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Showing posts from 2017

Technology In Implant Dentistry

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We are all experiencing it.  Technology is advancing faster than we can all imagine.  I can still remember the 16 bit floppy disk I used to boot a computer, and look at what we can do with our phones today. It is the same in dentistry.  Everyday, we hear about better materials, better techniques, and better tools - to help us treat out patients better.  This results in more comfort, less cost, and definitely less invasive dentistry. It is especially true for implant dentistry.  Often times, we can remove teeth, place implants, and give our patients a bridge that screws into the implants on the same day. (above) The implant positions were pre-determined using 3D x-ray, and pre-designed on the computer.  A guide that was 3D printed fit over the patient's existing teeth (or gum tissue).  Surgery usually is more precise, less invasive, and with shorter recovery time.  Because we can accomplish much more in shorter period of time, the per implant cost is also greatly reduced. 

Great Dentistry Takes Practice

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When it comes to dentistry and medicine, "practice" does make perfect.  But I wanted to add, practice with the intention to get better every time, makes more of a difference.  There are some diagnosis or procedures I would not have came up with just a few years out of school.  Below are the restorations I recently did.  They certainly look a little better than the ones I've done 15 years ago when I started my career.  Having done over 10,000+ restorations, my restorations probably should look this good. However, if one practices with the same methods, same techniques - even after 10,000 restorations, the results will look the same. We constantly tweak, evolve, and adjust our methods.  Having three dentists in the office certainly helps.  With combined 50+ years of practice, we share ideas, methods, to do things more efficiently and better.  We admire each other's work but also learn from each other's mistakes.  They all results in better patient care.  Not only

You Can Floss Less!

I had the pleasure of meeting this young lady earlier this week.  She came in for a cavity which happens to be between her two molars.  She was a little bummed out about her cavity.  Her most recent x-ray showed many more small cavities we decided to watch because they are still in the enamel.  This is how the conversation went, I said:  "I am going to take care of this cavity for you, but flossing will help you prevent or at least slow down all these small cavities" - assumed that she does not floss daily based on the x-rays in front of me. "I do floss!  I floss three times a day!"  She protested. "Really?  Three times?  When do you floss?"  I can tell that she was telling the truth. "When I get up in the morning before breakfast, after lunch, and after dance.  I don't know what else I can do?" she sounded defeated. "When is your dance class?  Before or after dinner?"  I asked. "Before dinner" she replied.

Seeing Is Believing

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"Seeing is believing" is an idiom that means "only physical or concrete evidence is convincing".  Here at Drs. Goodman & Ko , live by this idiom everyday. If you were a current patient in the office, you often will find that we love to show you what we see.  We love to show you our extremely detailed digital x-rays, or a photo of a fine hairline crack on your tooth, or will hand you a mirror and show you your cavity.  Whatever it is, we believe in evidence, and we will only make recommendations based on evidence.  We see you, our patients, as our partners in the journey of making your teeth healthier.  Only when you trust us and trust that we make recommendations purely based on what's best for your oral and overall health, will make this partnership long lasting.  We have thousands of individuals and families that embrace our philosophy, and we truly appreciate the trust and relationship that we've built over the years.  Thank you to our past a