Zeb with Dr. Anthony Ramirez

We introduced you to Zeb in a previous update. A promising and bright Brooklyn, NY high school student that privately suffered pain and embarrassment from the effects of having severely crooked teeth. Zeb received dental care from a caring dental professional through the Tomorrow's SMILES® program and it has made a remarkable impact on his life.

Volunteer Tomorrow's SMILES dentists like Dr. Anthony Ramirez truly make a difference in the young lives they touch. "I really want them to understand how much of an impact they have had on my life. Without their help, I would not be the person I am today, with the confidence to take on any challenge," Zeb stated about Dr. Anthony Ramirez and his team.  

After receiving the treatment he needed, Zeb was eager to share his experiences with the Tomorrow's SMILES® program and advocate for good oral health care. Through the Pay It Forward component of the program, these participants share their newfound knowledge and serve as oral health mentors to younger children. Restoring his smile not only changed his life, but also touched the lives of those that he was able to mentor in his community.  

With a dazzling smile and the confidence that goes along with it, Zeb is now attending his first year of college on a full scholarship. "I have been blessed with an incredible gift," remarked Zeb about his restored, beautiful smile and renewed hope for a future filled with possibilities ahead.  

Tomorrow's SMILES was designed to give teens like Zeb the building blocks they need for healthy, productive futures by providing them with life-changing oral health services. Through this innovative program sponsored by the Patterson Foundation, volunteer dental practitioners provide pro bono services to promising at-risk teens in their community, restoring their self-esteem and encouraging them to take responsibility for their oral health. Volunteer dentists participating in Tomorrow's SMILES have access to generously donated products from Invisalign® and Nobel Biocare™ (including Procera®) to help restore the smiles of pre-screened, promising teens.  

How You Can Help 

You can help transform a teen's needless pain and suffering into a happy, beautiful smile and the promise of a brighter future by volunteering for Tomorrow's SMILES. Look for more updates on our Tomorrow's SMILES teens in your Curve Dental emails. To learn more about Tomorrow's SMILES, visit  www.TomorrowsSMILES.org. Email Brenda Woodington at bwoodington@ncohf.org to volunteer to save a smile and change a teen's life today!

Sally McKenzie

Here's the typical scenario. You present the treatment plan. The patient is eager to proceed. Then the financial coordinator steps in and unveils the price tag. The patient swallows hard and asks the question that she intuitively knows the answer to. Will my insurance pay for that? Now what? Avoid those awkward moments by marketing what insurance will cover well in advance.

Educate your patients about insurance limitations and other financial options just as you educate them about proper oral healthcare. Most policies have a per calendar year cap that has not been increased in more than two decades - an important detail that patients often aren't aware of.

The financial coordinator should sit down with patients and review what's covered in their dental plans. Discuss the calendar year cap, deductibles, co-pays, coverage for preventive care, etc. For example, "According to the information you provided and additional information I gathered from the insurance company, your employer has purchased a package for you that includes the following benefits and coverage." Explain those to the patient.

"The plan your employer provides offers a small per calendar year balance of $1,000. This will help cover some of the care you need. In addition, your plan includes a deductible and co-payments." Explain those to the patient.

While it's essential that patients understand the limitations of their insurance plans, it is equally critical that they recognize that the dental team cannot ignore gum disease or other infections of the mouth that may not be covered by insurance any more than the medical team could ignore infection or disease in the heart or lungs.

The six-month prophy versus necessary periodontal treatment is a good example of the common disconnect between insurance benefits routinely offered and treatment often needed by patients. The insurance plan emphasizes the benefit of two cleanings a year and the patient believes this is all they need unless the doctor and dental team regularly educate the patient that neither the practice nor the patient can ignore bacterial infection because of insurance limitations.

Each time your patients raise questions regarding whether a procedure will be covered or why coverage was denied it is an opportunity to further educate them about the doctor's commitment to diagnosing and recommending a level of care appropriate for the patient, not the insurance company. And few things could be more effective in marketing your practice than demonstrating your total commitment to quality patient care.

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Linda Miles

It's a good idea to have a week or two of orientation. Assign the new hire with a buddy. This person is their contact for all questions and all training during the orientation. They take them to lunch; show them where to keep personal belongings, go over the office manual with them, do hands on training (if warranted), and answer simple questions such as "how does this microwave work?" This gives new members on the team a connection and makes them feel as though the red carpet has been rolled out to meet them versus, "just watch us and eventually you'll get the hang of how we do things here" which is training through osmosis!

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