"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
Monday, June 8, 2015
Friday, June 5, 2015
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
"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
Tuesday, June 2, 2015
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
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
Tuesday, May 26, 2015
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
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
Monday, May 18, 2015
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
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
Friday, May 15, 2015
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!
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!
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