Halloween Candy Buyback

Whoopi Goldberg talks about Gum Disease - It can kill you!

Trick or Treat for our Troops

It's Halloween time again!

We are putting our money where your mouths are. We are buying back candy after trick or treat this year again.

This is our fourth candy buyback, or as we like to call it, trick or treat for our troops. November 1st, 2010 Dr. Levine and the team will be buying back trick or treat candy from kids (16 and younger please) for $2.00 per pound. All our donations are weighed, and the donator reimbursed with cold hard cash. This is such a fun event for all of us, and we're doing a great thing- on two different fronts: keeping cavity-feeding candy out of kids' mouths, and supporting our troops overseas with care packages.

Last year we collected just over 1,000 pounds of candy. We also collect and donate gently used books, dvd's and microwaveable popcorn. We shipped 20 boxes of dvd's, books, and popcorn last year in addition to the candy. Our donations went to an National Guard outpost in California who call themselves Operation Gratitude. (operationgratitude.com) There, they make and ship care packages to United States service members across the globe. To date, they have shipped over 560,900 care packages.

Help us out this year by supporting our troops and donate your candy, books, dvd's, popcorn, to our cause on November 1st, 2010 from 8:00am to 5:00pm. We will be dressed up in our costumes, so come prepared to smile. Who knows- you may even have fun at the dentist's office!

Levine Dental is located at 8860 N 60th Street, Milwaukee, WI 53223. For more information, call us at 414 355 0213, or visit our website at http://www.LevineDental.com or HalloweenCandyBuyBack.com

30 Second Tour

I threw together a short tour of the office today.

I know it's quick, but it helps to portray the atmosphere here at one of Milwaukee's finest dental practices. Relax with the comforts of home. Soft plush chairs await you while you sip your Starbucks coffee and enjoy your fresh-baked cookies.

The treatment rooms are bright and clear, allowing you to see out the window and hopefully help you relax a bit before your treatment begins.

See more at our website: http://www.levinedental.com or check us out on Facebook and Twitter.

You can always call too to schedule a tour at 414 355 0213

Getting to Know Levine Dental

Many of you have been our patients for years. You may know us pretty well, however for those of you who are new to the office that may not be true. Our office is very diverse in the people who work here and their families.

For instance, Dr Levine is an avid reader. He enjoys many books. His favorites are tales of suspense, whether it be a good murder mystery, or a courtroom drama. Lisa is also an avid reader enjoying horror novels the likes of Stephen King, John Saul, and Dean Koontz.

Matt spends some of his free time sound engineering and recording community events and concerts at local venues like for Hartford High School, the Hartford City Band, and the Christmas Mass service at Holy Hill. He enjoys all things computers and tries to keep up with all the latest technology. He is also going back to school to become a dentist himself.

Jackie and Laura are our biker chicks. They enjoy riding their Harley’s with their husbands. They have gone to all the big events such as the many Harley rally’s around the area. They also like to travel and cruise the rural roads sightseeing and enjoying the scenery.

Stacey spends her free time with her kids. She is involved as a softball coach for her daughter as well as a PTA member. Her husband coaches her son’s baseball team. She enjoys the warmer weather when she can be outside doing fun activities with her kids.

Melissa is our bingo queen. She enjoys playing bingo at her local church as well as the bigger venues like Potawatomi or Ho Chunk. She has won some jackpots, but she really enjoys the anticipation of winning and the camaraderie of her fellow bingo players.

Eddie is the most frugal of our team. She makes sure that her fellow teammates don’t throw away unnecessarily. She also keeps us green here at the office. She is very aware of the need to recycle and hates to throw things away if they have purpose.

As you can see, our team has many outside interests and hobbies that make us unique. These qualities are shared amongst us as well as our patients.

Home Care for Better Health Care

Facts:

50% of people consider the smile the first thing they notice.

80% of people are not happy with their smile

A 2008 British Study showed that 14% of the population do not brush at all.

Various studies show that only between 2 and 12% of people floss regularly and effectively.

They say go to the dentist twice a year to check on and maintain your dental health. If you do that and nothing else you could have dentures at a young age.

While going to the dentist is extremely important, even more important is what people do at home. The very minimum for home care is brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day. There are also a whole other variety of things at our disposal that help make this even easier.

With all of the things at our disposal there is no reason we should not be able to reduce the number of teeth people use. More and more things are introduced all of the time to help the average person accomplish keeping their teeth for as long as they want. Below are a list of things the average person can do to help keep their teeth a lifetime.

Make sure you give your dentist all of the information they need. In today's world many people are on numerous medications. Many medications have numerous side effects that affect your teeth. These include dry mouth and swelling of your gums. Make sure you tell your dentist everything so they can give you all of the tools necessary to help you lessen the oral effects of your medications:

• Brush your teeth at least twice a day. Each of these times should take at least two minutes. Use short gentle strokes, make sure you hit the hard to reach spots in the back, make sure you get your gumline and make sure you brush your tongue
• Floss at least once a day. My dad used to have a sign in the office that said "Only floss the teeth you want to keep". This is very true. It is also not easy to floss. Make sure you are using a long enough piece of floss (at least 18 inches), make sure you hit all surfaces when going between the teeth, do not saw as you can irritate your gums.
• Listen to your dental care professional

There are numerous other things your dental care professional can suggest that will help you on your home hygiene quest. These include but are not limited to water irrigation systems, Soft-Picks, numerous rinses and dry mouth products.

Listen to what your dental professional suggests and you are headed in the right direction.

Yours in Better Dental Health

Paul

Planning Ahead

We all know things are tight, financially for most of us. Dental care is unfortunately one of those investments that tend to not make our top-ten priority list. As dental professionals, we know and stress the importance of preventive care. By keeping a close eye on things, we are able to keep fillings smaller, catch potential problems before they become more costly, and save us time and you money. Planning ahead not only helps to save time and money, but more importantly, saves on your budget. By knowing what sort of dental work you might need in the future, you can keep a more watchful eye on your budget. You can get a printout of what sort of treatment you need for your next appointment at each visit so you are more informed when you come next time. You should know what sort of treatment you need and where it is in your mouth. You can also figure out how much your insurance may pay and how much may need to come out of your pocket.

Trusting your dental professionals with your oral health is a great honor and privilege. The entire team at Levine Dental, are firm believers in educating our patients. Knowing what treatment you need and what treatment you have done, makes you a wise dental consumer.

Some dental treatment courses are extensive. They can cover a time span of weeks or months, even years. Planning steps in advance helps things to proceed smoothly and more quickly. Any costs involved along the way can be budgeted for. By planning ahead, you the patient can even make financial arrangements along the way. Optimal dental health is an investment for much of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and even America. Knowing what you need, what you’re making appointments for, and how much you may be financially responsible for are smart steps to take. They assist in avoiding scheduling conflicts, financial discrepancies, and any other miscommunications. These steps also pave the way toward more successful and longer-lasting treatment.

Technology in Dentistry

We’ve all seen technology grow in our lives over the last few years. I’d like to introduce you to just a few of the advances in technology in dentistry over the last few years that have improved diagnosis, treatment, and most importantly, patient comfort and in general overall dental health.

With the integration of the computer into the treatment room, digital imaging has become popular and convenient. X-rays all used to be on a cardboard applicator with the film attached and in your mouth. Now with digital radiography, we can take an image of your teeth and have it on screen within seconds. The imaging software here allows us to zoom, adjust contrast, and even measure parts of a tooth, all with the click of a mouse or touch on the touch-screen. Not only is this more convenient for the patient, but the exposure time to radiation is about 1/10 of what it used to be (about 12.5 hundredths of a second). We now have an x-ray unit that can take an image of the entire face all at once, digitally of course. Any of these digital pictures can be shown to the patient using the monitor right over the patient’s head.

Cavities and gum surgery used to be something that every one dreads. Now with the advent of fiber-optics and erbium chromium lasers, most of these procedures can be done in ½ the time with little to no discomfort at all. The laser Dr. Levine has here is an erbium chromium laser. That means this laser focuses on obliterating water and those tissues with a higher concentration of water. Gum contouring procedures can be done with little to no bleeding at all. In many instances local anesthetic isn’t even necessary as you can’t even feel the laser as it is re-contouring!

Lasers are also used to help the dentist and hygienist detect cavities when they are small. We have a tool called a diagnodent. This is a class 2 (less powerful) laser that reads the density of a tooth. Once calibrated, we are able to tell if the darker grooves or discolorations on your teeth are from stain or if they’re actually decalcified areas meaning a small cavity forming. The laser makes a beeping sound and the higher the sound, the less dense that part of the tooth. If you haven’t had it done, ask at your next appointment to have a demonstration.

We also have other things to make your visit more comfortable such as the abilities to play movies, podcasts or music through the overhead monitor to headphones that you are able to wear. This allows many people who don’t like dental noises to have a more relaxing visit.

These are some of the most recent and convenient innovations to dentistry. There is much, much more on the horizon. Just like other industries, technology is pushed by those at the forefront of the industry. The entire team here at Levine Dental is committed to providing the best care to our patients with the latest technology available. For more information or to ask questions about the technology available log on to the website at LevineDental.com

Soda Consumption in America

Pop, soda, cola, no matter what you call it, it is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. More than 15 billion gallons were sold in 2000. That averages to one 12 ounce can per man, women and child every day.

Soft drinks have emerged as one the most significant dietary sources of tooth decay today. The acids and acid sugar byproducts in soft drinks soften tooth enamel and contribute to the formation of cavities. The erosive potential of colas is 10 times that of fruit juices in just the first 3 minutes of drinking. Drinking any type of soft drink hurts teeth due to the citric and phosphoric acids found in them. Phosphoric acid keeps the fizz, (which is also harmful to your bones) but also dissolves the calcium out of the tooth’s enamel, leaving the tooth surface soft and unprotected.

Sugar-free drinks account for 14 percent of the soft drink consumption and are less harmful, but they are still acidic and cause some of the problems.

Children and adolescents aren’t the only ones at risk. Long term consumption of these drinks has a cumulative effect on the tooth enamel. As we live longer we are more likely to experience problems.

When it comes to your teeth the worst thing you can do is to sip a soda throughout the day. If you find it hard to give up it up try to change your habits, Drink more water, brush regularly, rinse with mouthwash, or have the drink with a meal and then swish with water after. It is better to drink the soft drink at one sitting verses sipping it and changing your oral ph with each sip. Changing or keeping the ph in your mouth high is what helps contribute to the oral problems we see as dental professionals.

It is important to inform your dental care team if you or your child is consuming a lot of soft drinks and work with them to help change these habits so that you and your family can obtain and maintain your dental health.

How does this vote impact you?

Well we've all heard about the big Sunday Vote last night.

Unless you've been hiding out under a rock in a hole somewhere, our Legislature voted to pass President Obama's proposed overhaul to our healthcare system. You may have lots of questions to ask. I know I do.

So what does this mean to you? What does this mean to the office? What does this mean for all of us?

I advise you all to question the bill. Ask questions, check the government websites, read and read, and read some more.

Here's to get you started:

http://www.google.com/search?q=healthcare+reform&hl=en&tbs=nws:1&tbo=u&ei=MOqnS73UPJX2NLb_0ZkN&sa=X&oi=news_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBsQsQQwAA

-Matt Vandermeuse

the Levine Dental Team

http://www.LevineDental.com

Continuing our Education

Today is our first day back in business after attending the Chicago Dental Society's mid-winter meeting last week.

Most of the team was in attendance. We had a great team meeting on Wednesday night to get all geared up. The latest products, services, instruments were all there with their vendors. There are demonstrations, freebies, and of course opportunities to purchase the latest and greatest in the dental community.

The team attended classes on practice management, optimization, time management, software applications, and how nutrition plays a role in one's dental health.

For more information on the CDS meeting, they can be found here: http://www.cds.org

or check out our web space at http://www.LevineDental.com

Give Kids a Smile

Today is one of the days that we are reminded why we do what we do.

February is Dental Health Month. Every year for at least the last 5 years, those of us at Levine Dental Associates have helped those kids who cannot afford dental care- to get the care they so desperately need.

Give Kids a Smile is a wonderful program started by the American Dental Association and further sponsored by the Wisconsin Dental Association (locally). Kids of all ages are screened at the dental school at Marquette University and those that need dental care are scheduled at many different participating offices in the greater Milwaukee area.

Dr. Levine and Dr. Julie Melbinger-Wagner and the entire team at Levine Dental Associates donate their time, materials, and expertise to treat these children.

For more information, look for us on Facebook, Twitter, and on our website at http://www.levinedental.com

For information on how you can help next year, contact the WDA (http://www.wda.org) or the ADA (http://www.ada.org) for more information.

I also have to thank all the kids for being cooperative. We know it's scary sometimes to go into a strage place with strage people. We all have fun doing what we do, and thank you to the children for reminding us, and making us smile!

Dentistry and the Economy

I am sure we have all been affected by the downturn of the economy. I also know we are all waiting for that upturn where things go back to where they were before.

One of the first things we all do in situations like this is cut the things we think will save us money. Often times, dentistry is one of those things people choose to put off during these tough times. Having seen what happens when patients put off either regular recare visits or needed treatment, I can tell you in the long run this often times leads to investing more money in something simple or even the possible loss of a tooth or teeth that could have been saved.

I would like to offer you a strategy for your dental health during these tougher economic times.

· If you have insurance make sure you learn all about it. Most patients with insurance will get either 80% or 100% coverage on their cleanings twice a year.

· Make sure if you notice a problem get it taken care of before it gets worse. If you break a tooth, loose a filling notice bleeding gums get it taken care of as soon as possible.

· Listen to the recommendations of your dentist and dental health care team

· Make sure you are doing what you can at home. Brush a minimum of twice a day and floss once a day. Ask your dental health team to make sure you are doing it correctly.

Work with your dental health team and they will work with you. Together you can try to make sure that your investment in your dental health is kept to a minimum. Remember if you don’t follow through in the short term or try to eliminate regular dental care in a cost saving move, it may actually cost you a lot more in the long run which could lead to investing a lot more or possible tooth loss.

Yours in Dental Health,

Dr. Paul S. Levine

Understanding your Dental Insurance

Over the years, I have heard it all when it comes to insurance. From “my insurance pays 100%”, to “I’m not sure what my insurance is.” The thing that I have learned is that many of these plans are not properly explained, if at all, to the employee and/or subscriber at the time they are purchased. Not only does this leave patients with questions, it also creates extra work for our office to provide the patients with the most current and up to date coverage under their plan. For a long time, dental insurance was nothing more than an add on to the medical coverage. Unfortunately, even though this is not the case any more, the coverage for most of these plans has remained unchanged in the last 40 years. The best time to find out all you can about your insurance is either during the open enrollment period with your employer, or if you are self-insured, while the representative is there to sell the plan, ask as many questions as you can. Ultimately, your insurance is a contract between you, your employer, and the insurance company. We are not a party to that contract.

As a courtesy to our patients, our office does contact the dental insurance carrier. We receive a summary of benefits, but only the information the insurance is willing to reveal. With this information, we are able to give our patients a close approximation of what they can expect to pay out of pocket. This does not let the patient off the hook though. Patients need to be well versed and pay attention to the explanation of benefits that the insurance company provides. Some situations require documentation from the patient and a claim can be held up if the patient is unaware of it, such as primary and secondary information, divorce decrees, and student status.

During the beginning of each year employers search for new, less expensive plans and therefore may change plans. Patients need to be aware of any changes in their plan and be prepared to provide this to our office. I don’t know how many January’s I’ve spent sorting through plans because the patients didn’t know their employer changed plans, or were given very little information about the new plan including a new dental card. This will unnecessarily delay a claim. If we cannot receive payment from the insurance company, the balance of all work that was completed then becomes the responsibility of the patient.

Being an active participant in your plan not only benefits you, but it also helps our office do what we do best and that is to give our patients the best dental care around!

-Lisa Karau

the Levine Dental Team

Would you pay for email?

I read a blog today from Jerry Jones (http://www.dentalmarketingtips.com/blog/wordpress). I was a bit disturbed. It appears that a story/rumor has leaked about AOL and Yahoo charging a fee for each email sent via their servers/services.

Jerry's blog says charges would be minimal per message ($.01). How much email do you use regularly? I know I'm always in constant inbox patrol mode and when something comes in, a message usually goes out in response. I probably send more then 50 emails in the morning alone on any given day.

Does this hurt the bottom line? Not for AOL or Yahoo? What is Google doing differently that they aren't planning to charge for email services? Will this catch on with local ISP's? Will we all be paying per email no matter where we go or what services we use?

Cellular phone technology has caught up to the internet, and most providers offer a data plan. Most providers will also offer an unlimited texting option as well as unlimited phone minutes.

Does this disturb you?

Would you find another outlet of communication to use if you were to be charged a fee per email sent? Are social media networks to blame? Are they stealing the ad traffic that Yahoo and AOL depend on in their email messages?

What do you think?

Giving Back

Those of us at Levine Dental Associates have always strived to give back to our community. We try to do this on a continual basis throughout the year. Our larger annual events are our holiday food and gift drive starting in November and our Halloween Candy Buy-Back.

The Halloween Candy Buy-Back program is a wonderful and easy way to help support our troops. The time is upon us for our third annual Levine Dental Halloween Candy Buy-Back. During the month of October you will see our office transformed for Halloween. On Monday, November 2, 2009 between 8am and 5:30pm we will buy back all of your extra Halloween candy for $2.00 per pound (up to a 100 lb max unless special arrangements are made in advance). This candy will then be shipped to Operation Gratitude for disbursement to our troops all across the globe.

Operation Gratitude seeks to lift morale and put smiles on faces by sending care packages addressed to individual soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines deployed overseas. Operation Gratitude care packages contain food, hygiene products, entertainment items and personal letters of appreciation, all wrapped with good wishes of love and support. They need everyone’s help and we can all do our part through our Candy Buy-Back here in Milwaukee.

As in the past, we will be happy to accept other donations for that will help benefit the troops. Those items include: new or gently used DVD’s, CD’s, new batteries, knit or crocheted scarves, microwave popcorn, and new or gently used books.

These items can be brought to our office at anytime through November 6, 2009. Candy can also be brought in early. Please help us top the 1000 pounds we collected last year. More importantly help us support those that are making our country safe and free. Call the office today for more information.