In the past 2 weeks, I’ve had 3 patients needing extractions. All three patients looked healthy enough. But, their health histories indicated they were on medication for high blood pressure.
I routinely take BPs before doing any extractions. These three patients all had SKY-HIGH blood pressures! Continue reading
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As our profession has evolved from amalgam to composite for posterior direct restorations, one of the biggest clinical challenges has been creating consistently good proximal contacts. A number of gizmos have come through the marketplace promising to solve this vexing issue. I’ve tried a number of them with varying results. Continue reading
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Disclaimer: The following blog post is my opinion only. None of it is to be construed as irrefutable fact. Do your own research. Run your own math. Consult your attorney or your dog. Make your own decisions.
There has been a very active thread over at Dentaltown.com. It started April 5th, and it’s now 15 pages long. It’s titled “Delta Dental lowering reimbursement in WA.” I had been seeing it show up in the “Today’s Topics” page, but I ignored it for a long time. After all, I’m not in Washington. I’m not a Delta “provider” (hate that derogatory term). I’m not contracted with ANY dental plan. My practice is largely fee-for-service. What do I care? It doesn’t affect me, right? Continue reading
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On Dentaltown.com, there is a thread about this news story on Yahoo.com. You can read it by clicking here. The article is not as bad as I expected. It encourages patients to ask questions, which of course is all well and good. It also explains that dentists charge a wide range of fees. Different dentists charge different fees. Big surprise! Imagine that! I have to wonder if they have also pondered Continue reading
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior® This week I saw a new patient. His wife found me with an internet search. He had been seeing another dentist down the street from me for a while. But, he kept complaining to his wife that he didn’t like the dentist. Exasperated by his complaints, she found me and insisted that he come to my office. We hit it off right away. And, it turns out his wife had some beautiful cosmetic treatment done by a friend of mine in Houston. A small world story that always creates an even deeper connection.
During our first visit on Monday (to evaluate a broken tooth), the new patient told me about his experience at the other office. Continue reading
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I’ve dabbled in the use of videos in my website marketing. And, I’ve been planning on ramping it up. Like many projects and plans, this effort had fallen victim to my chronic procrastination. One reason / excuse was that (until very recently) I never found video editing software that I liked. I’ve tried a variety, ending up still slightly frustrated Continue reading
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I don’t deal with a lot of removable prosthetics. But, I do see some. And, anything that makes that part of my practice easier and better is a good thing.
Denture relines have always been a bit of a hassle. For the best results, I’ve traditionally taken an impression and sent the case to the lab. The patient would have to go a day without his or her denture. But, the result was usually quite good, as the reline is processed under heat and pressure. However, patients REALLY don’t like going without their dentures. Continue reading
Copyright protected by Digiprove © 2013 The Dental Warrior® My 9 year old son (in 4th grade) was given an assignment to write a paragraph about his “best friend.” He gave it to me last night. Here’s what he wrote:
My “best boy.”
Friendship is a relationship with another person with whom you share special things. My forever friend I chose was my dad. My dad and I like to play games, go places together, and sometimes go ice skating. I feel happy that my dad is my forever friend and we’re together because my dad is always there for me when I need him. Remember that friendship is a special relationship with another person. My dad fits in that meaning because my dad and I have a special relationship with each other.
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I’ve had my Fuji S2 Pro (a Nikon “Franken-camera”) since the early days of digital photography. Maybe 10 years ago. A year or so ago, I bought a Canon Rebel XSi as a back-up clinical camera.
Today, I heard a “POP!” And, then I smelled the pungent odor of fried electronics. It still lingers hours later. It really did stink! Maybe the Fuji S2 had enough of the camera-jealousy? Here’s what I discovered: Continue reading
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Ultradent Valo
For many years, I was happy with my halogen curing light. But, it did annoy me that I had to regularly measure the light output and replace expensive bulbs when they either burned out or dropped below 600 mw/cm2. And, when LED curing lights first came out, I was reluctant because they were limited in the types of composites they could cure. Halogens would cure any type of composite, so I stuck with my trusty Demetron 501 for many good years. Continue reading
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