Bad Business Reviews, Formal Complaints and Social Media

In this age of social media, bad news travels fast.  Faster than the speed of light, it seems.  One careless complaint can ruin a reputation, a practice or even a person.  Always try to keep that in mind when a problem arises and opt for civil communication, instead.  

There are many ways to resolve issues with your dentist, whether they are staff related, price discrepancies or quality of care issues. The key is communication. I certainly would not advise anyone to file a complaint with the board because a receptionist was rude, or post it on any review forum, ever! Only as a last resort would I suggest filing a board complaint for anything less than malpractice. 

This would be my suggestion instead: Consider a well written letter; certified, registered mail. Clearly state the problem (keeping opinions out), and state what you would consider to be a fair resolution. Send it directly to the dentist, return receipt. Allow him a reasonable amount of time to respond...10 days or so. Believe me, he will be much more receptive to a resolution than his receptionist or office manager because it is his license that is on the line!  Nine times out of ten the complaint will be resolved when it is approached this way. This method works! 

Keep Smiling! 

CBD Oil To Ease A Toothache?

An article from Dr. Bicuspids Melissa Busch discusses if CBD oil is an alternative pain medication to help ease a toothache. 

"Cannabidiol (CBD), a nonaddictive, nonpsychoactive component of the marijuana plant, may reduce severe dental pain, making it a safer, equally effective alternative to opioids. The study was recently published in the Journal of Dental Research.

It is believed to be the first randomized clinical trial testing CBD for the management of emergency dental pain, the authors wrote.

“This novel study can catalyze the use of CBD as an alternative analgesic to opioids for acute inflammatory pain conditions, which could ultimately help to address the opioid epidemic,” wrote the authors, led by Dr. Vanessa Chrepa, an associate professor at the Rutgers School of Dental Medicine in Newark, NJ, (J Dent Res, November 1, 2023).

Anti-inflammatories like acetaminophen and ibuprofen are the first line of defense for dental pain, but some patients can’t take these over-the-counter medications or get enough relief from them. This has led some dentists to prescribe addictive opioids. The rise in addiction and death from opioids have led to a search for practical alternatives.

To explore the effectiveness of CBD in alleviating dental pain, 61 people with severe tooth pain were divided into three groups. Of the participants, 20 were given one dose of Epidiolex, a pure CBD oral solution that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of seizures. Twenty participants were given two doses of the solution, and 21 were given a placebo, according to the study. Additionally, patient pain levels were monitored for three hours using a visual analog scale (VAS), a standard tool for assessing pain intensity.

Patients who received either one or two doses of CBD experienced more pain reduction than those given the placebo. About 85% of those who took CBD reported at least a 50% reduction in their initial pain, and they also reached a maximum median 73% reduction in pain after three hours, the authors wrote. In the CBD groups, participants more frequently experienced the side effects of sedation, diarrhea, and abdominal pain than those in the placebo group (p < 0.05), they wrote.

Nevertheless, the study had limitations, including that age- and sex-related differences couldn’t be assessed due to the small sample size.

Other factors known to affect pain perception, like social and psychological factors, will be considered in the next steps toward developing a larger scale phase III clinical trial, which would be the next phase involved in getting FDA approval for Epidiolex or other pure CBD solutions to use for dental pain management, they wrote.

“This randomized trial provides the first clinical evidence that oral CBD can be an effective and safe analgesic for dental pain,” Chrepa et al wrote."

 

Gingivitis is Only the Beginning!

 Gingivitis is the inflammation of the gums. This is the initial stage of gum disease, and the easiest to treat. Gingivitis is due to a long term effect of plaque deposits. Plaque is a sticky material made up of bacteria, mucus, and food debris that develops on the exposed parts of the tooth.

If Gingivitis progresses, it can lead to receding gums, loose teeth and loss of teeth.

Ways to reduce Gingivitis:

• Have your teeth cleaned on a regular basis. 
• Brush and floss everyday, along with using a mouth rinse.

Symptoms of Gingivitis include:

• Bleeding of the gums
• Bright red or red-purple appearance to gums
• Mouth sores
• Swollen gums
• Gums that are tender to touch

Call your dentist if you have these symptoms and get a diagnosis and treatment as soon as you can!

Keep Smiling!

Dental Problems Linked To Breast Cancer

Attention Women: Studies have shown that periodontal disease has been linked to breast cancer in women. This study was done in  October 2010 in Huddinge, Sweden. This study consisted of 3,000 women between the ages of 30-40 years. For more details on this study click here.

Bacteria that are found in periodontal disease, can affect the entire body's blood supply. This infection then sets off co-infections that an already weakened immune system has to fight, leaving it to be to suppressed (weak) to fight off cancer cells.

Periodontal Disease is also linked to heart disease, diabetes, strokes, and many others.

It is very important that everyone takes care of their oral health. Brushing and flossing on a regular basis, also combined with regular dental cleanings.

Here are some signs of periodontal disease:

1. Bad Breath
2. Painful Chewing
3. Sensitive Teeth
4. Bleeding Gums

Eggnog...bad for teeth? Really?

I can not express my heartbreak when I found this out. Eggnog is one my of favorite holiday traditions and drinks. So when I read that with the amount of sugar that is in it,  I was quite surprised.

It kind of goes along with my misconception of what eggnog is. I assumed that it's more like milk, thus being better for dental health. I know milk is good for your teeth, I know eggs are good for your teeth. Knowing that both of them are in eggnog, one can only assume that eggnog, too, is good for your oral health. Logical assumption... right?

Well it turns out that all of the flavoring, add-ins and sugar that is used to make that unique holiday taste, is enough to offset the good that the milk and eggs provide!

Fear not though, my fellow eggnoggers! We can still savor the flavor and enjoy our favorite holiday drink. Just simply rinse out your mouth really good and/or brush your teeth after you drink and you will be good to go!

The Holiday season is almost upon us again, and with that in mind I thought this blog was worth a re-post.  Enjoy and Keep Smiling!  

 

See Your Dentist Before Chemotherapy Treatment!

The optimum goal, of course, is to always be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to dental health. But when one is undergoing treatment for cancer, it is extremely important to seek preventive care prior to beginning chemotherapy treatment, whenever possible. This can help to ward off some of the side effects of chemo, which can range in severity (it differs with each person) from dry mouth to burning and/or mouth sores and even infection, if your mouth isn't healthy beforehand.
Speak with your doctor prior to starting your treatment and ask whether preventive dental care should be considered.
 Click here for an article that explains the importance of good dental care for cancer patients.

Is Halloween Candy Dangerous For Your Teeth?

 Hope you all had a wonderful Halloween!

Keep in mind that this is the time of year for those candy-related dental emergencies. 

An article from Dr. Bicuspids Mesissa Busch lists the worst candies to eat!

"More than one-third of people in the U.S. experience candy-related dental problems, including damaged crowns, according to survey results. As people dig into Halloween treats today, they may want to shun treats most likely to torture teeth like Jawbreakers.

Jawbreakers, Jolly Ranchers, and Bit-O-Honey may be the most dangerous candy for teeth, but they aren’t the only varieties, according to a survey of 1,002 adults in U.S. conducted in late-August 2023 by Shiny Smile Veneers in Houston, TX.

The following candies were named the fourth through the 10th most dangerous:

4. Starburst
5. Tootsie Roll
6. Laffy Taffy
7. Snickers
8. Atomic Fireball
9. Butterfinger
10. Blow Pops and Milk Duds

Some of those that made the most dangerous list also were ranked as the candy that gets stuck in people's teeth the most, according to the results.

The following made the list of the stickiest candies:

1. Laffy Taffy
2. Bit-O-Honey
3. Tootsie Roll
4. Salt water taffy
5. Jolly Rancher
6. Milk Duds
7. Jelly beans
8. Gummi bears
9. Airheads
10. Starburst

Not only can avoiding candy protect teeth from cracked fillings and crowns and tooth pain and sensitivity, but it also can save patients money. People in the U.S. have spent $538, on average, fixing their teeth after experiencing a dental problem caused by eating candy, according to the results.

Additionally, parents reported taking other precautions during Halloween season. About 50% of parents admitted checking their kid’s candy to ensure it is free of things like razor blades and drugs, according to the findings. While checking their candy, 18% reported confiscating their favorite sweets for themselves. Meanwhile, 40% of parents reported taking away some of their kids' candy to prevent them from eating it, and another 21% threw away any leftover Halloween candy after a couple of weeks, according to the survey.

Furthermore, plenty of parents also ensure their children’s safety by blacklisting some types of candies. Parents’ least favorite candies for their kids to eat are Jawbreaker, Atomic Fireball, and Bit-O-Honey."