Google reviews, can I trust them?

Andrew ArnoukUncategorizedLeave a Comment

Hi all,

When you want to use a business for the first time, you go over google reviews to decide whether you should call, or you should check another business.

For me, when I look at the reviews, I start by looking at newest reviews first, and I check the different dates. If a business is getting multiple reviews in a single day, week, or even month, and the reviews were short, or just blank with five stars, I know that the business is pushing their clients to post a review, in return for financial compensation for the clients who leave a positive review, or for the employees who ask their clients for a review.

These types of reviews usually look shallow, and lack credibility for me, and I usually move to the next business.

The second thing I do is that I search the reviews by: Lowest rating first, and those are usually long and detailed, and I can get some feeling about the way the business is run, and the quality of the work.

The last thing I check, is the regular and lengthy reviews, and I see what other people are saying about that business, since those reviews usually tell the true story without distortion.

A quality and well established business, should have reviews that stretch back years, and they are well apart in time, rather than a bunch of reviews that just happened in such a short time, like a few weeks or few months.

This is how I picked my medical doctor, dentist, and even the restaurants that I go to.

Your dentist in Laurel, MD

Andrew ArnoukGoogle reviews, can I trust them?

Is Dental Phobia holding you back

Andrew ArnoukUncategorizedLeave a Comment

Hi everyone,

Dental phobia is one of the main reasons why people procrastinate to visit a dentist, and for people to schedule an appointment and not show up. Finding a dentist that caters to cowards is not always easy.

Over the years, we have adjusted our approach to create a unique experience that would remove that dental fear.

Our gentle approach, our ability to listen, and the ample time that we have for everyone, would create a first time visit, that would add a whole new meaning to your dental experience.

From your dentist in Laurel, MD

 

Andrew ArnoukIs Dental Phobia holding you back

Scheduling your first appointment, what you don’t know

Andrew ArnoukUncategorizedLeave a Comment

When a new patient calls to schedule an appointment  with us, usually the question would be one of the followings:

  • I live close by and I saw your office, I want to schedule an appointment.
  • How much do you charge for a cleaning? ( or any other procedure). I want to schedule an appointment.
  • So and so referred me to you, and they already told me about the dentistry that you do, I want to schedule an appointment.
  • I saw your office  online, and I read your reviews, I want to schedule an appointment.
  • I was at my specialist ( An orthodontist, an endodontist, a periodontist or an oral surgeon), and I asked him if he knew a good restorative dentist that he could recommend, and they mentioned your name, I want to schedule an appointment.
  • I have Aetna ( or any other insurance company), and I am wondering if you are in network with my insurance company or not.

Among all of the above, I always felt that looking strictly for a dentist ( or even a medical doctor) that is in network, will make you miss on a large slice of a great doctors.

To me, it is like when you decide to buy a car, you look at the closest dealer to your house, and you buy the car from that dealer only.

There are many dental insurance companies out there like: Aetna, Delta, Signa, United Health Care, Blue Cross Blue Shield, and many more. Most of them  offer a small annual maximum coverage of    $1000.00-$2000.00 per year for dental work. So dental insurance is so different than medical insurance, and it is more like an extra help, than a true and complete coverage when a dental need arises.

In order to keep our quality care high, spend the needed time with you, without having to rush to see someone on the other chair, and to be able to attend the best continuing education available, we chose not to be  in-network with any insurance company.

We still contact the insurance for you, and explain to you how it works, file an electronic claim for you, and follow up on the claim.

If you look for price, you compromise on the quality, since you truly can’t get more for less, and our complimentary consultation, would tell you what we mean by that.

From your cosmetic dentist in Laurel MD.

 

Andrew ArnoukScheduling your first appointment, what you don’t know

Socket preservation

Andrew ArnoukUncategorizedLeave a Comment

Hi All,

If you have a tooth that can’t be saved, and needs to be extracted, the socket that the extracted tooth would leave, should be handled in a special way, to preserve the bone in the area of the extraction, and that is called socket preservation. With the new advancement in dentistry, socket preservation is becoming a must following  an extraction.

If a tooth can be saved, extraction should not be presented as an alternative good option, with an implant replacement. And if a tooth can’t be saved, extraction should not be performed without socket preservation, regardless when an implant would be placed following the extraction.

In implant dentistry, preserving the bone that supports the implants, is fundamental to achieving ideal  results.

From your dentist in Laurel MD

 

Andrew ArnoukSocket preservation

Dental Trauma, a life changing experience

Andrew ArnoukUncategorizedLeave a Comment

Dear friends of Key West Family Dentistry,

When you are young and healthy, and things are going well for you, you can take life for granted. But sometimes, life would have a different plans for you.

This is a case of a  young  person who had an unfortunate accident, that caused him to lose  one third of his front tooth.

When unfortunate things happen to others, we usually say: That is sad, and then we go about our daily lives and forget about it, however, when an event like this happens to you, I promise that it would shatter your whole life right in front of your eyes, and your self-esteem would cease to exist.

Many questions would bombard your brain;

-What if  I lost the tooth eventually?

-How am I going to work like this now?

-How can I smile and talk to people like this?

-Will I have pain later on?

And many more questions.

I deal with cases like this, and much more complicated cases, on a regular bases, and that is why my job is so  rewarding.

Producing life-like result is our passion. If you ever wondered whether any imperfections  in your smile, could be corrected.

I would love to share with you the possibilities

From you Cosmetic dentist in Laurel, MD

Andrew ArnoukDental Trauma, a life changing experience

I don’t like my gap

Andrew ArnoukUncategorizedLeave a Comment

Gaps in the esthetic zone are fairly common, they are the results of different reasons, like having small size teeth, large frenum of the upper lip, permanently missing lateral incisors, and others. Some people don’t mind having them, but some like them closed.

They can be restored orthodontically by moving teeth and closing the gap, using bonding material or porcelain veneers/ crowns.

In general, the specific situation of each individual would dictate different approach for ideal results, since trying to close a large gap restoratively by adding composites, or by fabricating a veneer or crown, would result in changing the proportions of the tooth ( height to width) and would create a teeth that looks square in shape.

I consider a gap of 1-2 mm is an ideal situation to close. Anything over 2 mm, would greatly affect the Golden Proportions of height to width. And even though it is possible, but it is not recommended.

Here is a case of a 2 mm gap that I just closed, with favorable results.

From your Dentist in Laurel MD

dsc_3661

dsc_3666

Andrew ArnoukI don’t like my gap

The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step

Andrew ArnoukUncategorizedLeave a Comment

Hi all,

It all starts with a second opinion or a consultation visit, and then taking the first step.

As I am getting ready to fly this week to Arizona to help  mentor another hands-on course to a group of dedicated dentists, I was thinking of  when I used to flying to different centers to improve my dental knowledge, clinical skills and decisions making processes.

It took years, hundreds of thousands of miles, extended days off of the office, and huge financial sacrifices to get to where I am now. Yet it all started with a clear vision of what I wanted, and then taking the first step. Everything that followed was just details.

Having a beautiful smile for some people, is a long and hard journey, yet it starts with a decision to have something better than what they have now, and simply taking the first step.

Here is an example of how a first step looks like in a long journey. It is a before and after case that I just started recently.

In life, what pushes you to take the next step is the rewards that you reap from taking the first step.

As Napoleon Hill said: “Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit”

From your Cosmetic Dentist in Laurel MD

Andrew Arnouk

Before and After pictures: The first picture is before, the second is immediately after, and the third is 2 months later.

DSC_2454 DSC_2475

dsc_3251

Andrew ArnoukThe journey of a thousand miles begins with one step

When you need an emergency dentist in Laurel after the normal hours

Andrew ArnoukUncategorizedLeave a Comment

Hi All,

I need an emergency dentist in Laurel MD, I can’t take the pain anymore.

Many of you have experienced this situation: All the sudden, you start having  severe pain either on a weekend, or even worse at night.

Very few dentists open on weekends, and it is completely rare to find any dentist that opens at night.

If you couldn’t find any emergency dentist in Laurel, or in your town, to see you at night, then your best shot is to go the Emergency Room in a local hospital, like Laurel Regional  Hospital

Since none of the doctors on call in the ER are dentists, then you should expect at best to get some painkiller and antibiotics, and then asked to go the next morning and see a local  dentist.

Regular check ups will save you an emergency situation, and extensive and expensive treatments later on.

Your dentist in Laurel MD

 

Andrew ArnoukWhen you need an emergency dentist in Laurel after the normal hours

Taking the first step

Andrew ArnoukUncategorizedLeave a Comment

Hi all,

As I am getting ready to fly this week to Arizona to help  mentor another hands-on course to a group of dedicated dentists, I was thinking of  when I used to fly to different centers, domestic and abroad, to improve my dental knowledge, clinical skills and decision making processes.

It took years, hundreds of thousands of miles, extended days off of the office, and huge financial sacrifices to get to where I am now. Yet it all started with a clear vision of what I wanted, and then taking the first step. Everything that followed was just details.

Having a beautiful smile for some people, is a long and hard journey, yet it starts with a decision to have something better than what they have now, and simply taking the first step.

Here is an example of how a first step looks like in a long journey. It is a before and after case that I just started recently.

In life, what pushes you to take the next step is the rewards that you reap from taking the first step.

As Napoleon Hill said: “Effort only fully releases its reward after a person refuses to quit”

From your Cosmetic Dentist in Laurel MD

Andrew Arnouk

Before and After pictures:

 

Andrew ArnoukTaking the first step