The Medina Family Dentist

One third of the adults in the United Sates has high blood pressure. If you have high blood pressure, or hypertension, you know how important it is to take your medication on a regular basis.  But did you know your blood pressure medication can cause side effects in your mouth such as dry mouth or a change in how your food tastes? Be sure to tell your dentist if you are being treated for hypertension and be specific about what medicines you are taking!

We did it!  We survived winter! Spring is here and summer is just around the corner. If you are like me, you are enjoying the blue skies and warm weather. But outdoor activities and warm weather sports bring with them a higher level of accidents that can affect your teeth. Wearing a mouth guard when playing sports is a simple way to avoid dental injuries. But sometimes, despite our best efforts, accidents happen. Be prepared by knowing what to do in the event that you or your loved ones suffer a dental emergency.

If your tooth is knocked out, contact your dentist immediately for an emergency appointment. Find the tooth, and carefully pick it up by the crown, not the root (the root is the part of the tooth below the gum line ).  Touching the root of the tooth can cause damage to the tiny cells necessary for bone reattachment. Gently rinse the tooth in water if it is dirty. Be careful not to scrub or remove any of the tissue pieces. If you can, place the clean tooth into the socket to keep it moist. You do not want to let the tooth dry out. I understand that this may not be possible, especially if you are dealing with a child. If you can’t store the tooth in the  mouth of the injured person, put the  tooth in a container with milk or saliva and take it with you to your dentist as soon as possible. Remember,the longer the tooth is out, the more difficult it will be to save.

What if your tooth is only loosened or pushed out of position?   Try to lightly push the tooth back into position, but be very careful not to force it.  If you tooth is chipped or fractured, rinse your mouth out with warm water. An ice pack, or cold compress can help reduce any swelling that may occur. And again, call your dentist immediately for an emergency appointment. 

Be careful not to use aspirin for pain. Remember, aspirin is an anticoagulant, and may cause excessive bleeding with a dental trauma. If your mouth tissue is cut or torn, clean the site with warm water and have it looked at immediately by your dentist, an oral surgeon or your hospital emergency room.

It is helpful to put a dental section in your first aid kit, and keep it with you.  The Academy of General Dentistry recommends that this Emergency Dental Care Kit include:

• Your Dentist’s Phone Number at home and the office
• Clean Handkerchief
• Sterile Gauze
• Small container with a lid
• Ibuprofen (not aspirin!)

Accidents happen despite our best efforts to be safe. Here’s hoping you continue to enjoy our beautiful Ohio Spring, armed with the knowledge of what to do in a dental emergency.

Almost 29 million Americans have diabetes, which can cause serious complications with your dental health. Our office recently completed a training course on diabetes presented by Ohio State University. If you have any questions about how diabetes affects your teeth and gums, please give us a call at (330) 725-2242 or email us at drm@medinafamilydentistry.com

We are fortunate in Northeastern Ohio to be in forefront of some of the most groundbreaking health advances in the world.   A Case Western Reserve University microbiologist , Yiping Han,  has been studying the connection between oral bacteria and still birth for the past ten years. She  has found the first direct evidence of oral bacteria being involved in a still birth.

Follow this link to read the entire article about this groundbreaking work  http://tinyurl.com/yzjbazk

Medical/Dental research  is finding that there is a direct coorelation between the health of you teeth and gums, and the health of the rest of your body.  This article is a must read article for anyone considering becoming pregnant or who is pregnant.

For any further questions on this important topic, or any of your dental needs, please do not hesitate to contact our office at (330)725-2242 or email Dr. Milewski at DrM@MedinaFamilyDentistry.com

January is typically a month where we get a lot of insurance questions. Most plans are based on a calendar year, and many companies change their insurance carriers every one or two years in order to find the best rates. It can be confusing and difficult to understand, and we are here to help.

Our business staff has an excellent relationship with the many insurance companies used by our patients. Both Cindy and Donna have years and years of experience with helping patients manage their insurance coverage. Here are a few tips they would like to share with you:

Many insurance companies no longer issue identification cards. Instead, they make benefits available online.  It is very important that you come to each appointment with your most up to date benefits in hand.  If you have an ID card, please bring it, along with any benefits booklet or benefits printed from your online source. We need to know your insurance identification number, which is usually different than your social security number. We also need to know your group number, which identifies your particular place of employment amongst the many clients your insurance company serves. Phone numbers, mailing addresses and web addresses of your insurance company are critically important in processing your claims in a timely manner.

Every insurance company (for example, Delta Dental, Anthem, Medical Mutual) has a different plan based on the level of benefits your company is able to purchase. So within a single insurance company there are literally hundreds of plans. Two plans from the same insurance company can be vastly different.  It is based on the coverage your employer purchases.

 The term “reasonable and customary” is a very confusing term. Like any business, an insurance company needs to make a profit. So they figure out how much money they can pay for different procedures and still make a profit from the amount of premiums you and your company pay. Insurance industries pay for the gathering of data from dentists within a geographic area, seeing what procedures are most typically used, and from those numbers, decide how to set their reimbursement levels so they can make a profit.  Often this data gathered from dentists is several years old. Reasonable and Customary means nothing more than how much your insurance company is willing to contribute toward any specific procedure based on the level of premiums you pay.  It often has little to do with the actual cost of a procedure.

Always remember that when your insurance benefits list that procedures are covered at “100%” or “80%” what they are saying is that they will pay 100 or 80% of whatever amount they decide. So if they decide, based on your specific plan,  that they will cover $50 for a cleaning, then when they tell you they pay 100%, they mean they pay 100% of the $50, not the actual cost of the cleaning. Your premiums are based on the assumption that you will use all of your allowable benefits.  Not using the benefits you are paying for is like handing your insurance company a check at the end of the year.  The amount of benefits available to you at any given time is usually readily available online.

Insurance can be very confusing. If you have any questions about your insurance coverage, or your explanation of benefits, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at (330) 725-2242.    Our resident insurance gurus (aka Donna and Cindy) are happy to help!

Welcome 2010!  Here’s hoping you had a lovely Holiday and rang in the New Year in good health! 2010 promises to be an interesting year, one we hope that brings you only good things.

One new thing that many of you have as of Jan 1, 2010, is new insurance information. Since many companies base their plans on a calendar year, Jan 1 marks the beginning of new deductibles and sometimes new coverage. Most companies now have their benefits available online…it is very helpful for us, if you can visit your website before your visit and come to our office with your benefits printed out. That way both of us know the details of your plan and we can file your insurance efficiently.

As always, if you have any questions about your insurance, please ask!  Our business staff are very highly experienced in dealing with insurance and are always ready to help you in any way possible!

Happy New Year from everyone at Medina Family Dentistry!

Mary Kay

I don’t know about you, but my head these days is filled with thoughts of the upcoming holidays!  I can’t believe the year is nearing an end.  It is so cliche to lament the passing of time, but honestly…when did it start moving at warp speed?

Everyday  for the last month, I have been posting what I am thankful for on my facebook page.  Most of it is silly (I am thankful for my golden retreiver who sheds like it is her job…otherwise, I would never ever vacuum my house every day.) But it does come from a real place of gratitude.

One of the things I am most grateful for is that I get to come to work every day in such a great place.  Our team is truly so good at what they do and they have fun doing it…it is a great work environment.  Top that off by seeing our wonderful patients each day…well, let it just suffice to say, we are very, very blessed to work with and for such great people.

So as you begin to prepare that pumpkin pie, and ponder whether to make your own pie crust or to buy a ready made  crust, remember this: no one can tell the difference.  Use the ready made crust……Life is too short, and time is passing too quickly!  Spend your time on the things that matter most, your family and your friends.  And you.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

PS  a special shout out to the Medina Girls Soccer Team who are Division I state champions.  Well done girls!!

I don’t know about you, but once Halloween is past, I give myself permission to start the Holidays!  Christmas music is played in my car and in my house, and I start to enjoy the anticipation of my favorite time of year.  The stores are all decked out  and in full Holiday mode, so Christmas Shopping is an ever present task that sits on my undone list.  My kids all like really practical gifts (who are these children?), so I think I might start my shopping right in our dental office!

The first item on my list is an Electric Toothbrush.  We love using Electric Toothbrushes for many reasons.  For children, an Electric Toothbrush has a timer and is very “electronicish” (is that a word?).  We find that many times, children become more compliant when brushing their teeth becomes fun.  If you are a very aggressive toothbrusher like  I am, an Electric Toothbrush can be beneficial. If you are too aggressive when brushing, you can begin to push your gums down and cause what we in the dental field call gum recession.  An Electric Toothbrush is beneficial because it provides just the right amount of gentle, cleaning pressure on your teeth.  Senior Citizens also like Electric Toothbrushes, especially if they have limited mobility in their hands and wrist. The toothbrush moves itself, making it easier for them to thoroughly brush.

Another great gift idea is a Water Pik.  A Water Pik is a great dental aid in getting rid of food particles caught between your teeth and below your gums before it can develop into plaque.  A Water Pik is also a great gift for people who are in braces.  It helps clean around all the hardware on your teeth. It is also wonderful for people who have bridges or other dental appliances.

Don’t forget the gift of Whitening. Like it or not, our appearance often sends a message of who we are.  A sparkling, white smile can brighten up your entire appearance! One of our most popular Christmas gifts, Whitening your teeth has become very common with teenagers and adults. Our DayWhite system gets great results, and is easy to use. Just remember, we don’t recommend whitening for anyone under the age of 16!

We have great stocking stuffers too, like Prevident 5000 fluoridated toothpaste.  What?? Your kids don’t want flouridated toothpaste in their stocking? Sigh, I know, I know!  But hey, anything that reminds them to take care of their teeth during the hurry and flurries of the Holiday season works for me!

Call our office and speak to any of our personal shoppers who can guide you toward a great Dental Christmas gift!  We stock all these items in our office, but supplies are limited, so shop early!  Enjoy the upcoming months, and from time to time, remember to slow down and smell the pinecones.  Happy Holidays!

Mary Kay

It seems like summer just began, but here we are again getting our children ready to go back to school.  Whether  you are checking off items on a school  supply list, or getting them ready to head off to  college,  don’t forget these student tips for maintaining  a healthy smile!

Brush at least twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste.  I know that young people, especially teenagers, often roll out of bed a few moments before the bus honks it’s horn, but you should  never leave your house in the morning without brushing your teeth.  Chomping on a bagel on the way to class may save time, but it could lead to decay.  The starches  in carbohydrates can combine with bacteria on leftover food in your mouth and produce acid, which leads to decay. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, carbohydrate laden foods, such as chips, bread, pasta or  even crackers can be as harmful to your teeth as candy.  Eat a healthy, balanced breakfast then brush your teeth before you leave your house in the morning!

When you decide what your child will eat for lunch, choose wisely.  Check the sugar content of those juice boxes, you may be surprised at how much sugar your child is gulping down. If your child is heading off to junior high or high  school, beware of  pop machines!  Soda pop with the decay causing combination of sugar and carbonation are readily available, often with disastrous effects on your child’s dental health.  Send your child to school with low sugar food and drink alternatives, and encourage them to rinse their mouth out after they eat.

And don’t forget after school snacks!  You know your child will walk into your home and be ravenous, so have healthy fruits and vegetables ready for them to grab.  If your child is staying after school for an activity, pack them a healthy snack. If you don’t, they will head to the sugary choices in the vending machines which are expensive and can lead to dental decay. 

Back to school time is a very busy time for families. Take a minute and discuss healthy dental choices with your child.  And keep on smiling.