Paperless Dentistry at Dr. Ku’s

How many of you remember going to the dentist’s office and seeing rows and rows of files stuffed into shelves behind the office manager? All the colorful tabs sticking out providing a decorative aspect to the overwhelming amount of paper.  

 

While many offices still rely on paper records for their patients, offices like Dr. Ku’s have transformed into a paperless practice. This change is beneficial for both the dentist and the patient and ensures that care is streamlined for everyone who walks through our door.

Since our decision to be a paperless dental practice can strike some patients as interesting or raise concerns about data safety, we’re outlining why we chose to go this route and how it is beneficial for everyone.  

 

What is e-dentistry? 

 

E-dentistry allows health information to be stored and shared electronically while allowing the provider to give a higher level of care to the patient by enhancing the management of issues and providing better health outcomes.

According to the American Dental Association, dental practices have been much slower to switch to electronic health records than their physician counterparts. Much of this has to do with how practices are structured, since many dental practices have a sole dentist while other physicians’ offices can have dozens of doctors. Due to the size disparity, the cost to change can be too high for dental practices.

However, at Dr. Ku’s office we believed the investment in a paperless practice was important for our patients and their care, and we were willing to use our resources to make it happen.  

 

What are the benefits? 

 

Thanks to the involvement of the American Dental Association, electronic health records are being improved specifically with dentists in mind. Since all practices of medicine are different, it’s important there’s not just a “one size fits all” approach to a paperless dental practice. Here are some of the reasons why we believe they are so beneficial: 

 

• Improved patient safety through better documentation and built-in protocol and reminders that increase the quality of care. Additionally, if a patient needs their records sent to another provider, they can easily be sent electronically instead of having to fax or copy the paper records.  
• E-prescribing allows your dentist to submit a prescription directly to the pharmacy. Patients no longer need to wait around for prescriptions to be filled after dropping off a paper order. This saves the patient time and increases the likelihood of prescription compliance.  
• More efficient billing results in less time for both the office and patient on the phone with their insurance company. Documenting everything digitally helps to ensure billing codes are current and the turnaround for reimbursement from an insurer is prompt.  

 

Are my records secure? 

 

Rest assured, by law there are safeguards that must be in place for any office to operate an electronic health records system. In fact, these records are more secure than paper records left out in the open in the middle of a practice. Electronic records can be opened only by authorized users as opposed to anyone who may want to open up a paper folder.

In addition, paper records had the potential to be tampered with. An electronic system logs whoever accesses certain patient records and notes who makes changes. Therefore, there is always an electronic paper trail detailing any modifications made.

Finally, electronic records are secure in the event of a disaster. Whether it be a natural disaster or an act of theft, it is much more difficult to destroy something if there is no paper copy.  

 

At Dr. Ku’s office we are very pleased with our current system and would be happy to answer any questions you have about it! 

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What’s The Secret To All-Star Back-To-School Shopping?

If you’re anything like us, it feels like summer just started. However, looking at the calendar the dog days of summer will soon be winding down. Before you know it, you’ll be back in the lunch-packing, homework-checking, scurrying-out-the-door-for-the-bus routine. 

 

If you’re even more like us, then you’re starting to look around for deals on school supplies. If you’re going to do it, you want to do it right. The lists of requirements seems to be growing by the year, and prices definitely aren’t getting any cheaper. And whose children need another fresh supply refresh mid-year? We know that’s the case for us. 

 

Spending tons of money in July and August isn’t ideal when you’ll be forced to replenish broken crayons and dried-out glue in January. To ease your way back into the school schedule and to provide relief to your pocketbook, we’ve listed the best advice given to us by the most school supply shoppers in Fort Worth.  

 

1. Get the list early

 

As soon as your list becomes available from the school, get it and start looking for deals. Not everything on your list comes from the Back-to-School section at Target. For items like Kleenex, hand sanitizer or wipes, look out for deals that may not correspond directly with back to school. If you find paper products for a steal, for example—or cheaper options at retailers like Costco—go ahead and stock up. You’re unlikely to find a teacher who would ever turn down Kleenex and Clorox bleach wipes during flu season if you really end up with a surplus. 

 

2. Factor in your kid’s personality 

 

Everyone has their favorite school supplies. Whether it’s the super-expensive mechanical pencil or the box of 100 uniquely colored crayons, kids want what they want. In order to streamline, consider going alone so you won’t have to quibble over the number of Magic Markers. A few weeks into school, many supplies have been integrated together in a classroom, so choosing the biggest pack or coolest extras might not be meaningful anymore. And for older kids school supply shopping can be a great lesson in budgeting. Tell them their budget and guide their selections to ensure everything is checked-off the list. Offer them the option to keep their savings for an added smart-shopper incentive.  

 

3. Be a savvy shopper

 

If you don’t have time to get lost sifting through folders at Wal-Mart or Target, consider using your digital prowess to minimize stress and maximize efficiency. Most large retailers have apps that allow you to fill up your basket and have it waiting for you at the store—or even shipped to your house. Don’t forget about online retailers like Amazon, too.  

 

For added savings, put all the supplies in your cart and let them sit for a few days. Many times you’ll start to see sales or discounts pop up in your email that are meant to incentivize you to purchase. The best part is that you never have to leave the house! 

 

4. Work with your school

 

Many schools will offer PTA fundraisers that take all the hassle out of school supply shopping. Simply write a check and your student’s supply magically (or at least, that is how it feels) shows up on the desk the first day. For families who are traveling much of the summer or are new to the area, this can relieve a significant amount of stress.  

 

Follow these tips to score great deals on school supplies. If you have any strategies or see great deals, share with us on our Facebook page. We would love to help all our patients ease back into the school year! 

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A Case Study For The Curious: Teething Relief For Infants

As a parent, Dr. Ku knows how concerning it is to see your children in pain, particularly when they are young and teething. And sometimes with the accompanying desperation for a full night of sleep, many parents reach out to us with questions regarding pain relief and teething gels for their children. While we already have a lot to say about these, a recent retrospective study analyzed the health records of children under four who were exposed to these gels—and we found the case study interesting enough that we wanted to share. 

 

This was a study of infants and small children exposed to topical benzocaine (a topical anesthetic used for tooth pain commonly found in teething gels). The results of this exact study (in tandem with work done at the FDA) has led these over-the-counter teething products to be removed from store shelves entirely. Below, we walk you through the results of the study and also highlight how the FDA has altered its recommendations for parents. 

 

As dental health professionals we stay up-to-date on all recommended changes from both our dental governing boards as well as the federal government. If you have any questions about current practices or changes in procedure, please let us know. We will be happy to walk you through how any related decision was made. 

 

Background 

 

An increase in the number of children who were experiencing severe side effects after using benzocaine-based teething gels caused the FDA and dental researchers to explore the link and make new recommendations based on data. 

 

The children most at risk for severely adverse symptoms—such as shortness of breath, blue or grey skin coloring, dizziness, and rapid heart rate—were primarily under two years old. Since benzocaine is found in many homeopathic teething gels, many parents used the product thinking it was safe. 

 

Research on this subject has been ongoing for nearly a decade after the FDA received notification in an uptick in cases of benzocaine reactions among young children. Even today the Agency is still investigating 10 deaths and more than 400 reports of seizures that have been thought to be linked to these homeopathic teeth remedies. The FDA believes that one of the active ingredients, belladonna, which is commonly classified as a natural pain killer, was the ingredient to blames. It’s imperative that this ingredient be tightly controlled since eaten in unsafe levels it can be deadly. Unfortunately, as a result of an FDA investigation and other studies, it was shown that belladonna had not always been properly diluted in teething gels—which led to overdoses in children. 

 

While the FDA did stop short of requiring teething gels to be removed from the shelves altogether, it did send a stern warning letter to companies and advised parents to speak with their dentist or other medical professional prior to using any teething gels on their children. Finally, the FDA once again reiterated its stance on teething gels last month by reminding parents that they aren’t necessary and instead offering other options like wet washcloths, teething rings or gum massagers. 

 

How the standards changed as a result 

 

After the FDA released its first warning letter in 2010, many dentists began to stray away from offering teething gels as an alternative pain relief method. Studies like this one help guide medical professionals in their daily practice—dentistry and medicine are fields where we are always continuing our education. Today, we work collaboratively with parents to explain the possibly dangerous side effects of homeopathic teething gels, and instead offer advice on alternative solutions.  

 

While this investigation and the removal of product from many shelves made the news, the professionals at our practice are always looking at deeper studies that don’t hit the front pages of the press. When new and noteworthy advancements are made, we stay informed though our professional organizations as well as through continuing education that the whole team participates in. If you ever see any dental news that interests you, reach out through our Facebook or leave a comment and we will be sure to tell you what else we’ve seen and learned!

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Symptoms Of Common Dental Issues

Thanks to the internet, many of us like to pretend we’re medical professionals by quickly typing in our symptoms into Google and then clicking through the pages of possible diagnoses.  

 

Unfortunately, not only can this yield bad results and produce anxiety, but it can also cause you to actually overlook issues because, on paper, they appear “not so bad.” 

 

For example, tooth sensitivity brings back thousands of results with some from reputable sources like the Mayo Clinic and American Dental Association. However, each site lists a range of possible maladies that plague you. Without visiting your dentist, it’s impossible to determine if your tooth sensitivity stems from a cavity or from something more serious. 

 

We’re going to walk through several common dental issues that may appear commonplace from a quick internet search, but that really require professional intervention to ensure no lasting damage occurs.
 

Tooth sensitivity  

 

Have you every drank something really cold, or maybe bit into something really sweet, and all of the sudden you experience pain in one of your teeth? 

 

If this is a rare occurrence, you can attribute it to a one-off situation. However, if you experience tooth sensitivity more frequently, you aren’t alone. Approximately 40 million Americans have felt the same thing for extended periods of time. 

 

So, if it’s so common, is tooth sensitivity something you should worry about? The short answer is yes. The inside of your tooth is full of tiny nerve endings that are protected by enamel, which is the hard outer layer of your tooth. Sudden tooth sensitivity can be caused by worn-down enamel, tooth erosion, and tooth decay. Each of these can cause more serious issues like gum disease or tooth loss if left untreated. 

 

Next time you feel tooth sensitivity, don’t brush it off! Give your dentist a call.
 

Bleeding gums 

 

We’ve all seen blood at times when we spit out the toothpaste after brushing our teeth. But just because it doesn’t seem like a worrisome amount of blood, or if there was no pain associated with it, should you ignore the symptom? 

 

Bleeding gums can result from medications you are taking, or pregnancy, or can sometimes be an indicator or periodontitis. That said, the number-one reason for bleeding gums is plaque buildup along the gum line. When you fail to remove the plaque, it can harden and lead to an irritation of the gum tissues. So, if you start to see blood a little more often, it’s important to revisit your oral hygiene routine, cut out processed sugar from your diet and check the side-effects on your medications. If these steps don’t relieve the issue, it’s important to visit your dentist to check for advanced gum disease.  

 

An adult’s worst fear…a loose tooth  

 

As we age, having a loose tooth doesn’t call for a visit from the tooth fairy. It normally results in a visit to the dentist after a lot of mixed feelings and anxiety. 

 

If you, as an adult, think you have a loose tooth, it’s most commonly the result of untested gum disease that’s led to an infection below the gumline. This causes the bone to break down and for the nearest tooth (or teeth) to become loose. 

 

Losing a tooth this way as an adult is one of the more serious results of bleeding gums, and exhibits why getting to the dentist sooner rather than later is important. 

 

Osteoporosis is also another disease that results in loose teeth. This is a condition where the bones throughout the body lose bone density and become much more prone to fracture. When the density of the bone around the teeth lessens, teeth can become loose. Women with osteoporosis are three times as likely to experience a loose tooth as opposed to women without the disease. This is a great example of how the mouth is the window to the body and how important it is to be aware of changes in the oral cavity! 

 

Alone, each of these three conditions doesn’t have to be too harmful or the “end of the world.” However, each can be a risk factor for the next, and if you ignore one symptom then the result becomes much worse. At the first sign of any of these issues, it’s important to schedule an appointment. 

 

Questions? Curiosities? Leave us a comment or visit us on Facebook! 

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Must-Sees for the 4th of July in Fort Worth, Texas

It’s hard to believe that the 4th of July is right around the corner. And everyone at Dr. Ku’s office is beyond excited to spend the day out in the community celebrating! 

 

One of the great things about living in Fort Worth is the HUGE number of community events (many of which are free!) that are held around town. We hope many of our patients will let us know on our Facebook page how they’ll be celebrating July 4th in Fort Worth! 

 

We like to consider our office a family, and each of our patients as an extension of that family. So, if you see us at one of the events below or one that you share with us, make sure to stop by and say hi! We believe our relationships with our patients are worth more than one single hour every six months. Plus, here at Dr. Ku’s office we feel so thankful to be part of the Fort Worth community. We hope to celebrate that this Independence Day with each of you! 

 

Below are some of our favorite yearly events that many of our staff will be stopping by! 

 

Celebrate Freedom 2018: Independence Day in Texas generally focuses on two things: food and fireworks. Located at Panther Island Pavilion, both children and adults will be impressed by the season’s aerial work by F-16s and love to rock out to local bands in a Battle of the Bands competition! At Celebrate Freedom you’ll be able to chow down on summer favorites like street tacos or hotdogs or barbecue. Finally, you’ll end the night with the largest fireworks show in North Texas. And, as we all say, it must be huge since everything is bigger in Texas! 

 

Concert in the Garden: If you want to go back in time for an old-fashioned July 4th in Fort Worth, then the celebration at the Botanic Garden is for you! The Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra will play under the stars as you and your family enjoy a picnic or a pack of beer. Tickets are required since the event fills up quickly; however, children under 10 get in free. This has been labeled as one of Fort Worth’s best season outings, so don’t miss out! 

 

3rd–Annual Billy Bob’s 4th of July Picnic: Fourth of July and country music go together like apple pie and ice cream. This yearly tradition at Billy Bob’s will feature the Eli Young Band, Green River Ordinance, and Charlotte Leigh this year. Doors open at 7pm. Don’t forget you boots as you two-step your way through Independence Day! 

 

Fourth of July 5K: Before you load up on BBQ and lemonade, hit the road for the Fourth of July 5K benefiting Homes for Our Troops. The best part of this race: it’s a virtual 5K! That means you can participate wherever you are on the 4th of July—even indoors! Don’t let the Texas heat be your excuse. This event benefits a great cause, and then you can dine guilt-free all afternoon. Let us know on our Facebook page if you’re running and we can set up a friendly competition based on time! 

 

Dr. Ku is privileged to work and be in a community with such upstanding people. We are all so thankful on this Independence Day—and every day—to be a small part of all of our patients’ lives. If you see us out, please come over and say hi. We hope you all have a very happy and safe fourth of July!  

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