- Dr. Richard Wolfert AKA “The Toothboss”
SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA
His name is Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD, and the name of his practice is “Smiles by the Toothboss”. More than 20 years of serving patients on the South Shore earned Wolfert that moniker. He even plays another boss’s song on his website. Yet with the popularity of the Toothboss’s newest offering, sedation dentistry, Bruce Springsteen’s “Born to Run” might soon be replaced on the website with The Ramones’ “I Wanna Be Sedated”.
While dentists have used sedatives like nitric oxide or “laughing gas” for decades, current sedation dentistry involves giving the patient an oral sedative or pill either the night before their appointment or just before the appointment. The new oral sedatives leave anxious patients or patients with a severe fear of the dentists feeling relaxed and calm—and conscious—throughout the appointment.
“Sedation dentistry is a godsend for many patients who have an extreme fear of going to the dentist. For starters, knowing they have this option makes them more likely to visit the dentist on a regular basis, which can only benefit the long-term health of their teeth,” said Wolfert. “From a dentist’s perspective, a relaxed patient enables us to complete all the work we need to do without having to cut the visit short because the patient won’t or can’t keep their mouth open or are simply too afraid to continue.”
Patients who are candidates for sedation dentistry include those who:
- Have high levels of fear
- Have had traumatic dental experiences
- Have difficulty with Novocain
- Have a bad gag reflex
- Have sensitive teeth
- Have a fear of needles and shots.
- Have an intense aversion to the noises, smells and tastes associated with dental care
- Are too afraid or embarrassed about their teeth to go visit a dentist
Patients who wish to pursue sedation dentistry must schedule a separate consult with the dentist prior to their appointment to determine the appropriate medication. While some practitioners may consider that consultation a separate charge, Wolfert does not charge for the pre-appointment consult for selfish reasons.
“Working on a patient who’s afraid of you can be frightening for the doctor as well,” said Wolfert, an active member of the National Guard since 1981. “I was deployed to Iraq in 2004 and I’d have to say I’ve probably been more frightened treating a scared patient who might bite me than treating patients in a war zone. Sedation dentistry calms all involved down.”
For more information on sedation dentistry, you can find an informational video on Dr. Wolfert’s website at www.toothboss.com.
Conveniently located at 1121 Main Street (Route 18) in South Weymouth, Smiles by the Tooth Boss has been serving patients on the South Shore since 1988. In addition to Dr. Richard Wolfert’s 20-plus years as a dentist, many of his staff have been with the Tooth Boss for most of his 23 years in practice.
About Smiles by the Toothboss
Smiles by the Toothboss offers: comprehensive examinations (written treatment and treatment plan provided); cosmetics; crowns, bridges and tooth-colored restorations; partial and full dentures; periodontics (early cases treated); oral surgery; restoration of conventional and small diameter implants; and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available).
Smiles by the Toothboss accepts most insurance plans. They also accept payment from most PPO and indemnity plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental. They also accept all major credit cards and have arranged payment plans through CareCredit.
To schedule an initial consultation, please call 781-335-0604. For more information, visit www.toothboss.com.
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