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Dear Patients, Colleagues and Friends,As we move into our 11th year in our Brainard Place location, following 13 years at Cedar-Green, it seems appropriate to focus on a couple of issues and procedures that are getting much attention in dentistry. Dentistry in the new millennium seems to be changing as quickly as the weather in Cleveland, and it is most important that people are kept current on these issues and are informed as to how our office deals with them. Infection Control has always been a high priority item in this office. Gloves and masks have been standard operating procedure in our office for many years. Instruments have been individually wrapped and steam autoclaved for all of the 22 years I have been in practice. This surgical-strength autoclave is tested daily for its effectiveness. The use of disposable items has increased: cups, saliva ejectors, injection needles, head rest covers, and even handpiece heads and rubber cups used to polish teeth are used once and discarded. Office personnel wear hospital-type scrubs as a daily uniform. So it can be seen we do all we can to insure the safety of both our patients and our staff. Continuing education courses help us provide our patients with up-to-date techniques and procedures. More and more of our patients have had implants to replace missing teeth. Advances in bonding techniques are constantly being made; whether to close spaces, repair fractures, eliminate decay, or to replace cracked amalgam fillings, the tooth-colored restoration has become more and more important. The elimination of periodontal disease remains an important goal, and research continues to emphasize preventive techniques, including professional care every three to four months. Sealants for children to help eliminate the chance of decay are part of our standard care for young people. Frequent attendance at dental seminars allows us to increase our knowledge and skills in these and other areas. On our office management side of things, the use of dental insurance continues to increase. It is our goal to help our patients with insurance as much as we can and to make the process as easy as possible; it is important that we are made aware of any qualifications or limitations in your policy. Generally, unused benefits cannot be carried over from one year to another; therefore, our office works with you to help you realize your maximum benefits. With all of this in mind, it can be seen that dentistry is constantly evolving and that we are working to keep up with it. Support over the years, through comments and referrals of family, friends, and associates to our practice, indicates that we are moving in the right direction. Thank you for your attention and your interest.
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