Dear Patient:
We hope this letter finds you and your family in good health. Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety. Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.
Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.
You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:
Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.
Sincerely,
Maine Center for Dental Medicine
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Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We follow the activities of these agencies so that we are up-to-date on any new rulings or guidance that may be issued.
You may see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:
- Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you are in the office.
- We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.
- You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines, children’s toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
- Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment.
- We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.
Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.
Sincerely,
Maine Center for Dental Medicine
59 Pleasant Street Skowhegan, Maine, ME 04976 Directions
16
Jan
Maine dentist discusses how biologic dental care helps with healthy teeth and gums
Biologic dentistry is focused on how your oral health affects the health of your entire body. Healthy teeth and gums are important for wellness. At Maine Center for Dental Medicine, two ways we help patients enjoy healthier teeth and gums are through amalgam filling removal and therapeutic root canals.
If you’ve received a filling in the last 50 years, you may have an amalgam filling. Once considered the ‘gold standard’ for filling material, amalgam has been used less in recent years due to its high mercury content. Mercury, a known neurotoxin, can have harmful effects on the body.
Why patients choose amalgam removal
Some patients decide to have their old fillings replaced due to aesthetics. Amalgam fillings are silver in color and can be obvious in the smile. Other patients express concerns about the mercury content of the amalgam fillings. And, there are patients who need to have it replaced due to damage or degradation.
Choosing an experienced dentist
When you make the decision to have your amalgam fillings removed, it’s important to find an experienced dentist who knows how to do it safely. Dr. Imam and Dr. Khan are biologic dentists who understand the harmful effects of mercury on the body. Many patients in Maine turn to us when they decide to have their old mercury fillings replaced.
Safe removal techniques
When we remove amalgam fillings there are several precautions we take to minimize patient and staff exposure to mercury. They include:
- Use of a rubber dam to minimize mercury ingestion
- Use of an alternative air source/oxygen
- Cutting the amalgam filling out in large chunks
- Keeping the amalgam cooled to minimize mercury vapors
- High volume suction and an oral vacuum to catch mercury particles
- Ozone gas
- Mercury vapor ionizers
- Specialized air purification
Safe, natural-looking alternatives to amalgam
Once the amalgam is safely removed, we will replace it with a metal-free filling such as composite resin. Composite resin is a tooth-colored material that is safe, biocompatible, and blends in seamlessly with the teeth. The composite material is bonded directly into the tooth and does not expand and contract due to temperature changes, which makes it a stable, long-term option.
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Root canals
Say the term “root canal” in front of a patient and many immediately begin to worry. Root canals have developed a reputation as one of the most dreaded dental procedures, when in reality there is nothing to fear. Modern dental techniques have made root canal therapy an effective, pain-free procedure. At the office of Dr. Imam and Dr. Khan, we have the experience and skill it takes to make your root canal a success.
Modern root canal therapy
At one point in time, teeth that were badly infected had to be removed to preserve oral health and prevent the spread of infection. Today, in most cases the tooth structure can be saved by undergoing a root canal.
Root canals vs. extraction
Many ask how we determine which teeth need a root canal versus which teeth need to be extracted. The answer is that we opt for root canal treatment whenever possible to save the tooth. In the end, root canals are less expensive than extractions. During your appointment we can go over the pros and cons of root canals.
The root canal procedure
The root canal procedure is like filling a cavity. To begin, the dentist will to remove any decay from the tooth, followed by removal of the infected pulp. The inside of the tooth, which includes the pulp chamber and root canals is cleaned out to eliminate infection. Once this process is finished, the tooth is filled and sealed to prevent future infection.
Following the root canal, a dental crown is placed on top of the tooth to protect it from further damage. Because a substantial portion of the tooth structure is removed to eliminate infection, a tooth is often weak and brittle after a root canal.
At Maine Center for Dental medicine, we focus on services that help you have healthier teeth and gums. If you are in the Skowhegan, Maine area call us today at (207) 808-7355 to learn more about our biologic dental services.
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LinkedinA graduate from New York University College of Dentistry, Dr. Mohammed Imam began his practice in Nigeria and moved to the United Kingdom to continue his training in Oral & Maxillofacial Residency.
With over 30 years of expertise Dr. Imam regularly updates himself on modern techniques and methods whilst continuing to invest and perform procedures using the best technology and equipment to ensure his patients receive the best and most bio-compatible oral care possible.
Dr. Imam’s areas of specialty include implant dentistry, TMD and Orofacial pain. He is also SMART certified and a member of the Academy of General Dentistry.
An alumnus of New York University, Dr. Shafiulla Khan brings with him a wealth of knowledge and expertise gained over his 35 plus years of practicing dentistry. He is well known for his passion to improve his patients’ lives with his service. While being a SMART certified professional, Dr. Khan’s areas of specialty includes Tempro-mandibular Disorders, TMJ therapy and smile make overs. He remains a prestigious member of the International Association of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) amongst many others.
MCDM is continuing to protect our patients and staff from Covid-19. We ask that you postpone your appointment for 10-14 days if you or your household member are in the following categories:
Due to Governor Mills' change in the travel policy, patients who have traveled to NH, MA, CT, RI or VT do not need to quarantine. Therefore, patients that have traveled to or from these states do not need to delay their appointment with us. If you have traveled to or from any other state (or country) not listed above, the quarantine restrictions still apply.
As of 3/16/21, our front door will be unlocked. If you are a patient that has an appointment, you may enter 5 minutes prior to your appointment and undergo a covid screening upon entry. Others that do not have an appointment must call before entry. Anyone entering the building must wear a mask or scarf covering their mouth and nose.
Thank You,
- If you or your household member have been advised to quarantine due to Covid-19.
- If you or your household member have been in contact with someone who is being tested and do not yet have their results back, or if the results are back and they tested positive.
- If you or your household member are being tested for Covid-19, or have been tested and have a positive result.
- As always, if you do not know if you have been exposed and are not feeling well, please call us to reschedule.
Due to Governor Mills' change in the travel policy, patients who have traveled to NH, MA, CT, RI or VT do not need to quarantine. Therefore, patients that have traveled to or from these states do not need to delay their appointment with us. If you have traveled to or from any other state (or country) not listed above, the quarantine restrictions still apply.
As of 3/16/21, our front door will be unlocked. If you are a patient that has an appointment, you may enter 5 minutes prior to your appointment and undergo a covid screening upon entry. Others that do not have an appointment must call before entry. Anyone entering the building must wear a mask or scarf covering their mouth and nose.
Thank You,