Choosing a Dentist

What is important to you choosing a dentist? Location, type of practice, insurance, office hours? We pride ourselves on running a low volume practice. This allows us to get to know each patient. Many times we run into our patients in the grocery store, at the ball field, at school functions, and all over our community. Customer service is important to us and we think it shows in how we serve our patients. Please take a moment to browse through some of our patient testimonials to see what they say. We are excited and proud to read each of them.


How do you choose a dentist? This can be very stressful. Many people ask their friends who their dentist is and if they recommend them. If you have just moved and can't do that, we welcome you to see what our patients say about us. You can click on this link to read all of our recent reviews.
I have included one from a patient here:

I have seen Dr. Johnson and his staff three times over the past year. I have seen him for two cleanings and I had my very first filling in 28 years a few months ago. I was extremely nervous but Dr. Johnson and his staff made me feel very comfortable and attended to my every need. I would without a doubt recommend this dental office to everyone! Dr. Johnson is a very kind and gentle dentist. When you walk in Debbie greets you like you have known her for years! The rest of the dental team have great personalities and are just the absolute best! LOVE these guys!! :)

Some need to use a dentist within their dental insurance network. We understand the need to maximize dental benefits and participate in many dental insurance PPO plans. If you don't see our name listed on your plan, we encourage you to call our office anyway.
 
So, if you have just moved to the area and need to find a new dentist, or just need to find a different office for other reasons; we hope that you will call to see how easy we can make it for you. We welcome you!
 
Debbie Johnson
 
Brian D. Johnson DMD
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
770.993.9809
http://www.brianjohnsondmd.com/

What is your dental expense budget?

What is your dental expense budget? The answer to this question for most people is zero. It is no surprise that when a dental emergency happens, the costs seem staggering. Most people don't have an extra $1000 laying around for a crown. As we age, our dental health requires a little more maintenance. So, as you are planning your family budget and/or flex spend account, try to build a little money in for unexpected and planned dental work.

We try to accommodate our patients' financial needs by offering payment options such as accepting credit cards and special dental financing options through lending institutions.

Call today to meet our dental team!
Debbie Johnson
Business Manager
Brian D. Johnson, DMD
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
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/

Are you missing teeth?

The article was copied from a dental lab's site. Please read all the entire article. It explains in detail options for replacing missing teeth.



There are three basic ways to fix a missing tooth or teeth.

A fixed bridge
A removable appliance
A dental implant

Here are the pros and cons of each treatment:

A fixed dental bridge (see the page on this site devoted to bridgework and how we make bridges look like real teeth.)
Having a bridge is like having three crowns. The teeth on either side of the missing tooth are prepared for crowns, an impression is made, and the case is sent to a dental laboratory. The laboratory then makes the crowns and fastens a false tooth between the two crowns - this is a bridge.


The advantages of a bridge are that it is fixed, stable, and feels like your own teeth. In most cases it can be made to look just like you never had a tooth missing. The disadvantage is that you have to treat two teeth besides the one that was extracted - these teeth may otherwise be perfectly sound with nothing wrong.

A Removable Appliance.
Something removable can be used to replace a missing tooth. This can be anything from a budget "dental flipper" (a piece of plastic with a false tooth attached) or a Nesbit, to a more sturdy metal and acrylic removable partial denture.

The advantages of the removable partial denture appliance are that it is a more economical way to replace missing teeth than a fixed bridge. Also, you can replace multiple teeth with one appliance. If the span of missing teeth is three or more, or if there are not solid teeth on both sides of the missing teeth, a fixed bridge may not work.

The disadvantages are that it may not be as esthetic as a bridge. Clasps will be required to retain the removable partial, and it may not be possible or practical to entirely conceal those (though that problem can be avoided often with a "precision attachment" partial). Also, there may be some discomfort with wearing removable hardware in your mouth, and it is not as stable as a bridge.


A dental implant.
A dental implant is an artificial "root" that is implanted in your jaw after a tooth extraction, and then a tooth is placed on it. Biologically, it is like placing an entirely new artificial tooth in your mouth.

The advantages of an implant are: No teeth on either side have to be prepared for crowns, so there is no grinding on "good teeth" - you just fix the missing tooth. Implants can also span the space of multiple missing teeth. There is no limit to the span they can cover, as long as the patient's health is good and there is healthy and adequate bone to support the implant. An implant also is fixed and feels just like your own teeth.

The disadvantages of implants are that they can cost more and be more and time-consuming, and the cost may not be covered by dental insurance. You will likely have to deal with two dentists - the dentist who does the surgery to place the implant, and the dentist who puts the false tooth on top of the implant. There is also a delay in getting the false tooth or teeth - a healing interval of several months may be required before the artificial root can have a tooth placed on it. There is also surgery involved with its attendant discomfort and healing period.
However, if you are missing multiple teeth or all your teeth, there is a strong advantage to dental implants in that they will preserve the jawbone.

Infomation from http://www.mynewsmile.com/missing.htm

Did you get a dental check-up and cleaning in 2010?

Time seems to fly by and it is easy to let important doctor visits go unscheduled. If you aren't sure if you saw us in 2010, call the office to ask. It is very important to see your dental professionals at least two times every year. There are so many reasons regular dental appointments are important. Plaque and calculus builds up very easily, especially if you are diligent in brushing and flossing. Plaque build up will cause periodontal disease. In addition to cleaning away the plaque build up, Dr Johnson monitors the health of your teeth and the condition of your dental restorations. Decay can and does happen under fillings, crowns, and bridges. If left untreated, you are putting your teeth at risk. While we understand that dental work can be expensive, it only gets more costly to procrastinate. The first step is a simple phone call! Call today to schedule your 2011 dental appointment!

Dr Brian Johnson
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell,GA 30076
770.993.9809
www.BrianJohnsonDMD.com

Dental insurance...Are we on your "list"? Do you have a "list"?

We are asked often what dental insurance plans we participate in and what plans we recommend. So , here goes...
We participate in Aetna PPO, Ameritas,Blue Cross Blue Shield, Delta Dental, Guardian, MetLife, Principal, and United Concordia. We accept as out of network providers with Cigna and United HealthCare. We are listed on a couple of "transparent fee" lists : Signature Dental Plan, Aetna Dental Access, PriceDoc.com and GE Wellness.

Some employers who provide these plans : United Postal Service(Aetna), ADP(Aetna),MedAssets (Aetna), Fulton County BOE(Ameritas), Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta(Metlife), Microsoft Corporation (Blue Cross Blue Shield), Equifax (Aetna), Hewlett Packard ( Deltal Dental), Wendy's/Arby's Group ( Blue Cross Blue Shield).

Regarding the question of what insurance plan we recommend... that depends. If your employer offers options of dental coverage, then hopefully they are paying for a significant part of your deductible. If they offer choices, opt for comprehensive care that allows you to choose your own dentist. Stay away from "DMO" plans. These plans require you to select a dentist on their list and do not provide "out of network benefits" . We do not and WILL not sign up for DMO plans. If they offer a PPO option, that is usually safe because you can go "out of network" and still be o.k. In addition, we participate in many PPO plans. Most "open" plans allow you to go to your dentist of choice.

Are you unemployed, self employed, or retired and don't have dental insurance? No problem. I do not recommend that anybody pays the expensive premiums for dental insurance. Dental insurance is very different from medical insurance. It is financially irresponsible to not have health insurance. Not so for dental insurance. The average person only needs two cleanings and maybe a filling or two per year. The amount that you would pay for dental insurance premiums would likely exceed the amount that you would pay as a fee for service patient. Additionally, we offer as a courtesy to our patients a "fee for service" adjustment. The amount varies from 10-15% depending on payment method.

As always, I am happy to help you understand your dental benefits. I'm just a phone call or email away.

Debbie Johnson

Brian Johnson DMD
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell,GA 30076
770.993.9809
www.BrianJohnsonDMD.com

Some things are just best left to the professionals...!

I take my car for oil changes to the nearest QuickLube... get my hair cut at SodaSalon, ...go toPat Musto, CPNP at North Fulton Pediatrics for my pediatric care, ...call a handy man to get work done at the house... go out for sushi(not good for homemade food!)...when somebody does something every day, they are bound to get good at it.
For this reason, you should see us regularly for dental check ups and cleanings , work done as recommended. Remember, it is proven every day , a small cavity only gets worse, a big cavity will break and leave you hoping for a crown and not a bridge or implant... missing teeth will cause trouble with your bite/the rest of your teeth... jaw pain untreated with a splint, can be an early sign that you are grinding your teeth and can cause widespread cracking of many teeth,you get the idea. Simple changes/treatment can save you in the long run.
When Dr Johnson recommends treatment, you really need it. When we refer you to a specialist, you can bet, we would go there ourselves! Our area has great providers for all health care needs and we have developed great relationships with our team of providers. We have a list of trusted professionals on our website.
As 2010 draws to an end, have you taken care of your teeth? Do you want to use that last bit of dental insurance/flex spend money before it evaporates? Don't wait too long... December only has 16 dental care days in it!

Debbie Johnson


Brian D. Johnson, D.M.D.,PC
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell,GA 30076
www.brianjohnsondmd.com

Protect and preserve your smile!

The end of the year is quickly approaching. Some of you have some treatment that you have been putting off and may have insurance benefits remaining and maybe even flex spend money that needs to be used. If you want to schedule work before the end of the year, don't wait too long. Remember, if you don't use your insurance benefits for this year, you cannot carry it over. Likewise for flex spend money.

Remember, a filling left untreated becomes a crown. A crown left untreated becomes a root canal and may have to be extracted. Extracted teeth need to replaced with bridges or implants. The longer you put off treatment, the more expensive the solution!

Preserve your smile!

Debbie Johnson

Dr Brian Johnson

1240 Upper Hembree Road

Suite C

Roswell, GA 30076

http://www.brianjohnsondmd.com/

770.993.9809

No dental insurance? No problem!

In our current economy, many have lost their jobs and their health and dental benefits. This is not the time to ignore your health. Routine cleanings are important to detect early signs of oral cancer, and periodontal disease. It is much more cost effective to come in for a cleaning and check up than have to pay for treatment that negligence always leads to.

Call today to schedule your next visit.

Debbie Johnson
Dr Brian Johnson
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
(770)993-9809
www.BrianJohnsonDMD.com

Out of Pocket Expense for Dental Work

I recently heard a story about a man who came home from his dentist . He needed a root canal and crown. He told his wife what his out of pocket expense was expected to be. She asked which pocket he wanted her to look in. If you find yourself wondering the same thing, we offer several options to help you fit your dental work into your budget.

If you see your dentist for routine cleanings and check ups, he can help you mangage your oral health to try to prevent costly damage from decay . Sometimes, he may recommend fillings to prevent further decay. These fillings are far less costly than the options to break or replace broken teeth.

We never want financial worries to prevent you from taking care of your oral health. Please call our office (770) 993-9809 to discuss treatment and payment options.

Brian Johnson, DMD
Family and Cosmetic Dentistry
1240 Upper Hembree Road
Suite C
Roswell, GA 30076
(770)993-9809