I have a number of concerns regarding DIY orthodontics. First, who is making sure the patients are following through with the treatment? Are patients left to figure out on their own if it is time for the next step? Not everyone’s teeth move at the same rate, some need to be on a step longer than others- who will be monitoring this? Second, When/if there are issues, who will be responsible for correcting the issue? If this is DIY- where the patient is in charge, is the patient expected to fix the issue themselves? As a dentist, stepping into the middle of someone else’s treatment is always tough, but would be even more difficult if I needed to rely solely on the patient to direct me as to what has happened. Third, as most of you know, my primary concern and interest id in finding the ideal, or physiologic bite. If you are not being checked by a dentist each step, how can anyone insure that your bite will be fine when finished?? The bite dictates so much about comfort. Even traditional orthodontics can and still has issues with bites not being correct when finished, so DIY orthodontics will most likely have even greater issues!

In my opinion, this is far from ideal treatment, I understand that cost is a factor for a lot of people, but what will be the cost to correct when something goes wrong? The old adage still holds: “you get what you pay for”. I’m sure there are people who have done this DIY orthodontics and have wonderful results, but the majority will end up with marginal to poor results. They will end up needing more work to correct when it could have been done in less time and less overall cost than having to go back and correct the issues.

If you have any questions about DIY orthodontics, or would like a consult to find out what we can do for you, please contact Gabriella at 978-343-4031 to schedule your consultation.

Sincerely,

Brian C McDowell D.D.S. LVIF

There was a recent article by The Atlantic titled: “The Truth About Dentistry”. Is there some truth to the article- yes, is there some mis-statements, yes. The Atlantic left out alot, they based the story off of one dentist and his practice.

Are there unethical dentists? Yes, there are. Are the majority unethical, absolutely not! We are all supposed to follow the ethics code, most do, some don’t. If you visit 10 dentists, you will get 10 opinions on what needs to be done- some more conservative, some more aggressive, most will be within standards of care though.

Most important is to develop a relationship with your dentist. We always try to discuss and explain why we need to do whatever needs to be done. We want you included in the decision making process so you will feel comfortable moving forward with your treatment. Yes, we understand developing the trust takes time, but we feel by involving you in the process- using photos to show you what is happening, discussing the options, getting your opinion, will all help build that trust. As the trust builds, then you will have more confidence in the work suggested and needed.

We strive to make everyone feel part of the team in their healthcare decisions! We want you to have all the information you need, the options, the pros/cons of each as well as the time and costs involved. We want you to understand what we are doing, why we are doing it, and how long, it will take and how much it will cost. We also want you to know the benefits of doing the needed treatment as well as any consequences of not doing it- again, all to give you the information to make the correct decision for YOU!

We look forward to discussing your needs, wants and desires when it comes to your teeth. As always, feel free to contact Gabriella to schedule your consult at 978-343-4031. Explore our website- there is information on all of the procedures we perform here! We also have a Facebook page that contains more about our practice. You can check out our Facebook page at: www.facebook.com/brianmcdowelldds

Hoping everyone has a wonderful start to the summer!

Brian C McDowell D.D.S. LVIF

These small changes will help you to keep working on your bigger resolutions. Once we start to see success in small changes, it encourages us to continue to make the bigger changes- the weight loss, the exercise, etc. So, start the New Year off with small changes that will help you stay healthy and encourage you to stay after those larger resolutions! If you would like any additional tips or techniques on brushing and flossing, feel free to contact our office.

You can call us at: 978-343-4031

Wishing everyone a fantastic start to the New Year!!

Brian C McDowell D.D.S. LVIF

As we mentioned in our first blog about insurance, dental insurance started in the 1970’s and the benefit hasn’t increased since then, still between $1,000 and $1,500 per year. And, you can’t use this without restriction and limitations. So, we have now decided to term “dental insurance” more of a coupon for dental care. Let me try to explain this. You have $1,000 in coupons that you can use per year. Now, your cleanings, x-rays, and exams are covered almost entirely by your coupon, so you will have little to pay out of pocket for these procedures. We recommend that you take full advantage of this! Your 2 cleanings and exams will be the best value for your coupon. BUT, the cleanings and exams do count to your total coupon value of $1,000. When we move into discussing fillings, your coupon will cover some of the cost, but your co-pay, the amount you pay out of pocket, will be greater. Again, you still only get $1,000 per year. If you need major work such as; crowns, dentures, bridges, or implants, this coupon covers even less, meaning that your out of pocket expense is more. Most of these procedures are over your $1,000 per year each, so the coupon will help, but doesn’t cover very much.

The other confusing part is we can’t tell you how much your coupon will cover for any procedure. Your insurance company uses their own formula for deciding what they will cover and how much they will pay for each of those services. You do need to remember, your insurance company is in the business to make money, not to pay for your work, so they will pay for as little as possible.

In conclusion, we will work to get you as much as we can from your insurance for each visit. We will file the claims, call when we need to, and write letters on your behalf to get you everything that we can.

If you have any questions about your insurance, or would like to find out more about our office, please give Bettina a call at 978-343-4031.

I would like to thank one of my colleagues- Dr. Mac Lee for the resource to help write this post.

-Dr. McDowell

So, back to the question I posed in the heading… If no pain, then why do you need the root canal? The reason is once the tooth is infected, the bacteria have caused damage to the nerve and are now invading the space around the outside of your tooth. Once the bacteria start causing damage to the surrounding bone and ligament that holds the tooth, this needs to be treated to remove the infection before it spreads and becomes worse. Antibiotics will help, short-term, if there is pain sensitivity. The antibiotics will begin to allow your body to fight the infection, but, if the tooth isn’t treated to remove the infected nerve and get the bacteria out of the tooth, the infection will come back once the antibiotics are done. The treatment can be a root canal, where the remaining infected nerve is removed, the area is disinfected and cleaned, and a sterile filling is placed. This procedure removes the infected nerve, cleanses the inside of the tooth to remove the bacteria. By doing this, your body can usually remove the bacteria that has started affecting the bone and surrounding areas, enabling you to keep your tooth. The other treatment option is to extract the tooth and allow the space to heal. But, this leaves a “hole” where the tooth used to be.

So, a root canal is a great procedure we are able to offer to rid the tooth of the infection while keeping the tooth. Now, once the root canal is completed, we do recommend a crown for that tooth. The tooth, without a nerve, will become more brittle over time, so, for long-term strength and stability, we always recommend a crown. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact Bettina to schedule a consultation so we can discuss what is happening and what needs to be done.

Call 978-343-4031 to find out more information!

Brian C McDowell D.D.S. LVIF