As the cool, crisp air of fall rolls in and we settle into the rhythm of the new school year, it’s the perfect time to refocus on our health—including our dental health! This month, we’ve packed our newsletter with essential tips and topics to keep you and your family smiling all season long.
This month we focus on National Gum Care Month and also on what we all want to avoid: dental emergencies! We shine a spotlight on the Hispanic Heritage Month celebration promoted by the Frederick County Public Library, and appreciate our hardworking office management team. The Frederick News Post’s “Best of the Best” final voting is open, and we’re in the final running for Best Dental Practice. You can vote us daily until Friday, September 27, and only need an email address to register. Here’s the direct link: https://ogden.revfluent.com/bestof/nominee/orlxnzvw42/3r9p5vk1np. Finally, don’t miss out on our delicious Recipe of the Month!
Dive in and join our Dental Health Club—let’s make this fall the season of healthy smiles!
In This Issue:
- Join Our Dental Health Club!
- National Gum Care Month: Don’t Ignore Your Gums!
- Hispanic Heritage Month at FCPL
- Office Manager Appreciation Month
- Best of the Best – Final Time to Vote!
- What To Do In a Dental Emergency
- Recipe of the Month: Smashed Wontons
- Please Leave us a Review!
JOIN OUR DENTAL HEALTH CLUB AND TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR DENTAL CARE!
Many of you already know about our Dental Health Club, which is a great solution for those who don’t have dental insurance. The cost of membership has been the same since 2022, so give us a call and sign up soon!
Dental insurance can often come with restrictions and hassles that limit your options for dental care. That’s why we started our in-house discount plan—the Dental Health Club! This membership plan is designed to put YOU in control, offering significant savings on all your dental needs while working directly with us.
Why Choose Our Dental Health Club?
Our Dental Health Club is focused on helping you achieve a healthy smile while making it affordable. Unlike traditional insurance plans, our membership costs less and provides immediate benefits—no waiting periods, no exclusions, and no surprises. You’ll get discounts on every service we offer, from routine cleanings to restorative treatments.
Save on What You Need, When You Need It
With our Dental Health Club, you only pay for the services you actually use. Whether you need preventive care or more involved treatments, our plans offer significant discounts on all our fees, allowing you to save hundreds of dollars without paying for unnecessary benefits.
No Exclusions, No Hassles
Unlike traditional insurance, our Dental Health Club has no exclusions. Whether it’s cosmetic dentistry, implants, or other specialized treatments, you’ll receive the same great discounts across all services.
3 Plans, Suited to Your Needs
Each of the 3 plans include cleanings, exams, and routine x-rays at no additional cost. Your benefits start immediately and membership runs for 12 months from the date you join. There are no deductibles, waiting periods, maximums, denial of claims, or pre-approvals!
Adult Plan- $399 – Ages 13+ (equivalent to $33/mo)
- 2 preventive cleanings
- 2 dental exams by our doctor
- All routine x-rays
- Periodontal disease evaluation
- Oral cancer screening
- Fluoride treatments as needed
- 1 emergency exam
Child Plan – $299 – Ages 0-12 (equivalent to $25/mo)
- 2 preventive cleanings
- 2 dental exams by our doctor
- All routine x-rays
- Fluoride treatments as needed
- Oral cancer screening
- 1 emergency exam
Perio Plan – $729 – Ages 13+ (equivalent to $61/mo)
- 4 periodontal maintenance cleanings
- 2 dental exams by our doctor
- All routine x-rays
- Oral cancer screening
- Fluoride treatments as needed
- 1 emergency exam
Here comes the good part: beyond these significant discounts on routine cleaning visits, any prescribed dental treatment that we perform is also discounted at 15%. There are no caps, or restrictions on this discount. Whatever treatment plan you choose to have us perform – and remember, we like to give you choices about which works best for you – will receive a flat discount of 15%.
NEW: If you sign up additional members from your household, each subsequent membership is discounted $50.
Ready to take control of your dental health? Join our Dental Health Club today and start saving on the dental care you need, with the dental team you trust. For more details, visit our office or contact us directly. Let’s work together to keep your smile healthy and bright!
NATIONAL GUM CARE MONTH: DON’T IGNORE YOUR GUMS!
When we think about oral health, straight teeth and bright smiles often come to mind, but healthy gums are just as crucial! National Gum Care Month is the perfect time to shine a light on the importance of gum health and introduce our new video series, “Stages of Gum Disease,” available on YouTube.
(If you’ve not seen our YouTube channel, our team produces our own educational videos, featuring our dental hygienist Wendy!)
Why Gum Health Matters
Gum disease often starts quietly, without pain, making it easy to overlook until it progresses. However, there are clear signs that your gums are in trouble:
- Healthy Gums Don’t Bleed: Your gums should be firm and pink, light pink, brown or black in color, firm and resilient, without swelling or redness. Bleeding when you brush or floss is a red flag that you shouldn’t ignore—it’s time to visit your dentist. Healthy gums don’t feel sensitive or tender to the touch.
- Bad Breath or Unpleasant Taste: Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth can signal gum disease. This happens because bacteria are accumulating on your teeth and gums.
- Gingivitis – Stage 1 of Gum Disease: During your dental visits, you might hear the term “gingivitis.” This early stage of gum disease is characterized by inflamed gums, which can be reversed with proper care.
- Receding Gums and Periodontitis: If your gums are pulling away from your teeth, this is a sign of progressing gum disease. Bacteria under your gums release toxins that destroy the connections between your teeth and gums, creating “pockets.” This is called periodontitis, a more advanced stage of gum disease.
- Loose Teeth and Advanced Periodontal Disease: If your teeth feel loose or if a tooth falls out, the supporting bone in your jaw may be compromised. This advanced stage of gum disease can make it difficult to replace lost teeth, even with implants. At this point, you may be referred to a periodontist, a specialist in treating gum diseases.
The Main Culprit: Bacteria
Your mouth is home to many types of bacteria—some beneficial and some harmful. These bacteria form a sticky film called biofilm, which can turn into plaque if not removed daily by brushing and flossing. When plaque hardens, it becomes calculus (or tartar), which can only be removed by a dental professional. Over time, the bacteria in calculus become more aggressive, attacking the ligaments (that act like little rubber bands) securing your gums to your teeth.
How Gum Disease Affects Your Whole Body
The impact of gum disease isn’t confined to your mouth. Inflammation of the gums has been linked to a host of serious conditions, including:
- Diabetes
- Heart Disease
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Rheumatic Diseases
- Respiratory Diseases
- Stroke
These are just some of the systemic conditions associated with gum disease, highlighting the importance of maintaining healthy gums.
Gum Disease Is Common, But Treatable
According to the National Institutes of Health, nearly half of American adults aged 30 and older have some form of gum disease. This number rises to over 70% for adults aged 65 and older, making it one of the most common dental issues. The good news is that with professional care, gum disease can be treated. Early-stage gum disease is often reversible, and even in its later stages, it can be managed to prevent further damage.
Introducing Our New Video Series: “Stages of Gum Disease”
To help you better understand gum disease, we’re launching a new video series on YouTube called “Stages of Gum Disease.” Each episode will dive into the different stages of gum disease, from the earliest signs of gingivitis to advanced periodontal disease, and explain the treatments our hygienists perform to protect your gum health.
Don’t wait until it’s too late—subscribe to our channel and learn how to keep your gums healthy! Your smile depends on it.
HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH AT FCPL
The Frederick County Public Library invites you to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15 – October 15, 2024!
Many people wonder why Hispanic Heritage Month begins halfway through September, rather than on the first of the month. September 15 is the anniversary of independence for several Latin American countries, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Mexico and Chile also celebrate their independence days close to this date – on September 16 and 18, respectively.
Check out the special programs, community events, and more offered by FCPL https://frederick.librarycalendar.com/events/month
OFFICE MANAGEMENT TEAM APPRECIATION MONTH
September is Office Management Appreciation Month, when we honor team members who you seldom see. These individuals run our dental practice, mostly in the background.
Dr. Harvey Levy & Associates is cooperatively managed by a team of three that we call Trio: Deborah Mason-Rooney, our former practice manager; Lena Rotenberg, our current practice manager; and Samantha Franklin, very likely our future practice manager.
Each one of them brings their own strengths. By making decisions as a team, our practice benefits from their different perspectives and experience.
Deborah joined us as a front desk team member in 1987. She has performed every administrative task necessary to run a dental office, from appointing patients to negotiating dental insurance contracts. Her background and experience in HR, her strong organizational and documentation skills, her sense of fairness and her institutional knowledge keep us on track. Debbie literally built this practice together with Dr. Levy, and is respected and beloved by every team member.
Lena is the only current team member who Debbie did not interview. As Dr. Levy’s then-girlfriend (now wife), in 2005 he engaged her as an educational consultant to design the courses he taught around the country. Her background is eclectic – physics, teaching, instructional design – and her LinkedIn title is “director of impossible projects.” Her immersion in the practice increased over the years as she tackled different projects, culminating in early 2020 when she was hired as our Vice-President of Operations. Lena is a quick learner and good listener, and her collaborative leadership style is much appreciated by our team.
Samantha joined us in 2009 as a dental assistant intern, who we quickly hired as soon as she graduated. She cross-trained as a front desk coordinator and for many years worked with us in both capacities. When in 2016 she accepted a position as office manager in another practice, she remained engaged with us part-time. When we brought her back full-time in 2020 she had gained invaluable experience in several different dental offices, and many insights about how we could do things differently. As our Assistant Practice Manager, Sam is able to understand issues from both a clinical and administrative perspective, and her efficiency and sunny disposition are appreciated by all.
Trio works closely with our three doctors and with our three team leads (Abbey, front desk; Annette, dental assistants; Brandon, dental hygienists). They also conduct monthly All-Teams meetings in which everyone’s voice is heard. The way our practice is managed ensures that we’re all happy to come to work each day, and provide our patients with the very best possible care!
WHAT TO DO IN A DENTAL EMERGENCY
You might think a dental emergency only happens if you’re bleeding heavily or lose a tooth, but that’s not always the case. Any unplanned or urgent dental need can be considered an emergency. Let’s dive into what constitutes a dental emergency and when you should see a dentist immediately.
You may have a dental emergency if you:
- experience pain and/or swelling in the mouth
- have loose teeth or lost teeth due to physical trauma
- are bleeding a lot from the mouth
- lost a crown or filling
Pain and Swelling
Pain in the mouth that doesn’t go away is a dental emergency. That is not normal and should be checked out. Typically, dental pain will only get worse the longer you wait. When you call to make an appointment, communicate:
- When did the pain first begin?
- When the pain comes, how long does it linger? (seconds? minutes? hours?)
- Is the pain constant or does it come and go?
- Where is the pain? (Tooth? Gum? Cheek? Tongue?)
- What kind of pain is it? (Piercing? Throbbing? Sensitivity to hot or cold?)
- Do you know what triggers the pain? What provides relief?
Swelling in the mouth is also not normal. Swelling may have a known cause, such as biting your tongue, and go away by itself. When it doesn’t, this could be an indication of infection or something worse. When you call to make an appointment, we need to know:
- Where is the swelling (around a tooth or in the gums? On the tongue? Inside the cheek? In the face? In the neck?)
- What kind of swelling? A pimple-like bump or puffiness?
- Is there drainage or an abnormal taste in your mouth?
- When did the swelling start?
- Has it gotten worse?
If you experience pain or swelling as described, call your dentist and schedule an appointment as soon as possible. You could have an infection in the mouth that could spread to other areas of your body.
While waiting for an appointment, try applying a cold compress, rinsing with salt water or saline solution, or using over-the-counter pain medication to alleviate discomfort.
Physical Trauma
Let’s talk about physical trauma to your face or mouth. That is a definite dental emergency. If you or a loved one lost a tooth, or if a tooth is loose due to trauma, acting quickly could potentially save that tooth.
If the tooth is loose, call your dentist immediately or go to an Urgent Care facility.
If your tooth is knocked out and you’re able to recover it, gently handle it by touching the crown (the whiter part of the tooth you usually see) without touching the tooth root.
If the tooth is dirty, gently and briefly rinse it with water while holding the crown. If able, put the tooth back in the gum immediately, making sure the tooth is oriented properly (and not backwards!)
If you’re not able to reimplant the tooth, place it in a clean container and cover the tooth with one of the following:
- pasteurized milk
- egg whites
- saline solution
- saliva of the person who lost the tooth (if out in a field)
Saliva is only meant to be used as a last resort for less than 1 hour. The tooth should be transferred to one of the other recommended solutions as soon as possible. The tooth has the best chance of success if it is reimplanted within 1 hour.
Bleeding
When we’re talking about bleeding from the mouth being a possible dental emergency, we’re not talking about a little bit of blood when you brush or floss. If your gums won’t stop bleeding, especially after an extraction, you should seek emergency dental treatment.
It is not normal to experience bleeding in the mouth without any obvious cause. Call your doctor immediately, and communicate:
- Is the bleeding from a tooth that was pulled, or other recent dental work?
- Where is the bleeding (around a tooth or in the gums? On the tongue or cheeks?)
- When did the bleeding start?
- Has it gotten worse?
Lost Crown or Filling
Losing a crown or filling could be a dental emergency. When a filling or crown breaks or falls out, your remaining tooth is more likely to break or chip (fracture). You may also have exposed nerves which could be damaged or become infected. It’s best to schedule an appointment as soon as possible to protect the tooth from further damage.
In the case of the crown that has fallen out and is not broken, you can try to reinsert it using a thin layer of denture adhesive or toothpaste until you can see your dentist. Do NOT use Superglue or any kind of permanent glue! Practice placing it in the proper orientation before placing the temporary adhesive materials.
If a filling has fallen out, don’t try to put it back in the tooth. Just call the dentist so that the filled cavity doesn’t get larger or the tooth breaks.
If you think you’re experiencing any dental emergency, call your dentist as soon as possible. Remember, it’s always better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your dental health. Stay healthy and keep smiling!
BEST OF THE BEST FINAL TIME TO VOTE
Thanks to you, we’ve made it to the top 5 for the Best of the Best Dental Practice! We couldn’t have done it without your incredible support, and now we’re asking for your help again to take us all the way!
Voting is underway and we’d be grateful if you vote for us daily through Friday, September 27. If you feel that the dental care you receive from us is the best in Frederick, now is the time to let others in our wider community know.
Help us spread the word by sharing this link – https://ogden.revfluent.com/bestof/nominee/orlxnzvw42/3r9p5vk1np – with your friends, family, and colleagues. Plus, be sure to join us on our social media channels during the final week of voting. We’ll be sharing fun stories about our amazing patients and team members as we push for the top spot!
You’ll need to register to vote only once, with your email address. Take the opportunity to spend a few minutes voting for other businesses you appreciate – all the finalists are listed at https://www.fredericknewspost.com/special/best_of_the_best/ .
Thank you for your continued support—let’s show everyone why we’re the Best of the Best!
Recipe of the Month: Smash Wontons
Source: https://www.instagram.com/reel/C_fbEJgIdLx/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
Crunchy discs of wonton wrappers topped with big flavors like garlic, ginger, spring onion/ scallions and soy. For vegetarian and GF options, read the Notes.
Ingredients
Dipping sauce:
- 2 Tbsp dark soy sauce
- Tbsp white wine vinegar
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp of brown sugar
- 2 tsp sesame seeds
Pork Filling:
- 1 lb ground pork
- 1 crushed clove of garlic
- 2 Tbsp grated ginger
- 1 cup finely shredded cabbage
- 3 spring onions finely chopped
- 1 egg
- 1/2 tsp white pepper
- 1 Tbsp sesame oil
- 1 Tbsp soy sauce
- 1 Tbsp corn flour mixed into a slurry with 1.5 tablespoons of water.
- Wonton or gyoza wrappers
Instructions
- Measure and mix all ingredients for the dipping sauce together and set aside
- Mix all of the ingredients for the pork filling (minus the wonton/gyoza wrappers)
- Spread meat mixture onto a wonton wrapper, covering the entire surface and place into a preheated pan. Smash the back of the wrapper with a spatula to flatten
- Cook for a couple of minutes until the meat is seared and mostly cooked through and then flip.
- Cook reverse side until wrapper is golden brown and crispy
- Fold in half to enjoy like a taco and dip in the prepared sauce
Notes
- The dipping sauce can be made in bulk to always have on hand
- The smashed wontons can be topped like tacos with shredded carrots, shredded cabbage, soy bean sprouts, or scallions
- Leftovers reheat well the next day
- Make it gluten free by using GF wrappers and by replacing soy sauce with tamari
- Make it vegetarian by replacing the pork with tofu