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In ages past, one of the most generous gifts one man could bestow on another, was a horse. They also knew that one of the only predictable ways to evaluate the health of their pack, was to open the horses’ mouths and look inside. If you received the gift of a horse, only an ingrate would examine its mouth to determine its value. A trained horseman knew basically how a healthy mouth should look and this assessment determined the health and longevity of the animal, and ultimately its value.

Do you appreciate the value of a healthy mouth and its affect on overall wellness? Thousands of years later, first barbers, and now dentists can tell you much about the overall health of their patients by looking inside the mouth. The color, texture, shape and size of the gums have much to say about what might be going on with rest of your body. For example, if your gums are tender or burn, this could be more than must the practically ubiquitous ”gingivitis”.  A burning tongue sensation or abnormal pigmentation of any segment of the inside of your mouth may be your body’s announcement to “pay attention to me!”

So, I urge you, especially if you are a smoker or use tobacco products, to take a good look in your own mouth every day. What do you see, feel, taste, or smell? If ANYTHING seems abnormal, give yourself the gift that keeps on giving. Go see a dentist, and become a gift horse to yourself and those who love you.

Fear!! How does that word affect you? And what about the word “dentist”? For many people, these 2 words arouse similar emotions–apprehension, panic, dread, terror. Despite the many technological advances that have made being a dental patient easier than ever, there are those that would rather pay taxes, give birth, and yes, suffer, than confront their fears head on. So, why is going to the dentist more stressful for this large segment of the population? For those who are willing to openly discuss the issue, there is almost universally an event that triggered the response. Dental phobias or fears gone to the extreme are learned behaviors, not inherently present. On a conscious level, most people who avoid dental treatment, would acknowledge that going to the dentist doesn’t make them feel safe–a prime emotional instinct that we all share.

So how do patients overcome this debilitating obstacle? First, patients must find someone they trust to help them regain the experience of trust–that may or may not be a dental professional. Second, patients must be intentional about expressing their own needs and desires to a dentist with whom they are beginning to develop a new relationship. Patients need to understand that behind every controlling fear is a lie that they are choosing to believe as truth. Third, by allowing the process of faith in self, in others, and in a Higher Power to replace these lies with new truths, they will ultimately replace the old destructive thought patterns with new experiences. As a result, any patient who is in limbo with oral health will ultimately find hope and health and the healing they desperately need or want. This process can be lengthy, difficult and costly, but will in many cases unblock other areas of one’s life where being “stuck” has power over them. Contrary to the bad public relations that accompany dentists portrayed in the movies, there are dentists out there who are specifically trained to help you and want to give you more than an “extreme makeover”—they want to help you smile from the inside out.

I respect a free-market economy–that people have choices based on location, personal needs, and finances, is a good thing. Presently, many Americans are up-in-arms about health care reform because they fear the government will hijack their power of choice involving decisions about how, when, where, and how often they should be treated. “How do  you and I want to be treated?” is the question I pose. My answer to that, as both a patient and doctor, is that I want my philosophy about health and wellness and standard of care to be self-determined!!

My first 6 years in practice were ultimately unfulfilling because as a novice dentist, I was told that working with insurance companies was the only way to take care of patients. After learning that insurance companies never examined my patients and were also empowered to make all the decisions about their care, I decided that I wanted to branch out on my own and create an environment where my patients were individuals, and not a policy number. In doing so, I was free to co-create health goals with them, determine the paths to these goals, and develop an interdependent relationship of trust, respect, and empathy. Now 20 years later, I am outspoken on the subject of why I refuse to wear the leash that insurance companies place around providers and customers.

I have recently chosen to open a satellite, fee-for-service practice, in New Hope, PA. Utilizing my philosophy of care for these 20 fulfilling years, I am able to share “dentistry form the heart, for the heart”, specifically because I do not desire to be accountable to an entity whose bottom line is dividends to shareholders, and not to the customers.

Here’s what a new patient can expect to receive in my practice and what receiving that standard of health can do for you: Even as a perspective patient, we will focus on YOU and your needs, your attitude about receiving dental care, and your history as a patient. We will outline briefly what to expect in your first appointment, answer questions, and explain all policies employed to protect the patient and the practice. You are guaranteed that the appointment time prepared for you is yours alone. YOU are the sole focus of our attention. I do not see more than one patient at a time. I will take a thorough medical, dental, and dietary history, listening carefully for cues about the value you ascribe to health, and how your experiences have shaped your attitude about being a dental patient. I will help you create goals surrounding your oral health. I will thoroughly educate and provide all the necessary tools for you to maintain health once it has been provided for you. I will help you manage your expectations about the currencies of time and money needed to fulfill your goals. I will discuss your specific needs and desires in the doctor/patient relationship. I do not subscribe to the common hierarchy of a doctor/patient relationship, where the patient feels they must defer to the doctor and the doctor assumes all the rights and responsibilities of care. Doctors and patients need to have an ongoing dialogue about treatment and the value of oral health in the broader scheme of overall health. I use technologies that deliver diagnostics and treatment in the most efficient, safe, and  painless ways possible.

All in all, my decision to keep insurance companies out of the realm of decision making is based on my commitment to helping my patients achieve optimal levels of health; it is not to foster an adversarial relationship for patients that receive compensation from a third party provider. I hope these reflections help you appreciate the value of your ability to choose what is best for you and your health needs and goals.

Spring cleanings! Whether you are an existing patient or looking for a dentist in NYC or PA, this is the time to call our office to schedule your cleaning or new patient exam. Based on your restorative needs, you may be eligible for a free cleaning or examination!

“Smile!! You’re on candid camera!”

Although “life” is not a stage set for television, we live (unfortunately) in a world where we are judged on the “set” of our very own lives. Each day, people make instant judgments about the way we dress, move, speak and yes, the way we smile. We would all love to live in a world where we are understood and appreciated by virtue of our inward attractiveness and likeability. Yet, we are living in a society where making instant assessments about others, make it easier for us to create a place of safety and comfort about ourselves. Stating the obvious, it is easier to accept and understand what we have known and esteem than what is unfamiliar and unappealing to our critical eyes.

As the use of social media increases and holds sway over the way we do business, create affiliation, communicate, date, and establish personal and corporate identities, I believe that they also polarize what makes us feel both secure and insecure. Users of Facebook, and the like put themselves out to the world in a way that gives the virtual world, the opportunity to receive, analyze and make decisions about who we are and what we stand for. I believe that it is especially important to give oneself a “smile-up” in making certain that one is perceived in the best possible way. If your personal sphere of influence could be enhanced with a more attractive and natural-looking smile, delivered in a painless manner, and affordable within your budget, why wouldn’t you want that for yourself? I am eager to show you what the combination of art, science and heart can bring to your life!! Unless of course you choose a life of total candor…

It is often said, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”. This mighty maxim is the backbone for health, period. Every single minute you invest in dental health pays a dividend. You just can’t overdo prevention. The costs of dental treatment, like cost of living, increases over time. Therefore, keeping healthy on a daily basis not only hedges against disease in the future, but keeps the cost of future dental expenses at bay. Prevention can be enhanced in following all the home care instructions that are reinforced in your continuing care (check-up) appointments, and in making sure you keep the continuing care appointments. Choosing to miss a check-up appointment because nothing hurts and/or you want to save the cost of the appointment, may create a situation in which the cost of having more conservative treatment (and less costly) is not available to you down the road. Too often we think that because we are not having any discomfort, there isn’t anything wrong. This is not only untrue, but dangerous thinking. At the point of discomfort, the damage has progressed far enough that treatment needed to fix the problem is now more invasive and complicated, the costs are greater, and the favorable long term prognosis is diminished. So, brush, floss, keep your check-up appointments, wear your protective guard (if one has been prescribed for you), brush and floss and rinse some more, and if you have even the slightest discomfort, make an appointment to see me!!

Ostriches have difficult digestion without teeth. Putting your head in the sand and denying that dental disease is real, doesn’t serve you at all. Not only does postponing dental treatment that has been prescribed for you decrease your ability to treat disease conservatively , but also increases the likelihood that the expenses involved with fixing the problem will be greater. We respect our patients’ right to choose according to their specific needs, but cannot emphasize the importance of timely follow-up treatment.

Maintain your regimen of total body health. Poor diet, increased stress, diminished sleep and exercise, all diminish the immune response and therefore, increase our susceptibility to oral disease, and vascular disease as well. Therefore, if you’ve had to adjust your expenses to cope with decreased purchasing power, please take care of YOU-exercise at home, meditate/pray/breathe more frequently, buy whole foods instead of prepared ones, and maintain your levels of rest. The mouth and the body have a codependent relationship and so taking care of YOU will pay off in terms of your oral health.

There are times in life when the calamity of circumstances gives us the opportunity to look beyond our own circumstances and address the needs of others. As the uncertainty of financial security looms large, it seems that everyone is affected, and is concerned about their futures. In the spirit of being of service to others, one of the things I thought I could do to help my patients and their loved ones, is to give some counsel about keeping your dental expenses down for the length of the economic downturn. I offer this advice purely in the spirit of helping you, help yourself. Although some of this is good common sense, I know from personal experience that sometimes our common sense fades in the face of stress. I hope this will give you new insights to help you improve your health and save you money in the long run.

It has been said that “beauty shines from the inside out”. As a dentist who delivers a vast array of cosmetic dental services, I am constantly asked to evaluate the smiles of patients ( as well as fellow cocktail partyers!). The smile is a 3 dimensional business card that both follows and precedes you into every social situation. Creating a positive image with a beautiful smile can make a powerful statement to the world. BUT…it’s not the only way a person can create positive attractive energy. A joyful heart and a peaceful countenance also makes a person extremely attractive. In fact, there is something inauthentic and a tad disturbing about a person who physically has a beautiful smile, but doesn’t possess the inner joy that is reflected in the eyes and smile of a happy person. As a result, there are times when I don’t feel that giving a patient a beautiful and natural smile is going to ultimately fulfill their desire to make themselves more attractive to themselves and others. That kind of beauty needs to come from the inside out. Just as we feed ourselves both physically and spiritually in order to improve health, we have many ways to enhance attractiveness, however subjective the interpretation may be. So this cosmetic dentist says “strive for health, and develop spiritual practices that enhance your experience of the beauty within you, FIRST…and then enhance that beauty with a new projector-a gorgeous, individually designed and executed smile.

It has been often said, ‘you are what you eat.’  While I am both a disciplined dentist and athlete,  I began recognizing that I was having issues with inconsistent energy and focus throughout the day, mood swings, and variable sleep patterns. I began to think that maybe I needed to change my diet from a coffee and doughnut breakfast, plus the 5000 calorie late dinners.  Clearly, my understanding of “food as fuel” was lame and I needed to change my behavior related to meals.

The opportunity for change actually came to me in the form of a patient’s periodontal evaluation.  The patient had consistently struggled with maintaining health of her gums, in spite of keeping her hygiene appointments and utilizing all the tools we provided.  After being absent from my office for a long interval, I was actually anxious about her periodontal condition.  To my complete astonishment, in spite of not having seen a dentist for care, I found her periodontal health be the BEST I had ever seen!!  When I asked her what changes she had made in her life, she stated that she had completed a program in Integrative Nutrition here in Manhattan and was now working as a health coach for corporations.  The only changes had been stress reduction and a complete change in her diet.  I saw this as an incredible opportunity to not only achieve my own health goals, but as a way to educate my patients in the role that diet plays in creating/controlling dental disease.  I have now been working with her for 3 months and I have seen incredible changes in the way I feel, sleep, look and perform.  I have been able to guide patients toward making better health choices.  I am learning to consistently connect myself to the positive outcomes that this one new mindset creates.  Doing so helps me maintain a focus and energy that is life-giving and generates a contagion of health for others.