt/2micapO. Other details are also available on those pages.

“We invite post-primary students from third, fourth fifth and sixth years, and their parents. Indeed, people can come from outside the county as well. Our advice to students and their families would be to come along and speak with the representatives from the colleges and other entities,” said Padraic Carolan, former Coaching Officer, Mayo GAA.

Education institutions and private sector bodies can exhibit at the event free of charge, and can do so by obtaining a booking form from Shane Halligan, a member of the organising committee, on shane@slinuacareers.com, 094 95 42965, or from any member of the committee.

The Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP) 2015-2017 is funded by the Irish Government and co-funded by the European Social Fund and includes a special allocation under the Youth Employment Initiative. For further information, please visit the Pobal Website http://www.pobal.ie. The support of the South West Mayo Development Company Ltd is also acknowledged.

The organising committee comprises John Farragher, Kieran Kilkenny, Liam Horan, Padraic Carolan, TJ Kelly, Michael King, Shane Halligan and Paula Ballester Murat.

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A New Model of Dental Care Empowering Patients

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What's the Fastest Way to Straighten Your Teeth?

Dr. Argiro Kechagia answers one of the most common questions patients ask their orthodontist.

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How To Create An Attractive Ad To Pool The Best Prospects For Your Dental Practice

A collaborative, efficient team dynamic is critical to the success of a dental practice. However, “how” to build such a team is often an elusive concept. One of the most common questions we hear from clients is, “How do I hire the right people?” In a previous post, we shared some key takeaways from Kirk […] http://ift.tt/2CMbfrZ

We Ignored the Warning Sign. Will you?

Many businesses, large and small, have a huge source of great ideas that can help them improve, innovate, and grow, and yet so many of these companies never think of using this amazing corporate asset. What is this highly valuable asset? Its own people. http://ift.tt/2AyJf5d

Optimizing Oral Health Through Care and Education

Dental experts are sought out for vital information and advice regarding oral care. On top of being knowledge keepers, however, it is essential they act as educators as well. Many hygienists and dentists know there is no “one size fits all approach” to patient education and therefore must develop a unique methodology. To ensure oral […] http://ift.tt/2Asyr8C

How to Grow Your Dental Practice’s Online Presence in 20 Minutes a Day

How much time do you spend every day improving your dental practice’s online presence? If you are anything like any other small business owner with a myriad of tasks to attend to, you probably let your digital marketing needs slide. And, that’s not good at all. Here’s the thing: 81% of online consumers perform online […] http://ift.tt/2CHcLf5

How to Calculate the Lifetime Value of Your Patients

Your patients are the life of your dental practice. Without them, your business couldn’t exist – it’s as simple as that. But, in spite of their importance, the number of new patients you manage to acquire isn’t the only indicator of success. The total profit they bring in matters just as much. That is why […] http://ift.tt/2As7hPe

6 Excellent Ways to Attract More Patients and Skyrocket Your Profit

There is no shortage of dental practices; that’s for sure. As a patient, that’s excellent news. It means you probably have multiple options located near you from which to choose. But, for a dental practice, this means stiff competition. So, what can you do to stand out from the crowd, boost your visibility, and persuade […] http://ift.tt/2CIJot3

9 Treatment Options for the Most Difficult Dental Patients

Most dentists would agree that wear patients are the most difficult dental patients to treat. Yet, you probably see such patients on a regular basis, so there’s no avoiding the fact that you need to understand how to help them. Fortunately, there are actually nine ways you can treat these patients, which will cover just about […] http://ift.tt/2DT8Ess

Must-Know Tips for Hiring the Best Dental Team Members

In virtually every endeavor or profession, teamwork is critical to success. Dentistry is no exception; the way employees communicate, deliver quality care, and run their practice can all increase businesses earning potential. The common denominator of leading dental providers all comes down to efficient, hardworking, collaborative team synergy. But great teams do not happen by […] http://ift.tt/2lHsJv0