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South Weymouth dentist celebrates National Tooth Fairy Day with ice cream?

: Dr. Richard Wolfert, AKA “The Toothboss” (far left) poses with Friendly’s Chris Lund, Kelsy Bannon and Owner Bobby Arruda. Dr. Wolfert and Friendly’s locations in Weymouth are celebrating National Tooth Fairy Day the week of March 4.

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA…

For most children and their parents, the celebration for losing a tooth involves a visit from the Tooth Fairy and some monetary reward. Left out of the equation is the person who cares for your children’s teeth: your dentist. That’s why South Weymouth Dentist Richard Wolfert, DMD, decided to join the celebration of National Tooth Fairy Day, February 28, with local Friendly’s restaurants in Weymouth.

Dr. Wolfert, who goes by the nickname of The Toothboss at his 1121 Main Street practice, donated 200 toothbrushes to the two Friendly’s Restaurants in Weymouth. The toothbrushes were given out to customers under the age of 12 who visit Friendly’s at 1021 Main Street and 415 Washington Street in Weymouth the week of March 4.

“It may seem kind of an unusual alliance, but an occasional sweet like ice cream isn’t the end of the world as long as you are consistently taking care of your teeth,” said Wolfert. “That means brushing, flossing and regular checkups at the dentist.”

In addition to toothbrushes, the gift bags given out included a coupon for a free checkup with Dr. Wolfert. That exam includes X-rays and a cleaning and can be used by any member of the family, not just the kids.

“On behalf of our younger customers, we’d like to thank Dr. Wolfert for his generous donation of the toothbrushes and free exam. It’s a great reminder for kids and their families to brush their teeth and get regular checkups at the dentist,” said Bobby Arruda, owner of both Friendly’s locations in Weymouth.

As part of his Tooth Fairy Day, Dr. Wolfert is also handing out Friendly’s coupons to younger patients with one stipulation: you must brush after every meal.

“You are never too young to start taking proper care of your teeth,” said Wolfert. “With all the studies linking dental hygiene or lack thereof to serious conditions, it’s critical for everybody to take better care of their teeth.”

Dr. Wolfert’s practice is located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth, Massachusetts, and accepts most insurance plans. The Toothboss also accepts payment from most insurance companies, 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 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 dentist celebrates National Tooth Fairy Day with ice cream?Read More

Dental Insurance 101. What you don’t know could you hurt you and your wallet

Richard E. Wolfert, DMD
“The Toothboss”, Dr. Richard E. Wolfert, DMD

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA

Dental insurance is a fabulous benefit that makes it easier for people to get regular checkups and cleanings and, in a lot of cases, avoid major problems. What can sour people a little on their dental insurance is when it comes time for major work and the reality of what is covered and, more importantly, what is not, hits home.

“The average dental benefit offers about $1,500 worth of coverage. While that can cover your cleanings and a routine filling, what can be tricky is that not all treatments are covered 100% under that $1,500 benefit”, said Dr. Richard E. Wolfert, a dentist whose practice is located at 1121 in South Weymouth. “A good example of that are composite fillings versus amalgam fillings.”

Continues Wolfert, “Many patients prefer composite fillings, which are white, to the more traditional amalgam fillings, which have that silver, metallic look. Composite fillings are a little more expensive than amalgam fillings. Consequently, some dental plans make you pay more out of pocket for composite fillings than for the conventional silver fillings.”

To avoid surprises at bill time, many dentists, like Dr. Wolfert, offer what is called a pre-treatment estimate of services for work that goes beyond the standard treatments. This involves communicating with the patient’s insurance provider in advance to get an estimate of out of pocket expense prior to treatment. Typically, a pre-treatment estimate will take a few days up to a few weeks depending on the dental insurance provider, which can sometimes delay treatment.

Communicating with their insurance company is not something patients typically do—until bill time. That’s why Wolfert recommends patients have their dentist review their benefits prior to an appointment if they are unsure of their coverage.

Said Wolfert, “Our front desk staffers have a general understanding of insurance benefits, but each company is different. Most times it is necessary to review your insurance benefit by using our special software to decipher exactly what your benefits cover.”

Wolfert also recommends taking care of any dental work prior to the holidays and the end of the calendar year. Adds Wolfert, “It’s now November and if you need dental work and you haven’t used up your benefit, you should schedule that works as soon possible. The best idea is to maximize your benefit this year (2012) so that you preserve your next year’s benefit (2013) for treatments you may require then.”

“Most companies prefer you don’t use that philosophy, because if you don’t use your benefit, you lose it. It is not generally tacked on to the following years benefit. Although there are some companies now that do allow you to roll a percentage of the benefit over into the following year, most do not.” In other word “USE it or LOSE it!”

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 insurance companies, 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 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.

Dental Insurance 101. What you don’t know could you hurt you and your walletRead More

Brushing up on your holiday eating. How to brush to keep holiday sweets from leading to a trip to the dentist

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

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA

When it comes to holiday sweets, most people worry about what it will do to their waist line. Not much thought is given about what an increase in sweets can do to their teeth. While you might assume a few extra trips to the gym after the holidays will take care of the sweets, the potential damage to your teeth from an increase in sweets can be more troublesome.

“If you are continually eating sweets all day long because candy or other sugary treats are available, it raises the acid levels in your mouth to a higher than normal level and that can lead to an increase in demineralization of the enamel and cavity formation,” said Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD. “Also, the sticky nature of most candy provides the bacteria with more opportunity to create the acid that causes all the problems. And, it goes without saying that sticky candies and sweets are not the best thing to be eating if you have crowns, bridges or other prosthetic appliances in your mouth that can be ‘pulled’ out.”

Does that mean you shouldn’t have any sweets during the holidays? According to Dr. Wolfert, sweets in moderation are fine. The real issue stems back to people’s brushing habits in general.

“The simple fact is most people do not know how to properly brush their teeth, both from a technique standpoint, length of time and frequency,” said Dr. Wolfert.  

After selecting a good toothbrush and toothpaste (Dr. Wolfert recommends a soft brush and any toothpaste with fluoride), a good brushing should take at least two minutes and as many four. While there are many different techniques for brushing, here is one of the more popular ways:

  • Hold the brush on two to three teeth with a 45 degree angle on the teeth and under the gum. Gently press against the gum so the tips of the bristles go in between the gum and the teeth.
  • Apply lateral pressure, making the motion of little circles with the final stroke away from under the gums in order to sweep the plaque away from the teeth and the gum.
  • Repeat this motion six to 10 times and move on to the next area of two to three teeth. If your mouth is full of foam, rinse out with water and continue brushing. Your brushing is completed when you have brushed all the surfaces of your teeth; the front, backs and tops of all teeth.

“As far as frequency of brushing is concerned, ideally you want to brush your teeth after each meal. This isn’t always easy to do if you’re out at a party or gathering during the holidays,” said Dr. Wolfert. “If you can’t brush right after you eat, you should, at the very least, brush thoroughly twice a day, after breakfast and before going to bed.

The holidays are not a good time to get a toothache, with many dentists spending time with THEIR families. Often times you will have to be treated by a covering dentist who doesn’t know your dental issues as well as your primary dentist. Therefore, adds Dr. Wolfert, “A checkup prior to the holidays is a very good idea. That way if there are any existing problems, you can address them before you start eating those rich desserts and sweets at the holidays that can aggravate an existing condition.”

Dr. Wolfert’s practice, Smiles by the Toothboss, is located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth, Massachusetts. For more information on correct brushing and flossing technique, 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.

Brushing up on your holiday eating. How to brush to keep holiday sweets from leading to a trip to the dentistRead More

I want to be sedated…’Tooth Boss” Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD, offers sedation dentistry.

The Toothboss
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.

I want to be sedated…’Tooth Boss” Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD, offers sedation dentistry.Read More