Saving on Dental Care

A great way to SAVE MONEY on trips to Feist Dental!

Health Savings Account

    Many companies are switching to High Deductible  Health Plans (HDHP).  These plans work well for small businesses and self-employed professionals.  Lower monthly premiums and the ability to utilize a Health Savings account are benefits of HDHPs.  Without copays, you pay for every medical expense until your deductible is met.  These pre-deductible expenditures (dental care) can be paid with your Health Savings account (HSA).  You would need to check if dental expenses apply towards your deductible.  Your HSA account can still be used for dental expenses that are not applied to your deductible.

   Health Savings Accounts are funded by you and your employer with pre-tax dollars.  Depending on your tax bracket, you could save around 30-40% on all your dental bills!  Also, if you switch jobs, the account is portable.  Like an IRA or 401k, HSA funds can be rolled over to future years gaining interest.  HSA funds are penalized only when used for non-medical expenditures.

For more information about Health Savings Accounts, visit here

Flexible Spending accounts (FSA) have some key differences.  You have to declare how much you would like to deduct from  your gross pay each calendar year (generally cannot change once amount declared).  Declared funds must be spent within the tax year.  Money not spent for a designated year is penalized.  Self-employed individuals are ineligible.  FSAs are generally better for more predictable expenses like childcare.

Athletic Mouthguards with Feist Dental

What type of mouthguard is best?

-As fall is approaching, many kids are geared up for sports like football and soccer.  Kids participating in these high contact sports need to wear a mouthguard.  However, all mouthguards are not created equal.  Sports medicine experts estimate that up to 80% of athletic mouthguards are ineffective or may even cause more harm than not wearing a mouth guard at all.  The lifetime cost of oral trauma is hundreds to thousands of dollars for the initial treatment.  Parents and patients do not recognize that the initial treatment is just the start of restorative treatment that will need to be redone several times during the athlete's lifetime.  An acceptable mouthguard is a small amount compared to the cost of of potential dental treatment.

Types of Mouthguards

Stock Mouthguards

These inexpensive mouthguards are found at most sporting good stores.  They do not form to the teeth or arches at all.  Any force to the area will force the guard backwards and force is not distributed evenly to the oral tissues.  This mouthguard can cause more harm than not wearing a mouthguard at all.

Boil-and bite mouthguards

A very popular option available in sporting goods stores at minimal cost.  Boil-and-bite mouthguards have an initial protective benefit.  Over time, the athlete tends to chew and distort the fit.  These guards last only a few months and lose the ability to protect the teeth and oral tissues.  These guards provide less than desirable protection.

Vacuum-formed mouthguards

These mouthguards can only be made at your dental office.  At Feist Dental, we utilize a suction device with stone cast model of the teeth to make a sure-fitting guard.  This guard provide better protection compared to the previous types.

Laminated pressure-formed mouthguards

This mouthguard is the most protective.  Fabricated at our office, they can be made in a few minutes at a minimal  expense.  The precise fit and grade of material makes this type of mouthguard the most beneficial to anyone participating in contact sports. 

Front 6 Makeover

Watch what you Drink!

Thanks to the Wisconsin Dental Association, it's no secret there is a strong link between soda consumptions and tooth decay.

"You can avoid tooth decay and other health problems that arise from drinking too many soft drinks, other carbonated beverages, sports drinks, iced and sweet teas and other sweetened liquids (like fruit juices or energy drinks). Limiting your intake, brushing and flossing twice a day and visiting your dentist regularly will reduce your risk of tooth decay improve and/or maintain your oral health."-WDA website

As with most things in life, moderation is key when consuming sweetened or carbonated beverages.
Other helpful habits:

•  Rinsing with water 
• Consuming two or more servings of dairy foods (no problem for cheeseheads!)
• Avoid sipping
• Limit intake of 100% juice to 4-6 oz
• Check ingredients label for sugar and acid content
• Restrict sugared beverages to occasional use

BEFORE

AFTER

Upper front six teeth were cleaned of dental decay and repaired with resin filling material in one visit.  This treatment brought our patient back to health and was able to conserve much of the natural tooth structure.  

Dentistry by Dr. Jake/Feist Dental

A Nu way to visit Feist Dental!

A revolutionary technology is available to patients at Feist Dental.  An all-natural therapy creating deep relaxation without narcotics or controlled substances is called NuCalm®.  Developed by neuroscientist, G. Blake Holloway over an eight-year period and validated after ten months of review by 32 leading dental practitioners, NuCalm® was made available to dental clinicians in September 2010.  NuCalm® was administered to 13,000 people before its introduction to Dental offices.  Over 89,700 dental patients across the country have experienced NuCalm® without a single reported adverse reaction!

NuCalm® uses four components that work together to bring the body to a deep state of calm.

A.  All natural chewable tablets

B.  Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES) device

C.  Neuroacoustic software (via MP3 player and headphones)

D.  Light-blocking glasses

 It is administered as soon as you sit in the chair and takes about 3 minutes. You will feel and exhibit the relaxation effects in 3-5 minutes.

The four-step process includes:

1. Chewing dietary supplements that are designed to induce relaxation by counteracting adrenaline. The proprietary formula is only available in the NuCalm® system and includes structured, nutrient-sourced building blocks that naturally interrupt the stress response.
   
2. Place micro-current stimulation patches behind each ear and turn on the CES device. Research shows this helps facilitate the relaxation response.
   
3. Noise-dampening headphones that are used with the MP3 player to deliver proprietary neuroacoustic software, layered with soothing music, to bring your brain wave pace to the pre-sleep stage (4Hz -12Hz per second).
   
4. Light-blocking eye masks to block visual stimuli and help maintain the NuCalm® relaxation state.
   

The combination of these four components provides a powerful and effective relaxation experience, especially during dental procedures. The more stressed or anxious, the more profound the NuCalm® effect will be.

 

NuCalm® at Feist Dental

Stanley Cup Champions!

Since the Chicago Blackhawks started using NuCalm in 2013 for muscle recovery, healing, improved sleep quality, stress management, and focus, they have accomplished the following:

• Won the Stanley Cup in 2015
• Won the Stanley Cup in 2013
• Won the President’s Trophy in 2013 (best regular season record)
• Only NHL team to make it to the Western Conference Finals for 3 consecutive years
• Won the Stanley Cup 2 out of the last 3 years… only missing last year by a Game 7 OT goal vs. the LA Kings
• Played the most playoff games of any NHL team over the past 3 years (65 playoff games)
• This season, the Blackhawks were 33-0-0 when entering the 3rd period with the lead
• The Blackhawks are 19-4 in playoff series games 5 through 7, illustrating their resilience and improvement as each series progresses
• 4 overtime victories – most in this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs
• The Blackhawks took 43 hits per game in this year’s playoffs, more than any team

“Duncan Keith is playing ridiculous minutes and doing it all at both ends of the ice with a seemingly endless energy supply.” 

– Pierre LeBrun, ESPN

Led by Captain Jonathan Toews, a NuCalm power user, they have 24 NuCalm systems – one for every player and they use them every day!

“You can just tell that these guys are just more relaxed and they tell me that. We want our players to play ‘intense’ not ‘tense’ and NuCalm is a way for them to just relax and deal with frustrations. NuCalm is very beneficial because it clears your head and allows you to start from scratch. The crucial part of this game is recovery. That’s why I think NuCalm plays an important role for us, especially during the playoffs.”

— Mike Gapski,
Head Trainer of the Chicago Blackhawks

We now have 15 professional U.S. sports teams, professional golfers, tennis players, boxers, and MMA fighters using NuCalm. Here’s a link to the NuCalm Performance Overview for your review.

Congratulations Blackhawks on the Win!

NuCalm… The Neuroscience of Performance

CEREC single visit Crowns......a Molar makeover!

The blend of technology and artistry allow Dentists to restore not only the health but the natural beauty of teeth.  At Feist Dental, we utilize CEREC imaging & CAD/ CAM technology to restore teeth in one convenient visit.  Traditional crown appointments typically entail two visits with a temporary crown in place for two weeks.

Large failing amalgam filling BEFORE restoration

Digital Imaging (no messy impression) & computer design of new restoration

Initial Glass Ceramic milled restoration before final firing 

Replicating natural anatomy

Shade and Stain application

A Dentist's Canvas

Firing the Glass Ceramic to it's stronger and more esthetic state

Traumatic Dental Injury

This little guy made a visit to our office after a traumatic accident with the sidewalk.  He was a great sport.  He just wanted to make sure the girls would still chase him on the playground!

BEFORE

AFTER

Dentistry by Dr. Jake/Feist Dental

Trauma to primary teeth is most likely to occur between the ages of 2 & 3 while motor coordination is developing.  Injuries to permanent teeth most commonly occur due to falls, traffic accidents, violence, and sports.  Any and all sporting activities have risk of orofacial injury.  The use of mouth-guards and other protective gear help distribute forces of impact, limiting the risk of severe injury.

Optimal treatment outcomes result from immediate assessment and care from your local Dentist.

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