Letter to Our Patients with Delta Dental in 2017

To Our Valued Patients at Lund Dental with Delta Dental Insurance:

We work in a special office here at Lund Dental. I truly believe that. First and foremost, we put our patients first. At every morning business meeting we discuss how we can do things better for our patients. We know that we are nothing without our patients, and we work very hard to earn and maintain their respect and trust. Dr. William Lund built this practice 41 years ago, and I am proud to say I have been here over 13 years.

We have made a conscious effort to be an exceptional dental practice that does not cut corners with time, workmanship, or care. Just a few of the ways we do this include: a dentist personally spending over an hour with each new patient; reserving a full hour for each adult continuing care cleaning; investing in state-of-the-art dental technology; using the best dental materials and laboratories; encouraging and paying our team to attend continuing education classes; paying to retain our first class staff.

A long time ago, we decided that we were not going to allow dental insurances to dictate our dentistry, and through the years we have opted out of several plans that would have put such financial stress on us that we could not do the kind of dentistry that our patients deserve. We do not want to be a dental factory, churning out subpar fillings and rushing through 30 minute cleanings. Neither Dr. William Lund nor I could sleep at night if that were the kind of care we provided.

I cannot fully express the anger and frustration I felt today when we received a letter from Delta Dental of Massachusetts stating that unless we play ball with them, we will be dropped from their plan. What do they want us to do?…Accept an approximately 25% fee reduction across the board. If we refuse to sign their paperwork, they will inform all our Delta Dental of Massachusetts patients that we are no longer a provider, and they will recommend that they seek dental care elsewhere with a Delta Dental provider. We will no longer be able to submit insurance for our patients and receive payment; instead, patients who choose to remain with us will pay for services and then seek reimbursement from Delta themselves. The letter stated we have 14 days to decide what to do. It seems very convenient that the letter was sent around Christmas time when everyone is busy and distracted.

This is Delta Dental of Massachusetts taking advantage of you the patient. They want to pay less money for your dental care, and they do not care if it means you the patient receive compromised care. For years, we have accepted a write-off of approximately 10% from Delta Dental of Massachusetts. We did this because we knew a large portion of our patients have Delta, and financially it was feasible to take the write-off. As the write-off climbs to over 30%, it is no longer the case. Something has to give, and we do not want it to be your dental care.

Does this mean that if we remain in the plan we would do “bad” dentistry? Of course not! But that 60 minute cleaning will need to be cut down to 40 minutes. There will be less time with the actual dentist and more time with assistants. Does this sound familiar to anyone? It is what has happened with medicine, and I cannot think of one person who is genuinely happy with their medical care or medical insurance.

Just as we are upset and frustrated, you should be too. Contact your employer and tell them to find alternatives to Delta Dental of Massachusetts. Delta Dental is only looking out for themselves and puts no real value on the quality of your dental care. We plan on doing everything we can to oppose this. We love and value you our patients and love dentistry too much to go down without a fight.

Yours Truly,

Dr. Cara Lund

But They are Going to Fall Out!- Fillings on Primary Teeth are Important

 But They are Going to Fall Out!

Importance of Fillings on Primary Teeth 

            When children are seen at Lund Dental, they may on occasion need a primary tooth to be restored.  Parents are often puzzled as to why we would “fill” a baby tooth.           Small cavities on baby teeth can become BIG very quickly since the enamel (hard outer shell) on children’s teeth is thinner than that of adult’s while the nerve is much bigger.  Therefore, small cavities on baby teeth can turn very large and very painful very quickly.

          Primary or “baby” teeth are place holders so to speak for the adult teeth underneath.  If a tooth has a cavity that is untreated, it will progress and could become abcessed. Now that tooth must be removed and a space maintainer will be needed.  Premature loss of primary teeth can cause the other primary teeth to collapse in the space.  It also can affect the child’s speech. Furthermore, the adjacent teeth may also decay.  We make every effort to make your child’s appointment easy for them.

         At Lund Dental your child’s dental health is very important to us.  We make your child’s dental visit a very pleasant experience.  With regular dental cleanings and good home care, childhood cavities can be avoided.  

The Traveling Dentist

During the spring months, Lund Dental’s Dr. Cara Lund and dental assistants Jeanne and Mary travel to various school to teach children about properly caring for their teeth.  They also bring along Phil (yes, a pun on “filling”), a dental forward puppet with a full functioning set of pearly whites. 

Not only do we show the kids how to properly brush and floss with the help of Phil, we like to talk about keeping a healthy mouth with a healthy diet.  Discussing sugar content, especially sugar in drinks is a big eye opener for the kids.  We bring along our “sugar bags” to show them how much sugar they are drinking in soda, sports drinks, and even juice.

Kids seems to have many questions about cavities and we discuss what it means to get a cavity and how we clean and fill them.   We also show them x-rays and explain how these are used to look for cavities.

This interactive dental show allows kids to showcase their dental knowledge as well.  Kids are asked what types of food and drinks keep their mouth healthy and things they should avoid.  Kids are more astute than you think!  We always get a plethora of answers from soda to “my mom’s homemade extra chocolate cake.”

To schedule a dental show for your school, please give us a call!  

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

            When learning something new or trying to understand a concept that is not familiar, oftentimes a picture or video is helpful.  At Lund Dental we are pleased with one of our newest additions to patient education called “Caesy”.

            Caesy is a series of videos that explains dental procedures to the patient using patients in a true dental setting.  The videos are short and to the point, eliminating confusion for the patient.  Before a procedure,   each patient is invited to watch an applicable video and oftentimes has most if not all questions answered.   This may be done at the time of the treatment planning or just before the beginning of the procedure.  A handout further explaining  the procedure may also be handed to the patient.  

 Children also benefit from Caesy.  While they are in the hygienists’ chairs,  they may watch one of the many videos geared to children about brushing, flossing, and a variety of other subjects. Each children’s video features monkeys, dogs and other animals helping teach children on their level and making it fun for them to learn about the dentist.

            At Lund Dental we believe that patient education is of the utmost importance.  Our use of these Caesy videos plays a large role in our accomplishing just this.

The New “Buzz” at Lund Dental

            The New “Buzz” at Lund Dental

            Nobody likes the idea of “getting a shot.”  In fact, the fear of needles may be a major reason that patients have a fear of the dentist.    

   

           At Lund Dental, we now have a way to make your dental visit pain-free.   Dr. William and Dr. Cara are now using a device called a Vibraject.  The Vibraject is a small battery operated device that clips onto the syringe.  It delivers a high frequency vibration to the needle.  This does two things: mainly, it distracts the patient from feeling any pain and secondly, it disperses the anesthesia in a way that makes the injection almost pain free.  The combination produces a reaction from the patient who oftentimes say “I can’t even tell that you gave me a shot!” This “wow” moment may change the experience for many people and relieve anxiety.  It increases the comfort level of the patient and builds a more positive dental relationship.  Our feedback has been outstanding, making us pleased that once again we have improved the patient experience.

            At Lund Dental, we are constantly striving to find new and improved ways of making our patient’s experience more comfortable and positive.  

It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
Dental Insurance, Use It or Lose It

       It is that time again when patients need to be aware of their insurance benefits.   A patient may postpone treatment for various reasons one of which may be financial.   If a patient has dental insurance, often times they may not be aware of the fact that they did not utilize all their benefits for the calendar year.  These are monies that are wasted by the patient.  If the total benefit is not reached, the money remains unused.

             At this time of year, people may have sufficient benefits remaining on their dental policies to have some treatment completed.   Without knowing, they may let these benefits lapse when they could have had a necessary treatment.  It is to the patient’s best interest to know just what they are entitled to for a calendar year.  This way, they may be able to have that one part of their treatment plan completed and not let this money be wasted.

            Dianne, our office administrator, is wonderful at maximizing your dental benefits.  If you think you may have some benefits remaining for 2015, please call the office. Don’t let this money go unused.

            

Let’s Get Something Straight

                

            In the past when a patient needed orthodontics to straighten teeth or correct malocclusion the only solution was to have braces.  Now, Invisalign is a great alternative to traditional braces. After a complimentary consultation, we take impressions with our digital scanner. These are then sent to Invisalign where the aligners are made.   A series of clear plastic aligners are worn by the patient for two weeks at a time until the desired result is achieved.  Usually other people cannot tell that someone is wearing them!  Also, they are removable which makes it easier for the patient to eat and brush their teeth.                     

Straightening teeth is about more than a beautiful smile. Crooked teeth can be the cause of several problems including periodontal (gum) disease if left untreated.  In addition, malocclusion (incorrect bite) can lead to premature wear of teeth, sometimes resulting in tooth loss.

           

         At Lund Dental, we have been providing patients with Invisalign for over ten years with much success.  We have treated patients from teenagers up to adults resulting in many new beautiful smiles.  Our patients who have had Invisalign have been extremely satisfied with their treatment. In fact,  Dr.Cara, Dr Lund and several staff members have been Invisalign patients.  If this is something you may be interested in, one of the doctors would be happy to discuss the possibilities with you.

          

         These pictures show two of our patients' Invisalign journey. You can easily see the amazing results!

           

We All Need Our Beauty Sleep

            A good night’s rest does wonders for the body.  Sleep apnea, however, can disrupt the ability of a person to get a full night’s sleep. Recent studies done at various medical facilities have found that sleep apnea may cause more serious problems than fatigue. 

            Several physicians have concluded that patients with sleep apnea, on average, could be diagnosed with MCI (mild cognitive impairment) as many as ten years earlier than those without.  Additionally, some patients developed Alzheimer’s five years earlier.   It is not clear just how this happens; the theory is that because it disrupts breathing during the night, oxygen levels in the blood drop, affecting the brain.

            At Lund Dental we take each patient’s health seriously.  Dr. William Lund and Dr. Cara Lund fabricate custom appliances which provide clinically proven treatment options for obstructive sleep apnea and sleep bruxism (grinding).   If you think you may have this problem, we at Lund Dental are more than happy to speak with you about the options and different appliances that would help. 

For more information visit somnomed.com/patients/.

Your First Dental Visit as an Adult!

What would your ideal dental office visit be like? Relaxed? Educational? Inexpensive?

Your first visit at a new dental office should not intimidate you, emotionally or financially.  Nothing should hold you back from being as healthy as possible, this includes your dental health.   Here is what you should expect at an initial new patient visit during your comprehensive examination:

• Oral Cancer Screening: Prevention of oral cancer through the early identification of pre-cancerous conditions (provided at every appointment).

•  Dental Exam: A clinical exam and radiographs (x-rays) findings are used to determine the most conservative but thorough treatment plan for your oral needs.

• Periodontal Examination: Examination of your gum tissues to insure that any gum disease is detected and treated. 

•  Orthodontic Examination: We examine the position of your teeth and the relationship between your upper and lower jaws. If your teeth are not properly aligned, excessive tooth wear, jaw damage, and periodontal issues can occur.

• Temporo-Mandibular Joint (TMJ) Examination: Temporo-Mandibular Dysfunction (TMD) is a condition that includes popping and clicking of the jaw, limited jaw function, pain in the neck, shoulders, and upper back, and pain and pressure in the face and ears. 

• X Rays: We use digital (computer based) x-rays that use a fraction of the radiation exposure of regular x-rays. The images are also clearer and therefore much more diagnostic. We take seriously the concern of radiation exposure and take only the necessary films needed to properly diagnose your dental health.

• Camera: We take photographs, called intraoral pictures, of all the teeth to help you better understand all treatment recommendation.

So we've provided you with a lot of information about your teeth, now what?  The doctor and the financial coordinator will sit down with you and go over findings, treatment options, and financial options.  This is a perfect time to ask as many questions as possible.  Your oral health should be as important to you as it is to us!

Take charge of your oral health and reserve an appointment today!

March Is Lund Dental Pet Month!

Lund Dental sure does loves animals. From March 1 – March 31st, 2015, Lund Dental Associates will donate $1 to the Northeast Animal Shelter for every new “like” on our Facebook page!

Our goal?

$500

(The math there is 500 likes = $500)

Think we can do it? We do!

Spread the word by:

1. Telling your friends
2. Sharing any of our Facebook posts
3. Going to our website and clicking the Facebook icon

The Northeast Animal Shelter of Salem, MA is one of the largest no-kill animal shelters for dogs and cats in New England. Over 119,000 furry friends have been given homes thanks to their work. Their annual operating budget is entirely dependent on contributions from animal lovers like you. 

Let us do some of the contributing too! All you have to do is click the like button! 

Contact Your Stoneham Dentists

Lund Dental specializes in cosmetic, general and pediatric dentistry for patients in the Stoneham & Reading, MA areas. If you have a question for us or would like to schedule a visit to our office, please call us at (781) 438-2700, email us at info@lunddental.com, or request an appointment online. We’d love to see you!