Using Comfort Dogs In The Dental Office | Meet Luca

Going to the dentist is rarely anyone’s idea of a great time. While we can’t make the experience appealing to most, Tampa Bay Dental Implants & Periodontics has found a way to make your dental visit less stressful. Meet our comfort dog, Luca.

Luca is a Coton De Tulear who Dr. Yu rescued from South Korea in the Summer of 2017. He has been a critical member of our dental team ever since. Luca is also hypoallergenic as to not irritate our patients who may have dander and fur allergies.

Comfort dogs are becoming more popular in many households and businesses. We are proud to be a pioneer in the dental industry by providing the comfort of Luca to our more apprehensive patients.

 

 

Comfort dogs like Luca can do more than just look cute and sit on your lap during your routine visits. Recent studies have shown that comfort dogs can lower blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety, along with increasing levels of beneficial healing hormones such as endorphins and oxytocin. Oxytocin is an important hormone made by the brain which is critical to the healing process.

During your visit in our office we will always make sure you are comfortable with Luca before he joins you in our operatory. Unless you object, Luca is typically free to roam the hallways of our office looking for patients that can use a little bit of his affection.

Luca has been known to place his head on our patients laps or climb into the arm of the chair and nuzzle during routine cleanings. He has even been known to offer up his soft fur for you to pet as you receive anesthesia prior to surgical procedures.

If you are apprehensive about dental treatment, or would just like to make your office visit more enjoyable Luca is on the job. He is here Monday through Thursday during regular office hours and is ready to provide the ease you need for your next dental visit.

I Have Gum Disease! What Are My Options?

Your gums are bleeding when you brush or floss. Now what? If you have been diagnosed with gum disease all is not lost. You do have a few options and alternatives depending on the severity of disease.

 

Gingivitis can be reversed with regular professional cleanings, and excellent home care including daily flossing. It is also important to eat healthy foods such as fresh fruits and vegetables. These types of foods have important anti-oxidants and phytonutrients your body needs to remain healthy.

Once your condition has progressed to periodontitis, surgical intervention is usually necessary to eliminate the deep pockets which develop between the teeth and fums. If these pockets persist, they will become sites where bacteria can grow.

Familiarize Yourself With Dental Insurance Terms

If you have dental insurance, trying to figure out how it works and what it covers is very important to maximize your benefits. We have compiled this list of key insurance terms that you may need to help you decipher some of the verbiage you may hear when speaking with your dentist or provider about your coverage.

 Usual, Customary, and Reasonable (UCR)

Usual, customary and reasonable charges are the maximum amounts tat will be covered by the plan. Although these terms make it sound like a UCR charge is a kind of standard rate for dental care, that is not the case. The terms “usual” customary” and “reasonable” are misleading for several reasons:

What Is Gum Disease?

photo credit: graphicstock

Gum disease is probably a term that most everyone has heard. But do you know what gum disease really is or how it is caused? Gum disease begins when a film called plaque accumulates on the teeth. Certain strains of bacteria that live in this plaque damage gum tissue and bone. Your body will try to fight this infection with an inflammatory assault, sending white blood cells to the area to destroy bacteria. This inflammation causes the tissue to bleed easily when you brush or floss. This stage of the condition is called gingivitis.

Why Doesn’t My Dental Insurance

If your employer offers dental insurance, you should consider yourself very fortunate. This benefit works like a valuable”coupon” that can greatly reduce the costs of dental care. Unfortunately, no dental benefit plan is set up to cover all of your costs. 

To avoid any surprises in your dental bill, it is important to understand what your insurance will cover, and what you will need to cover. Dental benefits should not be confused with the dental services that you actually need, which are determined by you and your dentist. 

Warning Signs of Periodontal Disease

Periodontal disease is widespread. According to a recent study in the Journal of Periodontology at least 35 percent of the U.S. population age 30 and older has periodontitis. Periodontal disease is a bacterial gum infection that destroys the attachment fibers and supporting bone that hold the teeth. If left untreated periodontal disease can lead to tooth loss. In fact, it is the primary cause of tooth loss in adults 35 and older.

Periodontal disease can be a silent disease, so the majority of people with it do not even realize that they have it. There are some warning signs that you can watch for however.

Dental Implants Create Beautiful and Functional Teeth

Hiding a smile? Difficulty chewing? Dentures feeling insecure? Does this sound familiar because of missing teeth? The good news is that dental implants can correct these problems.

Dental implants are placed for esthetic and teeth-saving purposes. They can give the patient freedom and confidence. Dental implants are permanent replacements that look and feel so much like natural teeth, patients usually forget they are implants.