Wednesday, November 04, 2009

5 Ways to Maximize Your Dental Insurance Benefits

From Marie Johnson, Business Manager at Eric Johnson, DDS

1. Remember that dental insurance plans don’t limit the care you can receive from your dentist; they only limit the dollar amount that is covered by insurance. Find out the maximum dollar amount and treatment you can receive under your insurance plan per year.

2. To avoid financial surprises, work with your dental office to: a.) formulate a treatment plan and b.) get an accurate estimate of benefits from your insurance company.

3. Maximize your benefits by scheduling major dental treatment at the end of one benefit period and the beginning of the next benefit period.

4. Understand that there are some incidents where dental insurance and medical insurance overlap. Check your medical coverage, because certain types of dental treatment may be covered by medical insurance.

5. Ask your dental office for detailed receipts of all treatment completed to ensure insurance claims get processed in a timely manner and get accurately paid to avoid late fees and finance charges.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Nobody Ever Told Me About That!

Nobody Ever Told Me About That!

1. You will look older faster with the following dental problems: gum disease, missing, stained or broken teeth; and ill-fitting dentures or bridges.

2. Amalgam (silver) fillings can expand and, over a period of years, cause natural teeth to crack.

3. A crown is recommended for several reasons. One reason is to reestablish the biting surfaces of the teeth. Another may be to prevent an "at risk" tooth from cracking.

4. A 200-pound man with full mouth dentures has less chewing force than his 90-year old aunt who has all her teeth.

5. Over time, teeth can become discolored from age or continuous exposure to tea, coffee, red wine, dark colas, and tobacco. These stains go deep into the surface of the tooth. In order to get teeth really white, talk to your dentist about a professional whitening that will penetrate the tooth's enamel.

6. Gum disease can lead to the spread of infection through your blood stream, resulting in a loss of energy, creating fatigue.

7. Diet sodas, cough drops, and chewing tobacco can cause tooth decay.

8. People mistakenly believe that their teeth must touch at all times. Not so. In fact, unless you are chewing, talking, or swallowing, your jaw should be in a relaxed, slack position.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Health Expo at Herbalife

Marie, Evalin, and I presented dentistry, LANAP, Invisalign, and Lumineers at a Health Expo at Herbalife in Torrance. We spoke to many people and I performed oral health screenings. Above is a short video of the event. These events are part of our dental practice's outreach to our to our neighbors to provide information on good dental health.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Cavity Detecting Laser

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A cavity detecting laser! This laser device is very sensitive and can often find tooth decay not found with dental x-rays. When tooth decay is diagnosed in the early stages, repair of the teeth is much easier and tooth structure is conserved.

Friday, October 09, 2009

The PerioLase Laser Close-up

This video is of the laser canula of the PerioLase MVP-7 Laser. The laser is used for treatment of periodontal (gum) disease. The laser is a central component of LANAP (laser assisted new attachment procedure), which is a minimal invasive surgical therapy instead of 'cut and sew' gum surgery. The LANAP procedure is FDA approved, scientifically tested, and very effective.

South Bay's Favorite Dentist 2009

Again thank you for this unexpected honor.

Monday, October 05, 2009

South Bay's Favorite Dentist

We were pleasantly surprised to be named the South Bay's
Favorite Dentist 2009 in a poll taken by the Daily Breeze.
This is quite an unexpected honor. We strive everyday to serve our patients, listen to their concerns, and treat them with compassion and fairness. We are thankful and grateful our efforts are being noticed. To all who voted in the poll, THANK YOU!

Friday, September 18, 2009

Mama Hill's Help


Last month, we set aside two days to provide dental examinations, cleanings, and dental treatment for children from Mama Hill's Help, a small independent charity in Los Angeles. Mama Hill is actually Millicent Hill, a retired schoolteacher who has shouldered the responsibility of caring and providing help for hundreds of underprivileged children. Her work is quite inspirational and if anyone would like more information about, or would like to donate to this wonderful cause, please contact my office.


Sunday, September 06, 2009

What Doctors Wish You Would Do.

From Woman's Day Magazine and Yahoo News:

Among the tips for healthy living these important dental considerations.

Respect Your Mouth:

Floss and brush daily and you'll be rewarded with more than just a bright smile. "Your oral health has a major influence on your systemic health," says Dr. Roizen. "The same bacteria that cause gum disease in your mouth can set off an immune reaction that may lead to wrinkles, heart disease and even stroke." Several studies have linked periodontal disease to an increased risk of heart disease (some speculate that gum disease may cause chronic inflammation, which can in turn cause swelling around the arteries).

As a dentist who evaluates a patient's general health everyday, I certainly can testify to the importance of oral health and a person's overall well-being.

Get Familiar with "C":

As in c-reactive protein, a marker of inflammation (checked with a blood test) that experts think may play a role in the formation of clots that block the flow of blood to the heart. Researchers in the landmark JUPITER study of more than 17,000 women 60 and older and men 50 and older found that those who had normal cholesterol levels but slightly elevated levels of c-reactive protein reduced their risk of heart attack and stroke by taking a statin--meaning that CRP levels may be worth keeping tabs on. However, keep in mind that experts are still trying to figure out CRP's exact role, and whether or not it directly causes heart disease or is a sign that it's developing. "Men and women in this age group with normal cholesterol should ask their doctors about CRP," says Dr. Goldberg.

In dentistry, particularly treating periodontal or gum disease, we are very aware of the effects C-Reactive Protein on overall health. C-reactive Protein is marker of inflammation that is very frequently seen with patients with gum disease. I have had patients C-Reactive Protein levels reverse significantly after treating their periodontal disease.

Wednesday, September 02, 2009

ObamaCare Dissected - OUCH!!!

Thank you to Keith Hennessey for this analysis of Government run, controlled, mandated, health care from our President. At best our President is disingenuous with regards to the particulars of this legislation. As a Doctor providing health care everyday, I can only see problem after problem with government run health care. Heck, they can't even deliver the mail on budget!!! Please see Mr. Hennessey's excellent analysis here. http://bit.ly/e9uOw

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Do Red Heads Feel More Pain?

People with red hair seem particularly nervous about visiting the dentist, and genetics may explain why, according to a new study.
A few studies in recent years have found that redheads tend to be less responsive to local pain-blockers like Novocain and may need larger doses to get the same pain relief as people with darker coloring.
These latest findings, published in the Journal of the American Dental Association, suggest that the genetics of red hair may be behind the link.
Red hair is the result of particular variations in what is called the melanocortin-1 receptor (MC1R) gene, which helps determine pigmentation. While it was once thought that the gene was active only in the skin, hair and eyes, more-recent research has shown that it also functions in the brain, where it may play a role in processing pain, anxiety and fear.
So for the new study, researchers led by Dr. Catherine J. Binkley, of the University of Louisville in Kentucky, looked at whether red hair and MC1R variations were related to people's aversion to seeing the dentist.
They found that among the 144 white adults they recruited, those with MC1R variations reported more anxiety about dental procedures and were twice as likely to say they avoided the dentist altogether.
Not surprisingly, nearly all of the natural redheads in the study carried at least one copy of an MC1R variation linked to red hair -- 65 of 67 participants. The same was true of roughly one-quarter of the 77 dark-haired study participants.
When the researchers took a closer look at the data, they found that the presence of these MC1R variations was more strongly linked to dental anxiety than was hair color itself.
The results, according to Binkley's team, suggest that dentists should ask all patients -- but especially redheads -- about their anxiety over any procedures they must have and then use "appropriate modalities" to help them manage the problem.
SOURCE: Journal of the American Dental Association, July 2009.

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Health Fair @ the Crowne Plaza Hotel

Marie and Patti presented dentistry, LANAP, Invisalign, and Lumineers to attendees of a Health Fair at the Crowne Plaza Hotel near LAX last Wednesday. They provided a lot of information on the benefits of modern dentistry and dentistry's relation to a healthy lifestyle.

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

More Common Sense on ObamaCare

1. President Barack Obama repeatedly tells us that one reason national health care is needed is that we can no longer afford to pay for Medicare and Medicaid. But if Medicare and Medicaid are fiscally insolvent and gradually bankrupting our society, why is a government takeover of medical care for the rest of society a good idea? What large-scale government program has not eventually spiraled out of control, let alone stayed within its projected budget? Why should anyone believe that nationalizing health care would create the first major government program to "pay for itself," let alone get smaller rather than larger over time? Continued here: http://bit.ly/pDCXw

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Conscious Sedation

From 1-800Dentist's Fred Joyal:

Dentists scare people. This isn't news. Millions of people have horrible things happening in their mouths because fear keeps them out of the dentist's chair. It doesn't have to be that way....Conscious sedation is helping fearful patients to get the treatment they need to improve their oral health. It helps you to relax and remain awake so you can still communicate with the dentist during treatment. Conscious Sedation is sometimes referred to as "sleep dentistry," even though the patient usually stays awake. Deeper levels of sedation are possible where you are actually totally unconscious during the procedure.There are different ways that sedation may be administered. Among them are nitrous oxide (laughing gas) by mask, oral sedation in pill form and IV sedation, which typically works faster and can be adjusted during the procedure.So come on, take a deep breath, put away that fear and go to the dentist. Your teeth will thank you and it might all just seem like a pleasant dream.

Eric Johnson, DDS @ Raytheon

Marie and I presented dentistry, oral cancer information, LANAP, Invisalign, and Lumineers at Raytheon in El Segundo, CA last Wednesday. No photos were taken as security prohibits photography. In fact, our Iphones were checked at reception as a precaution.

Thursday, July 02, 2009

Teeth-Friendly Foods

No one wants cavities. But it’s a fact that if you frequently eat high-sugar foods and do not take care of your teeth with proper, regular brushing, plaque will build up. The resulting acids will eat away at your tooth enamel, and you can say hello to cavities.


You get hungry and sometimes you need to snack. What’s to be done when you can’t get to a toothbrush? Starve, for fear of cavities? Of course not. Simply exercise some wisdom when choosing your snack. It may seem convenient and taste-bud tempting to reach for a candy bar, but your teeth won’t thank you.


It’s common knowledge that sugar and other sweets are bad for teeth, but did you know that certain foods can actually promote tooth health? So with the health of your teeth and gums in mind, don’t just avoid certain foods, seek out certain foods.


Consider the following foods and what they can do for your oral health:

Apples, celery, and carrots. These crunchy foods help to remove plaque from teeth when you are unable to brush. (Not a substitute, mind you, but a decent alternative until you can get to your toothbrush. Also, rinse your mouth with water.)

Fruit. Sugars that occur naturally in fruits are less harmful to teeth than regular table sugar. But keep in mind that natural sugars such as honey, molasses, corn syrup, and raw sugar still do promote cavities.


Natural foods are best. Replace processed snacks with fruits and vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
Foods that aren’t chewy, sticky, and gooey, as these cling to your teeth the longest.

Raisins. Yes, they’re sticky and sweet, but research has indicated that raisins contain phytochemicals that discourage the growth of cavity-causing bacteria, as well as hinder the bacteria from clinging to teeth.


Unsweetened cereal. Obviously, better for teeth than sweetened cereal.

Baked tortilla chips, pretzels, whole grain crackers, and popcorn. You won’t find much sugar here.


Water. Okay, it’s not a food, but it does affect your teeth. Instead of drinking sugary drinks such as soda and juice, drink water and you’ll be rinsing your teeth as well as quenching your thirst.

Finally, if you must indulge in occasional sweets, the best time to do so it along with a main meal, instead of between meals when the sugar can cling to your teeth more easily and longer. During mealtimes, saliva production is at a higher level, thus helping to reduce plaque build-up (commonly misspelled as “plague build-up”) and prevent cavities.


Remember, no food can take the place of proper brushing and dental hygiene, but it’s plain to see that certain foods are more friendly to teeth when it comes to forming plaque and cavities. Keep this in mind and you’re on your way to enjoying a happy, healthy mouth.



Thursday, June 25, 2009

Health Expo at TABC (Toyota)


Marie presented dentistry and the importance of preventive health care at TABC a manufacturing company owned by Toyota. She gave information on dentistry and our featured dental services of LANAP, Invisalign, and Lumineers. Prevention in health care is so important; it is MUCH less costly and so much easier to manage disease and health problems at an earlier stage. Our visit to TABC is part of our ongoing outreach efforts to spread the word about dentistry and good health to our community. Our next efforts will involve Cancer and Oral Cancer Awareness next month at Raytheon.

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Obesity Linked to Risk of Periodontitis

Obesity is on the rise and becoming a significant worldwide health problem. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 34% of U.S. adults older than the age of 20 were obese in 2006. Obesity is associated with serious life-threatening diseases including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes. Several recent publications show that obesity is also linked to an increased risk for periodontal disease. http://tinyurl.com/mhtmrh

Friday, June 19, 2009

Treating Gum Disease Helps Rheumatoid Arthritis Sufferers

ScienceDaily (May 29, 2009) — Here's one more reason to keep your teeth healthy. People, who suffer from gum disease and also have a severe form of rheumatoid arthritis, reduced their arthritic pain, number of swollen joints and the degree of morning stiffness when they cured their dental problems. http://tinyurl.com/kkyush

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Dental Presentation at Hitco Industries

On June 17, Marie presented dentistry including LANAP, Invisalign, and Lumineers to 370 employees at Hitco during a Health Expo. This is part of Eric Johnson, DDS' community outreach to educate and inform the public at large about the health and well-being brought about by good dental health. We will be visiting employers large and small to spread the news about the great health benefits modern dentistry offers.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Friday, June 12, 2009

Friday, June 05, 2009

Health Expo Presentation

Marie presented dentistry including the featured services our dental practice offers LANAP, Invisalign, and Lumineers, at the Cantebury yesterday. The Cantebury is a private, senior assisted-living facility in Rolling Hills Estates, CA. The presentation was for approximately one hundred employees of the Cantebury as part of a Health Expo which featured other speakers on health care issues. This Health Expo is part of our ongoing community outreach to help educate the public about the importance of dental health.

Thursday, May 28, 2009

1- DAY FREE DENTAL VENEERS EVENT

On Thursday, June 18, 2009, Dr Johnson is conducting FREE evaluations of your smile and may recommend the newest technique using Lumineers, contact lens-thin and completed in two visits. Limited to the first 18 appointments. Call to reserve your appointment, (800) 961-7740 or (310) 540-8800. Our address is 4201 Torrance Blvd, Suite 420, Torrance ,CA 90503

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

CAN A SMILE REALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

A New Spin on Capturing the Job you Want

TORRANCE, CA (May 26, 2009) - Eric Johnson, DDS believes your smile has everything to do with the success of a job interview. At his practice in Torrance, CA http://www.EricJohnsonDDS.com he regularly treats patients wanting to enhance their smile with the use of current, least-invasive treatment procedures.

On Thursday, June 18, 2009, Dr. Johnson is conducting FREE evaluations of your smile and may recommend the newest technique using LUMINEERS, contact lens – thin and completed in two visits. He will advise how to beautify your smile…especially for the job-seeking process.

According to Monster.com’s interview expert, “Linguists and psychologists have found 93% of communication is non-verbal, and a smile is a non-verbal clue that is an immediate rapport-builder.” Monster.com goes on to report, “Interviewers are often nervous, too. In 1/16 of a second we assess whether someone will harm, help or hurt us. A smile tells someone you’re not going to hurt them.”

Dr. Johnson is a highly trusted Dentist in the South Bay and enhancing a smile is a cosmetic service he provides. He is a 20-year veteran in the field of dentistry, holding current training in multiple procedures (including the latest periodontal surgery using a breakthrough technology that utilizes laser therapy that can actually regenerate new gum and bone tissue). He endeavors to utilize minimally-invasive procedures that are FDA approved.

ABOUT ERIC JOHNSON, DDS

Dr. Johnson is a graduate of the UCLA School of Dentistry and has been in the practice of dentistry since 1986. He holds multiple honors for research on head and neck physiology.

His office in Torrance, California http://www.EricJohnsonDDS.com focuses on all phases of Dentistry including: fixed and removable prosthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, orthodontics, periodontics, endodontics, and oral surgery.

He has fine-tuned his expertise in the use of lasers to treat periodontal disease, and has earned the status of “Certified Instructor” with the Institute of Advanced Laser Dentistry. Additionally, he holds a California permit to provide Conscious Sedation Dentistry.

Dr. Johnson regularly lectures at schools and professional organizations on a variety of dental topics, and he is a member of the following professional organizations:

Institute of Advanced Laser Dentistry – Certified Instructor
American & California Dental Associations
Western Dental Society
International College of Cranio-Mandibular Orthopedics

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Gum Disease Can Lead to Gestational Diabetes

We know increasingly that gum or periodontal disease has a global negative effect on our health. The evidence for this is being discovered everyday. See more evidence here: http://tinyurl.com/cslqpp

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Sunday, May 17, 2009

ObamaCare -- OUCH!

Obama and our present Administration may succeed in wrecking healthcare in America. I am grateful I am not a physician, and apprehensive about being a patient. See this article in the Wall Street Journal.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124208383695408513.html

Friday, May 08, 2009

LANAP Results on Video

Let's take a look at great results from Dr. John McAllister. LANAP is not a magic wand, but a powerful technique for controlling gum disease and preserving teeth and tissue. Please view here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dd846LBK9GQ

LANAP Co-inventor on the ABC News

Dr. Robert Gregg interviewed on ABCNEWS.com. Please see here. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQrO6ti8tfk

Sunday, May 03, 2009

Green Tea For Healthy Gums?

A study recently published in the Journal of Periodontology, uncovered yet another benefit of green tea consumption. Researchers found that routine intake of green tea may also help promote healthy teeth and gums. See the story here. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/03/090305183128.htm

Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Swine Flu and Your Dental Office

You are most likely aware that a national health emergency has been declared in the U.S. as a result of the swine flu scare. Though the U.S. has not seen many cases yet - and those that we have seen have been relatively mild - the outbreak has already killed otherwise healthy young people in Mexico.So everyone is a lot more aware of the flu right now. One of the nice things about our dental office is that the sterilization systems and techniques we use on a daily basis make it one of the safest places to work and treat patients.
We're doing our part to help protect the health of our patients. And we'd like your help!If you have any flu-like symptoms, please do not come in to our office. Rest assured that you will not be charged a missed appointment fee if you're not feeling well. Don’t get us wrong, we love seeing you and we never want to turn anyone away. However, the last thing we want is for our dental office to become a place where infection spreads. To protect our patients, we're doing everything we can to keep our team members healthy and not have sick patients in the waiting room.Here are some general tips for dealing with swine flu:
Wash your hands frequently, and avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes.
At the first sign of illness, isolate yourself to protect others. (Authorities recommend you stay at home for at least 7 days after getting sick, as you could still infect others.)
If your flu symptoms are mild, stay home, and call your doctor; do not go the doctor's office or clinic.
If your symptoms become severe, call your doctor immediately and seek medical treatment.
We hope you're feeling healthy! If you have any questions or if we may be of assistance, call at 310.540.8800 or email us at info@EricJohnsonDDS.com

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

The New Web Site is Live!

Please check out our new office website for our dental practice. Included is information regarding Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP) for gum disease, Invisalign as an alternative to braces, and information regarding Lumineers. The link is here:
http://www.ericjohnsondds.com

Saturday, April 18, 2009

New Media

New technologies and new ways of communicating are changing our world radically. We are attempting to keep up with our world by a new internet presence involving multiple web sites, blog, and yes, utilizing Facebook and Twitter. We will continue to spread the word about dental health, LANAP, and Invisalign.

Our New Website is Coming Soon!

Please see our new and improved website here. http://www.ericjohnsondds.com
We are launching into a new and improved web presence to help our now and future patients learn about the important services we offer such as LANAP, Invisalign, Lumineers, and General Dentistry.

Friday, April 10, 2009

LANAP on You Tube

Check out this patient interview and video testimonial with LANAP co-inventor Robert Gregg, DDS, and a very happy satisfied patient. See it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vj8cevZUwdY

Sunday, April 05, 2009

LANAP at the Townie Meeting

As part of the Continuing Education series at the Townie Meeting at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas, Millennium Dental Technologies presented a line-up of speakers to present information on LANAP (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure), the breakthrough minimal invasive procedure to treat periodontal disease. Speaking were Dr Charles Braga, Dr Michael Colleran, Dr Walt Goodell, Dr Delwin McCarthy, Dr John McAllister, and Dr Eric Johnson

Sunday, March 22, 2009

LANAP in the Los Angeles Business Journal

The Los Angeles Business Journal is featuring an article about Laser Periodontal Therapy (LANAP) in the June 23, 2008 edition. One of my patients and I was interviewed for the article. It can be found here.

Friday, March 13, 2009

Study Shows Bad Teeth May Increase Heart Disease in Younger Men

Here is a another study showing the correlation between good health, and a healthy mouth. To read more click here"This is the first study to find a significant association between chronic periodontitis and the risk of coronary heart disease, even after adjusting for important confounding factors," says Thomas Dietrich, MD, DMD, MPH, associate professor in the Department of Health Policy and Health Services Research at Boston University Goldman School of Dental Medicine and one of the studies authors.

Dr. Eric Johnson to Speak at the Townie Meeting 2009

Dr Eric Johnson has been invited to speak at the 2009 Townie Meeting this April in Las Vegas, NV. The site of the meeting is at Caesar's Palace. The Townie Meeting is an annual event, with a strong program of speakers presenting many programs on differing facets of dentistry. Dr Johnson will be presenting a program about implementing LANAP, (Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure) in the general dental practice. LANAP is a groundbreaking, minimal-invasive procedure for gum disease (periodontitis) that is an alternative to conventional cut and sew surgery. The program is sponsored in part by Millennium Dental Technologies, makers of the Periolase, the laser used in the LANAP procedure, and also The Institute for Advanced Laser Dentistry (IALD), the exclusive provider of training and education to dentists of the LANAP protocol. Dr. Eric Johnson is a general dentist practicing in Torrance, CA and is a Certified Instructor for the IALD.