Sadly, one of the major casualties of the pandemic lockdown, was small business…ESPECIALLY privately-owned dental offices. Even some of the “corporate” practices took a BIG hit, and many still feel the crunch. Between worker shortages, patient reluctance to return to ANY medical setting, economic hardships and downturns, not to mention a steep decrease in retail environment traffic, everybody is taking a hit. BUT…the ones who are NOW paying the price, are patients, thanks a a SEVERE shortage of dentists for Medicaid-eligible patients in Texas! READ MORE…
If you have ever planned an event, traveled with a tour package or eaten at an upscale – possibly abroad – restaurant, you’ve encountered the inevitable “prix fixe” or “a la carte” menu options. The first, a fixed-price selection which includes several choices within each course, is all available within the set cost. However, if you want to deviate from those pre-determined menu items, you’re squarely into a la carte territory…with the accompanying, variable, price tag. Have you ever wondered why…and did you know this happens throughout a variety of businesses, professions and industries?!?
By now, you SHOULD have received multiple emails, texts, insurance mail reminders and even, phone calls, about “use it or lose it” benefits that will expire at the end of 2022. And, we DID write a blog post about this very topic…several months ago, since WE didn’t want to wait until the last minute! So, were actually not about to drone on about this particular topic AGAIN – everyone else is taking care of that. After all, we don’t want to add to your 11th hour stress over scheduling any appointments, treatments or diagnostics. However, we DO want to remind you of one benefit which can be easily maximized!
This past Thanksgiving week gave us a chance to experience a sense of holiday “normalcy” we haven’t seen since 2019 – prior to the pandemic lockdown a few months later. Families and friends were unable to celebrate milestones or holidays together. Social gatherings became a distant memory. Major like events like weddings, graduations, retirements and birthdays were either “deferred” or came-and-went without fanfare. So, after two years of this austerity and lack of “fun” we’re ALL ready to embrace the upcoming holiday festivities…to paraphrase Prince, and party like it’s 2019! But, are you REALLY ready???
Since the earliest recorded history, people have feared the “unknown” – attaching fantastical explanations, archaic superstitions, and mystical forces to those things beyond the current knowledge of any given era. And while we have dispelled MANY of these misconceptions, that genetic “fear” response is still alive and well in humans worldwide…and has just found NEW “boogeymen” to supplant those discarded earlier notions that haunted us!
Let’s be honest, once back-to-school preparations begin in earnest, it’s just a quick downhill slide right into the New Year! And whether it’s wellness benefits or funds in your FSA/HSA it really IS just a quick downhill slide to that end-of-year deadline. So with all of the OTHER stuff right around the corner, why wait until the very last minute to take advantage of all that money just waiting to be spent!
As time goes by, it feels like the years keep getting shorter and shorter…and, just like that for many parents and caregivers, it’s once again time for all the back-to-school preparations. So, yes, it may seem hard to believe the kiddos will be heading back to school – whether their first trip to Kindergarten, or their next year of college – in just a few short weeks. But, like it or not, and even though it certainly FEELS like summer will never end, NOW is the time to get busy on that back-to-school “To-Do” list…including those important health check-ups!
If you think about it, chances are we’ve ALL had something “custom” in our lives…and probably more than once! Have you ever ordered something from Starbucks that wasn’t EXACTLY as it comes standard, or have an article of clothing tailored to fit? Have you ever painted a wall, remodeled a room or changed out cabinets? Did you have any eyewear “custom-fitted” for your specific vision needs? See…custom! Sure, “off-the-rack” may be fine for the majority of things in your life. But, other needs or preferences call for CUSTOM!
We decided to periodically address some common dental “Frequently Asked Questions” (FAQs)…or, for most patients, frequently UNASKED questions due to a hesitancy to actually speak-up while in the dental chair. Let’s face it, all of that technical terminology ensconced in an equipment-filled room and supervised by folks in lab coats and PPE, can be downright intimidating!
While we hear about women like Marie Curie – and a handful of others, almost exclusively during #WomensHistoryMonth – the evolution of their place in MANY professional and scientific fields largely goes unnoticed, or is simply not taught. With that in mind, March seemed like a good time to provide an EXTREMELY brief overview of the role women have – and currently DO – play in the Dental profession.
