Archive for November, 2007

Insurance Benefits:  Are you maximizing yours?
 

Question:  I received a mailer that said that my insurance benefits will run out by the end of the year and I should get into their office.  I am nervous about this and a little worried.
               
Answer:  Most dental insurance plans have a renewal date on January 1 of each year.  If patients don’t use their insurance before December 31 they miss out on the benefit for that year.  For example, I get patients in the office who haven’t been in for many years.  When I plan out their treatment it can go over their annual dental maximum and they have to pay more out of their pocket to get the necessary dentistry completed.  If they came into the office in mid-November or early December then we can take advantage of both years of benefits.  If you have been delaying treatment, now is the time to make an appointment with your dentist to reduce your out of pocket costs

Dr. Antolak treats his dental patients in a relaxed, friendly atmosphere where you are treated like a guest in the home.  His motto is to “relax while we take care of your smile”. He specializes in cosmetic dentistry, implant dentistry and general dentistry using sedation dentistry if necessary for his high fear patients. He has been treating patients for the past 21 years and is located in Shelby Township, Macomb county Michigan.

Question:  I had a toothache the other day and the dentist I saw said I need to have some teeth pulled since I haven’t been to visit a dentist in a long time.  After my stroke a couple of years ago my doctor placed me on blood thinners.   I am confused whether I need to stop using my blood thinners because the doctors are recommending different things.  My doctor says I need to stay on the thinners and this dentist I saw said I should stop taking them.  What should I do?

Answer:  I agree with your physician and would do what he recommends.

For maximum patient safety a blood test is needed before dental treatment is done to make sure prolonged bleeding won’t be a problem.  The INR readings need to be from 2-3 to safely treat the patient. 

            Assuming the INR readings are from 2-3;

1. There is NO need to take patients off of their blood thinner medications for routine extractions, gum surgery, deep periodontal cleanings and regular cleanings. 
2. For some invasive treatments it may be necessary to take patients off of coumadin.  If so, they need to be taken off of the medication 4 days before the procedure and then have injections of heparin until the invasive dental treatment is performed.  All of this is monitored by their cardiologist or specialty department at the hospital.  Potential life threatening problems exist if patients are taken off of the coumadin and then restarted without special medications used.
3. The dentist can use local agents such as thrombin gauze and sutures to enhance bleeding in areas where teeth are extracted.

This information is new and should be followed to treat patients most safely, preventing potential future strokes and heart attacks (thrombosis).

Dental Decay:  After Halloween I thought it would be important to address this Topic:
I have had a few questions lately regarding the frequency that cavities occur from a number of patients.  They seem to routinely think that dental decay is somehow genetic because members of their family have had them their entire life.  I searched the internet and failed to conclusively determine it there was a direct genetic link for tooth decay.  We do know that dental decay has declined among young children as a group, it can still be a problem for individual children, and even teens and adults. That’s because plaque, a sticky film of bacteria, constantly forms on your teeth. When you eat or drink foods containing sugars or starches, the bacteria in plaque produce acids that attack tooth enamel. The stickiness of the plaque keeps these acids in contact with your teeth and after many such attacks, the enamel can break down and a cavity forms.
Preventing Decay:

• Brush your teeth twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
  
• Clean between teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner.
  
• Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks.
  
• Visit your dentist regularly for professional cleanings and oral exams.
  
• Ask your dentist about dental sealants, a protective plastic coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth where decay often starts
  

If you have questions you can call the office at (586)247-3500 or email me at DrAntolak@TheGentleDentist.com