Your Care and Comfort is Our Top Priority - Response to Boston Globe Article 2.8.2017

Last week Ms. McCluskey from the Boston Globe contacted us about speaking on record about the changes Delta Dental is making to dental care. We were happy to speak with her because Delta Dental’s change from a non-profit to for-profit will directly interfere with patient care.

Our number one priority is our patients. We would be nothing without our patients and are thankful for them every day. We are excited for every new patient call and question how we could have done things differently when a patient leaves the practice. We endeavor to always treat our patients with respect. Our practice has been building relationships with patients for more than 40 years. Over that time, dentistry has changed dramatically but the one constant is how we treat you, our patients.

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Our goal is to make our office a warm, inviting place. We are not a medical office where you are greeted by an unfriendly face behind a glass enclosure. When a patient walks through our front door we great you by name and with a smile. We start every day with a team meeting where we go through our schedule discussing the individual needs of each patient. We pride ourselves in our timeliness but, in the event we must run a few minutes late, we give you a gift card to Dunkin Donuts. We reserve one hour for every continuing care cleaning appointment, and many of you have been seeing the same hygienist for 20 years. We happily answer any and all questions. If you call with an emergency, we see you that day. We personally answer emergency calls after hours and on the weekend. If you need treatment, our office manager, who has been with us for over 35 years, will help you navigate your insurance and present financing options. We are constantly taking continuing education classes and investing in new technology. We are proud of our office and thecomprehensive care we provide.

All of that may seem soapy but it is the truth. We care deeply for our patients, and we are confident that if you asked them they would agree (we are proud of our Google reviews). We are not alone in how we treat our patients and provide care. There are hundreds of offices in Massachusetts who treat patients with the same care and compassion we do. Delta Dental is trying to take that away. They want to paint dentists as greedy because then it takes the focus away from them. Our focus is patient care; Delta’s is making money.

So why are Delta’s intended changes bad for patients? If patients have lower premiums and Delta and patients pay less for dentistry, it seems like a win-win. Unfortunately, something has to give. It is easy to say that dentists should take less profit. However, when the cut in Delta reimbursements almost equals our profit, then that is saying that we should be

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working for basically free. We use the best materials, use the highest quality American labs, and pay our experienced team well, all for the direct benefit of our patients.  As reimbursement levels come down, an office has to look at costs, and trim where it does not affect the quality of the final service. For example, there has just come on the market a nasal spray anesthetic that completely anesthetizes the upper six front teeth without using a needle. This eliminates the need for an otherwise uncomfortable injection. However, the cost of each application is $40 while a traditional needle injection is $1-2. Since patient care is not affected (although comfort will be), we will continue to buy the traditional needle anesthetic. We will always maintain buying the best possible filling materials, cements, etc. We have too much integrity to compromise our dentistry (please see my blog from December goo.gl/lcEkYP ), but it would be impossible for us to stay in business and not change some part of how we do things.  Cost saving will be found in all the other areas.  I hope people can look at how Delta is backing dentists into a corner.

Delta Dental was started by dentists who recognized the need to increase oral care. For many years they were good partners to dentists, employers, and patients. They provided employers with several options (Premier, PPO, etc.) so that their employees could have a choice in their dental care. Delta, as a non-profit, was regulated by the Division of Insurance which benefits patients and dentists. They have now changed their structure to a for-profit in order to no longer be regulated by the Division of Insurance. Delta’s goal is to no longer market and sell the better dental plans. This is for Delta's profit alone. The executive at Delta Dental who is charge of this effort, Erick Paul, came to our office and told us Delta was doing this because they are looking to increase profit and increase their market share. When we asked how we are to run our office with a 20-30% decrease in revenue, his comment was that Delta will drive more "steerage" to us. That is the difference between small dental practices and Delta Dental. Patients are steerage for them, while to us patients are part of our dental family.

Delta Dental knows dentists are loyal to their patients and the ultimatums given to dentists who do not sign their contract are not in your, our patient’s, best interests. Delta Dental tells us if we go out of network they will send letters to all our patients with any Delta Dental policy recommending they seek care elsewhere. They will no longer directly pay us for services; the patient would have to pay up front for any treatment and then be reimbursed

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for a small portion by Delta Dental in 2-3 weeks. This is a large financial strain for many of our patients, and Delta Dental is counting on that. We currently file insurance claims for all our patients and address claims issues. If we leave the Delta Dental network we will only be allowed to file the claims and will never know to help fix issues – it would be up to the patients. It is important to note that ALL of our patients’ insurance companies (all out-of-network with exception of one) directly pay dentists (assignment of benefits) and allow dentists to be in the constant loop helping patients with their insurance claims and predeterminations.

Many dental offices have a 30-50% Delta Dental patient base. Delta Dental is using dentists’ fears of losing patients to pressure us into a contract which benefits mainly Delta Dental. This is not good for dentistry or the consumer; this is good for Delta Dental. The CEO of NON-PROFIT Delta Dental made $6,810,994 in 2014, and that same year Delta Dental paid out only 62% of the premiums collected (Obamacare states that insurance companies should pay out 80% of premiums). If Delta Dental cared about dental care they would continue to market and sell Premier, PPO, and other plans in order to provide employers and employees with options. Employers also need to take a good hard look at the plans they are providing to their employees. The fact that annual maximums of $1,000-1,500 have remained stagnant for 30-40 years is incomprehensible. Every person out there needs to contact his or her human resources department and let them know about the changes Delta is proposing to make and how it is going to affect his or her care.

Delta Dental needs to put patients first, just as we have for the past 40 years.

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.  

Lund Dental Gives Back!

Lund Dental Gives Back!

Giving back to the community is important to our team at Lund Dental Associates.  Throughout the year, we set community service goals and coordinate activities with local Stoneham businesses and schools.  We often involve our patients too.  Our patients are enthusiastic to help us reach our donation goals and provide us with overwhelming support.

In the Stoneham school system, Lund Dental has donated custom athletic mouthguards to various sports teams.  We have had the athletes from the Stoneham High School Football team and Girls Lacrosse Team come into our office to be fit for professional mouthguards. Most recently, our office attended the Stoneham Chamber of Commerce’s Health Fair Expo and gave away coupons for free athletic mouthguards to any Stoneham athlete of any age. 

We work closely with the Stoneham Food Bank, gathering food and supplies for families in Stoneham.  During the summer, Lund Dental and our patients collect household supplies ranging from paper towels to baby products to personal hygiene.  Our fall collection consists of can goods and non-perishables, while during the winter we collect toys for the holiday season.  Our team is more than appreciative to the staff at the Stoneham Food Bank for their constant dedication to help those in need and allowing our team to help them in their efforts.

Want to learn more about Lund Dental community service?   Check us out at www.lunddental.com!

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.

Love the Gums You're With

Love the Gums You’re With 

It may seem like a hassle to get to the dentist for your continuing care hygiene visit with work and your kid’s afterschool activities but did you know gum disease can increase the risk heart disease?

Patients who have periodontal disease have inflamed gums due to trapped bacteria which is called plaque.  This inflammation is caused by poor dental hygiene, unhealthy diet, and/or smoking.  The unhealthy gums pull back from the tooth and periodontal pockets develop which creates a breeding ground for bacteria.  The pockets can widen enough to even cause loose teeth.     

So what does gum disease and heart disease have in common?   Inflammation!  Don’t be fooled.  The bacteria doesn’t stay in the mouth.  It travels from the diseased gum tissue to your bloodstream throughout your body.  Plaque can then build up in the arteries.  This clogging inflames the tissue and reduces blood flow and oxygen flow to the heart. 

There is a number of prevention methods: 

            -Brushing and flossing twice a day.

            -Routine visits to your dental provider.

            -Healthy diet and weight.  A diet rich in antioxidants help decrease any inflammation in the body and fight bacteria.

Keep your heart healthy and visit your dentist!

           

            

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!

           

Allergies and Toothaches - As if constant sneezing didn't hurt enough!

In the spring, we see a number of patients with tooth pain in their upper molars and it turns out pollen is a big culprit.

When you are congested, your sinus cavities create mucus and can swell, becoming inflamed or infected, causing the sinuses to press on the roof of your mouth.  Your sinus cavities are above the roof of your mouth which rests above your maxillary (upper) molars and premolars.  The inflammation can indirectly cause pain in the nerves of the teeth, presenting the following symptoms:

•          Pain when biting
•          Throbbing sensation
•          Sensitivity to cold

Think of it this way:  when you fill a balloon you are able to press your finger into it without it popping, however, there is a great amount of pressure surrounding your finger.  Your sinuses are like that balloon, creating pressure over your teeth.

How can you treat this?  After your dentist rules out no possible tooth infection, there are a number of remedies to reduce sinus congestion:

·         Antihistamines (Benadryl, Claritin, Zertec, Allegra)

·         Advil to reduce inflammation

·         Saline Spray

·         Air Purifier at home & closed windows while driving

So watch out for that pollen and its ability to mimic a toothache!

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!