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Toothboss shares a smile, donates toothbrushes to DOVE drive

Dr. Richard Wolfert “The Toothboss” donates 144 toothbrush kits to Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C.’s drive to benefit DOVE, a non-profit that supports victims of domestic violence. (l-r) Dr. Wolfert, Jonathan Braverman, Lisa Kenepp and Theresa Barbadoro of Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C.
Dr. Richard Wolfert “The Toothboss” donates 144 toothbrush kits to Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C.’s drive to benefit DOVE, a non-profit that supports victims of domestic violence. (l-r) Dr. Wolfert, Jonathan Braverman, Lisa Kenepp and Theresa Barbadoro of Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C.

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA and QUINCY, MA …

Earlier this year, South Weymouth Dentist Dr. Richard Wolfert, AKA “The Toothboss” kicked off a Smiling Neighbor program to recognize people in the community who, through their own generosity and acts of kindness, have made their fellow citizens smile. With his recent donation of toothbrushes to a drive for victims of domestic abuse, he may have to nominate himself for this quarter’s award.

Dr. Wolfert donated 144 toothbrush/toothpaste kits to a drive to benefit DOVE, a domestic violence assistance organization based in Quincy, Massachusetts. The drive for personal and household items is being undertaken by Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C., at their offices on the fifth floor at 300 Crown Colony Drive and building’s lobby.

“Many women stay in bad situations for fear of not having anywhere else to go. DOVE provides options for those women but to do so requires assistance so these families have the basic day-to-day items we often take for granted,” said Wolfert. “Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro are to be commended for conducting this drive. I encourage everybody to help out this very worthy cause by contributing simple household items.”

The drive began on April 14 and will continue through May 30. Baker, Braverman & Barbadoro, P.C. will be accepting donations of the following items:

  • Personal hygiene – toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, deodorant, nail clippers
  • Bed and bath – shampoo, conditioner, bath towels, washcloths, pillows
  • Kitchen – paper towels, Kleenex, disposable utensils/plates, silverware, pots/pans
  • Cleaning Supplies – floor cleaner, disinfecting wipes, mops, brooms, Windex
  • Feminine hygiene products – sanitary napkins, shaving cream
  • The general public and fellow tenants of 300 Crown Colony Drive are encouraged to contribute.

The Firm will be collecting these items in containers situated in both their offices at 300 Crown Colony Drive in Quincy and in the Firm’s offices on the fifth floor. The general public and tenants of 300 Crown Colony Drive are encouraged to contribute.

“We would like to thank Dr. Wolfert for his generous donation of the toothbrushes,” said Paul N. Barbadoro, a partner at The Firm. “This is the second drive we have conducted for DOVE. The response was to our drive for coats and canned goods last November was tremendous. We hope that with the good weather now here, more people, like Dr. Wolfert just did, will come out and help this very worthy cause.”

Dr. Wolfert’s practice is located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. 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).

For more information on The Toothboss, visit Dr. Wolfert’s website at www.toothboss.com or call 781-335-0604 to schedule a consultation.

About The Toothboss

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).

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.

Toothboss shares a smile, donates toothbrushes to DOVE driveRead More

Sugar-free doesn’t exactly mean cavity-free

Dr. Richard Wolfert, AKA “The Toothboss”

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA…

For those who drink diet soda and other diet drinks, one of your primary arguments for doing so is reducing your sugar intake. While there’s been some documentation that some of the chemicals in diet sodas can play a role in weight gain, there’s mounting evidence that diet drinks with artificial sweeteners can play a role in tooth decay.

“The common perception is that if there’s no sugar in a drink then it’s better for your teeth. In theory, that’s true. A regular soda with sugar is worse for your teeth than a diet soda, but that doesn’t tell the entire story,” said Dr. Richard E. Wolfert, DMD, a South Weymouth dentist known as The Toothboss with a practice located at 1121 Main Street. “The bacteria will not use artificial sweetener to form acid the way they do with regular sugars. But that doesn’t mean a diet soda can’t harm your teeth. The diet drinks are acidic on their own without the aid of the bacteria to help form the acid. Both can demineralize a tooth, causing erosion and cavities. So, although a soda with sugar may be slightly worse at causing cavities and erosion, diet drinks are not without consequences.”

So what should diet-conscious consumers drink if sugar and sugar sweeteners are both bad? Wolfert recommends good old fashioned water from the tap doesn’t cause any erosion of your teeth over any amount of exposure. It also has no calories. And, depending on your community, even offers fluoride.

Adds Wolfert. “Of course, it’s probably not realistic to think that people can drink only water and never have a soft drink. Moderation, as it is with everything, is the key. And if you want to have a diet soda, be sure to brush or at least rinse your mouth out with water shortly after to lessen the exposure to those acids found in diet drinks.”

Beyond drinking water and careful brushing, Wolfert also recommends selecting drinks that utilize sweeteners made from natural ingredients, like Stevia.

“I’m also encouraged about products that utilize sugar alcohols that can actually protect against dental cavities, like Xylitol,” said Wolfert. “Xylitol is a natural sweetener sourced from strawberries and other fruits. It’s not in drinks yet, but you can find Xylitol in chewing gums, syrups, candies and tooth pastes. Bacteria in your mouth are not able to breakdown Xylitol when you chew gum or eat candy containing the ingredients. Therefore, no bacterial acids are produced.  In the absence of bacterial acids, the process of cavity formation is nullified before it even begins. This makes Xylitol that rare thing – a sweetener that’s actually good for your teeth.”

Dr. Wolfert’s practice is located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth, Massachusetts, and accepts most insurance plans. They also accept payment from most PPO and indemnity plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental.

For more information on The Toothboss, visit Dr. Wolfert’s website at www.toothboss.com or call 781-335-0604 to schedule a consultation.

About The Toothboss

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).

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.

Sugar-free doesn’t exactly mean cavity-freeRead More

Is a sports drink worse than a soda? Ask a dentist.

Dr. Richard Wolfert, AKA The Toothboss

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA

There’s the perception that sports drinks are good, soda is bad. Sports drinks hydrate, soda dehydrates you and, worse, is loaded with sugar. While you probably won’t find any dental health professional recommending a soda any time soon, it might surprise you to know what dentists view as the lesser of two evils—at least when it comes to the well-being of your teeth.

“Most sports and energy drinks are loaded with sugar. In the short-term, they can re-energize you and rehydrate you somewhat. But if you drink several a day you are putting your teeth at serious risk,” said Dr. Richard Wolfert, AKA The Toothboss, who owns and operates a dental practice at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth. “”Many sports drinks contain tons of sugar which combines with the bacteria in plaque that has adhered to the tooth surface. These acids erodes the enamel surface leading to cavities.”

These acids can soften tooth substance and promote formation of plaque, which erodes the enamel. Enamel breakdown leads to cavities.”

So is soda better for you than a sports or energy drink? According to a study contracted by the Academy of General Dentistry it is.

The AGD study considered what continuous exposure to a variety of “soft” drinks would do to your teeth, specifically the enamel portion of the tooth, over a 14-day period. Continuous exposure was considered several servings over the course of a 12-hour period.

The results revealed the erosion of a tooth’s enamel in milligrams:

  • Snapple Classic Lemonade – 30mg
  • Red Bull – 22mg
  • Gatorade (lemon-lime) – 20mg
  • Propel Fitness Water – 14mg
  • Arizona Iced Tea – 9 mg
  • Coca Cola – 3mg

So, technically, soda is better for your teeth than the sports drinks that promise to restore your electrolytes and other health benefits. But does that mean dentists endorse soda over sports drinks? Hardly.

“The lesser of two evils is still an evil,” said Wolfert. “What that study doesn’t reveal is that good old fashioned water from the tap doesn’t cause any erosion of your teeth over any amount of exposure. It also has no calories. And, depending on your community, even offers fluoride.”

Adds Wolfert. “Of course, it’s probably not realistic to think that people can drink only water and never have a soft drink. Moderation, as it is with everything, is the key. And if you want to have a sports drink or soda, be sure to brush or at least rinse your mouth out with water shortly after to lessen the exposure to those sugars can do.”

Dr. Wolfert’s practice is located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth, Massachusetts, and accepts most insurance plans. They also accept payment from most PPO and indemnity plans, including Blue Cross/Blue Shield and Delta Dental.

For more information on The Toothboss, visit Dr. Wolfert’s website at www.toothboss.com or call 781-335-0604 to schedule a consultation.

About The Toothboss

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).

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.

Is a sports drink worse than a soda? Ask a dentist.Read More

South Weymouth dental practice honored for donating dental services to elderly and vulnerable patients.

The Toothboss, Dr. Richard Wolfert, with David Masci

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA

As a dentist, Richard Wolfert, DMD, thought he had seen enough plaque. That was until he received a plaque of a different kind—an award–from Donated Dental Services (DDS).

DDS is a national non-profit organization comprised of nearly 20,000 dental professionals who donate dental services for people with disabilities or who are elderly or medically at-risk. The South Weymouth dentist is one of those providers.

“We’ve been involved with DDS over the past few years. The patients we’ve treated have needed everything from a full set of dentures to major dental work like root canals and crowns,” said Wolfert. “I believe that my treatment makes these patients healthier, makes them feel better about themselves, and makes me feel great to be able to provide these services to such a deserving people.”

One of the patients Dr. Wolfert has recently treated is David Masci of Lexington, Mass. Masci is awaiting transplants for both his pancreas and kidney and undergoes dialysis treatments three times a week, three to four hours per visit. So while some might consider sitting in a dentist’s chair for several hours for major dental work to be a nightmare, for Masci it’s a blessing.

“It’s a pleasure to be able to smile again,” said Masci.

DDS provides an invaluable resource to so many who need dental care. In fact, since 1985, when DDS launched, 109,843 vulnerable people have received more than $215 million worth of dental services for seriously neglected dental diseases. Dr. Wolfert is the sole provider of DDS services on the South Shore.

“The patients we treat have some serious problems but they usually leave here smiling and making me smile,” said Wolfert.

If you or somebody you know is a vulnerable person in need of dental care, please visit DDS’s Dental Lifeline at http://www.dentallifeline.org or by calling 888.471.6334.

Dr. Wolfert’s practice, Smiles by the Toothboss, is located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. He offers a offers a wide range of dental services, including comprehensive examinations, sedation dentistry, cosmetics, tooth-colored restorations, partial and full dentures; dental implants, periodontics (early cases treated) and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available). For more information, you can visit Dr. Wolfert’s website at www.toothboss.com or call 781-335-0604 to schedule a consultation.

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.

South Weymouth dental practice honored for donating dental services to elderly and vulnerable patients.Read More

Smiles by the Toothboss dental practice gets a cleaning…South Weymouth dental practice switches to paperless records, renovates office space.

Dr. Richard Wolfert
Dr. Richard Wolfert, "The Toothboss"

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA

Some people just don’t like to go to the dentist’s office. While that’s a fact professionals like Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD, accept, he’s doing everything in his power to make the visit to the dentist a more comfortable experience by undergoing a number of cosmetic and operational improvements to his Smiles by the Toothboss dental practice located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth.

The renovations began with a conversion to digital radiography so that all X-rays and records are now stored electronically. This makes treatments easier to diagnose and record-keeping more efficient. Also, removing large filing cabinets from the work area enabled the construction of a more spacious, ergonomically sound space for Wolfert’s staff, which has grown in numbers over the years.

“The apprehensions people have about coming to the dentist are based on their own fears, but how an office appears and how work flows can affect how patients perceive the experience and exacerbate those feelings,” said Wolfert. “These improvements have made us more efficient and ergonomically sound as we now have reception desk that can comfortably seat two staff members who aren’t reaching over each other while serving patients and that puts everyone at ease.”

Adds Wolfert, “Being paperless is another huge benefit. Beyond the storage issues, just not having a paper record makes for a much more hygienic environment, as well as being more private.”

Wolfert anticipates the renovations being completed over the next month. Though he realizes improved appearance and efficiency may not help all patients get over their apprehension about visiting the dentist, Smiles by the Toothboss does offer one service that can help: sedation dentistry.

“We do offer sedation dentistry for patients who do have a fear of going to the dentist,” said Wolfert. “It’s not like the old days where dentists used nitric oxide or ‘laughing gas’. The new oral sedatives leave patients or patients who have a severe fear of the dentists feeling relaxed and calm—and conscious—throughout the appointment.”

In addition to sedation dentistry, Dr. Wolfert offers a wide range of dental services, including comprehensive examinations, cosmetics, tooth-colored restorations, partial and full dentures; dental implants, periodontics (early cases treated) and emergency services (24-hour emergency phone number available).

Dr. Wolfert’s practice, Smiles by the Toothboss, is located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. For more information, you can visit Dr. Wolfert’s website at www.toothboss.com or call 781-335-0604 to schedule a consultation.

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.

Smiles by the Toothboss dental practice gets a cleaning…South Weymouth dental practice switches to paperless records, renovates office space.Read More