Recently this past week we have been upgrading our server and many of our workstation computers as they were getting to be almost 10 years old.  That’s the problem with technology; it is constantly getting better and better and you are always needing to upgrade. These new 27-inch monitors we purchased are wonderful and show an incredible, crisp clear digital image and are a far cry from trying to look at an old washed-out one-inch X-ray under a small light of a view box or holding it up to the overhead light.

But, the problem with technology and information is that there are bad people always trying to take advantage and steal it and hold it for ransom.  I received a letter from my IT person who said, “In 2023, 43% of ransomware attacks were on small businesses. Only 14% of these businesses were prepared to face such an attack.”

Your money is the only priority for the bad guys and it doesn’t matter how big your business is, they don’t care.  I have noticed a huge increase in these attacks.  Just last weekend I found out that the United Healthcare/Change Healthcare clearinghouse ransomware attack affected almost all the dentists in the U.S. and caused them not to get any insurance payments for who knows how long.

I was relieved to find out that my electronic claims provider used a different clearinghouse for most of my claims so I wasn’t affected.  I couldn’t order products from my Henry Schein dental supplier recently due to a cyberattack and last year my supplier Burkhart Dental Supply was hit and was affected for quite some time. Due to this trend and problem, I have decided to invest in a monthly cyberattack prevention software program called Threatlocker, which my IT person says is the best one out there. This will increase my expenses, but the cost and pain of having it happen and losing everything is totally worth the added cost.

I just want you to know that as my clientele, and I consider you like family, you can rest assured that your personal health information is safe and secure from everyone and everything, and especially, all the hackers out there. I also feel adding this service and protection will help my IT person, who is responsible for my data, and me, to sleep at night knowing we are fully protected.  Yes, technology has changed, and yes, along with it all the problems associated with it, but it is still wonderful to live in the digital age and enjoy all the blessings of it.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), or your personal health information stored on our computers, don’t hesitate to reach out to me at any time.  Oh, and by the way, we are also here for all your dental needs, including your family and extended family and friends.

If you would like to schedule a visit with our Two Rivers Dentistry team in Vancouver, Washington, please call 360-256-1202. I look forward to helping you create your best smile!

Best Regards,

Dr. Teuscher

The post My How Technology Has Changed! first appeared on Two Rivers Dentistry.

If there is periodontal bone loss over 50%, it may be better to extract the tooth, especially if there is active infection or the person isn’t coming in regularly for their periodontal recare. If there is deep decay near the bone or extensively throughout the tooth, it may not be worth the additional surgical procedures and loss of bone to do crown lengthening procedures or root canal  procedures with posts and cores, etc.

If there are cracks that are located within the confines of the tooth, then many times a crown and build up can be placed and will solve the problem or a root canal if there are symptoms. But, if the crack extends down onto the root, then the prognosis is generally hopeless and it will be better to extract the tooth as it cannot be saved no matter what we do. This is the main criteria for removing a tooth with a crack and it is sometimes a difficult diagnosis and a hard decision to explain to our patients. Many of these also have the telltale sign of active infection along the crack extending down the root, but some do not.

Our 3D cone beam X-rays can help in the diagnosis and decision making. We are seeing many more of these “cracked tooth syndromes” in our practice as people are under a lot of stress and tend to bruxism, the clenching and grinding, of their teeth. The best approach is prevention and trying not to place any fillings in the tooth if possible so as to weaken it.

Regular preventative maintenance hygiene visits, check ups and dental X-rays go a long way to accomplishing this. When the decision arises of whether to save or not to save a tooth, many times the decision will be obvious (and many times it won’t) and a discussion with your dentist as to the short and long term prognosis, advantages, disadvantages, cost, labor and time will go a long way to help in this difficult decision making process. If you would like to schedule a consultation with Dr. Vaughn at Two Rivers Dentistry in Vancouver, Washington, we welcome you to call us today at 360-256-1202. Your smile will thank you!

The post TO SAVE (A TOOTH) OR NOT TO SAVE…THAT IS THE QUESTION first appeared on Two Rivers Dentistry.