This month we physically received the 2022 Best of the Best award for Best Dental Practice that you, our patients and readers, kindly bestowed upon us with your votes. Thank you again! (From right to left, Kathi Smith from the Frederick News-Post, practice manager Lena, assistant practice manager Samantha, dental hygiene team head Brandon, Dr. Patel, dental assisting team head Annette, and Dr. Hailemelecot.)
There is still time left to add a few more things to that new year’s resolution list. Here’s a couple of ideas: start a gratitude journal, try the recipe in our newsletter, and don’t forget to visit your dentist. Whether you’re one to make resolutions or not, it’s important to stay on top of your dental health. Give us a call after reading this newsletter and schedule your next cleaning.
In This Issue:
- Inclement Weather Reminder
- Celebrating the Best of the Best of Frederick
- Wait, Do You Take My Insurance?
- What If I Don’t Have Dental Insurance?
- lubMissed Appointment Protocol
- Why does the dentist take my blood pressure?
- Honoring Our Team Members
- Recipe of the Month: Copy-Cat Carrabas’s Sausage and Lentil Soup
- Please Leave us a Review!
Inclement Weather Reminder
If our office will be delayed or closed for inclement weather, we will post on Facebook and change our office voicemail. We will also do our best to reach scheduled patients with a text message, e-mail, or phone call. Whether or not we are open, if you don’t feel safe to come in for your appointment due to weather conditions, please give us a call.
Celebrating the Best of the Best of Frederick
On Thursday January 19 the Frederick News Post hosted the 2022 Best of the Best Celebration
at The Arc at Market Street. First place and honorable mentions in all categories were invited, and in this photo our three representatives – Lena our practice manager (and Dr. Levy’s wife), Dr. Levy, and Sam, our assistant practice manager – are striking a well behaved pose, in contrast with the next shot which we will publish on Facebook next week.
In the 2022 Best of the Best readers’ choice awards the FNP had close to 600,000 votes overall. We are grateful for the votes you directed toward our dental practice!
Thank you again for your confidence in our practice! We look forward to continuing to meet your expectations in this new year.
Wait, DO You Take My Dental Insurance?
Did you know that if you have a PPO dental insurance plan, you can see any dentist you choose? Even if we’re not in-network with your PPO insurance, you can still receive benefits when you come to our office. Your PPO insurance WILL cover your dental visit with us – and, depending on your plan and provider, sometimes even as much as 100%! (This is not applicable to HMOs or DMOs.)
What is a PPO plan?
A PPO dental insurance plan is short for Preferred Provider Organizations. The name is misleading because a PPO plan accepts BOTH “preferred providers” (aka in-network offices) and non-preferred providers (aka out-of-network offices). If you have a PPO plan (which many people do), your insurance will most likely cover at least a portion of your treatment in our office, even if we’re not in their network.
Why does my insurance say I should see an in-network dentist?
Your insurance company might tell you that the best dentists in your area are in-network providers but, in truth, they want you to see an in-network dentist because it’s cheaper for them. The PPO insurance companies with whom we are in-network have not significantly increased their fee schedules (the dollar amounts they pay a dental office for each procedure) in over a decade. Since 2019, fees were increased on average by only a few cents. Your insurance premiums likely rose significantly since then, as did our operational costs.
Don’t let your insurance dictate your dental health. Your PPO plan gives you the choice to see a dentist who you know and trust. We’ll help you make the most of your plan, regardless of whether or not you’re in- or out-of-network.
Will I have to file my own insurance?
We’ll file the insurance claim on your behalf! We know how to get your claim submitted efficiently and correctly. We’ll review your insurance coverage, explain your benefits and, after your appointment, we’ll file a claim for you, whether you’re in- or out-of-network.
In conclusion
If you really like our dental practice (and per the Best of the Best results, many of our readers do!) please spread the word! Tell your family and friends who have PPO dental insurance that they can also become our patients. And, if they don’t have dental insurance, they can consider our budget friendly in-house discount plans, our Dental Health Club.
What If I don’t Have Dental Insurance?
Our Dental Health Club plans were designed to eliminate the need for dental insurance. If your employer doesn’t provide dental insurance, our plans may be much less expensive than self-purchased dental insurance plans.
Also, our plan is effective immediately, has no waiting periods, and will not deny benefits for necessary treatment. While enrolled in a Dental Health Club plan, you will receive the treatment and care that you need to maintain your oral health. The choice of which treatment you get and the decision about when you get it will be between you and your dentist, without restrictions set by a third party.
We have discount plans designed for adults, children, and periodontal patients, so there’s no reason to avoid necessary dental care.
Our Plans
Adult -$399 Flat Annual Fee
For patients who are 13 years old and up, and with healthy gums as determined by their dentist.
With this plan, patients will save more than $200 off our regular fees just in preventive services! Plus, with the 15% discount on all other services, you will be saving hundreds of dollars off restorative, cosmetic and other major treatments.
Benefits:
- 2 Preventive cleanings and periodontal disease evaluation
- 2 Dental exams by our Doctor, including oral cancer screening
- Fluoride treatments as needed
- All preventive routine x-rays
- 15% Courtesy discount on ALL additional dental treatment performed in our office.
Child – $299 Flat Annual Fee
For patients who are 12 years old and younger. With this plan, patients will save more than $200 off our regular fees just in preventative services!
Benefits:
- 2 Preventive cleanings and periodontal disease evaluation
- 2 Dental exams by our Doctor, including oral cancer screening
- Fluoride treatments as needed
- All preventive routine x-rays
- 15% Courtesy discount on ALL additional dental treatment performed in our office.
Perio – $729 Flat Annual Fee
For patients who have been diagnosed with periodontal disease and have completed quadrant scaling (“deep cleaning”). Up to four periodontal cleanings per year are covered. With this plan, patients will save more than $500 off our regular fees just toward periodontal cleanings! With the 15% discount on all other services, you could be saving hundreds of dollars off restorative and other treatment as well.
Benefits:
- 4 Periodontal maintenance cleanings
- 4 Dental exams by our Doctor, including oral cancer screening
- Fluoride treatments as needed
- All preventive routine x-rays
- 15% Courtesy discount on ALL additional dental treatment performed in our office.
How it Works
- Your membership will expire 12 months after joining, on the last day of that month.
- Our Dental Health Club is NOT a dental insurance plan, it is a discount savings plan that can only be used in our practice.
- Membership is non-transferable.
- Membership benefits can NOT be combined with ANY insurance plans including: Medical, Workers’ Compensation, Accidental Injury, etc.
- Payment for any New Patient Specials may be credited towards your membership plan.
- Child membership is determined by the age of the patient on the date of enrollment.
- Patient/Family account balances must have a zero balance before enrollment.
- In order to receive the 15% discount, payment is due in full at time of service.
Disclosures
- 15% discount IS applicable to nightguards and athletic guards.
- The 15% discount is NOT applicable to bleach trays and regarding teeth whitening services.
- 15% discount IS applicable if you need diagnostic x-rays beyond routine preventive.
- 15% discount IS applicable to scaling and root planing procedures required prior to maintenance benefits included in the Perio membership.
- If Care Credit is used you’ll enjoy a 10% discount instead of 15%, due to fees charged to our practice.
- Our plan can NOT be used for referrals or specialists outside our practice.
- Anesthesia, specialist fees, hospital, surgicenter, nursing home or private residence travel fees will NOT be discounted.
- Hospital and surgicenter facility fees and anesthesia fees will NOT be discounted.
- A fee may incur for each broken appointment without a 24 hour advance notice, per our customary Missed Appointment Protocol.
For more information, please give us a call. We’ll be happy to discuss how our Dental Health Club can help you achieve a healthy smile and receive the treatment you need to maintain your oral and general health.
Missed Appointment Protocol
In case you missed the article last month, since January 1, 2023 we have reinstituted our pre-COVID missed appointment protocol. Any appointment that is not canceled with at least 24 hours notice will be considered a missed appointment. Missed appointments will incur a fee of $100.00. After 3 missed appointments, you may be dismissed from the practice.
If you know you’ll be missing an appointment, please call us in advance and we’ll be glad to reschedule you.
Why does the dentist take my blood pressure?
We are committed to supporting the overall health of our patients, not just their oral health. That is why in 2023 one of our resolutions is to consistently offer you the opportunity to have your blood pressure taken whenever you visit us.
There are many reasons why measuring blood pressure in the dental office is indicated, such as helping us to choose an appropriate local anesthetic before a dental procedure. However, the number one reason we do it is to screen you for potential problems, since most of you visit us more often than your primary care physician. Elevated blood pressure can be indicative of serious medical conditions such as heart disease, heart attack, stroke, diabetes, kidney disease, etc.
Please let your dental hygienist know that you would like to have your BP checked. Since we started to take our patients’ blood pressure years ago we have helped many patients identify early stages of hypertension, and have even saved a patient’s life when their blood pressure was high enough to send them directly to the emergency room.
Honoring Our Team Members
To learn more about our team members, visit Our Team page on our website.
MVP – Front Desk
Every month we recognize a team member who has gone above and beyond, for our patients or other team members.
In January, we recognized our dental hygienist Donna. She started working with us back in 2005 and moved to Florida a few years ago. Despite living 1500 miles away, Donna still works part-time for our office whenever she visits Maryland. Donna has been incredibly helpful with covering holiday vacations and winter illnesses, and she is also always willing to do whatever it takes to keep the office running smoothly. She does it all while being kind, flexible, pleasant and all around delightful! Thank you Donna for continuing to be there for us and our patients.
Invisible Worker Recognition
Every month at our All-Teams meetings we recognize a team member who makes our day-to-day operations run smoothly, despite their contribution not being obvious to many of us. In January we recognized Debbie Mason-Rooney, who was our practice manager most years between 1990 and early 2021. We are extremely grateful that Debbie continues to serve as our HR specialist. She is also a third of our management team, working closely with our practice manager and assistant practice manager to ensure that our practice continues to run as smoothly as it did during her full-time tenure.
Lentil Sausage Soup
Source: Ryn’s Copy-Cat Carabba’s Sausage and Lentil Soup
Servings: 6 people
Prep Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 1 hr 10 mins Total Time: 1 hr 25 mins
Ingredients
- 1 TBSP Dried Italian Seasoning (or to taste)
- Olive oil as needed
- 1 Large Onion (diced)
- 1-2 Stalks of Celery (Diced)
- 2-3 Carrots (Diced)
- 6 Cups of Chicken Broth
- 1 Can Diced Tomatoes (Undrained)
- 2 Cups Dry Lentils
- 1lb Zesty/Hot Pork Sausage
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- In a dutch oven or other large pot saute onions, celery, and carrots until tender.
- Add sausage and continue sauteing until mostly cooked.
- Add the rest of the ingredients, minus lentils, and heat until boiling
- Reduce heat to a simmer and add rinsed lentils. Cook until lentils are tender, about 1 hour.
- Sprinkle with parmesan cheese and serve with a hunk of crusty bread and enjoy!
Notes
- Pre-made fresh or frozen mirepoix mixes make this a no prep meal
- Make it crockpot friendly by browning the sausage in the bottom of the crockpot and then adding the rest of the ingredients. Cook on high for about an hour
- Get some extra veggies in by adding spinach, zucchini, kale, or whatever you like
- If you like a thicker soup, puree some of the ingredients in a blender