Spring 2006 Newsletter
Bartell’s BuzzAs I approach my two-year anniversary of working with Dr. Howorth, I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all of you for making the transition a success. Since pur chas i ng the practice from Dr. Howorth in January, things have progressed in a smooth and normal way. I owe a huge “thank you” to all of our patients for making this transition as painless as possible, despite the new consent forms and having to accustom yourselves to changing who you write your check to. I appreciate the enthusiasm with which I have been welcomed and have enjoyed the opportunity to meet and work with so many of you. Although Dr. Howorth has taken advantage of his new position to enjoy some time off (like biking in New Zealand with Lucia for 3 weeks!), he is still a large part of the practice. I continue to benefit from Dr. Howorth’s mentoring regarding dentistry and business. I value the wisdom and experience he shares with me and am excited about sharing and continuing the legacy of great dentistry and personal attention he began 40 years ago. We share a lot of the same values personally and professionally, as well as a passion for dentistry, which is why he chose me to care for his family dental needs after he retires. Thank you for all of the referrals of your friends and relatives. We take this as the highest compliment that you could give us. We welcome new patients and appreciate your confidence in us to take care of them!
Dr. B.
Vacation
The staff of Dr. Bartell and Dr. Howorth will NOT take the traditional 2-week vacation this year. The doctors and the staff have decided to split their time off to be available for the patients throughout the summer. Dr. Howorth will be in the office June 26th – June 29th and Dr. Bartell will be in the office July 5th – July 7th. We look forward to seeing you then.
Ins and Outs
We extend a fond but reluctant farewell to Tam Sherrel who is retiring from our office after many years of commitment to our dental team. Tam has worked in many capacities, from front desk to, most recently, hygiene coordinator . Unofficially Tam has been a counselor, encourager, confidante and dear friend. We will miss you Tam!! A huge and hearty welcome to Shelby Carriger who joins our team as hygiene coordinator. With extensive experience in different aspects of the dental office, a quick mind and a sweet spirit, Shelby has already become a cherished and indispensable member of the team and we are so thrilled to have her. Make sure you get a chance to meet her the next time you are here.
Injection Free Anesthesia!
For the comfort of our treasured dental hygiene patients (that’s you!) we now have the injection-free local anesthetic, Oraqix (pronounced Or-a-kicks)! Using a blunttipped applicator, we can release local anesthetic gel under the gums to numb the tissue prior to any periodontal deep cleaning procedures. It works in 30 seconds, transforming from a liquid to a gel with exposure to body temperature, and lasts from 15 to 30 minutes. We simply reapply as needed. No more walking out of the office with a numb tongue, that “fatlip” feeling, or having to drink through a straw for 3 hours! The only downside is that we can’t use it for fillings, crowns, or root canal procedures (sorry!). Oraqix contains lidocaine and prilocaine, so we are unable to use it on those of you who are sensitive to these materials. It is, however, a fabulous alternative to injection for the rest of our patients. We ordered it for our office as soon as it was made available and we have been using it with great success for the past few months. We are always improving the standard of care for our patients, so please call to schedule those deep cleaning procedures knowing that you will stay comfortable and not have to wait to eat lunch or dinner afterward! See you in the office!
Amy R.
Pre-Rinse
If you have been in to see us recently, you may have noticed a new routine. To help maintain infection control, we have started having each patient pre-rinse to reduce the incidence of infectivity in the dental office. The use of rotary dental instruments, including ultrasonic scalars, cause splattering of microorganisms from the mouth into the air. Invasive dental procedures allow for patient susceptibility to microorganisms entering the patient’s blood stream. In order to create a safer environment for you, we have decided to implement pre-procedural mouth rinsing with an antimicrobial agent (Listerine). This reduces the level of microorganisms in the mouth and in the air during routine and invasive dental procedures. Also, using the mouthwash prior to dental procedures can decrease the number of microorganisms entering the patient’s bloodstream during the procedure. The American Heart Association recommends that “patients at risk for bacterial endocarditis use an antimicrobial mouth rinse before dental treatment” as a potential preventative measure. Thank you for your cooperation in helping us take care of all our patients
6013 Wedgwood Dr. • Fort Worth, Texas 76133 • Office: 817-346-6411 • info@bartelldds.com
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