HEATING PAD ON BACK

Now this isn’t some new crazy discovery or invention, but for those of you that haven’t tried a heating pad, I would recommend you try one ASAP. 

I had never used heating pads before and one time my mother-in-law had one out so I decided to try it in bed and ever since then I use it almost every night. After a long day at work it really helps loosen up my muscles and just overall relax. 

Even if you don’t have back pain its just a great way to relax and unwind.

I also like that you can get these for relatively cheap and they’re easy to use anywhere. 

HYPERICE HYPERVOLT MASSAGE GUN 

I absolutely love the Hypervolt Massage Gun. It feels so amazing and if you’re looking for something a strong to help with muscle pain/soreness or knots this machine works wonders. 

Now with that being said this is definitely on the pricey side(> $200)

I know they have other brands that are cheaper, but I can’t really speak to their quality. 

Also another thing to consider is that if you don’t have someone to actually use the massage gun on you, its really hard to reach the back so you do kind of need a partner for this.

So usually after work my husband and I have to take turns doing it on each other. 

He does try to get longer times with it so I do have to set a timer so its fair 🙂 . . . 

FOAM ROLLER FOR BACK PAIN

This is another relatively cheap item that can make a huge difference. We have a large medicine ball as well as a foam roller that I sometimes use after work.

I literally just put the ball on my back and do a little backbend over it and just being able to do that stretch makes a big difference in my back stiffness.

The foam roller is also really nice on the back, but I personally prefer the medicine ball because I feel like I can get a bigger stretch. 

YOGA MAT FOR BACK PAIN

Now I know yoga may not be everyone cup of tea, but just doing some basic stretches on a yoga mat in the morning or at night can make a world of difference.

I know its not easy to always go to a yoga class, but this is something anyone can do in their living room there are lots of free video classes online.

I try to do a little yoga stretching at least once a week; I really should do it more often. And even just doing a 15-20 min session makes me feel a lot better after work. 

JACUZZI FOR BACK PAIN

I absolutely the jets on the jacuzzi or hot tub. I use it a couple times a week; however, I understand this might not be an option for everyone. 

Taking a hot bath can help loosen up those back muscles and overall help you relax. 

I hope this gave you guys some ideas on how to help with back soreness at home. If you guys watching have any other products or advice please share down below. And thanks for watching! 

Full disclosure: I receive a commission if you purchase the dental products through my referral links. This helps me run this blog & I appreciate the support.

THREE DENTAL BUSINESS BOOKS I 100% RECOMMEND

HYPERVOLT MASSAGE GUN

A little bit about how the Hypervolt works.. . 

Machine guns provide percussive or vibration therapy. The head of the gun oscillates back and forth to provide high-intensity bursts of pressure into the muscles. The machine also allows you to target a specific area of concern.

The idea behind percussive therapy is that blood flow is increased to the specific muscle area, which can help counter the build-up of lactic acid and decrease inflammation and muscle tension. 

It’s also said that the vibration can synchronize your muscle spindles and give you a better range of motion. Flexible muscles are then less prone to injuries and pains. 

Now it should be noted that while more and more scientific studies are being done on percussive therapy, there is still not a lot of research on massage guns.

 I’ve attached below a 2014 research article in the Journal of Clinical & Diagnostic Research describing the positive effects of vibration therapy on muscle soreness. 

There is however, a ton of anecdotal evidence of how percussive therapy has helped with muscle pain and soreness. And many athletes, trainers, and chiropractors use them everyday. 

HYPERVOLT REVIEW

Hypervolt Massager Review 

A little bit about how the Hypervolt works.. . 

So while there are many difference types of massage guns out there we decided to get the Hypervolt because a friend recommended it to us. However, there are many other massage guns out there, some more expensive and others cheaper than this one. 

So heres what the Hypervolt looks like. 

It comes with these 5 different head attachments.

They do have a newer version with Bluetooth. This allows you connect to their app where they have customized routines for different areas of the body.

The routine will sync with the hypervolt and automatically change speeds or tell you to change heads when needed. 

So we decided to get the Hypervolt without the Bluetooth because it was a little cheaper and we didn’t think we would use the Bluetooth that much.

Besides some slight differences in dimensions, this is really the only difference between the cordless hypervolt and hypervolt Bluetooth/Hypervolt plus.  

One thing I like about this machine is that its overall very user friendly, its easy to change the heads and start using on yourself. 

You really don’t need any experience to use it. However, I will say it does help to watch some YouTube videos to get a better idea of how to use each of the different heads and where on your body. 

The machine is meant to be used on muscle areas, so you do want to be careful not to run it too hard over areas of bone as this can cause some discomfort. 

I do want to mention is that it does have some weight to it (2.5 lbs), which is to be expected for a machine that can provide such powerful movements.

While I personally have no issue with the weight, for someone with weaker hands/wrists it may be a little harder to hold for longer periods. 

When its on high there is some vibration to the hand/wrist.

For example, my mom who is over 60 personally felt that the vibration to her hand/wrist was uncomfortable after a couple minutes, but again this is a personal preference that will vary for each person and depending on your strength and age.  

MASSAGE GUN AMAZON | IS IT WORTH IT?

Overall I think this was a great investment in my health and body. My wife and I are both dentists so we get a lot of neck and back pain from work, so using this has really helped alleviate some discomfort.

I also use it a lot after working out and I’ve definitely noticed a difference and improvement in my muscle soreness. 

Just last week I pulled a back muscle which doing weights at the gym and usually when this happens the next day I’m in a lot of pain and can’t do much physical activity.

I actually had my wife use the Hypervolt on the area and the next day I was playing tennis and had very minimal muscle soreness. 

I personally think anyone doing high intensity workouts or any type of physical job should consider investing in a machine gun. In my opinion every dentist could receive benefits or comfort from this.

My wife and I regularly get massages, but that can get pricey so investing in the Hypervolt was definitely worth it for us. Neither of us had experience with a massage gun, but were able to figure out how to use it on our areas of discomfort pretty quickly and easily. 

That's it! 

This is all you need to know about the massage gun and how I use it to alleviate back pain.  I hope you take the time to check out some of our other blog posts and subscribe to our YouTube Smile Influencers! 

Full disclosure: I receive a commission if you purchase the dental products through my referral links. This helps me run this blog & I appreciate the support.

THREE DENTAL BUSINESS BOOKS I 100% RECOMMEND

INTRAORAL CAMERA IN DENTISTRY

The intraoral camera is one of my favorite tools for communicating with my patients clearly. . .  The most important things I illustrate are listed below: 

• Deep Cracks 
• Tooth Decay 
• Oral Pathology 

Deep Cracks 

One of the most difficult things to communicate to patients involves cracks around existing restorations including large amalgam fillings or deep cracks on virgin teeth.

Superficial cracks can sometimes be asymptomatic which makes it difficult for patients to understand the potential consequences of leaving these cracks untreated.

Fortunately, the intraoral camera allows us to show these cracks visibly to our patients. 

Tooth Decay 

This is by far my favorite reasons to use intraoral cameras. Radiographs give our patients an idea of the extent of tooth decay; however, it is more impactful to show a picture illustrating how large decay extends.

Sometimes, I do this during the treatment planning step; however, it can be impactful to take multiple photos throughout the caries excavation process.

This allows the patient to understand the extent of the decay if it turns into more extensive treatment processes like root canal therapy or extraction. This is also a powerful documentation tool if needed after the procedure is complete. 

Oral Pathology  

During our clinical examinations, we are sometimes presented with lesions that present themselves on the soft tissue of the mouth including areas under the ventral surface of the tongue, the cheek or the palate.

If the lesions look unfavorable, I refer out to the oral pathologist or oral surgeon for biopsy; however, a quick dental photograph allows us to investigate the lesions further with our colleagues. I always take a photo of any lesion that looks suspicious. 

 INTRAORAL CAMERA BENEFITS 

So should you buy an intraoral camera or a dental photography camera . . . . 

In my practice, both tools have completely different purposes. The dental photography camera allows me to take beautiful high quality before / after images of cosmetic cases as well as clearly communicate to my dental laboratory when performing indirect restorations.

However, a true professional camera can take a little bit extra time to setup and has a stepper learning curve than an intraoral camera. 

The intraoral camera in dentistry allows me to take quick photos during my preparations or during the treatment planning process. The team can quickly learn how to take photos fast and it can clearly communicate treatment to patients by being immediately illustrated on a monitor in front of our patients. 

INTRAORAL CAMERA PRICE

Amazon Best Intraoral Camera 

MOUTHWATCH INTRAORAL CAMERA

MouthWatch Intraoral Camera Reviews 

The MouthWatch Intraoral Camera is the most popular camera reviewed by dentists on forums that I've seen through on facebook & other dental forums. This camera has been recommended due to its low price point and high quality of images.

Similar to the Daryou, MouthWatch claims a high quality image with a fixed focus lens & usb compatibility. It is lightweight & has a capture button that is compatible with most dental software.

From my research, I believe the MouthWatch and the Darylou can be combined in the same category as budget friendly intraoral cameras. Personally, I prefer the Darylou as once again I value affordability since I believe these cameras will be replaced multiple times throughout my career.

The most important factor is going to be diagnostic quality & from what I have seen both deliver diagnostic capabilities.

I have listed the top features of the MouthWatch Intraoral Camera Below: 

DEXIS INTRAORAL CAMERA

Dexis Intraoral Camera 

The Dexis Intraoral Camera is a premium device for those that want the highest quality regardless of price. The newest Dexis camera is called the DEXIS™ DEXcam 4 HD & can be priced at over $1000. However, there are some qualities that make this camera rise above many of the budget devices. 

We must first note the elevation of image quality in a premium product like the Dexis Intraoral Camera. It has a 1.3 million pixel CMOS sensor that delivers high resolution images that can be critically important when treatment planning. 

This premium intraoral camera also offers 5 different field of view levels that can be toggled with the click of a button. This allows dentists to deliver narrowly focused images or wider images if needed to present different treatments. 

I do believe the price is a bit high for an intraoral camera; however, if crystal clear images are needed in your practice then I would consider purchasing this device. 

That's it! 

I hope you enjoyed this brief blog about intraoral cameras. Wishing the best! 

Full disclosure: I receive a commission if you purchase the dental products through my referral links. This helps me run this blog & I appreciate the support.

THREE DENTAL BUSINESS BOOKS I 100% RECOMMEND

Smile Direct Club Review 

What is Smile Direct Club 

Smile direct club is a company dedicated to helping you straighten your teeth at home at a rate that’s more affordable then an orthodontist

In fact, their prices are listed just shy of $2000 or $89/month which is actually quite a large discount compared to the estimated $5000 to $7000 your local orthodontist might charge you for treatment.  

Now, this discount does come with some compromises that you need to be willing to accept before starting your braces journey. I'll talk about some of the differences more clearly later in the blog . . . 

Smile Direct Club Overview

The way it works is quite simple. 

First, you need to take an impression of your teeth digitally at one of their Smile Shops or by yourself with one of their at home impression kits. 

Once the braces company receives the impression, they will create a 3D image of your teeth and one of their state licensed dentists / orthodontist reviews and approves a custom treatment plan that is designed to make your teeth straighter. 

Finally they create a set of aligners and ship them out for you to wear in the following months.

Eventually, you will have a straighter more beautiful smile if everything goes according to plan. 

According to the website, the company offers two options 

Clear aligners which are meant to be worn as often as possible (22 hours) and nighttime clear aligners are meant to be worn at night so you can go aligner free during the day. 

I personally have an issue with wearing aligners only at night which I dive into towards the end of the blog . . . 

Now, let's talk about the differences between Smile Direct Club & the orthodontist.  

Smile Direct Club vs Orthodontist

Smile Direct Clubs vs Invisalign Differences 

So what are the differences between aligners at an orthodontist vs smile direct club?

The aligners themselves are actually quite similar to one another in terms of material but the main difference between smile direct club and an orthodontist is the addition of buttons to your treatment plan.

Buttons are bonded resin that are attached to your teeth when doing Invisalign at your orthodontist office.

These buttons allow orthodontists to achieve a greater degree of movement for teeth that need a little extra push to get in alignment . . .

Right now, smile direct club does not offer buttons

The company website states that their aligners are meant to correct minor to moderate teeth corrections which makes sense because because it would be really hard to rotate teeth in a big way without these buttons. 

This is one of the largest differences if you’re someone that is looking to make the decision between Smile Direct Club or a local orthodontist. 

Of course, you can visit an orthodontist or take Smile Direct Club self assessment to get a better idea of what type of misalignment you have. 

Clear Aligners vs Braces 

The future of braces 

So what’s the future of braces or clear aligners.

Well I actually think that this at home model is innovative but I would want some changes. It’ll be interesting to see how the nighttime aligners workout for them or if they contintue to ship the at home impression kits.

I’m also interested to see how the company continues to monitor their cases.

I do like how they are making it more affordable but I want to make sure everyone is safe in whatever braces journey they go through 

Full disclosure: I receive a commission if you purchase the dental products through my referral links. This helps me run this blog & I appreciate the support.

THREE DENTAL BUSINESS BOOKS I 100% RECOMMEND

LARGE CAVITY FOR TOOTH PAIN

What is a Cavity? 

So we have to get this out of the way but the number one reason you are probably having a toothache is because you have a large tooth cavity. A cavity is essentially a hole in your tooth caused by acid - producing bacteria that eats away at your tooth. 

If a cavity get large enough and approaches the nerve which is in the middle of the tooth then you can have severe pain. 

Not all cavities are large and the majority of cavities actually don't cause any type of pain at all. 

Dentists discover these cavities by taking radiographs at your periodic examination appointment. In these radiographs we can see dark spots which indicate that the tooth has a lack of density caused by a cavity eating away at the tooth. 

Some cavities are only within the outermost layer of your tooth called enamel, some are in the second layer of your tooth called dentin & some have travelled all the way to the nerve which is at the center of the tooth. 

Treatment Options for a Cavity? 

There are 4 main treatment options for a tooth cavity and it all depends on the size of the lesion. I should also mention that there are very small cavities that we call incipient lesions where we continue to monitor to see if they grow with time.

If they are incredibly small and the patient has a low cavity history then we don't treat these types of lesions 

Dental Bonding 

If a cavity is small then we remove it with our dental burs and then we can place a small  composite resin filling. We use appropriate bonding protocols to make sure the tooth is isolated well and then layer composite incrementally until the cavity is filled with resin. These fillings are incredibly predictable and can last for a long time. For more information about bonding protocol, click here.

Tooth Crown  

If a cavity is large, then we have to use larger tools to remove the entire cavity. Sometimes dentists have to place a liner in the deepest part of the cavity in order to ensure the tooth doesn't need a Root Canal at a later visit. We then build up the tooth with bonding material and proceed with a crown.

Dentists place crowns on teeth if the majority of the tooth is compromised. If a lot of the tooth has been destroyed from a large cavity then bonding a large composite resin restoration on the tooth isn't as predictable.

We use measurements to decide which parts of the teeth (cusps) are salvageable which helps us decide which crown we will do. We either decide between a full coverage crown which wraps around the entire tooth or a particle coverage crown which wraps around only part of the tooth. 

Crowns come in different materials including PFM, Zirconia, Lithium Disilicate & much more. Dentists decide which crown to use depending on the location of the crown in the mouth as well as the forces of your jaw.

If you have strong bite forces then we need to use a stronger crown. If you have light bite forces then we can use a crown material that is more aesthetic like lithium dislocate. I will make a blog post about this at a later time. 

Dental Root Canal   

If a cavity extends into the nerve then one option to consider is a dental root canal. A root canal is essentially when you remove the nerve from the middle of the tooth & fill the tooth with a bio compatible material to make sure you're not in pain.

 After the root canal is completed we typically place a full coverage crown over the tooth; however this can vary on anterior teeth. 

Root canals are meant to be a final resort before extracting a tooth. There can be complications with root canal therapy and we have to remember the tooth is at a much weaker state when the root canal is completed.

However, it can allow you to keep your tooth a bit longer. 

Tooth Extraction  

An extraction is the final resort if too much of the tooth has been compromised and we can no longer predictably place a crown on the tooth.

If an extraction is completed there are tooth replacement options like partial denture or better yet dental implants.

Tooth implants are the best way to replace a missing tooth and have predictably been placed in many of my patients. 

TOOTH BITE PROBLEMS

Your bite is the second reason why you may be having a toothache. 

Ideally, we want an even distribution of forces on both sides of the mouth when you bite and grind your teeth left and right. This is why orthodontic therapy can be so powerful especially for people whose bite if off (underbite/overbite). 

Pain on Restoration (Crown or Filling)  

Sometimes you can get a new filling / crown & it can be incredibly painful for a few days to a few weeks after you get the restoration completed. After a dentist has completed their treatment, they take the time to adjust your bite so that you are not biting high on the new restoration. 

However, you may still be numb from the anesthesia delivered at the beginning of the treatment. Accordingly, we are adjusting the bite when you still haven't regained full sensation of you lips & teeth. So when you go home and regain this sensation then you might notice that you are biting too high on the filling or crown. 

Please make sure to call your dentist if you are still experiencing this issue and they will perform a bite adjustment which will make you feel so much better. 

Pain on Clenching Teeth 

Some people clench or grind their teeth at night which can be destructive if not handled appropriately. 

If you grind your teeth this can cause severe jaw pain in the morning because your muscles are being activated for 6+ hours as you sleep throughout the night. This can also cause tooth pain if you have a heavy bite or tooth that is a bit high. 

Please consider getting a night guard to protect your teeth from banging into each other at night. 

SORE GUMS PAIN

WISDOM TOOTH PAIN

What is Wisdom Tooth Pain? 

Not every patient needs their wisdom teeth extraction. If your wisdom teeth come out straight, then you can maintain them for the rest of your life.

In fact, having your wisdom teeth increases your mastication efficiency. However, many wisdom teeth come in sideways. We call the an impacted wisdom tooth.

These impacted wisdom teeth can cause problems and you can have jaw pain associated with those types of teeth. 

Treatment for Wisdom Teeth?  

Wisdom teeth that cause pain need to be extracted. A surgical extraction involves removing a little bit of the bone and using special tools to section or remove the wisdom teeth. When we remove wisdom teeth, it can be very loud and it can cause a lot of pressure during the procedure.

I recommend having at the minimum N20 (Laughing Gas) when removing wisdom teeth. If you are having all 4 removed at one time then I would recommend being sedated for the procedure. 

That's it! 

This is all you need to know if you are having a toothache. Be sure to check out my channel Smile Influencers on YouTube for more dental related content. Enjoy your day! 

Full disclosure: I receive a commission if you purchase the dental products through my referral links. This helps me run this blog & I appreciate the support. 

THREE DENTAL BUSINESS BOOKS I 100% RECOMMEND

WHAT ARE PORCELAIN VENEERS?

Veneers are essentially a thin piece of porcelain that can be bonded to your teeth to change the color, shape and contour of your smile. 

A couple veneers can restore a few broken teeth while a full set can be life changing. 

Now, many of my patients get veneers because they don’t like some aspect of their smile. 

Some people have really dark teeth from intrinsic staining, some have a crooked smile & others have really small teeth that they just want to be larger.  

The veneers procedure has changed a lot since its inception. 

Different materials and different techniques have allowed this procedure to become a bit more predictable in everyday clinical practice. 

But there are some fundamental principles that have remained the same since the beginning 

One of the most important principles is a conservative preparation design which means drilling as little of your tooth as possible . . . 

DENTAL VENEER PREPARATION

Veneers are delicate & incredibly thin. They don’t wrap around the tooth like a crown would and rely almost entirely on bonding to adhere to your teeth so that they’re not popping off. 

Every time a dentist prepares a veneer they have to consider everything that would allow for the strongest bonding between your dental veneer & the tooth.  

One of the largest factors is to limit the tooth preparation to the outermost layer of your tooth called enamel. 

There are plenty of studies that have proven that the bond strength of a veneer to a tooth is highest when its limited to the enamel 

But  one problem we run into is that enamel is thin & is only composed of at most a couple mm of the outermost layer of your tooth.

So If you remove too much of this enamel & expose the second layer of the tooth, then the bond strength can be negatively affected which can result in veneers that keep popping off or don’t really adhere well to the tooth. 

So at this point you might be asking yourself why drill into the tooth at all?

If the bond strength is so important why don’t we leave the tooth as it is and go from there? 

It’s not that simple. The preparation design ultimately depends on the goals and vision of our patients. 

For example, some patients only want to make their teeth larger in which case you don’t have to prepare alot of the tooth at all and you can make a veneer does just that. 

But what about cases teeth are crooked, misaligned or too large. 

In these cases you can’t just add a veneer to the tooth because it would be too bulky. . .

You have to remove some tooth structure in order make a strong set of veneers that has the ability to transform your smile into whatever youre looking to achieve.  

DENTAL VENEER MOCKUP

A mockup gives our patients an idea of what the final product will look like before a drill even touches their teeth. 

A dental laboratory makes these mockups through a model of your teeth & we get this model by taking an impression digitally or manually at your first consultation appointment.

They then use wax to create a smile that is uniform, very pretty & resonates with whatever goals you are trying to accomplish. 

Some patients want square bold teeth that make a statement. Other patients want feminine teeth with rounded edges that look really delicate and pretty.

So this can all be accomplished through communicating what your patients needs are with dental laboratory 

After this smile design is created, dentists are then able to transfer this design to the mouth to see what’s possible. its not going to be perfect and it may be a bit bulky and uncomfortable but it gives you an idea of what is possible.

We give you some time to trial the smile design and get information about whether you like the shape color and contour.

We take really detailed notes and communicate that with the lab.

Eventually we get to the point where we have to prepare the teeth for the veneers & another questions patients ask me how much of the tooth I have to drill to make the porcelain veneers work. 

DENTAL VENEERS TOOTH PREP

Full disclosure: I receive a commission if you purchase the dental products through my referral links. This helps me run this blog & I appreciate the support. 

THREE DENTAL BUSINESS BOOKS I 100% RECOMMEND

FINDING A PRIVATE PRACTICE OR CORPORATE DENTAL OFFICE

The first step you should take in your 4th year of dental school is to look for dental jobs. There are so many different ways to find dental job listings. I have listed a few of these ways below: 

• Craigslist / Indeed 
• Dental Societies 

Craigslist / Indeed 

The easiest way to find a dental job listing is through like Craigslist or Indeed. Dental offices pay these companies to advertise their job listings in order to attract talented dentists to their offices. I have attached two examples of job listing below:  

Simply input the location of where you want to work & the sites will give you a list of opportunities available within a certain geographical radius. 

You can then scroll through each job listing to see if it's the right fit for you. Each listing will give you an idea of what their "ideal" candidate looks like. Use this as a guide when sending out application but don't be discouraged if you do not meet all the criteria.

I definitely encourage you to send as many applications as possible until you receive some working interviews. 

Dental Societies 

Many dental societies also share job listings within their newsletter, email blasts or facebook groups.

In California, most counties have their own dental society. The listings can be found at the very back of the newsletters.

Personally, I did not use this method when searching for a job because it's a bit too outdated for me. The online job listings are much more convenient & accessible. 

Word of Mouth 

Being part of these dental societies & networking does have its advantages. . .

There are plenty of dental practice owners out there who are seeking for dental associates to work in their practice. Dentists talk to one another and know when owner doctors are looking for associates. 

If you are able to network with this community of people, you have a better chance at receiving a job through word of mouth.

I know it's hard to put yourself out there & be social but suck it up & do it. 

My Advice

So now that you know how to find a job listing, I want you to seriously consider these three things: 

• 5+ Applications in 1 day - Do not be too picky when sending out your applications. Some of these job listings are up but they are not active. So, I want you to send >5 applications in one day. 

• Working Dental Interview is the Goal - The working interview is the goal and will give you the most information regarding whether the job is the right fit for you. Send those applications until you receive multiple (>2) working interviews 

• Choose a Location Close To Home - For some this isn't a big deal but it was to me. I tried a working interview at a job 45 minutes away & it just adds a lot of unnecessary stress to your life. Find practices close to your home but make sure the contract does not have a non-compete clause in it. 

CHOOSING YOUR DENTAL PRACTICE ASSOCIATESHIP

There are hundreds of things to consider when choosing your dental practice associateship. Will you be able to buy into the dental practice in the future? What technology is being used at the practice?

However, I believe the three main criteria you need to consider are the following: 

• Salary 
• Environment 
• Contracts 

Dentist Salary 

" How much will I make as an associate dentist?"

This is one of the most common questions that new dentists have upon exiting dental school. It is incredibly important to be compensated well because of the crushing loans gifted to us after graduating. 

Some schools have tuitions upwards of $500,000 which is RIDICULOUS. Accordingly, we have to consider salary when choosing a job. 

There are typically three salary models that dental offices abide by:

1. % Production
2. Per Diem 
3. Combination

With % production, you will get paid a percentage of how much you produce. The typical rate hovers around 25 - 33%. . .  So if you prep a $1000 crown, then you should expect to make  between $250 to $330.

An alternative option will be getting paid per diem. Out of school, you can expect to make  anywhere between $500 - $700 per day. 

This number varies depending on each individual practice & how much production you bring to the office every single day. 

I have seen the per diem model in many private practices. Although the income is capped, it is nice to know that you will be getting paid regardless if your patients show up that day or not. 

The last option is going to be a combination of base pay and production. The office will give you a minimum base pay or percentage of production if it exceeds the minimum. 

While those are the most common salary structures, some offices do get creative with other options where they include a percentage of the laboratory bill in their salary algorithm. This allows you to understand expenses in a dental practice and grow as a business owner.

Dental Office Environment 

The second largest factor involves the office environment. I have listed 4 main office environment criteria to consider before choosing a job. You want to have an understanding of how these factors play out in each office before signing the contract: 

1. Types of Procedures 
2. Patient Population 
3. Office Managers 
4. Dental Assistants 

Types of Procedures 

Before choosing your office, you need to think about the types of procedures you want to perform. 

Do you want to do surgical extractions? Do you want to do molar root canals? Are you looking for implant experience? Do you want more removable prosthodontics experience? These are questions you need nailed down before committing to an office because each office can be incredibly different from one another. 

Some dental practices will only allow you to do bread & butter dentistry including fillings and crowns.

Some offices expect you to take wisdom teeth out and perform 2nd molar maxillary root canals. 

You will be frustrated if you are not prepared to do things that they expect of you. Make sure you understand what you want to accomplish before jumping in. 

Patient Population 

Dentistry is a service based industry & we are working with people every single day. You have to ask yourself what pool of patients you feel comfortable working on.

Some dental patients are accustomed to seeing the same doctor for the past 27 years of their life. You may be the "new doctor" that provides their treatment plan for the very first time. Are you ok with the uncomfortable interactions you may have with these "lifelong" patients. 

Some offices have patients that only speak a particular language. You may not know that language & have to communicate through translation with the assistants.

Are you ok having your treatment plan dictated by another assistant or treating patients that don't speak the same language as you? 

Finally, some offices are located in affluent communities where customer service standards may be higher than in a less affluent community. Are you willing to treat a more demanding population of patients? 

I know this sounds really trivial but it can have a huge impact on your psyche throughout the course of your dental associateship. Some patients can be draining while other can be incredibly fun.

Office Managers  

Office managers have a responsibility to make sure the practice runs smoothly and productively. An office manager can make your life miserable or wonderful depending on where they are trying to accomplish. 

I've experienced office managers that overstep boundaries & start to dictate treatment. You may come across an OM that will ask you why you didn't treatment plan a crown for a two surface cavity or why you aren't upsetting more cases. 

This was a BIG PROBLEM for me. 

You have to ask yourself whether you are ok having an office manager who tries to dictate treatment to you.

Remember that you alone are the doctor and try not to let someone else persuade you away from your treatment plan. 

Dental Assistants 

A rockstar dental assistant can make all the difference in the world. Some offices insist you work with assistants that may not be experienced enough to assist you on challenging cases. This is because the owner doctor rightfully prefers to have the lead assistants by his/her side throughout the day. 

I'm sure you all know that having a talented dental assistant will help cut your time in half for difficult procedures. They can also talk to patients to get them in a comfortable mood prior to starting large cases. Thus, it's important to have someone you can rely on. 

Many corporate offices switch assistants constantly instead of giving you a consistent person to work with. This can be incredibly frustrating & make dentistry even harder than it already is. . . 

Dentist Contract 

Please be careful to read out a dental contract carefully before signing. 

Some private practice offices operate without a contract. They rely on trust & communication with the younger doctors which leads to a more amicable relationship.

However, large corporate offices or DSOs will definitely give you a contract to sign. Some of these contracts may have a non - compete clause in there which tries to prevent you from working within a certain radius of their office when you eventually leave.

They might have stipulations that say they require a 4 month notice prior to leaving the practice or they might have statements that say you cannot solicit patient from the practice.

Some of these stipulations are fair but some are not so please be careful to hire a contract lawyer to review the contract before signing.

In one of my earlier contracts, the office stated that we were not allowed to start building a new practice while working at their office.

They also stated that they would charge us a fee we saw any of their patients after leaving their office even if they found us by their own accord. Please make sure to read the contracts carefully. 

More to Come . . . 

I will be updating this post w/ how to handle debt & brand development by mid September. . .  Stay tuned. 

THREE DENTAL BUSINESS BOOKS I 100% RECOMMEND

Full disclosure: I receive a commission if you purchase the dental products through my referral links. This helps me run this blog & I appreciate the support. 

WHAT CAUSES BAD BREATH

The primary cause of that bad odor coming from your mouth is bacteria . . . 

Bacteria can be found all throughout the mouth including along along our gumline, in between our teeth and even on our tongue. 

And as it breaks it down food, it releases a sulfur like odor that we associate with stinky breathe. 

Now there are a variety of solutions that will help you control the amount of bacteria in your mouth & im gunna talk about that towards the end of the video 

But before we do that lets jump into 4 main factors that can contribute to bad breath

DRY MOUTH 

Dry Mouth is one of the largest contributing factors associated with a decrease in the production of saliva 

What a lot of people don’t realize is that saliva is super important because it gives you the ability to cleanse a lot of that bacteria that sits around your gum line every day.

It also has properties that help prevent cavities & initiates the breakdown of food in your mouth. 

Chemotherapy Medication

Chemotherapy medications have side effects that disrupt salivary flow. 

This ultimately leads to bad breathe but also these patients have a higher prevalence of cavities at their examination appointments. 

This is why they have to take extra precautions to ensure that people are taking care of their teeth. . . 

Smoking Tobacco

Smoking tobacco products is another huge factor that can lead to bad breathe 

Smoking in general has a not so pleasant odor to it but can also contribute to periodontal disease which is associated with bacteria in your mouth

So if possible try to stop smoking, the health benefits are so abundant but I know it can be really hard to overcome

THE KETO DIET

I  think we all know that foods like garlic & onion can produce a really bad odor in the mouth.

Once you eat these type of smelly foods, the chemicals that cause the odor get absorbed into the blood stream, ransferred to your lungs and then eventually released into the air 

So I shouldn’t have to tell you this but if you’re trying to eliminate bad breathe stay away from these type of foods. 

Low carbohydrate diets high in protein have also been found to be associated with bad breathe 

This is found with people that are doing lets say a Keto dies where there is body is breaking down a lot of fat and producing ketones which is then  released in the air. 

Its really not that big of a problem but I would recommend definitely drinking a lot of water to flush these ketones through your system throughout the day. 

INFECTIONS IN THE MOUTH

I’ve talked about periodontal disease iin a recent video but I didn’t really mention that the bacteria associated with the inflammation at the gemlike can produce an odor noticeable to people in any room 

Large cavities can also produce this odor if its housing decaying food or bacteria  that isn’t properly cleaned out. 

So it goes without saying to go to your local dentist someone you trust and get an examinatyion done, clean out any cavities and get a good cleaning to get you on the road to health. 

I should also mention that if you recently had an extraction, bacteria or food can sit in the extraction site and cause bad breathe so its important to be careful with what youre eating and irrigate the extraction site if something is getting stuck in there. 

Well, remember that at its core, odor emitting bacteria is one of the biggest contributing factors to bad breathe

So it goes without saying that visiting your dentist for proper dental cleanings and proper oral; hygiene at home including brushing and flossing twice a day will significantly reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth and ultimately leave your mouth cleaner 

But what I didn’t mention yet is how your can hosts a lot of these bacteria

You can even get a tongue cleaner where you safely scrape the tongue from the back to the front to eliminate all that bacteria that sits in the grooves & valleys. 

Its really helpful for bad breath in the morning or if you are just more prone to have bacteria in your mouth. 

There are also mainy proven benefits for simply drinking a lot of water throughout the day. 

Simply keeping your mouth moist especially if you have dry mouth will help remove that odorous plaque and wash away a lot of that plaque sitting along the gumline

Finally chewing on healthy food items likes fruits and vegetables can help stimulate the salivary flow and ultimately reduce bad breathe. 

That's it! I Hope you enjoyed the video and be sure to check out our other dental related articles on this blog & subscribe to Smile Influencers on YouTube!

Full disclosure: I receive a commission if you purchase the dental products through my referral links. This helps me run this blog & I appreciate the support. 

THREE DENTAL BUSINESS BOOKS I 100% RECOMMEND

WHY DO MY GUMS BLEED?

Gum disease develops from a build-up of plaque around your teeth. This plaque is filled with tiny microscopic bacteria that will eventually cause your gums to swell up because of your body’s conditioned inflammatory process. 

Your body is trying to fight off this bacteria but needs a little bit of help if there is  alot of plaque hidden under your gums.

If you aren’t brushing & flossing consistently, this plaque will eventually harden and turn into those tough deposits that are typically scraped off by our amazing hygienists when you visit your dentist.

If you wait too long, early stages of gums disease develop into periodontitis & you may start lose that really important bone that keeps the teeth in your mouth. . . Teeth will become mobile and eventually need to be taken out.

So if your gums are bleeding don’t hesitate to visit your dentist and find some solutions that will get you back to health.

PERIODONTAL DISEASE DIAGNOSIS

Your dentist needs to properly diagnose what level of disease you have.We do this by asking a lot of questions, getting the appropriate imaging & taking important measurements.  

Pocket depths are a really important measurement that your dentist takes during your examination. These are those numbers that the dentist reads out while measuring your pockets around the mouth.

A higher measurement like 5, 6, 7s usually indicates a more advanced gum disease. 

These measurements along with the x-rays and clinical exam will allow your dentist to properly diagnose what type of treatment you need. . . 

BLEEDING GUMS TREATMENT

A routine cleaning is essentially what it sounds like. It’s meant to maintain the health of your gums for patients that don’t have heavy build up or deep pockets.

We typically see these patient every 6 months to maintain their gum health over the course of their life.   

A deep cleaning or (SRP) is indicated for patient that does has more advanced gum disease.

This procedure is usually accompanied with some anesthesia which allows the hygienist to comfortably clean all that build up under the gums & towards the end of the appointment we may rinse the pockets with an antibacterial agent.

In addition your dentist may prescribe a mouthwash (Chlorhexidine Gluconate), that helps decrease the amount of bacteria in the mouth.

There are surgical alternatives typically reserved for someone that has very serious periodontal disease where you’re losing a lot of bone . . .

Fortunately, our amazing gum surgeons have a variety of techniques that allow them to save teeth that were on their way to getting extracted . . . 

HOME TREATMENT FOR BLEEDING GUMS

.When you brush your teeth in the morning and at night you want to be doing it at a 45 degree angle at the gum line. 

A lot of my patients focus on the teeth themselves but forget that the majority of plaque sits between where the teeth and the gums meet.

 Take your time to brush lightly at the gum line & focus on tooth at a time. 

I don’t want to see any broad sweeping motions; so take your time to do it right and you’ll be on the path to health 

Flossing is another super important step. A lot of our patients may have inflammation in areas in between the teeth since they aren’t doing everything they can to floss every single day. 

 The idea is to hug the floss around each side of each tooth and remove the acid producing plaque from your teeth. This will not only help your gums stay healthy but you can also prevent cavities from developing in between the teeth.

If you stay consistent with flossing you’ll be surprised to see how much better your gums look when your smiling for photos 

PRODUCTS FOR PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Electric toothbrushes like the Sonicare and Oral B have helped a lot of my patients with severe gum disease. For these toothbrushes you just need to focus on angling the brush in the right orientation and letting the ultrasonic or oscillating motions do the work for you. 

Water flossers use pressurized water clean around the gum line and restorations. 

Its especially useful for people that have large spaces in between their teeth where the traditional string floss in inffective. Interproximal brushes is another supplemental tool that can be used for those with large gaps in between their teeth. 

Use the largest inteproximal brush possible to properly clean those hard to reach areas. Finally, mouth rinses can help reduce the bacteria and inflammation in your mouth. 

Hydrogen peroxide has antispetic properties that can help destroy bacteria in your mouth when used as rinse. In fact You can make your own mouth rinse solution by mixing 2 parts water to 1 part 3% hydrogen peroxide from the drug store. 

Currently we use this combination to reduce the viral load in a patients mouth before starting treatment at o dental office. It doesn’t taste but it gets the job done.

The Best Waterpik Waterflosser for Bleeding Gums 

There has been a lot of controversy surrounding whether the Waterpik Water Flosser is better than traditional string floss when cleaning your teeth. Personally, I recommend traditional dental floss as the best way to clean in between the teeth in the morning and at night.

However, the Waterpik is an incredible supplemental tool to help reduce gum disease for those that have difficulty keeping their mouth healthy. It's a perfect tool for those with gum recession or with people that have a variety of dental implants in their mouth. 

The Best Electric Toothbrush for Bleeding Gums

I am one of the biggest advocates of electric toothbrushes & have seen some incredible results from my  patients who have made the choice to switch from a hand powered brush to an electric powered brush.  

While brushing technique is the most important, many people need a little extra help to properly keep their gums and teeth healthy.

The extra vibrations / rotations from an electric toothbrush help remove the plaque that is left behind from a manual toothbrush  & I can't tell you how many patients I've seen that have increased their oral health by making a change to an electric toothbrush. 

That's it! 

This is all you need to start taking incredible dental photos at your practice today. Purchasing proper dental photography equipment has changed the way I practice dentistry & is a must for anyone trying to elevate their dental career. The next section is dedicated to specialized accessories to aid in your photography techniques

PERIODONTAL DISEASE TREATMENT  

Bleeding Gums Video 

Full disclosure: I receive a commission if you purchase the dental products through my referral links. This helps me run this blog & I appreciate the support. 

THREE DENTAL BUSINESS BOOKS I 100% RECOMMEND

RUBBER DAM ISOLATION BENEFITS

All restorative dentists need to learn how to apply the rubber dam for a number of reasons. I’ve listed my top 4 benefits below: 

Visibility- If the rubber dam is applied correctly, you will automatically have increased visibility on the teeth that need to be restored. A tight cheek, large tongue & over-active salivary gland immediately vanish behind the rubber dam sheet which allows you to focus intently on the task at hand. Your work becomes easier when your focus in on teeth & teeth alone. 

Retraction- Your assistant will thank you for helping them retract the tongue in lower quadrant cases where a curious tongue tends to drift towards the high speed drill. This can be incredibly tiring especially if you have a long appointment scheduled with your patient. 

Aspiration- You haven’t felt fear until you have seen a crown or implant screw swimming around the back of the patients throat. A “throat pack” does not give you necessary protection from aspiration.

A properly placed rubber dam gives you a much higher probability of protection from liquids or dental objects being displaced in the lungs of your patients. 

Bonding- If you are practicing biomimetic dentistry then you should be concerning yourself with obtaining the highest degree of bonding in your restorative work. Rubber dam placement prevents moisture contamination much better than a cotton roll or dry angle will ever do. 

RUBBER DAM CLAMP SELECTION

Let’s dive into how each clamp helps. 

The 12A/13A rubber dam clamps are used as the master clamps on posterior teeth. It holds the rubber dam & is attached to the anchor tooth. The serrations give you more grip on the tooth and the smaller width side is applied to the lingual surface of the teeth. This is a general rule and should be considered for quadrant dentistry. 

The B1,B2,B3 wingless rubber dam clamps are used for prepped molars, partially erupted molars or small molars. Consider using some of the clamps if you need to deliver a posterior ceramic restoration & require adequate isolation. 

The B4 clamp is useful to isolate anterior teeth or premolars during delivery of ceramic veneers & crowns. 

The B5 or B6 clamps are used when margins are deep ad stronger force is required to reposition the gingival tissue. Dr. Calin Pop shows a technique in one of his lessons where he cuts the clamp into two in order to deliver 2 units at the same time. 

The “No 2” clamp from the hygienic fiesta kit can be used as an anchor clamp to provide more visibility & access as your work. It is typically positioned on the contralateral premolar w/out perforating the rubber dam. 

Once again, thank you to Dr. Calin Pop for organizing & reassembling my rubber dam clamps in a way that makes sense. His course can be found here.

RUBBER DAM TEMPLATE

RUBBER DAM CROWN PREPARATION

Believe it or not, it is possible to prepare a crown with the rubber dam on. The same principles apply as mentioned above with a slight modification. The majority of the crown preparation can be complete using occlusal reduction burs and creating a circumferential margin with your preferred diamond bur. 

However, if you need to perform sub / equigingival margins to mask discoloration on a tooth or to remove a deep cavity, the rubber dam can get in the way as you prep the tooth.

At this point you can create a split dam or you can remove the entire apparatus to finish the preparation including the cord placement and margin refinement. 

To be honest, I do not do this often but I plan on implementing crown preparation under rubber dam isolation in the near future. 

I will continue to update this blog post as I have more information regarding rubber dam placement. Thanks for reading!

Full disclosure: I receive a commission if you purchase the dental products through my referral links. This helps me run this blog & I appreciate the support. 

THREE DENTAL BUSINESS BOOKS I 100% RECOMMEND