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Growth

As I’m sure many of you have noticed, there have been a lot of changes here at Harrison Dental. They are good changes, but even so, sometimes change can be hard. I wanted to take a moment to let you all know why we have so many new faces! We have added 4 new positions to our office! That is incredible growth and we are so happy to be stimulating Idaho’s work force. One of our Core values here is to provide quality employment opportunities. I hope when you come visit us you get a chance to meet our new team members. We are privileged to care for you and your loved ones. Thank you for choosing us to be your dental home and become a part of our extended family!Image

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Our latest dental adventure!~Never a dull moment

 

We recently had one of Boise’s shining stars in our office for a front tooth repair. Because he is so fun and outgoing and he wanted to show his son about dentistry, he asked us not to put a temporary crown on the tooth for the afternoon.

This is his story…

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Summer Time!

The team here at Harrison Dental has a big summer coming up, so in light of that we will be taking Fridays off. The last Friday we will be working is June 1st, 2012. Please call today if you need a Friday appointment so we can get you in before our break.
We have our anual staff summer trip planned for July 28th. We are looking forward to rafting! We’ll make sure to post some pictures after we’re done.
We all hope you have a safe and happy summer. Please give us a call if you have any dental needs, it is our pleasure taking care of you and your families.

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Looking forward to a great New Year

To all of our patients and friends, we extend many thanks and wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year.

We though we’d conclude this year with some photos from our office! Please let us know if you have any questions.

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AHA study shows link between heart health, dental care

This just-released study from the American Heart Association confirms what we’ve been coming to realize for several years: bad oral hygiene is bad for the heart.

The study, including 51,000 people in Taiwan, found that:

  • Patients who had professional tooth scraping and cleaning had reduced  risks of heart attack and stroke.
  • More frequent scraping/cleaning was associated with more reduced risk compared to occasional or never tooth scraping/cleaning.

In a separate study from Sweden, the type of periodontal disease predicted degree of risks for heart attack, stroke and heart failure. These and other studies were submitted to the American Heart Association’s Scientific Sessions 2011.

Regular cleanings are more than just for appearance and keeping your teeth. It’s believed that the bacteria from inflamed gums enter the bloodstream and damage the heart over time. Regular cleanings are important for a happier and longer life.

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Honoring veterans with dental care

Dove Fife was an Army Air Corps nurse during World War II

While I am not a veteran, I do have a soft spot for veterans and Harrison Dental’s main charity work consists of assisting veterans, mostly from the VA Nursing Home, also in Boise’s North End. The VA is limited in its dental services and appreciates the assistance of a full-service dental office like Harrison Dentalto  supplement their care.

My appreciation for veterans is a legacy of my parents, both of whom served in WWII. My father, Leland, was an officer on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean and my mother Dove was a nurse in the Army Air Corps. She card for injured pilots in the middle of the corn fields of Nebraska.

Leland Fife was an officer on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific Ocean during World War II

They were married on a short leave in the middle of the war and, after a honeymoon of just a couple of days, went back to their respective posts. I think they spent less than 30 days together during the first two years of their married lives – truly a sacrifice.

They made up for lost time, though, and were married 66 years! My dad passed away last year at 91 and my mom is still going strong and will be 91 in February 2012.

My parents leave a legacy of a strong marriage, great family and service to their nation. I was never drafted or asked to serve, so I cannot say I am a veteran. However, the good example my parents set has made a lifelong impression on me and I think that is one reason why I dedicate my skills and time to assist needy veterans.

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Dental implants are often a better alternative than dentures

At Harrison Dental, we place a priority on staying up-to-date with the latest technology, methods and training. That includes, for example, same-day crowns with the computer-aid E-4D system, as well as mini-implants.

Rather than resting on the gum line like removable dentures, or using adjacent teeth as anchors like fixed bridges, dental implants are long-term replacements for broken, damaged and missing teeth. When compared to traditional implants, the mini dental implant procedure is faster, less invasive and provides immediate results. No incisions in the gums are necessary, nor are there any stitches to be removed later. Because of the smaller implant size, bone grafting is rarely needed. The mini implants are placed in the jawbone and fixed with a special attachment that fits into the bottoms of any attached appliances.

Mini dental implants are similar to traditional implants, but can be placed in a single procedure. Traditional implants, by contrast, require a two-part procedure and a significant healing interval before results can be seen.

Statistics show that 69% of adults ages 35 to 44 have lost at least one permanent tooth to tooth decay and by age 74, more than a quarter of adults have lost all of their permanent teeth. In many cases, dental implants – and especially the mini implants offered at Harrison Dental in Boise’s North End – are a good alternative to dentures.

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Medicaid changes force dropping out of program

Due to recent changes in the MEDICAID dental program, after 35 years of being a major provider for them, we have had to resign.  The new restrictions and regulations have made it impossible for us to provide the type of care that we are committed to provide to all of our patients, regardless of how the bill is paid.

Taking care of all patients is our top priority at Harrison Dental.

While I agree with the State Government’s efforts to balance the budget, and see the MEDICAID changes as logically stemming form that effort, I don’t agree with some of the decisions that have been made concerning the dental program.

I feel confident that the needed savings could have been achieved and still leave a program that would have worked for children and the offices that chose to continue to treat them.  We would have been glad to be one of those, but despite our best efforts, we were ignored.  There likely are things that we are not aware off that entered into the decisions made, but once again would have liked a chance to assist in the process.

Because of our willingness to do so, and because it is near by, we have been providing dental care to many of the residents of the Idaho State Veterans Home, most of whom are dependent on MEDICAID for their dental care.  With the new changes to the program, adult services are limited to emergency treatment of pain only, and with numerous hoops to jump through before that emergency treatment can be provided.

By resigning as a provider it will allow us to provide the treatment that is needed without government regulations getting in the way.  Of course there often will be no money to pay for treatment unless family members are able to help.  In an honest effort to do our part we are providing dental treatment to our Veterans in the VA Nursing Home at no cost or low cost when there are no other options for them.  We feel like they deserve no less.  We all owe them a debt that we can never repay.  Hopefully we will be able to do this financially for the duration.  With support from the community, in the form of their continued patronage of our office, we think we will.

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Channel 7 interview on mini-implants

Thanks to Dee Sarton and Channel 7 for interviewing Dr. Fife at Harrison Dental about miniature dental implants. Mini implants do many of the same things as conventional dental implants, but are smaller, less expensive and easier to install. See the interview here.

Dr. Fife gave an overview of the advantages of mini-implants, which include:

  • Replacing individual teeth
  • Anchoring dentures
  • Cost about one-third the cost of a conventional dental implant
  • Much less painful and faster recovery – a day or less.

If you have questions about implants, please call us at 208-342-3695.

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Welcoming Dr. Colleen Crowley Jarvis

Harrison Dental is proud to welcome another valuable member to our team, Dr. Colleen Crowley Jarvis. Dr. Crowley is a graduate of Creighton University and the Marquette University School of Dentistry and has been practicing for five years. She is involved in the American Dental Association, the Idaho State Dental Association and the Academy of General Dentistry. Dr. Crowley has gained substantial experience in traditional and new dental techniques and is a strong addition to our staff. For more information on our practice, visit www.harrisondental.net.