"Good humor is a tonic for mind and body.  It is the best antidote for anxiety and depression.  It is a business asset. It attracts and keeps friends.  It lightens human burdens. It is the direct route to serenity and contentment."

-Grenville Kleiser

                                                  Thoughtful......

"Those old adages-you attract more with honey; do unto others - are true. You can get attention by being acerbic or mean or making a bizarre comment. But by being nice, being empathetic, building relationships and listening, people begin to recognize that you're thoughtful and respectful of their position."

~Shelly Moore Capito

Continue to look for the positives, life is always teaching us something :)

                        Teachers........
"I have learned silence from the talkative, toleration from the intolerant, and kindness from the unkind; and for that I am grateful"

Any parents struggle with brushing their kids teeth...?

Any parents struggle brushing their child's teeth? I think every parent has probably said yes to this question at some point! There is nothing more frustrating than not being able to get that toothbrush in your kids mouth and wash out all those nasty little "sugar bugs'! My son started out allowing me to brush his teeth every night at about the age of one...then TWO hit!! What turned into a fun night of brushing our teeth, turned into one of our biggest struggles! Night after night I continued to attempt to brush his teeth...little by little he would allow me to brush more...but not enough to know he was going to bed with clean teeth.

Time and time again, I continue to hear Dr Kim tell children's parents, "At night time, let your child brush your teeth,  while you brush theirs." Don't ask my why I didn't take this little piece of advice home with me the first time I heard it, but boy do I wish I had! Brushing our teeth at night has finally turned into a success and looked at as a fun activity before bed time now. My son feels so proud and accomplished when he brushes 'mommy's' teeth, and I feel relieved and happy knowing he's got clean teeth too!

Any of you out there who have kids, bring them in! We would love to help and offer any advice to make your life easier!!

Tawni D.
Dental Assistant

Nervous Patients

We have the most amazing patients! Just added a few new patients in our office and it is so rewarding to connect with new people.
I had this older married couple come in this morning. It has been a long time since they were into the dentist and you could tell they were both a little nervous. The husband went back first for his cleaning and I could just tell that his wife was struggling with being here. She was also concerned with the cost.
I noticed on her paperwork that she brought in that we had our physician in common so I decided to tell her I go to the same doctor and how wonderful I thought  they were. Turns out she has been with them for 15 years. I could feel her fear melting away as I took the time to listen to a few of her stories and engage in conversation with her. She went from looking uncomfortable to relaxed and by the time she went back for her cleaning she was actually smiling.
She did have to have a deep cleaning and some bridge work . She accepted the deep cleaning today and even though she was given an option for a partial as a cheaper alternative she elected to have the bridge done.
I heard her tell her husband that we have the same doctor in common. When they left they told me how happy they were with our office.
Stories like these just make me so happy to be in the dental field.

Shelley Crocker
Olympia Family Dental

Dentures

We had a patient at the front desk say to me that if she really knew what dentures would be like she never would have gotten them.  I felt really bad for her, however she was told the issues ahead of time, and had her mind made up that this is what she wanted.
Dentures can be useful but they create a whole new set of issues that people may not be aware of. There was a time when people chose this method of treatment to replace lost teeth because there were really no other options. Now there are quite a few alternatives that our patients should consider first.
The initial cost of implants or bridges may seem high but you cannot put a price on the ability to chew food, or to keep your facial structure. We have had so many patients tell us that if they would have known what it would be like to have dentures they never would have done it. That they didn't realise there would be so many issues with them.
Bridges and  Implants are as close as you can get to having your own teeth, if dentures are the only alternative there are implant supported dentures.
I think that the key is to really make sure that we educate our patients on the pros and cons of dentures so that they are fully aware when they choose that route. Also to let them know that there are potentially a lot of challenges they may have to face.
Dentures can be a great solution for some, but if you were to ask most people that have them most of them would have thought twice before they got them.

Shelley C
Front Office

Painless shots!!

If you have a chance to look at our reviews, either online or on our website, you will see a lot of comments about painless injections given in our office! I have learned over the course of 15 years that injections can be completely painless at best and only mildly discomforting at worst if given correctly.  So what do we do to try and minimize the pain when giving an injection.  We use distraction!  That is what pick pocketers use when they steal someone's wallet.  They bump into you, you feel a bump and never realize that they reached into your wallet and stole from you.  In the same way, a good distraction can "distract" the patient or their nerves, while the dentist stealthfully sneaks in and delivers anesthesia.  Have you ever been to an acupuncturist.  I have many times and usually you will not feel it when they poke you with their needles.  Now granted, their needles are a lot smaller in diameter.  But they also use a tap distraction that helps to dissipate the pain!  Have you ever run through a field and later realized that you had a cut on your leg from something sharp, but because you were so distracted with running, perhaps because you were in a game, that you never felt the pain or realized that you were cut.  One more example of this concept.  Have you ever given a shot to your dog or cat.  In my home, when we have to give a shot to our cat or dog.  My wife will hold the pet and scratch him/her vigorously.  I will do the same around the neck of my animal and then quickly give a shot.  Most of the times, the animal is so distracted, they don't feel the shot.  So in our office, this is what we do when we give an injection (shot).  We will place topical anesthetic.  This is a numbing gel so that the tissue in your mouth gets numb before the shot.  This actually numbs up the exterior of the tissue quite well but it can only penetrate so much.  This is more of a superficial numbing.   Then I distract the tissue by shaking the gums w/ my thumb or forefinger.  Then slip the needle into the tissue and only allow a few drops initially to get the tissue to numb up.  Our patients tell us all the time how painless this technique is.  The palate is made up of hard tissue and getting an injection in this area can be very painful.  The topical anesthetic (numbing gel) doesn't work very well here either because the tissue is so thick.  In this area, I like to apply pressure w/ the back end of my mouth mirror or with the end of a q-tip.  I bounce up and down w/ the stick and ask patient if they feel the pressure on their hard palate.  They will reply that they do. I am trying to get the patient to focus on the pressure that they are feeling.  Then when I am applying pressure again, I insert the needle gently.  The pressure of the stick will mask the pain from the needle.  This is a very effective way for delivering anesthetic!  I could go much more regarding these and other techniques, but this may suffice for those wondering what we do to try and make each visit as comfortable as possible!

It's all about healthy smiles!

I often receive calls from people who do not like going to the dentist because of many reasons. Some are afraid they may experience pain. For some it is just an inconvenience. I truly don't think people have been educated that dentistry isn't just about the smile, that it is also about the health of their smile.
I think it is really important to educate our patients on the benefits of taking care of their oral health.  If we let our patients know that we offer many services for all ages and educate them on the importance of a healthy smile it promotes regular visits.
Dr. Kim educates all of our patients and speaks to them in terms they can understand. It truly makes a difference.
 When patients want to put off fillings because they just had an expensive crown or root canal. We let them know that it is important to take care of the fillings as soon as possible because if left too long they can also turn into more of an expense.
I  notice more patients scheduling recalls and making those appointments after an exam with Dr. Kim. I believe it has a lot to do with education on healthy oral health.

Shelley C
Front Office

My favorite thing about dentistry is the smiles we get from happy patients.  Whether it is being able to chew where they couldn't before because they now have an implant, or because we made their front teeth beautiful with crowns or composite ( tooth colored) fillings, or even adjusting a denture so that it's comfortable.  I love making a positive difference in people's lives. I LOVE coming to work every day and being with the kindest  Doctors and co-workers in the world. I appreciate Dr Kim's patience with people and his determination to get a happy result even with difficult situations.  

Sherry Clark EFDA

Why I enjoy dentistry so much!

I am always encouraging young people to consider a career in dentistry whenever I can.  Often times people ask, "how can you look into a person's mouth all day".  To be honest, it doesn't bother me at all. In fact, I could do a dental exam and eat my lunch at the same time if I had to:)  I believe a good career choice has to do with personality fit.  I am the type that likes to get things done and I do not procrastinate.  In dentistry, we are faced with problems (ie-tooth problems/pain) and our job is to fix it right away.  This is very rewarding for me.  There is instant gratification and satisfaction.  We are also constantly creating and for someone who enjoys art, this is also very gratifying.  Previous to being a dentist, in almost every job that I have had, I would always be watching the clock.  I can honestly say that dentistry is the only job that I don't watch the clock incessantly.  Each procedure is a project and we are focused on completing the project to the best of our abilities.  This makes the time literally fly by!  As a dentist, we are meeting people "all day long"!  For a social butterfly like myself, this makes my job very exciting versus having a sedentary job such as a book keeper or someone who works in a lab by themselves.   As a dentist, one must also be a business person.  I have to run a business, hire employees, keep track of accounting, marketing/advertising, etc.  This allows me to be an entrepreneur which I find to be very fulfilling.  Best of all, we are able to help people who are in need.  Have you ever had a toothache?  Well if you have, then you know how nice it is to see a dentist who can quickly take you out of the pain.  So if you are looking for a rewarding career, feel free to contact me at anytime and I'd be glad to share with you more about what a career in dentistry has to offer!

Hi everyone,

My name is Tawni and I've been assisting with Dr Kim for almost a year and a half now. When I first began, I felt nervous and excited all at the same time. Not only did I walk into an office with a great Dr to help motivate and coach me through dental assisting, I was also blessed with amazing staff members! Everyone is truly, so welcoming and helpful. I have learned and grown so much from each and every person here.

I'd have to say my favorite procedure is a crown prep. I used to work in a dental lab, as a lab technician, where I worked on crown and bridge. I enjoyed that job, but was missing the personal aspect of getting to know and converse with others. Working today in a dental office where I get to put my skills as a lab tech, together with the joy of meeting our patients and getting to know them and listen to their stories, has been incredible. I am happy to continue to meet new patients and hopefully brighten their day, as they brighten mine.

Tawni, Dental Assistant

Why I love my job

I have been working for Olympia Family Dental for almost a year and it sure has gone fast. "Time flies when you're having fun".

This is the most amazing team that I have had the opportunity to work for. There is no drama in our office. All of the staff come to work with great attitudes and there is no job in the office that any of us would not take on. Everyone here is a team player and if we don't know how to do something there is always someone that will patiently teach you how. Our patients often compliment me on the "vibe" in our office and tell me they can feel it right away. 

It is an amazing feeling to love going to work every day. Our team works together to create an atmosphere that our patients can feel is compassionate, caring, and delivers the highest standard of care.

When an office delivers this type of care it grows so fast. People are attracted to an office like this and they refer friends and family. It is truly amazing to witness.

Shelley C

Front Office Staff

The key to a successful dental practice!
After having practiced dentistry for over 15 years, I've learned a thing or two about how to run a great dental practice.  This has come through trial and error. Many will define success in different ways, however for me, success is defined by my overall satisfaction w/ how the office is doing.  This can be quantified by how productive we are, how happy the patients are, how happy the office staff are, how low is our business overhead, etc.  The number one key IMO in achieving any kind of success begins with having an amazing team that I love to work with and that enjoys working together.  Without an amazing team, it is difficult to achieve any of the other goals effectively.  It begins with the hiring process.  The key is to hire slowly and to fire quickly if needed.  When I hire, there is only one question that I need to ask all of the references on the resume.  I ask the previous employer this one valuable question!  "Would you hire them again"!  If every employer answers- YES! to this question, I know that I have found a winner.  They tend to be hard working w/ a great "can do" attitude.  They tend to be team players and they leave their drama at home.  They do not gossip and they want to preserve a fun and healthy work environment.
This kind of a dental team actually makes me want to come to work! Patients can sense the unity and camaraderie in an office that enjoys working together.  I attended a workshop put on by one of the directors of the Ritz Carlton.  They are known for exceptional service.  What I learned from them was that, they don't take average people and try to change them or to train them to be a certain way.  They make sure to hire correctly in the first place.  That means, hiring happy people w/ the right attitude. What I have just shared can be utilized by any business owner or leader for putting together a winning team.

To the readers of the Olympia Family Dentist blog:
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