The dental industry is dominated by male dentists. In fact, prior to 1980, female dentists were a very small percentage of the dental workforce. Fewer than 3 percent of all dentists in 1980 were female. Even while the rate of female participation in the dental industry has increased, today women represent an estimated 19 percent of the dental workforce in the USA. Patient experience suggests that male and female dentists vary in their attitude to their clinical practice. Several studies found that female dentists have a more precautionary viewpoint. Females generally take a more conservative method to restoration and encourage more preventive tactics in the early stages of disease. A Female dentist and a male dentist do not seem …
The Lowcountry Family Dentistry office news blog will keep you abreast on new staff hires, dental technology updates, renovations, and more.
A Complete Guide to the SC State Dental Plan
The SC State Dental Plan has two options for dental coverage: Dental Plus or Basic Dental (formerly known as the State Dental Plan). When you make your election, you’ll choose either Dental Plus or Basic Dental, not both. If you choose Dental Plus, you will be automatically enroll you in both plans. Dental Plus pays more and has higher premiums and lower out of-pocket costs. Basic Dental pays less and has lower premiums and higher out-of-pocket costs. Changes to existing dental coverage can be made only during open enrollment in odd-numbered years. Basic Dental Basic Dental has lower allowed amounts, which are the maximum amounts allowed by the plan for a covered service. There is no network for Basic Dental; …
Periodontal Disease and COVID-19
From the beginning, doctors have known that COVID-19 is especially dangerous for high-risk groups, including older adults and people with underlying health conditions like heart disease and asthma. But research is still uncovering new risk factors, which now includes gum disease. The condition may affect up to half of American adults, and appears to be linked to a higher COVID-19 death rate, per a new study published earlier this month in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology. In the study, researchers followed 568 patients infected with the novel coronavirus, dividing them into two groups: those without major issues (mild symptoms) and those who faced complications like ICU admission and ventilation or, eventually, death. They found …
Dental Hygienist Needed
Lowcountry Family Dentistry in Beaufort, SC is currently seeking a Dental Hygienist passionate about providing a comfortable and positive hygiene experience. Our ideal candidate will have a positive attitude, is a team player, is a conscientious worker and always puts patients first. Practice is currently growing at approximately 30 new patients per month which could lead to a potential future increase in income. This a great private practice with long time, dependable patients and you won't find a nicer group of co-workers anywhere. Salary: $38.00-$40.00 per Hour Great Office hours: Monday - Thursday 7:00-4:00 Duties include but are not limited to the following: Provide quality and compassionate care to every …
Dental Benefits: Use Them or Lose Them
When it comes to dental benefit plans, millions of people each year are ringing in the New Year leaving money on the table. According to the National Association of Dental Plans, only 2.8% of people with PPO dental plan participants reached or exceeded their plans annual maximum. Many people also have Flexible Spending Accounts, which help pay for dental and medical care with pre-tax dollars. Whether you’re paying for dental care through a benefits plan or using an FSA, your current plans will most likely run out on December 31. Don’t let your hard-earned dental dollars go to waste. Here is a breakdown of what these benefits are, when you need to use them by and how to make the most of your benefits. Dental Benefit Plans Many people …
Covid-19: Yes, it’s Safe to Go to the Dentist
The COVID-19 pandemic has changed a lot of things about our daily lives. Your regular visits to the dentist have changed, too. In March, the ADA recommended that dentists postpone all but emergency procedures until April 30 at the earliest to help reduce the spread of the virus; save masks gloves and other personal protective equipment and help keep patients who need emergency treatment from going to busy hospital emergency rooms. Now that this date has passed and states have reopened, dental practices are seeing patients for the full range of dental services. An October 2020 report published in The Journal of the American Dental Association found that fewer than one percent of dentists nationwide were found to be COVID-19 positive …
ADA Study: Dentist one of lease likely health professions to catch Covid-19
A new survey by the American Dental Association indicates that less than 1 percent of dentists nationwide have tested positive for COVID-19. Experts say that’s because of safety policies and disinfectant practices dental offices have had for decades. Experts add that dental health is important not only for your teeth but also because dental infections can lead to other ailments, including heart disease. Even during a pandemic, it’s still safe to go to the dentist. That’s what the American Dental Association is telling the public. The organization published a study today that reports that less than 1 percent of dentists nationwide have been found to be COVID-19 positive, which is far less than that of other health …
Covid-19 – Our New Safety Equipment, Protocols & Procedures
As you are reading this, know first and foremost, we hope you and your family are doing well during these uncertain times. As our office has started to see patients again, we are often asked if it's safe to go to the dentist. Honestly, during the two and a half months we closed our office, Dr. Covington and Dr. DuRant wondered the same thing. When the pandemic first came about there were so many uncertainties about how it spread. As the Covid-19 situation has unfolded, the scientific community has narrowed how the disease does spread. Using this information and after many hours of reading CDC, OSHA and a variety of dental association recommendations, Dr. Covington and Dr. DuRant both felt it was possible to safely reopen the office if …
Temporary Open for Emergency Dental Care Only
Per recommendations from the American Dental Association as well as the CDC, we have elected to temporarily suspend appointments until April (though that date could change). We will be operating as emergency care only. If you have a scheduled appointment during this time, we will be reaching out to you. We apologize for the inconvenience and hope to get back to a regular schedule as soon as we are advised that it is safe to do so. We appreciate your understanding in our efforts to help flatten the curve. During this unprecedented time, please know that the health and safety of our patients and our staff is, as always, our #1 priority. Please revisit this page for updates. If you, as an …
Coronavirus: How we all can make a difference in Our Beaufort Community
While I am far from an expert in Infectious Disease or Public Health, I have been actively monitoring developments and attempting to synthesize information from credible sources. I hope this summary helps put many of the pieces of this puzzle together. While we have no control over governmental responses to COVID-19, each of us can play a significant role in protecting ourselves, our loved ones, our neighbors, our communities ,and yes, contribute to overall public health. I think this message is being lost in all the noise surrounding coverage of the disease. Let me stress: Each of us can contribute to the well-being of others by following simple precautions. Let me explain. Due to the tremendous successes of our Public Health …