I have a wonderful golden retriever who is beautiful, kind, and the best friend to my husband and me. We do everything for our girl; nothing is too much or too bothersome. She gets regular exercise, eats nutritious food, and sees her veterinarian regularly. So why don’t we brush her teeth? I have been reading so many articles about the relationship between healthy teeth and gums and overall pet health. It makes sense that if it’s important for humans to take care of our teeth and gums, this would also apply to dogs.

By frequently brushing your canine’s teeth, you not only help combat one of the most common diseases in dogs – periodontal disease – you can also prevent a host of other health problems that stem from gum disease, including damage to other organs such as the heart, liver, and kidneys, and/or lead to other serious health problems.

We wouldn’t think of neglecting our golden girl in any way. My husband and I are on a mission to learn more about the proper way to brush her teeth and the best products to use. We want our dog to have the healthiest life she possibly can.

Do you have any recommendations on canine oral health?

-By Tracey Clayton, Lanmark360 Director of Operations

Implants are a predictable long-term solution for restoring edentulous patients, but are all dentists recommending this option when they present treatment plans to patients? Unfortunately, it is all too common to see practices where dentists who do not place implants (nor have a good referral relationship with a surgeon) never mention the option of implants to their patients when this would be a perfectly good alternative.

The term “out of sight, out of mind” may best describe the phenomenon, although there may be financial incentives as well, for both the patient and dentist. If a dentist’s practice is built on high-end fixed prosthetics, they have achieved an efficiency where they can prepare 2 teeth in 20 minutes, take an impression, be finished with treatment in 2 weeks and insert a bridge, with insurance covering a good portion of the treatment cost. The financial productivity is maximized while the time commitment and risk to the dentist and patient are relatively low, compared to an implant.

Never mind that the patient may have had 2 adjacent teeth that were otherwise perfect before the bridge preparation. Never mind that even if they were imperfect, the bridge may introduce endodontic symptoms or result in recurrent decay over time, which may lead to more extensive treatment and a vicious circle of retreatment.

Never mind as well that the edentulous space under the bridge may continue to resorb. Does it serve the patient’s best interest to ignore the implant option, and is it becoming a standard of care (and a violation of informed consent) NOT to disclose the implant treatment option to patients in a situation that could be served well by both bridges and implants?

I believe the dental profession has come a long way, but in tough economic times there is sometimes a tendency to assume patient preferences and judge the financial status of patients, thus biasing the treatment presentation. When implant options are viable, and the patient requests a fixed prosthesis, it is vital that implant options be reviewed along with bridges and other fixed alternatives, and given due diligence.

Not discussing all options and explaining their risks, benefits and long-term prognoses (to both the affected dentition and the surrounding bone) will result in patients making a choice based on biased or incomplete information, and therefore provide the dentist with “misinformed” consent.

Dental bridges are a wonderful prosthetic option and have had good long-term success. The take-home message of this fact is not that implants should be placed instead of bridges; it is that we should strive to present BOTH implant and bridge options to patients when both options are reasonable alternatives, and allow the patient to decide after being fully informed, without prejudice. If dentists are not comfortable placing implants, they should establish a relationship with an implant surgeon and learn to think like an implant dentist, for the benefit of their patients and the profession.

-By Edy Braun, DDS

In this blog post, I will teach you clever tactics for marketing your dental practice.  You’ll learn about website optimization, engaging patients on your website, social media marketing, email marketing and how you can get ranked on top of search engines.  Best of all, most of these methods are free!

Tactic #1:  Website Optimization

Let’s say you’ve got a fancy website that depicts sparkling teeth.  While this is great, it is imperative that potential patients can find your website.

To optimize your website, you need to make sure that you have original and relevant content.  When choosing keywords, focus on 1-3 phrases per page.  Keyword phrases, for example, include “Cosmetic Dentist Suffolk County” or “Endodontist in Baton Rouge.” Of course, you’ll need to use keywords that are relevant to you and your practice.  Do not overuse keywords.  Rather, write your content naturally for people to read.  You can also use your keyword phrase in the title bar of your website (what you see on the top of your browser).  If you can’t edit this, it is a very basic task that your webmaster should be able to perform.

Tactic #2:  Engaging Patients on Your Website

People love to express themselves.  Let your current and potential patients get involved with your site.  How do you do this?  One method is to have a blog, such as WordPress or Blogger.  With these platforms, users can comment on your blog posts (make sure to moderate this activity).  This is a great way to obtain feedback on your services and learn more about patients’ needs.  Another method is to add an online chat tool.  A company named Volusion currently offers a free basic live chat tool.

In addition, make sure that your website is clean and easy to navigate.  Having a friendly website can certainly entice your visitors to be more engaged.

Tactic #3:  Social Media Marketing

If you haven’t done so already, create a free Facebook, Twitter and Youtube account.  Provide your fans and followers with unique and helpful information about improving their dental health.  You can share your articles, videos, tips and more.  Many dental practices offer specials on facebook, for instance. Supply great information and value, rather than selling.

So, how can you get your patients to join you on these social networks?  Start by putting a visible sign in your office!  You could mention that they’ll get access to the latest news, special offers and more.  Also, put links or acceptable social media icons on your website.  The idea is to get the word out and let others share your social networks to the greatest capacity.

Tactic #4:  Email Marketing

Email marketing is one of the most cost effective strategies for keeping in touch with patients.  To get started, patients just need to fill out what’s called an “opt in form” on your website.  An opt in form captures basic information such as name and email address.

A service called Mail Chimp currently offers a free email marketing account.  To get more flexibility, consider signing up with AWeber.  Through email marketing, you can create monthly newsletters, email blasts for specials and more.  Do not email your patients too much as this can cause frustration.

To keep patients on your email list, try to use a little humor too!  Fiverr.com is an online marketers’ treasure chest.  With Fiverr.com, other people perform “gigs” at just 5 bucks each.  Look for something funny or engaging and share it.  Give your patients something to smile about!

Tactic #5:  Search Engine Ranking Using Maps

Placing your office location on google maps or places is a fantastic technique for being found on local online searches.  Depending on your business and location, it is possible for searchers to find you at the top ranking on Google.  Make sure to include your accurate, registered business address and provide all requested information.  If you can get reviews about your practice, this can help your listing become more visible.  You can add photos, videos, and offers along with your listing.  Using these services can also help you better understand what your potential patients are seeking.

Are you ready to bring your dental marketing to the next level?  Get started with this and the other tactics today!

-Eric Slone, E-Marketing Manager for Mydent International

Eva Grayzel is an unusual late-stage oral cancer survivor: She can speak. Because of that, she feels obligated to tell dentists about their profession’s role in her delayed diagnosis and the heart-wrenching impact the illness had on her and her family.

With cases of HPV-related oral cancer on the rise in young people, Grayzel’s message is timelier than ever. According to the Oral Cancer Foundation, oral cancer will be newly diagnosed in about 100 new individuals each day in the U.S. alone, and because so many of the diagnoses aren’t made until long after the cancer has spread, a person dies from oral cancer every hour of every day.

Grayzel is tireless in her efforts to increase awareness. Her emotional story, which she shares with dental professionals across the globe, helps further her screening-awareness campaign, which is anchored by www.sixstepscreening.org.

It’s been 13 years since Grayzel’s diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma and the radical treatment that took a third of her tongue, her entire left sternocleidomastoid muscle, much of her saliva flow and nearly her life. But it’s her account of how the illness affected her relationship with her two young children that is perhaps the most transfixing. Today, she calls herself lucky, not just because she’s alive and cancer-free, but also because unlike so many late-stage survivors, she literally kept the tip of her tongue, physically enabling her to clearly and passionately articulate her message.

Dental Geek: What was your impetus for developing Six-Step screening?

Eva Grayzel: When I was given a second chance at life, I never wanted what happened to me to happen to anyone else so I developed Six-Step Screening to educate the general public and dental professionals about the existence of this debilitating and deadly disease and its early signs. I never once heard the words ‘oral cancer’ until the day I was diagnosed. My dentists and oral surgeons had no idea that the sore staring at them on my lateral tongue was squamous cell carcinoma! In addition to my mission to educate, Six-Step Screening is my tribute to those who came before me and my obligation to those who will follow. By publicly sharing my personal journey to help others, I'm gaining back all the years and more of life that oral cancer took from me.

DG: What challenges have you encountered with your work to raise awareness about Oral Cancer?

EG: Screening is just as important as cleaning. Many dental professionals say they do an oral cancer screening but it varies from a quick look to the ‘Real McCoy.’ The challenge is to motivate every dentist and dental hygienist to perform a thorough screening at every dental checkup. No state in this country mandates regular CE in early detection of oral cancer. Therefore, dental professionals must opt for a course on oral cancer detection. Most prefer courses on cosmetic dentistry. Taking a course on oral cancer detection is about providing the best care for their patients. If you could save one life in your entire career by catching oral cancer early, isn’t it worth it?

DG: You speak internationally sharing your journey through stage IV oral cancer. What do you want your dental audience to know, feel, believe or support?

EG: Audiences travel the journey with me from a delayed diagnosis of late-stage oral cancer, through the surgery, treatment and recovery. The audience doesn’t just hear a story, they ‘experience’ it. This experience establishes an emotional connection and that connection motivates change. The passion for why dental professionals do the work they do is revived - they are empowered to make a difference and save lives through performing oral cancer screenings on all their patients. I emphasize the importance for dental professionals to take responsibility for communicating with their patients about oral cancer and its early signs while they are doing during an intra- and extra- oral exam.

Practicing dentists and husband-and-wife team, Drs. Jon Korn and Grace Lo, developed a new product, Tooth Tissues, to help protect children from early childhood caries (cavities). The Dental Geek was lucky enough to be able to speak with Jon and Grace about why and how this inventive new product was developed out of the family’s Connecticut home.

Dental Geek: Drs. Jon and Grace, this product sounds very useful for parents; can you tell us a little bit about why you developed Tooth Tissues, and how the development process took place?

Drs. Jon Korn and Grace Lo: Necessity is the mother of invention, and thus began our development of Tooth Tissues. In the middle of the night, our youngest daughter would fall asleep with her bottle. Like many parents, we were just exhausted, and the last thing we wanted to do was find a clean wet washcloth to wipe out her mouth. We soon discovered the advice we were giving our patients was not so easy to follow, so Tooth Tissues were born as a convenience product to replace the wet washcloth. They also have the added benefit of xylitol.

DG: What do the Tooth Tissues do, what are they made of, and how can parents ensure they’re safe enough for their children?

A: They are the first convenience solution to the “wet washcloth.” They are made of 100% bamboo wipes, moistened with an all-natural solution that contains xylitol. Tooth Tissues are made in the US.

They just achieved the distinction of displaying the Natural Products Association seal. The NPA is currently the only independent organization that sets standards as to whether a product is truly natural.

We purposely designed them to be as close to “flavorless” as possible, because we didn't feel that babies needed an added flavor. Although the wipes have a “vanilla yogurt” smell from the natural preservatives, no taste is left on the teeth.

DG: How does the use of tooth wipes fit in with the traditional oral health regimen for children? Could they replace brushing or flossing?

A: The ADA recommends that soft tissues be wiped even BEFORE primary teeth have erupted. Getting babies used to oral stimulation using dental wipes will help the transition into using a toothbrush. Wipes can be used exclusively until the posterior teeth start to erupt – then, toothbrushing should be the primary form of oral hygiene. For older babies, kids and adults, wipes are a great way to clean when you don’t have a toothbrush handy, especially on the go or after a sticky snack. Something is better than nothing!

DG: At what age should children start visiting the dentist, and what common misconceptions exist about the right timing?

A: Ideally, by baby’s first birthday. This first appointment is mostly to educate the parents about the importance of diet and home care. Often, when we see kids at 3, sadly, there is already tooth decay.

DG: Do you think Tooth Tissues have a place in the pediatrician’s office, as well?

A: Absolutely; dental health and overall health go hand in hand!

We’re parents, so we know how life-altering and crazy having a new baby is. Since most parents visit the pediatrician a few times during the first few months, pediatricians are a great source of information. New parents often are not aware that oral hygiene should begin before baby has any teeth – or why they are so important, even if they eventually fall out. Pediatricians can play a large role in helping their patients get off to a great start with their oral hygiene.

DG: Do you have any recommendations for adult use, and can this product be used on canines, since maintaining a pet’s oral health can often be a struggle?

A: Tooth Tissues can be used for adults when a toothbrush is nowhere to be found. They are perfect for those people who wipe their teeth with napkins – and far more hygienic.

Sorry, you can’t use them on your pets – the xylitol causes liver toxicity.

DG: How can Dental Geek readers find out more information about Tooth Tissues, and where can the wipes be purchased?

A: Check out our website, www.toothtissues.com, for a complete list of retailers or to purchase directly.