Don't Shoot the Messenger/Dentist

In any industry, the 20/60/20 rule applies. For us, it means this. 20% of people go to the dentist as recommended, schedule and keep their appointments and get the recommended work done to preserve their smiles. They are not afraid of the dentist and don't experience dental anxiety.  20% of people only go to the dentist when something hurts or breaks and only want to pull the troublesome tooth. The remaining 60% sit in the middle on a  continuum. They schedule appointments, change or break them several times before coming in, wait to schedule necessary dental work until the last possible minute, and end up with a long treatment plan. A long ,expensive treatment plan is intimidating.

Dental health is important for so many reasons. Periodontal disease is linked with many other autoimmune diseases, it is also dangerous for pregnant women, and has been shown to factor into heart disease. Dental decay left untreated can harm the adjacent structures, including sinuses, jaw, and even brain. Oral cancer, like all cancer, is best treated with early diagnosis. Missing teeth allow other teeth to move and create occlusion/bite problems. The list goes on and on.

It is so important for people to find a dentist that they trust and follow the recommendations of that dentist. We are pleased to say that most of our patients fit into the 20% who take care of themselves. As we meet new patients, we hope to educate them on that importance. If you are a long time patient, or one of our new patients, and we recommend treatment, please don't shoot the messenger. We are just trying to help. You get to decide where you fit in the 20/60/20 continuum.

Debbie Johnson
Brian D.Johnson,DMD
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell,GA 30076
7770.93.9809
http://www.brianjohnsondmd.com/

Roswell Dentist Talks About Toothaches

I am a dentist. We are a dental office. Our patients have toothaches. We help them. Usually. What? Well we do help them, but sometimes help isn't pleasant.Sometimes help is a root canal or even an extraction. Too many times, our patients begin to feel pain and/or sensitivity and think they will wait until their cleaning appointment two, three, or four weeks away to follow up. We have even had patients break a tooth or lose a crown or filling and wait too long to call us.

Something to remember is that routine cleaning appointments are scheduled with our registered dental hygienist. These appointments are one hour long and are meant for routine check ups and simple questions. If you develop pain or break a tooth, call our office to schedule extra time with me. While I will see you at your regular check up, I prefer to have plenty of time to diagnose and treat your problem. Many times, we can allow extra time on the day of your cleaning. We just need to know how to plan to help you in the best way possible.


If you have a problem, please call to reserve time to let us help you the right way. My wife's father has a saying "better to kill that snake when it is a baby". Small problems are so much easier  and less expensive to treat. A little bit of a toothache can be a sign of many things . Small fillings are easier to treat than broken teeth. So just call...O.K. What are you waiting on?

Brian D.Johnson,DMD
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell,GA 30076
770.993.9809
http://www.brianjohnsondmd.com/

Is Dental Insurance a Necessary Benefit?

I get several calls per week asking about advice from self employed and unemployed patients regarding dental insurance. My response is generally that you need to add up and compare the numbers. How much do you have to pay per month for premiums? Then we can calculate the costs of preventative care for your family without dental coverage. Are you or a family member prone to decay? If so, we'd need to include the cost of a filling or two. Do you have any dental restorations that need to be replaced? Keep in mind that dental insurance typically only pays for two cleanings per year. Some people need more than that, so they would be coming out of pocket for any cleanings outside of that allowance. Also, remember that crown and bridge is usually only covered at 50% up to a predetermined yearly maximum. Also, many insurance companies have a missing tooth clause. So, if a tooth was extracted prior to the coverage beginning, they will not pay for restorations to replace the missing tooth. This is called a "missing tooth clause". Sometimes, there are waiting periods for certain procedures.
Lastly, if you are interested in dental implants, insurance usually doesn't provide any benefits for these procedures.
Generally, I find that it is not beneficial to carry dental insurance unless an employer is paying the premiums for the plan. It is important to us that our patients visit us regularly for routine care. Good preventative care is far less expensive than restorative and cosmetic dentistry.

Debbie Johnson
Brian Johnson, D.M.D., P.C.
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell,GA 30076
770.993.9809
http://www.brianjohnsondmd.com/