Improving your Smile

How Dental Implants can Benefit You

Dental implants have become increasingly popular over the years. They are a great alternative to a bridge and partial because it’s a permanent solution that does not require removal of healthy tooth structure. Dental implants have become a more affordable option recently and are becoming a more common route for patients to take in replacing missing teeth.

 
implant postDental implants have come a long way in the last 40 years in terms of development and use. Dental implants are made of titanium and other materials that are harmonious with the human body. This is important in the body’s ability to heal after the implant has been placed. Surgically placed posts are implanted into the upper or lower jaw and serve as an anchor for the replacement teeth.

 
There are typically three phases involved in getting an implant.

 
1. First, the dentist places the implant post which is made of titanium into the bone surgically. Your dentist will recommend you follow a diet of soft foods and warm soup to aid in the healing process. Hot foods should be avoided.dentalimplants

 
2. Next, the implant goes through a healing process called osseointegration which is defined as “combines with bone”. This is a critical step in which the bone grows around the implant. A dense, strong bone must be present so that the implant does not fail. This healing process can take several months in some patients’ cases.

 
3. Finally, the implant crown is placed. Your dentist will likely place a temporary crown while the permanent crown is being made in the lab. The tooth will appear similar in size, shape and color to your natural teeth.

 
before & after implantsIf you’re interested in exploring the option of dental implants please contact Personal Care Dentistry at 651-636-0655. This treatment may be a great option for you if you’re in good general health.  Patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes or leukemia may not be good candidates for dental implants since the diseases may interfere in the healing process. It may be recommended you be medically evaluated by a physician prior to the surgery being scheduled.

 
Source: American Dental Association

Share
Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Keeping Decay at Bay

Sealants Protect Teeth from Cavities

top surfaceThe dental sealants used by Personal Care Dentistry prevent decay by acting as a barrier between cavity-causing foods and healthy teeth. Sealants are applied to the molars and pre-molars of permanent teeth that have no decay. They are made of a hard plastic-like material that aids in the prevention of decay.

 Good brushing and flossing habits help in the removal of plaque and food from the smooth surfaces of teeth. Sealants protect the chewing surfaces that are more likely to decay due to deep grooves in the teeth. Sealants get their name because of their ability to “seal” the tooth from decay-causing substances.

Applying a sealant is a very simple procedure. The sealant material is applied with a small aoolying a sealantbrush to the chewing surface of the tooth. It is bonded directly to the tooth and hardens with the help of a special light. The resin material bonds onto the pits and fissures of the back teeth. The tooth surface will be protected from decay as long as the sealant is properly placed. Sealants can last for years and can be reapplied if needed. It is standard procedure that the doctors at Personal Care Dentistry check the condition of sealants during an exam.

Children are most likely to get sealants and reap the benefits although adults can get sealants too.

Prevent decay by:
sealed tooth• eating healthy and keeping snacks to a minimum
• visiting your dentist regularly
• brushing twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• flossing daily

Source: mouthhealthy.org

Share
Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Understanding HIPAA

Protecting Patient Privacy is Important at Personal Care Dentistry

What is HIPAA?

confidentialHIPAA is a federal law put into place in 1996 that established rules about who can look at and receive your health information and is known as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. The law gives the patient rights over their own personal health information and who can see it and how it is shared. HIPAA also requires your health care providers and pharmacists explain your rights and how your personal information regarding your health can be shared or utilized.

Ask for a copy of the HIPAA Policy at Personal Care Dentistry

Whether you are a new patient or a patient of many years, you have likely been asked to read over and sign a form called the Consent for Use and Disclosure ofHIPPA Health Information. This form explains your rights regarding your health information and tells you how your health information can be used or shared. You may obtain a copy of the Notice of Privacy Practices, including any revisions to the Notice, at any time by simply contacting Personal Care Dentistry at       651-636-0655.

Read the Notice & ask Questions

How your health care provider or insurer is allowed to use or share your health information is explained. Privacy rights, including your right to get a copy of your health file and review it, are also included in this Notice. Your doctor has legal duties to protect your health information. If the Notice is not clear ask your healthcare provider to explain it. If there are further questions you may also refer to HHS.gov or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Know What You are Signing

Hand with pen makes signatureThe law requires your health care provider ask for written proof that you received the Notice of Privacy Practices. The law, however, does not require you to sign the acknowledgement form. You may choose to not sign the form and the provider will note the refusal. This will not affect your ability to receive treatment. Choosing to sign the form only states that you got the Notice. You are not giving up rights or consenting to special use of your records by signing the form.

 

To learn more, visit www.hhs.gov/ocr/privacy/.

Share
Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Premedicating Before Every Visit

What is an Antibiotic Premedication?

drugsAn antibiotic premedication, commonly referred to as a premed, is an antibiotic prescribed as a preventative measure to fight bacteria that may enter into the blood stream during a procedure. A patient’s primary care physician typically prescribes the antibiotic with the overall health and safety of the patient in mind. If your doctor has prescribed you a premed, it is very important that it is taken one hour prior to every visit to the dental office.

 
Why is Taking the Premedication so Important?

 bacteremia
Regardless of whether a patient is coming in for a routine cleaning, or for a more invasive procedure (such as a crown), the risk of infection is increased due to the nature and invasiveness of the procedure. The threat of bacteria getting into the bloodstream is heightened and the outcome can consist of a severe infection. That is why it is so important that the doctors and staff at Personal Care Dentistry know about every medication prescribed to you, including premeds. Please be sure to speak with your hygienist and doctor regarding any changes in health history and medications at the beginning of every visit.

 
New Guidelines:

 
The American Heart Association, in conjunction with the American Dental Association (ADA), announced new guidelines in 2007 regarding who needs to be taking antibiotic premedication.

 

Updated guidelines for individual’s needing to take a premedication before a dental procedure:

Rx• Anyone with a current prescription for a pre-med from their doctor
• A patient with artificial heart valves
• A patient with history of infective endocarditis
• A patient with unrepaired congenital heart disease
• A patient with a completely repaired congenital heart defect with prosthetic material or device during the first six months after the procedure
• A patient with any repaired congenital heart defect with residual defect at the site or adjacent to the site of a prosthetic patch or a prosthetic device
• A patient with a cardiac transplant that develops a heart valve problem

 
If you are unsure whether or not you should be taking an antibiotic premedication, please consult your primary care physician.

 
Source: Dimensions of Dental Hygiene

Share
Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

An Easy Financing Solution

Personal Care Dentistry offers Care Credit

ccPersonal Care Dentistry has a variety of financing options available to patients. One of the most popular is called Care Credit, which provides a patient with a line of credit similar to that of a credit card. The only difference is the limitations. Care Credit can be used for dental care and trips to the vet for that four-legged member of the family. It basically picks up where insurance leaves off.

 
Applying for Care Credit is quite simple and you will receive an answer almost instantly. Personal Care Dentistry accepts Care Credit and the staff will help you apply so that it can be used right away before you can even get your card in the mail. Be sure to ask any member of the staff for the information and they will be able to send you in the right direction.

 approved
Not everyone’s situation is the same so why should the financing options be? Care Credit offers several payment options, including no-interest financing to qualified applicants, and payment plans with low, fixed interest rates. Ask the Financial Coordinator at Personal Care Dentistry for more information regarding the finance options and payments.

Why Care Credit?  Over 150,000 places will accept it and it can be used for many visits including the following:

• Dental Care
• Teeth Whitening
• Braces
• Chiropractic Care
• Hearing Aids
• Vision Exams
• LASIK Surgery
• Veterinary Care
• Dermatology
• Cosmetic Procedures

carecredit

 

 

Source:  CareCredit.com

Share
Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , | Comments Off

Still Passionate About Helping Others after 36 Years

Dr. Walter Hunt Looks Back at a Life of Providing Careimg508

The year was 1977, and the stock market hit 831. The average new home price was $49,500 and a gallon of gas cost 65 cents. Jimmy Carter was elected president of the United States, the movie Star Wars premiered, and the Eagles “Hotel California” became a megahit.

In the Twin Cities, Walter Hunt, Jr. had just opened his dental practice in Roseville, Minnesota, after graduating from the University of Minnesota’s dental school.

Thirty-six years later, gas hovers near $4 a gallon, there have been five presidents since Jimmy Carter, and the stock market just topped 15,000. And Dr. Hunt is still bringing compassionate dental care to his patients at the same location on Hamline Avenue. Actually, tens of thousands of patients in those 36 years.

His practice has grown by leaps and bounds over the years – his expansion this fall will be the third time he has added space to his offices on Hamline Avenue – as patients have spread the word about the quality and caring that the staff at Personal Care Dentistry bring to their work every day.

But even with three other dentists on staff, Dr. Hunt still works a full-time schedule treating patients while running the business side of Personal Care Dentistry.PCD

Dr. Hunt’s son Zach joined the practice last year after earning an MBA, and is now the Chief Operating Officer for the practice. Another son, Kyle, is currently in dental school and will join Personal Care Dentistry in 2014 after he graduates.

So how did Dr. Hunt arrive on Hamline Avenue with an approach to dentistry that focuses on “compassionate care?” Dr. Hunt grew up in northwestern Indiana in a town named Merrillville. By the time his family moved to Minnesota at the beginning of his junior year of high school, he had become an accomplished athlete in both football and baseball. It was then that he also reached a defining moment in his life, one that has influenced his approach to life and dentistry.

“My family didn’t have much money – we lived in a poor neighborhood in Merrillville – so I had a lot of friends who were also poor. But because I was a good athlete, I also had a group of friends who came from families with money. And I didn’t like the way the kids with money would treat the poor kids. It was then that I vowed that I would always treat everyone equally with the same amount of caring and respect,” emphasizes Dr. Hunt. “The worth of a person should not be defined by what they have or how they look.”

After moving to the Twin Cities, Dr. Hunt’s athleticism earned him the starting quarterback spot on the Saint Anthony Village High School football team. He also played second base on the high school baseball team. By the time he was a senior, he had interest from a number of colleges in Minnesota looking for football quarterbacks.

But Dr. Hunt decided that a career in football probably wasn’t going to pay his bills, so he focused on a career as a dentist. He graduated in 1977 and joined the practice of Dr. Stende, who had been on Hamline Avenue for about 8 years. That fall, he bought the practice, which occupied just 700 square feet on the same floor that the practice is currently on. Five years later, Dr. Hunt expanded the practice to 1,400 square feet and had six employees. In 2002, Personal Care Dentistry expanded again to 4,000 square feet and doubled its employee count. This fall, Dr. Hunt will expand the practice once again, taking up almost all of the space left on the third floor that Personal Care Dentistry doesn’t currently occupy. The practice now has 30 employees, including four dentists.

dr&johnThe latest expansion will add three treatment rooms. The reception/patient waiting area will be redone, and additional staff will be added. 

“I probably could have grown quicker earlier in my career, but you tend to be conservative when you own a business and things are going well. But I decided when I turned 50 that I would practice for 20 more years, and when I turned 70 I didn’t want to look back and say, ‘Was that as good as I could have done as a dentist?’”

For Dr. Hunt, being a dentist and the founder of Personal Care Dentistry is not a job. It is a passion. He has had the same goal for almost half a century – treat people with dignity and respect, and as a dentist, provide them with the best care possible. 

“This is my passion, and this is how I can contribute to helping other people have better lives. Even today, I still feel like I get more out of caring for others than they do. I love being here at Personal Care Dentistry.”

Dr. Walter Hunt, D.D.S. | Founder & DentistIn his spare time, Dr. Hunt loves to take photos of the beauty of nature. If you have been to Personal Care Dentistry, you have probably seen his images on the walls and on flat screen TVs in the treatment rooms. Many patients have commented about the vibrancy and uniqueness of his images. For many years, Dr. Hunt also played “town” baseball, a big tradition in the Midwest. He finally had to stop playing in his 50’s after a variety of injuries and the competition – “a lot of my opponents were in their 20’s and 30’s” – made him realize that he needed a different sports hobby. “The hip replacement I had really made me realize I needed to hang up my cleats.”

He may have hung up his cleats, but you will still find Dr. Hunt on Hamline Avenue caring for thousands of patients every year.

Share
Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Dress for LLS

Raising Money to Cure Cancer

thursdaysThursdays in May might appear to be a little more casual than usual at Personal Care Dentistry (PCD). The staff will be participating in the “Dress for LLS” fundraiser. Employees can make a minimum donation of five dollars toward the cure for cancer in exchange for getting to wear their favorite jeans and t-shirt to work on Thursdays. Dr. Hunt and his staff have participated in years prior but want to make this year a record-breaking one.cancer

LLS is short for Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. This is the organization’s 23rd year of raising money to cure cancer and the goal to meet is $50,000. Their mission: “Cure leukemia, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma and improve the quality of life of patients and their families.” Every 4 minutes someone is diagnosed with a blood cancer and every 10 minutes someone dies.

 

donate“Dress for LLS” is about more than just raising money at Personal Care Dentistry. It’s about raising awareness and conquering cancer. At Personal Care Dentistry the team is family and when a member of the family is sick they are all affected. Earlier this year, a PCD family member was diagnosed with a form of cancer. Dr. Hunt and the staff are happy to report that she is back to work and doing what she loves. It was a wake-up call that cancer doesn’t know age, color or sex. Join Personal Care Dentistry this May in raising money and awareness to cure blood cancers!

Share
Posted in Blog | Tagged , , , , | Comments Off

Maintaining Good Oral Health

Visiting Your Dentist Regularly is a Necessityhealthy tooth

 
Maintaining good oral health on your own is not enough to avoid all dental problems. It is recommended that you visit your dentist once every six months. Just because your teeth appear clean doesn’t mean there aren’t problems beneath the surface. Issues are often present with no pain or discomfort until the problem is at an advanced stage.

Most people think a six month check-up consists of polishing the teeth and the doctor stopping in to address concerns.  There is so much more that goes on at those check-ups than meets the eye. Dentists are highly educated and trained to detect and diagnose problems at early stages to prevent their advancement. This is why it is important to see them regularly. There is so much that cannot be seen by the naked eye or by someone that is not trained. Remember, just because it doesn’t hurt doesn’t mean there is nothing wrong.

What happens at a check-up? The following will explain why it is so important to make it to your regular dental visits.

What does a cleaning consist of?

• Updating your health history if necessary. Talk to your hygienist about any changes in your health including pregnancy, surgery, medication changes, illness, etc.
• Tell your hygienist if you have any pain or areas of concern regarding your oral health so that these issues can be addressed.
• If necessary, the hygienist will take x-rays. X-rays are a great tool in detection of problems not visible to the naked eye.
• The hygienist will strip your teeth of calculus, stains and tartar. This is known as a cleaning or prophy.scale
• The hygienist may “probe” your gum tissue to test the depth of the pockets. This is important in preventing gum disease and bone loss.
• The hygienist will then floss and polish your teeth.
• The hygienist may offer a fluoride treatment and other services or products he/she deems necessary.

What does an exam consist of? 

• The doctor will check for cavities and broken fillings and crowns.
• They will then check the condition of the gum tissue and assess your overall oral hygiene.
• The doctor will check the soft tissues for ulcerations and other lesions.
• The doctor may check the jaws and the muscles associated with them.
• Finally, concerns are addressed and recommendations are made.

When is the last time you visited your dentist? Call Personal Care Dentistry today and catch up on your check-ups!PCD-header-mockup8-2

Source: Dentalwisdom.com

Share
Posted in Blog | Comments Off

Angie’s List Provides Valuable Insights

reviews

Read the Reviews and Decide for Yourself

 
Angie’s List was founded in 1995. Members can read reviews on companies from all areas of business including dentistry. Angie’s List helps consumers by giving members access to actual reviews with no anonymous providers. Reviews are real, honest and from the consumer’s point of view and companies cannot pay to be on Angie’s List.

 

A+reportcardsmallPersonal Care Dentistry has many reviews on Angie’s List. They are proud to be an Angie’s List Super Service Award winner for the second year in a row. Angie’s List not only helps the consumer but also helps the business realize their strengths and weaknesses. What better way to improve your business than to listen to the feedback of your customers, right?

 
Being an Angie’s List member provides perks. Not only will it save you time and money it will likely save you a headache or two at some point. Plain and simple, find out how a company rates before spending your hard-earned money on hiring them.

piggy
Member Perks:

 
• Access to reviews
• Monthly magazine
• Complaint resolution line
• Live help from calling service
• Save time and money

 
Source: Angie’s List

Share
Posted in Blog | Comments Off

Don’t Forget About Your Gums

Fighting Periodontal Disease

healthy mouthYou may be surprised to hear that many Americans have some form of periodontal disease. The disease in its most mild form can be seen as inflammation of the gum tissue. More severe cases include major damage to soft tissue and bone, even tooth loss. Whether you are dealing with bleeding gums or bone loss, find out how to prevent periodontal disease from progressing.

Inadequate brushing and flossing causes gum disease. Both are important in removing plaque-causing bacteria from the mouth. When brushing and flossing become a pastime, gum disease moves in. Risk factors include diabetes, use of certain medications, hormonal changes in women, other illnesses, and genetic susceptibility. The best way to prevent periodontal disease is by maintaining good oral health.

 
gingivitisGingivitis is inflammation of the gums. Signs include red and swollen gums that may bleed easily. Gingivitis is a mild form of periodontal disease that can be remedied by regular brushing, flossing and cleanings by your dental hygienist. Gum disease at this stage does not include bone and tissue loss.

perio disease

Periodontitis presents itself when gingivitis is not properly addressed. The inflammation has now moved from just being in the gums to being around the tooth. Gum tissue moves away from the tooth and forms pockets of infection. If periodontitis is not treated the bones, gums, and tissue that support the teeth can be destroyed.

Prevention is key in avoiding any disease including periodontal disease. Taking care of yourself now will help in preventing problems down the road. Good oral health is more than fighting bad breath and having clean teeth. It is a reflection of your self esteem and how you take care of the rest of your body. Get a jumpstart on prevention and keep yourself looking and feeling young and healthy!

 
Prevent periodontal disease by implementing the following habits:

floss&brush

• Brush your teeth twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste
• Floss regularly to remove plaque from between the teeth
• Visit your dentist regularly for your routine check-up and cleaning
• Don’t smoke

 

Source: National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research

Share
Posted in Blog | Comments Off