Family Dental Care Park Ridge

Howdy pardners….yep, it’s true! We’re back in the saddle again.

Most of you that know me, know that I almost always have a song playing in my head and this past week, as we accelerate the work at the new space, the song that is happily playing in there is Gene Autry’s Back in the Saddle Again. Because, that’s how it feels. After pumping those brakes and readjusting our focus, we are really chomping at the bit to get our doors open to you, our patient friends.

You and I can talk all day long about the lessons that we learn in patience.  In biding our time.  We can commiserate over unexpected challenges.

OR

We can celebrate the giddy feeling we get when we know life is good.

So, watch both of the video’s that I am sharing with you today…they are short and they are definitely sweet.

And remember, as always….we LOVE to make you smile!

I’m there almost everyday watching the progress. And because I know all of the hard work that is going into this most amazing project, I notice every detail…every accomplishment…and I am thrilled.

I took my camera with me yesterday so that I could share with you just how far we’ve come…and how much more we have to do!! And, already today, it looks different from what you’ll see on this video. So, go ahead…take a peek. See what we have been up to. Feel the glory as we keep moving forward so that come January of 2012, we will be able to open the doors to Family Dental Care Park Ridge’s new home. We couldn’t be more excited!

If you have any questions about our move or about your dental care, please call us at 847.692.6800 or email us at info@ParkRidgeDDS.com We are always happy to help you.

You know how when you have a vision…a dream…and it stays just at that stage for awhile? Sometimes for a long while?

And then, something happens and you just know that it’s time to make your vision a reality?

So, you begin. Tentatively at first. Getting all of your ducks in a row. Testing out the water. One small step at a time.

And then, quite suddenly, you find yourself at that tipping point. That point of no return. The point where there is no turning back.

That magical point when you know that your dream is becoming a reality.

That’s where we are now….

And we couldn’t be more excited!

We are well into our third week of sprucing up our new office space.  There have been lots of changes since our last video and lots of meetings.  Meetings with people who are integral to the success of the outcome of our new space.  Meetings with people who bring intelligent and thoughtful design to our space.  Meetings with people that have a particular expertise.

Expertise is something we don’t think about a lot until we need it…no…demand it…in our life for one reason or another.  In a project that involves talent that I do not possess, I have become reliant on the expertise of people that do offer that talent.  I am dependent on their honesty, integrity, intelligence and perspective as it relates to their particular field of expertise.  Word of mouth has taken on new importance as I am guided from one person with expertise to another person with expertise until I find that sweet spot…that perfect combination of  creative talent with the valuable expertise that they offer who can work together to create my TA-DA moment in January.

And expertise is something that we should expect in our healthcare as well.  You should expect a level of expertise in your experience with your dentist and with your physician.  And when they feel that you would benefit from the expertise of another specialist, your dentist or physician should feel comfortable and assured that the expertise of the specialists that they recommend is reliable, intelligent and ethical.

So, in today’s Word of Mouth Wednesday video, we talk about how important that expertise is to us whether we are painting an office or seeking advice for a dental problem.  We depend on the expertise of others as a valuable and reliable asset. Check out the quick tour of the new office at the end of the video with thanks to Lady Gaga for the energy that I’m on the Edge of Glory provides for our project!

How do you view expertise?  Do you seek the expertise of others when taking care of your health?  Your car?  Your home?

And remember, as always…we LOVE making you smile!

In today’s segment of Word of Mouth Wednesday, I am almost bursting at the seams with excitement as I share with you some incredibly exciting news.  Family Dental Care Park Ridge is getting a face lift.  We have loved our home over on Busse Highway but we have outgrown that space.  As a result, we are in the beginning stages of renovation at a new and much larger site.  There are so many great features about the new space, not the least of which is the close proximity to our current office and ease of access by all types of transportation.  More on that in later posts.

Today, the Word of Mouth Wednesday video talks about the huge list of “To-Dos” that we have at the beginning of a project and how, by checking off each of the to-dos we will ultimately experience a spectacular TA-DA!!!  You can read more about “To-Do Today, Ta-Da Tomorrow” over at Social Media DDS. Meanwhile, our incredible to-do list needs much attention.  I will try to do a weekly video over at the new space so that you can join in the fun of watching a vision become a reality.

I always love your input, suggestions and feelings so please feel free to share in the comment section below.  Your opinions are valuable.

If you have any questions related to the new office or any dental related concerns, please feel free to call our office ( 847-692-6800 ) or email me.  I am always happy to help.

And remember, as always…we LOVE making you smile!

So, in today’s Word of Mouth Wednesday video, I must have set the point of focus on the camera to some other planet because watching the video is like looking at the world without my contacts or glasses on…blurry.  I guess I could say that I was trying to capture a dreamy feeling as I talked about missing teeth…but…no.  So, I apologize for the blurriness of the video.  Sigh.

That being said, today’s topic is not out of focus.  It is, in fact, spot on.  In today’s video I speak to what you need to think about when you have missing teeth.

Here is a list of what you need to know about missing teeth: 

1.) Prior to the extraction, spend some time talking with your dentist about what your replacement options are after the extraction

2.) Discuss with your dentist the possibility of “interim” replacement teeth to be used while you heal and while you make your decision about your final restorative choice

3.) When teeth are extracted and no replacement is made, teeth can tip in to “fill” the missing space but this tipping can create problems of it’s own including bone loss and periodontal issues

4.) When teeth are extracted and no replacement is made, the tooth on the opposite jaw can start to “super erupt” because there is no tooth opposing it to stop eruption from occurring.

5.) There are many options available today to replace your missing teeth.  Even if you have waited a long time after your extraction, there may be something that can be done to fill that open space.

If you have any questions about replacing missing teeth or about anything dental related, please feel free to give us a call or email us.  Dr. Carolyn Demas and Dr. Matt Demas love working with patients to maintain optimal oral health.

And remember, as always….we LOVE making you smile!

Labor Day Weekend is over and with it go the lazy hazy days of summer. For most kids, the end of the Labor Day holiday means school is officially back in full swing. And, for kindergartners, second graders and sixth graders, it means that you need to have a dental exam completed for your school record. This requirement is a state by state mandate but in the state of Illinois, the requirement states that each child needs to have a dental exam form on file by May 15th of that school year.

In this weeks Word of Mouth Wednesday video, Dr. Claudia Anderson talks about what this school dental exam entails and what the requirements for compliance are. These mandated school exams for kindergartners and second and sixth graders are a great opportunity for the parents or guardians to demonstrate good oral health maintenance by making an appointment for a check up for themselves as well. As role models, we as parents and guardians can positively impact our children in ways that will create good habits for their future. And, certainly, teaching your child good oral health habits is a wonderful thing.

If you need a Proof of School Dental Exam Form, you can get one here. or your child’s school will be able to get you one.

If you have any questions about your child’s school dental exam, please feel free to give us a call or email us. Dr. Carolyn and Dr. Matt are great resources regarding school dental exams.

And, remember, as always…we LOVE making you smile!

I had fun doing today’s Word of Mouth Wednesday video (who am I kidding….I always have fun doing these videos)  for a couple of reasons.  First, I got creative with the whole videography thing and tried walking while being videoed….and it worked!!  And second, I am excited to point you all in the direction of a new digital friend who I think is worth connecting with.  In fact, she was the inspiration for today’s video.  Her name is Lori Gosselin and she writes a most thoughtful blog that she calls Life For Instance.  I have truly loved each of the posts that I have read from Lori.  But her post from this weekend really spoke to me.  In it, Lori poses the question “What do you think about?”  She was referring to where do your thoughts go to when they are not focused on the matters at hand?  And how do you tame those fly-away thoughts?  She sparked a lot of “conversation” in her comment section, all of which was very compelling.  In my response to her post, I said that when my thoughts get the better of me, and for me that means when I start to worry too much and scare myself, I often find relief in taking a walk.  And walking ends up being such a win/win!  Walking is a great form of exercise and it takes me away from my worried place within.  I can “escape” for awhile… but the really cool thing about doing something physical like exercise or walking is that our bodies release those magnificent endorphins that enable you to regain a sense of well being and happiness.  So, while my stresses may not have left, I am far better able to face them and to focus more effectively.  See?? I told you…win/win!!

Do yourself a favor and visit Lori’s blog.  You will be glad you did.  And join in her “conversation”. Lori is a great engager and will make you and your thoughts feel very welcome!! And, I’d love to hear your thoughts here as well…don’t be afraid to go to the bottom of this post and write a comment…I will respond!!  I love hearing from you whether it be in the form of a comment here or be emailing me.  Your thoughts, ideas and critiques are important.

And, lest you forget, we LOVE making you smile!

Taking a page from my alter ego, Social Media DDS’s suggestion, I have decided to talk about sealants in numerical list form.  Clean, easy and to the point.  But before I begin the list, let’s talk about what exactly a dental sealant is.  Dental sealants are very thin plastic coatings that are placed onto the back teeth, or molars, in their deep grooves and pits in an effort to decrease the likelihood of cavities.  It is a painless procedure and it is non-invasive so that no drilling of the tooth is necessary and no anesthetic injections are necessary.  As with all dental procedures, it is best that you familiarize yourself with as much information about the procedure so that you and your dentist can make a decision that will best suit you or your child’s oral health needs.

Here are 5 things that you should know about sealants.

1.) Sealants are most effective on the permanent molars and are best placed rather soon after the tooth has erupted to decrease the chance for decay.

2.) Sealants are painless, non-invasive and are usually clear or slightly opaque white in color and, while they will feel new for awhile, they are so thinly brushed on that they should not affect the bite or anatomy of the tooth

3.) Sealants, when well placed, can last for over five years.  It is important, however, to maintain your twice yearly check ups with your dentist so that she/he can always assess the sealant(s) to assure their integrity.

4.) While placing sealants does not have the same effect as fluoride treatments, there are some sealants available now that have fluoride releasing capabilities incorporated into the sealant.  This is something that you would want to discuss with your dentist

5.) Having sealants placed is a decision that needs to be made by you and your dentist.  There are compelling statistics on both sides of the sealant discussion.  The placement of sealants usually ends up being a case by case determination…in other words, dentists feel that some of their patients may benefit from the placement of sealants and other patients may not have any appreciable result.

As with most dental treatments, the very best thing for you to do is to sit down with your dentist to discuss their feelings about sealants and the appropriateness of placing sealants on yours or your children’s teeth.  I hope that this has given you some useful information about dental sealants.

If you have any questions for Dr. Carolyn Demas or Dr. Matthew Demas about sealants or any other dental related topic, please feel free to send us an email or call us at 847-692-6800.

If you know me, you probably have heard me extol the virtues of humans being able to create a habit in 21 days….I used to promote this information as motivation to help you create good oral hygiene habits…you know…the old brush your teeth twice daily for two minutes each and floss once a day.  But, it turns out I was wrong.  And I learned that I was wrong because I started to do yoga again  (OMG  Wendy Yanke at Indigo Yoga Center is amazing!!) and I wanted to see how long it would take for yoga to become a natural part of my daily lifestyle.   Turns out it might take a long time.  I looked here and found out that it can take anywhere from 18-254 days with a plateau occurring around 66 days!!!  So, I wondered.  Why, if we know that we are doing things that are good for us, why does it take so long for it to become a natural part of our daily routine?  And, while I have no definitive answer for you… I can tell you that I am right there with you struggling to create a healthy lifestyle pattern for myself and I really do know how difficult it is to make this a “habit”.  So, let’s make each other accountable…let’s commit to creating healthy lifestyle choices for ourselves.  I’m going to stick with yoga and make it a part of my weekly routine and you?  I’ve got your back if you want support in improving your daily oral health routine or your commitment to a healthier lifestyle.  If we support and encourage each other, creating those good habits becomes so much easier!!

And yes, the cicadas were louder than me in the video.   And no, it wasn’t your imagination…you did hear those funny goats try to get some air time!!

And, remember….as always….we LOVE making you smile!!