Are Cavities Genetic???

Please go to my current blog amyluedemann.wordpress.com

I am no longer using this blog....but if it's the one you have saved, please switch over to my wordpress blog for the latest on our office and the new age of pediatric dentistry!!

Sincerely,
Amy Luedemann DDS, MS
Board Certified Pediatric Dentist
Kidstown Dental
Cinco Ranch/ Katy/ TX
http://www.kidstowndentist.com

Laser Dentistry!

Many people have now heard of laser dentistry.  I am often surprised how few people have experienced laser dentistry or know exactly how it is changing the face of dentistry, for adults and children! Below is a cut and paste from our website which describes all the wonderful ways lasers are making dentistry better.

Lasers in Dentistry!

• With lasers it is now possible to do fillings without needing to be numb or have a shot because lasers enable pain free cleaning of cavities
• Lasers can replace harmful chemicals historically and usually used in nerve and pulp treatments like root canals and pulpotomies
• Lasers allow many gum surgeries such as frenectomies and reshaping of “bulky gums” (like after braces) to be done without shots and without any post operative bleeding or “stitches” and no scarring!
• Lasers can be used on newborns and infants who are unable to latch because of tight frenum attachments and who cannot have the traditional surgery most often done in a hospital setting for various reasons
• Lasers can be used on infants and young children with speech problems related to muscle attachments in their mouths
• Lasers can be used to do biopsies or other surgeries less invasively and with little or no post operative pain and little to no scarring
• Lasers can be used to remove “calculus” build up instead of the old fashioned “scaling”
• Lasers can be used to “sterilize” deep pockets in gingivitis and gum disease and create healing in those areas without surgery
• Bleaching can be done in 2 minutes for the entire mouth without sensitivity or dehydration of teeth using the newest type of laser
• Lasers can prevent the outbreak of a cold sores if treated in the “prodrome stage”
• Lasers can “heal” painful ulcers in the mouth in one short treatment

These are just some of the applications of lasers in dentistry.  As a pediatric dentist I am thrilled to be able to clean cavities and place fillings without giving shots to children.  So far at Kidstown Dental, not one shot has been needed for a filling.  I have worked with lasers for 4 years now, and in the past some kids still felt sensitivity and needed a little anesthetic.  There is still a chance from time to time that this could be the case, but with the newest Biolase hard tissue laser, I am finding that it is rare.  What a gift!

Feel free to blog in if you have questions about lasers, or if you have an experience with laser dentistry that you’d like to share.

"No-gag" x-rays at Kidstown Dental in Katy!

First I keep forgetting to copy/paste this blog.  For those of you who follow on this site, you may want to switch over to AmyLuedemann@wordpress.com for the updates.  Eventually I will be closing this blog out.  Here is our most recent post from Wordpress.

It has been 2.5 weeks since we began seeing patients in earnest.  Thank you to those who have come and been so patient about the small glitches that had to be worked out.  Today's post will be short, but I just have to begin giving highlights from the past couple of weeks!

First, x-rays!  I have to admit, I was very excited about our new Plan Mecca Pan machine, and it's high tech feature of being able to get diagnostic (good) bitewings, without any gagging that the intra-oral x-rays (inside the mouth type) cause for many people.  Not only does the "feature list" boast of the great bitewing x-rays, but it is also less radiation than traditional bitewings!  Needless to say, working with many special needs patients and young children who have cavities or risk for cavities but who just couldn't get through the x-rays, we were excited about the new machine.  We were also "crossing our fingers" because other machines have, that have come before, have said they take these types of x-rays.  This is one of the first ones that actually does take "true bitewings" rather than just distorting a Panoramic x-ray to look like bitewings (which is much less diagnostic, or usable.)  

Okay, I know that was a little technical, but here is the real joy in the story.  In the past 2 weeks, 4 children with Autism who have never been able to have bitewings were able to take this type of film and did great!  Two had cavities and these bitewings gave the parents and I valuable information so that we could know how to best proceed.  Several other children who just couldn't take the intra-oral x-rays because of gagging or sensory issues were also able to have the Pan-bitewings.  The x-rays are turning out much better than my expectations.  I am so pleased we have this machine to make going to the dentist easier and less traumatic for our kiddos!

In regard to this type of x-ray I have had one parent ask the very astute question, "If it is less radiation and easier to take, why not default to using this one all the time for everyone?"  Well, we may eventually do that, but at this time, the intra-oral x-rays are still the "gold" standard.  With cooperation and no gagging we can predictably get quality, highly-diagnostic x-rays.  So we will continue to start with those type of x-rays, but now we have an extra tool in the box for when we need the information of bitewings but a child just can't tolerate them.

Sun if fully risen, and this day is beautiful!  I look forward to sending more highlights in the next few days.  Until then blessings and I hope to see you soon!

Kidstown Dental Update

When I signed a lease in early 2011 I had no idea that building an office could take so long!  Now that we are hopefully 3 weeks away, time seems to be moving at warp speed!  The construction had been moving along on a perfect schedule, however the parent construction company, who is building the shopping center, has had delays in getting electricity and water.  As a result, instead of June 21 for construction completion (making opening June 25th) it will likely be later!  I am hopeful that June 28th, a Thursday, can be our new target day.  I'll keep you all "posted".  This is a let down to be sure, but as I have said before I feel confident that the timing will be exactly as it should be in the grand scheme of things!  I want to say thank you to all my sweet friends and family who have emailed, called, texted, scheduled at Katy Dental or HCDC and some by waiting on their children's check-ups promising to be some of the first "Kidstown" patients.  I am honored by your faithfulness and very grateful for your patience!!

This weekend takes me to Michigan for training on one of the programs I plan to bring to Katy.  This particular program teaches, motivates, and empowers children to do their very best with their oral hygiene and understand important nutrition concepts.  There are age-appropriate, hands-on experiments and lots of facilitated time for questions and answers during their new and re-care appointments.  The concept for this program is, "Give a man a fish and feed him for a day.  Teach a man to fish and feed him for his life."  This is a philosophy that resonates with our practice.  In America our health care system seems to be focused on patient's reliance on healthcare providers to treat diseases, not on education and prevention.  I have been in the dental field for 22 years now, and I see the same model.  From the very beginning, you go to the dentist, get lectured for doing a poor job, not flossing, and schedule whatever procedures need to be done to repair the damage your "poor job" has caused.  I used to eat lots of candy, drink lots of sodas and never floss.  (This was when I was less than 18 years old and really just didn't know any different.)  It wasn't until I became a dental assistant and worked for a wonderful dentist (Terry Dickinson) that things began to click.  By the time I left that office to finish my degree in Nutrition, I was a regular "juicer", had completely given up sodas and candies, and was on my way to dental school.  It was through the life changing experiences in that office that I began to understand and be motivated to live differently.  I had extensive dental work prior to age 18 years old, and since those changes, and flossing, I haven't had another cavity.  It's because of personal experience, research and evidence, and mission trips where I witnessed  change in orphans, that I feel strongly about minimal intervention, education and hands-on experiences to facilitate transformation in children's understanding of their own health and their ability to shape it.  I can't wait to unveil this program and be blessed by the stories of change and excitement I know it will bring!

Next month I hope to visit an extraordinary practitioner who developed a program to make going to the dentist possible and less dramatic for Autistic patients.  This program is unique, well-tested, and helps most Autistic and special needs patients, including adults, develop the skills and comfort needed to have their dental care done without general anesthesia or restraint.  More about this program, no-gag x-rays, cavity detection without x-rays, alternatives to fluoride for fluoride-wary parents, and no-shot dentistry in a later blog!

For now, I that's all I have.  I can't wait till the office opens to see everyone and began the long-awaited journey of Kidstown Dental!  Thank you again for your patience and your wonderful encouragement!  

June 15th, 2012, Kidstown Dental Open!!?!

I know it has been a while since I have blogged.  I feel I finally have some things worth sharing.  First, the framing of the inside of the office should be done today!  If everything goes smoothly we could be open on June 15th! That will be a 45 day interior build-out.  Because my wonderful designer, Bill Stubbs, and I have already picked most of the finishes (floors, paints, wallpapers), and my super professional contractors, Med Tech, have ordered everthing, we may be able to pull it off.  School is out May 31,st, so there will be a couple of weeks where we miss serving the summer crowd…but maybe everyone can just take their vacations during those weeks  .

In the meantime we have been working on things like: logo, slogan, mission, vision, software training, website design, employee interviews, and a host of other things.  It seems everyday there are papers to review, things to sign, phone calls, meetings and deadlines!  I am very grateful that God has been providing me with a good balance of work and days off to handle this part of starting the business.  I am also grateful for Dr. D, Sheila, Ralph, Marco, Mom, Lisa, Dwight, Suzan, “the Great 8″, Ken, Philip, Trisha, Frank, Robert, Catherine, Bill, Trevor, Ryan, Kyle, and a lot of other people for being available, inspiring, grounding and patient through this process.  Honestly, I am very blessed!

There are so many details I can’t wait to share related to Kidstown Dental, but I am holding onto most of them until the grand opening!  Here are a few highlights to peek your curiosity!  We will have what I consider to be the best technology available to make children’s dental experiences fun and painless!  For some of you with bad experiences in your dental past, that may sound cliche’ and impossible.  I think you’ll be amazed and inspired at what is now possible!  In addition, I am going to close out this blog, or rework it, to be a topical blog.  In it’s new form, I will write to families who come to Kidstown Dental.  I want to address issues like 1 in 88 children in the US having Autism (even more in Katy), and talk about best ways for this particular group to recieve compassionate care, tailored to their special needs.  I will bring up issues like fluoride, it’s safty, it’s risks and the alternatives.  In addition, there are parents who are very concerned about radiation, particularly in light of the recent media coverage of a journal article published relating dental x-rays to brain cancer risk in children.  I want blog about this journal article, the specifics of it, about radiation, specificcally, radiation in dental x-rays, and about alternatives now available to reduce the amount of times children need dental x-rays.  Kidstown Dental will focus not only on achieving great oral health, but on nutrition as well, and it’s links to oral and systemic health.  We believe that lectures and brochures are the least effective way to engage and empower kids, so our office will be modeled after a hands on learning system with experiements for kids of all ages to implement and reinforce learning.  These are only a few of the things to look for at our new office.  It is so exciting and I can’t wait to unveil it all!

The last thing I have to say is that the website should be up and running a little before the office opens.  We will start booking appointments in June for the anticipated opening day, in hopes of seeing all our new and old friends as our first patients.  Thank you for being my inspiration and support through this amazing adventure!

Slab is poured!

Hello friends and family,

I know it has been a while since I blogged about the opening of "Kidstown Dental".  Things got delayed a little as we gratefully received the recent rains.  I am still hoping for a June 1st opening, but it will be a tricky thing to accomplish.  Now that the slab is poured it will take the shell builder about 60 days to complete the exterior portion of the building.  After that, my contractors will take another 60 days.  Since we did get a lot of things done prior to the foundation being poured, like the plumbing and some electrical, it could speed things up a bit.

Meanwhile Bill, my fabulous interior designer and friend, and I are working diligently to pick out the finishes.  I am thrilled at the tiles and floor design we have recently put together.  It's funny because I never thought floors would "thrill" me, but it is exciting!  As a side, everywhere I go these days I am looking at finishes and taking lots of pictures.  Staying in budget and finding great stuff is challenging and fun.

I am almost decided on my practice software management.  I am working toward the goal of families being able to do everything without paper.  We should be able to send email and text reminders, allow patient their own log in to schedule and reschedule appointments, fill out forms and submit them electronically.  It's a brave new world and there is a lot of technology that can make things smoothe and easy.

I have also almost hired my first employee.  She is a super girl.  Very reliable, very smart, loves kids and is good with them as well!  I am reading a great book and trying to prepare myself as much as possible for my new role as "boss".  One of the most influential people of my life has been Terry Dickinson.  He was my boss from about 19 years old until dental school.  He and his wife had a significant impact on who I am today and on my life course.  He has become like a father to me and is the person I can always rely on when I am up in arms about something.  I deeply desire to be the kind of boss he was.  I want be the kind of person who influences others because of who I am and how I treat them.  I want to see in young people and employees things they may not see in themselves and help them to reach their highest potential.  I know that ultimately it is God who does this kind of work in others, and I hope to be a useful instrument in His work.

That is where we are.  Waiting on God's timing for the opening of Kidstown Dental and preparing ourselves for the work in the meantime.  I can't wait to show everyone the results of all this preparation and invite you into the place I have been dreaming of for so long!  Until then, blessings on your way!!

Countdown to Kidstown Dental Opening!

First I should say, sorry if you were following this site and haven't been updated since September!  I have two blog sites.  I think I mentioned this earlier, but I haven't mentioned it lately.  I have been updating the other blog, but not this site.  Some people have easier access to this blog while others have easier access to my Wordpress blog.  I intended to update both, but just realized I haven't updated this one for a long time.  So, below is my latest post.  If you want to see the few posts between this newest one and the last one from September that I posted here, go to http://amyluedemann.wordpress.com/  In the future I will cut and paste and update both.  Eventually, pretty soon really, I should have them connected and feeding into "Kidstown Dental" website!

Groundbreaking has happened!!  Officially groundbreaking was supposed to be this past Monday, but as you may remember, Monday brought torrential rains.  I hear if you need rain really badly, schedule a groundbreaking!

Lots happening aside from the groundbreaking.  Time line wise, we have to start plumbing Jan 30, lay foundation early February, then hopefully, March 1st my contractors will begin interior build-out and doors will be open by June 1st...could be sooner.  There has been some issues with my contractor.  I do plan on writing in this blog, in the forum of a dental magazine like "Dental Economics" and possibly even something more substantial to help others in my position.  This entire process has been a huge learning experience.  In this process so far I have had to pick a Realtor, a site, a banker, a lawyer, an architect, a general contractor, an interior designer, and that is only some of the people who have been involved thus far.  I have learned that dentists get taken advantage of often and are sometimes intentionally, sometimes unintentionally mislead in this process.  From the very begining I have sought out articles, books and advice so I wouldn't be one to fall into common traps.  Even still, I have found myself in some difficult situations for which my reading and seeking advice did not prepare me.  These are the things I hope to help others with as I am finishing with this project and it is all still fresh on my mind.  For now though, it is best if I not share the details.  Stepping back a little from the details, my prayer is that I can honor God in my words, my relationships and all of my business dealings no matter what the challenges are.  I find the balance between being a trusting, open, relaxed person and a smart, informed, assertive business person is a delicate balance indeed!

As the construction progresses the things I will be investigating and deciding on are: 

1.  What insurances will I accept? (This is the most common question friends, family and parents of patients ask me lately.)  Will I be "in-network"?  Will we accept Medicaid and Chip?

2.  What practice management software system will I choose?  Exactly how paperless will my office be?  What hardware will I go with for the office (Mac or PC)?

3.  When will I be hiring staff for training and how many persons will I hire initially?  How will I go through the process of finding and hiring people who will enrich the practice?

4.  How many days and which days will the office be open to start?  How many days per week will I practice ultimately?  How much vacation will the office take?  How will I set a schedule that will allow myself and staff to have quality time with our families, a balanced life, and meet the needs of a pediatric population whose parents don't want their children to miss school too often?

5.  When will I have the website up and running (including for scheduling patients) and will I choose a website management company?  If so, who?  Will "Kidstown Dental" have a Facebook page?  (I have one reserved.)  What types of social media will we use?  What are the reasons and benefits to the office and our patients for using social media?  What are the ethics involved in using social media as a pediatric dental office?

These are just a few of the things that occupy my mind these days.  I hope to "blog" and receive your input on these issues.  That is all I have for now.  Again, thank you for reading my blog and continuing to support me in this process!  I am so grateful to each and everyone of you!!