Cliff's Notes

What is a Dentist, The ADA Smile Survey

Cliff’s Notes For February 22, 2009

…..E-Blast…..

Cliff Marsh, Henry Schein ……Cell: 201-321-7494……Fax: 201-262-2210…..cliff.marsh@henryschein.com

In this issue:

What Is A Dentist?……. Kavo Limited Time Offer!…… The ADA Smile Survey

What is A Dentist?

On January 7th, I celebrated the start of my 33rd year working in the dental industry. However, after working with Henry Schein for the last 2 ½ years, my thoughts on what a dentist really is, has changed. Dentistry has changed. I truly believe that the modern dental office is the leading edge in almost all areas of preventive medicine. Many of you have heard me preach this concept before. That’s because I believe it to be true.

John Henry Holliday was a dentist. Dr. Holliday past away from tuberculosis on November 8, 1887. That is correct, 1887. He was best known by his nick name, Doc. For those of you who are not familiar with the American Old West, Doc Holliday was also a very talented gunfighter. He was very close to the legendary U.S. Marshal, Wyatt Earp. Doc Holliday became famous when he joined the Earp brothers in the “Gun Fight at the OK Coral”.

Doc Holliday was a dentist. He fixed teeth. He pulled, drilled & filled. Today, in 2009, we diagnose and consult with other specialist, including medical doctors. The average patient that sees a physician on a regular basis is in your office 4 to 6 times more often then they are in their medical doctor’s office. Remember, YOU ARE A PHYSICIAN! Take notice of changes in blood pressure, skin tone and review an updated medical history. Think about this, little Johnny’s family has been coming to your practice for 15 years. Little Johnny is now 16 years old and you have seen him twice a year since he was 3 years old. Now ask yourself this question, how many healthcare professional can be 12” from Johnny’s face, look into his eyes and notice that they are a little glazed and dilated? Maybe there is something that Johnny wants to tell you before you begin introducing the drugs and chemicals that you need to use to do what you do. Maybe you can use this “private” moment to be a trusted healthcare provider and educate your patient, be a confidant.

Dentists save lives! I can’t even count the number of stories I have heard about serious, life threatening, conditions that have been discovered during dental exams. Some concerns are discovered with the assistance of new technology. As an example, digital Panoramic units offer a view of the cardiac arteries, Blue Light Technology will detect abnormal tissue long before it becomes visible to the eye. However, the most important thing you can do for a patients overall systemic health is to give them a reason to see you every 3-6 months and it has to be for more than just healthy teeth and a pretty smile. It needs to be about total health. Take blood pressure, check pulse and ask questions. Repeated excessive plaque build-up should be charted and the patient’s medical doctor needs to be notified. If it is building up in the mouth, where else is it? Discuss how issues in the mouth could be related to or signals for other conditions within the body.

Give your patients that extra care. Explain to them who you are and what you do and you just may see the cancelation & no-show rate drop. Define the value of your services as more that just teeth. As always, I am always available if you should have any questions or concerns.

Kavo’s 100th Anniversary, 2 – Day Promotion

Join KaVo as they celebrate 100 Years of Dental Excellence at the Chicago Mid-Winter Meeting with these exciting “show only” promotions

Effective: February 27th – March 1st, 2009.

You need to contact Cliff before 2:00 pm on Thursday, February 26th…..The 2+1 Promotion will not be extended!

Promotions:

· High Speed Handpieces:

Buy 2 Premium Collection Handpieces 659B (628-0504) and 635B (628-2596),

Get 1 Premium Collection Handpiece FREE!*

· Electric High Speed Attachments:

Buy 3 GENTLEpower LUX 25 LPA (628-1526),

Get 1 GENTLEpower LUX 25 LPA, plus 6 Cans of KaVo Spray or 6 cans of KaVo QUATTROcare Spray FREE!*

· DIAGNOdent:

Buy 1 DIAGNOdent Classic (628-6150) or Pen (628-3400) Laser Caries Detection Aid,

Get a PROPHYwiz Handpiece FREE!*

*Free goods redeemed through KaVo

The ADA’s Smile Survey

The American Dental Association evaluated a survey attempting to determine what the most “attractive” physical feature is. The overwhelming answer was – The Smile. Additionally, they discovered some very interesting difference between men and women in oral health care in this study released on Feb 11, 2009.

Valentine’s Day is just passed, and what do people find most attractive in others? The smile. A national survey from the American Dental Association and Crest® and Oral B® finds that the smile outranked eyes, hair and the body as the most attractive physical feature. Yet men and women differ when it comes to taking care of their teeth and gums. The nationally representative survey of 1,000 Americans ages 18 and older found 86 percent of women brush their teeth twice or more a day, yet only 66 percent of men do so. The survey also found that women say they change their toothbrush or power toothbrush head every 3-4 months on average, yet men hang on to theirs an average of 5 months. The ADA recommends replacing toothbrushes every 3-4 months or when the bristles become frayed since frayed and worn bristles decrease cleaning effectiveness. Sadly, all Americans need to do a better job of flossing their teeth. Only half of those surveyed (49 percent) say they floss their teeth once a day or more often. And 1 out of 3 people surveyed think a little blood in the sink after brushing their teeth is normal, yet it’s not—it could signal gum disease or another health problem. Based on the previous findings, it’s obvious that some of the oral health/systemic health relationships are ignored way too often. Oral health is an important part of overall health. Regular dental check-ups are important not only to diagnose and treat gum disease and tooth decay, but also because some diseases or medical conditions, such as oral cancer, have symptoms that can appear in the mouth. Growing research indicates there may be an association between oral health and serious health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, underscoring the importance of good oral hygiene habits.

“We need to constantly get the word out how important it is to stay on top of your oral health,” says Dr. Ada Cooper, an ADA consumer advisor and practicing dentist in New York City. “Brushing twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, flossing daily, eating a balanced diet, and visiting your dentist regularly can help keep your smile healthy.”

The ADA’s Smile Survey was supplied by the Health Compliance Team (www.healthcomplianceteam.com)

Post Office Box 472, Central Valley, New York 10917 Tel.: 845-460-3034 Toll Free: 800-724-1263 Fax: 845-928-1315 e-mail: sales@healthcomplianceteam.com

Cliff Marsh

Henry Schein Dental

P.O. Box 663, 45 Rt.46 East, Pine Brook, NJ 07058

cell: 201-321-7494 / fax: 201-262-2210

October 21, 2009 - Posted by Cliff's Notes Blog | 1