So we at Gramercy Dental Group would like to try to help you deal with the time crunch and provide you with some reminders that might help you to make time for your health. Remember, we’re talking about your overall health here. Why? Because your oral health is directly related to the entire health of your body, mind, spirit, and finances and we want to help you take care of YOU!                               

There are things that both you and your dental health team can do to help you make time for you health.

1. What “Really” Matters –

One of the most important things we all need to do when caring for ourselves is to remind ourselves of the things that “really” matter. Of course your business matters and your family matters and even your friends matter, but without your health all of these things will suffer. Maintaining great teeth and gums is an important step in ensuring our overall health SO THAT we can be our best in our business, for our family, and with our friends. It truly is the first step.

2. Prioritizing –

In our crazy hectic lives it can be very challenging to “take control of our time,” but if we don’t do it, no one will! Set up a priority list for your upcoming autumn months and make sure a trip to your dentist is on the list. Don’t let your time and your health get abducted! Take them back.

3. Action Programs –

Results require action and effective action requires being well organized. If you feel like your living in chaos, try to get centered, slow down, and prioritize. Chaos can be a terrible energy drainer. Take control of your surroundings—get them in order and take control of your time with an organizing system that works for you. It might be the old fashioned calendar or pen and paper, or an iphone or blackberry application. Whatever works, use it and stick with it.

4. Making best use of your resources –

As the year begins to come to an end, so may your insurance benefits for 2009. Don’t let your resources go to waste! Get on it and get in while you can.

5. Personal Goal Setting –

What are your health goals? Type up a personal health to do list that addresses your diet, exercise, oral health care, vision care, and overall physical health and check it in 30 days and ask yourself, “so, how am I doing?”

There are also things that your dental team can do to help you make time for your health.

1. Flexible Office Hours –

If your dental team is only available from 9-5 Monday through Friday, that might not work for you. Find a dental team that can work with your schedule.

2. Reminder phone calls –

You may be trying your best to juggle a million things. One thing that can help insure that you make your appointment is a pleasant reminder the day before requesting your confirmation call back. As much as we try, sometimes things slip our minds. A caring dental staff can reach out to you and give you the extra helping hand you need to make the time for your health.

So, don’t let time, or the sense of a lack of time allow you to neglect your health. You are your most important resource! So take care of YOU and make time for your health!

Sincerely,

Dr. Laurie S. Litwin D.D.S.

and the Staff at  Gramercy Dental Group

* Payment Options

* Low Monthly Payment Plans

* Flexible Spending Accounts

* Insurance Coverage

Payment Options

Many dental practitioners accept a variety of payment methods.

Cash and Check

Many dental professionals provide a special financial courtesy to patients paying cash at the time of service, such as 5% accounting courtesy when fees are paid in full by cash or check on the day that treatment is presented or in advance of scheduling the appointment.

Debit and Credit

Many dental offices also accept major credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, and debit cards.

Low Monthly Payment Plans

Many dental practices also accept cosmetic and general dentistry financing plans such as Citi Health Card, CareCredit®, and Chase Health Advance.

Designed specifically for healthcare related expenses like dentistry, CareCredit® offers financing plans that feature no interest and low monthly payments. There are no annual fees, setup costs, or prepayment penalties. Plans can be spread over a variety of time periods — anywhere from 3 to 60 months. In addition, CareCredit® can be used to help cover any health care-related expense: from $1 to over $25,000.

Flexible Spending Accounts and Health Savings Accounts

Check to see whether your employer offers a medical spending account or health savings account (HSA). Medical spending accounts and HSAs allow you to cover your cosmetic and general dentistry treatment cost using pre-tax income that is set aside for medical expenses.

Insurance Coverage

Wherever you choose to receive the very best in dental care, the staff should be happy to assist you in determining whether your treatment costs will be covered by your insurance company. If the treatment is covered by insurance, they should also help you file your claim.

Whatever your financial situation, don’t let the uncertainties of managing cosmetic and general dentistry costs keep you from getting the absolute best dental care you can.

Remember:

• your oral health is directly connected to the entire health of your body

• staying physically healthy also means staying financially healthy.

So, ask the questions you need to ask regarding financing options and take good care of yourself and your bottom line.

If you have any questions that we can help answer please call us at 212-614-2662 or visit our website at www.gramercydentalgroup.com

How healthy we are in our mouths and our muscles affects our jobs, our love lives, our finances, everything.

But let’s face it. Sometimes how we look affects us as much as how we feel. That’s why this week we want to talk about the benefits of looking great with a beautiful smile.

Whether you’re focusing on your time in the gym or the whiteness of your teeth, chances are you’re thinking about both your health AND your appearance and that’s a good thing. Your appearance matters.

Your dental team can help to insure both your oral health and fabulous appearance in a number of ways and one of those ways is:

Perfecting your smile

Your dental professional takes many things into consideration when doing a full smile makeover:

• facial symmetry,
• the height of your smile,
• the relationship of your teeth to gums,
• whether you want a “Hollywood” smile or something a little more “natural,”
• how white do you want your teeth?

These are just to name a few.

Many of these changes can be accomplished with veneers or crowns, and sometimes just a simple bleaching can transform a smile from being a hidden gem to being a shimmering jewel that catches the eye of everyone in the room.

With careful attention to all the details, a great dental team can work with you to achieve the smile you want. Remember, never settle for almost great. Always insist on the best, because your health AND your appearance matter in both your personal and professional success!

Sincerely,

Dr. Laurie Litwin and
The Staff at Gramercy Dental Group

Think about it. Why do we go to the gym, make sure we get aerobic exercise, and eat healthy foods? It’s because we want our arteries to be clear, our heart to function optimally, our energy levels to be at their highest, and ok it’s true, we want to look our best too.

Eat Right, Exercise, and Smile!

Those are the exact same reasons why people practice excellent oral health care. Our mouths are the gateway to our bodies. When we allow tooth decay or gum disease to exist in our mouths we are introducing those toxins and bacteria into every part of our bodies. In fact, studies have shown a direct correlation between gum disease and heart disease (among other physical ailments).

You walk instead of flagging a cab, you make the time to go to the gym, you buy fresh produce at the Union Square Farmer’s Market, and you take care of your teeth and your gums. Why? Because it translates into good health, financial savings, a long life, and looking and feeling your best!

So, the next time you walk into your dentist’s office ask yourself, “did I eat healthy today and when was the last time I exercised?” And the next time you walk into the gym ask yourself “have I been taking good care of my teeth and gums or could I be allowing toxins into my body?” What ever the answers take action to make the best health choices you can and remember your oral health care and your physical fitness are two peas in the same pod (oh and don’t forget to eat your peas).

Gramercy Dental Group has partnered with NYSC to extend to you the following promotion. We care about you — as a whole person and know that your total health is important!

New York Sports Club SPECIAL PROMOTION FOR GRAMERCY DENTAL BLOG READERS!

New York Sports Club is currently having their biggest promotion of the year.

Remember it’s never too late to start a workout regiment and take care of your health!

Join for only $69!! This includes:

Initiation Fee

Processing Fee

REST OF THE MONTH

REST OF NEXT MONTH

2 week guest pass for a friend

2 free personal training sessions!

And your choice of either the Gold or Regional Membership for either $79 or $86 per month
(Gold provides access to 1 home gym and all other NYSC during off-peak hours)
(Regional provides access to all NYSC gyms at all times)

YOU WILL NOT BE BILLED AGAIN UNTIL 9/1/09!!

AND you’ll get $10.00 off of the month of September!

This promotion will expire 7/31/09 so if you’ve been thinking about getting in shape and living a healthier life, call Jon Klarman at NYSC (631-926-2157) and tell him Dr. Laurie Litwin sent you.

And keep in mind….
Normally Initiation and Monthly Rates at NYSC would be:
$149.00 Initiation Fee
$59.00 Processing Fee
Pro rate dues for rest of the month when you join
$79.00 per month for the Gold Membership
OR
$86.00 per month for the Regional Passport Membership

So…this is really a great financial and physical opportunity. Enjoy!
And don’t forget to floss!

Many people experience a sense of fear because they perceive a lack of control. Creating a sense of active participation in the dental procedure process can help to calm those fears significantly. Patients should always be made to feel that they can pause the procedure whenever they wish, they can raise a finger to communicate that they need a break, and most importantly your dentist should be paying very close attention to your non-verbal communication regarding your level of comfort and checking in with you frequently, even pausing if she or he feels that you may be uncomfortable in any way. This kind of care and attention should be communicated to the patient from the minute they walk in the door so that by the time they are seated, they are already experiencing a feeling of calm, of equal participation in the process, and a feeling of care.

As we recently read and saw in the news coverage of Whoopie Goldberg’s battle with gum disease, tooth loss, and bone loss, a fear of dentistry can cause serious health problems and even kill you; and yet it is easily prevented. Your mouth is connected to your entire system. It is the gateway of health to your whole body. Dentists and dental staff need to reach out and educate people on the seriousness of good dental care. More importantly dentists and dental staff must create a warm, caring, empowering, and calming environment in which patients with dental fears can finally experience state of the art dental care with a passion for creating smiles from the inside out—and that is a passion for caring about people.

If you missed Whoopie Goldberg on The View and You Tube, you can click here to watch her video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLDL8NhNxWA

Have a great week and take care of your teeth.

Sincerely,

Dr. Laurie S. Litwin and
The Staff at Gramercy Dental Group

Some people have a very real fear of going to the dentist and some patients have had bad even painful experiences in the past. We understand why that might keep someone from making an appointment.

Then, of course there are financial concerns. Maybe you have insurance, but not the best coverage or maybe you don’t have dental insurance at all. In these tough financial times it’s understandable that some people might try to put off any additional expenses.

Another very real reason that it might have been a while since you’ve made a dental appointment is just time. It’s so hard to find the time to do all the things we need and want to do. We’re all stretched pretty thin.

We believe in guilt free dentistry. Patients should not be lectured or made to feel bad if they haven’t been able to make it to the dentist in a while.

Instead we consider it the responsibility of the dental staff to help patients take great care of themselves by eliminating the things that may be standing in their way.

Your dental staff should address your fears and apprehensions, find a way to save you money and or help you find excellent financing, and get you out the door and on your way as quickly as possible.

Check back to read our next few articles that will address these three issues in more detail:

How to relieve a fear of dentistry
Dental costs and financing
Time sensitive dental care

And in the meantime know this. We believe in guilt free dentistry and in removing whatever stands between you and perfect health.

At Gramercy Dental Group we’re going to treat you like family from the minute we answer the phone.

Dr. Laurie S. Litwin and the Staff at Gramercy Dental Group would like to welcome you to your number one resource for facts and information on dental treatments and dental health.

Check back here weekly for resources, research, links to news, and articles.  We at Gramercy Dental Group are committed to empowering you to make the best dental health choices you can, because we know that healthy teeth and gums mean a healthier body and a better, longer life.

Dr. Laurie S. Litwin &
The Staff at Gramercy Dental Group