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Dr. Joel Scalera

 

 Our dental practice is uniquely different from any dental practice you have ever experienced. Not simply because of the pleasant surroundings or because of the highly skilled professional staff, or even because of the highly technical work we do.

Our practice is different because our mission is different. In today’s world you are offered many choices as how dental health care will be delivered to you, the patient. You can choose an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), a PPO (a Preferred Provider Organization), or a CAP Program (a Capitation System). In all of these health delivery systems, you the patient, do not have a choice with regard to your treatment plan, you are not free to choose the dentist who attends to you, and normally you do not develop a significant relationship with either the dentist or the staff.

Our practice represents the 2-3% of dentists in the United States who have made a commitment to practice in a free environment. You are free to choose us or not. We will recommend the best treatment plan that is consistent with your needs, wants, and values. This is no idle, passive statement because we do not believe patients involved with HMO’s, PPO’s, and Capitation systems are free to choose. Normally they receive substandard treatment that does not involve the patient as part of the solution. The patient becomes the object of cure rather than participating in the prevention and curative phases of treatment.

  

 

 
There are four basic types of dentistry based on different purposes. The section below explains these four types to help you better understand our dental practice which focuses on the Fine Dentistry and Prevention method.

 

 

 1. Fine Dentistry and Prevention…
This type of dentistry is dedicated to achieving Optimum Health and Optimum Repair of the oral health system. A thorough examination is completed and goal setting is instituted to create a Master Plan that has as its goal maximum protection and preservation of the oral complex. Crucial to the continuation of Optimum Health are good daily oral hygiene habits and a strict regime of professional examinations and hygiene services to prevent decay and gum disease.

2. Maintenance Dentistry…
The quality of care is good and preventive measures are fairly effective, but the patient is not dedicated to achieving Optimum Repair. Optimum repair of the natural teeth has as its goal the restoration of teeth to ideal beauty, function, comfort, and longevity. Usually maintenance dentistry is intermediate dentistry such as silver and plastic fillings, which last 3-5 years. Maintenance dentistry is removable partial dentures rather than fixed or stationary bridgework.

  

 

 


3. Repair Oriented Practice…
No long term thought is given to either prevention of decay, gum disease or bite (occlusion related) problems. Teeth are filled as they break and when gums bleed badly enough the patients have their teeth cleaned. This represents 70% of the dental practices in America today. The interesting thing about the patients who go to this kind of practice is that they don’t like it, but have more or less given up on dentistry and what it can do for them. The patients in these practices become disillusioned with dentistry because they experience the cycle of repair, disease, re-repair…

4. Emergency Practice…
Patients are seen only for emergency treatment. The majority of patients in this type of practice lose their teeth, usually by the age of 35-50, depending on their history.

Please note that I draw a line between type 2 and 3 dental practices. We have absolutely no interest in being either a “Drill, Fill and Bill Practice”, nor an “Emergency Only Practice”.

In order for us to enjoy our practice and our lives we belive we must be providing a worthwhile service for people we value and respect.

We believe in establishing long-term relationships built on freedom of choice, mutual respect and value for each other and what we represent to each other.