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South Weymouth dentist

A smiling angel. The Toothboss selects Maria Burke of Celtic Angels as its Smiling Neighbor.

Celtic Angels Owner Maria Burke, left, receives the Smiling Neighbor award from Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD.
Celtic Angels Owner Maria Burke, left, receives the Smiling Neighbor award from Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD.

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA…

Compassionate home care for the elderly has been the signature of Celtic Angels, Inc. since Owner Maria Burke founded the company back in 2005. In the 10 years since, the company has broadened its reach, expanding their staff and providing excellent care to their patients on the South and North shore. For those efforts, Burke has been named the recipient of The Smiling Neighbor award given by South Weymouth Dentist Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD.

“You cannot find a more noble and compassionate vocation than caring for the elderly,” said Dr. Wolfert, AKA “The Toothboss”, whose practice is located at 1121 Main Street. “All it takes is spending just a few minutes with Maria and you realize Celtic Angels is more than a business but her life’s passion. For that, she is very deserving winner of our Smiling Neighbor award.”

Burke drew her inspiration for her business from her grandfather, who worked as an orderly at a hospital in her native Ireland.

Said Burke, “I remember him regularly playing the accordion and singing for the patients and them being mesmerized by his genuine presence. But the one thing that I always think about is how truly happy he was just to see a simple smile cross their faces. I would watch him in awe and think how lucky I was to have such a role model. If every caregiver out there had his mentality or even just half of it, the care in the elder community would improve.”

For being selected as the Smiling Neighbor, Maria had the choice of receiving a $50 gift card to Stockholders or a Sonicare Easy Clean model (Burke chose the toothbrush).

Said Maria, “I’m very grateful to Dr. Wolfert for this recognition. Sharing a smile is a key part of elder care and making patients feel more comfortable and I’m grateful to have a new toothrush to make mine even brighter.

The Smiling Neighbor award is given out on a quarterly basis to citizens of Weymouth going above and beyond the call of duty for their fellow citizens. People can nominate a Smiling Neighbor by sending an e-mail of 200 words or less to toothboss1@aol.com. Please remember to include your name and telephone number as well as the name and telephone number or e-mail of the person they are nominating. Nominations can also be sent to The Toothboss, 1121 Main Street, South Weymouth, MA  02190.

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 LendingClub.

To schedule an initial consultation, please call 781-335-0604. For more information, visit www.toothboss.com.

A smiling angel. The Toothboss selects Maria Burke of Celtic Angels as its Smiling Neighbor.Read More

Toothboss honors first “smiling neighbor”

"South Weymouth Dentist, dental implant, south shore dentist, teeth whitening, Veneers, Weymouth dentist
Dr. Richard Wolfert “The Toothboss” presents the first Smiling Neighbor award winner, George Raymond, with a Sonicare tooth brush.

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA…

As a dentist for the last 20-plus years, Dr. Richard Wolfert, AKA “The Toothboss” has focused his practice on improving his patient’s smiles. With his new Smiling Neighbor program, Dr. Wolfert is recognizing people in the community who, through their own generosity and acts of kindness, have made their fellow citizens smile. The first winner of the Smiling Neighbor award is George H. Raymond of Weymouth.

“There’s nothing that gives a dentist more pride and satisfaction than seeing one of their patient’s smile. It’s one of those gifts you wish other people could experience,” said Dr. Wolfert. “George knows exactly how I feel. Through his charitable and volunteer participation in community activities and organizations within the Town of Weymouth over the years, he’s brought smiles to many people’s faces. For that, he’s a worthy recipient of our first Smiling Neighbor award.”

As the winner of the Smiling Neighbor, Raymond had the choice of receiving a $50 gift card to Stockholders or a Sonicare Easy Clean model (George chose the Sonicare).

“I’m quite honored by this recognition. It is good to know the Toothboss is watching,” said Raymond, owner of Herbert W. Raymond & Son, Realtors® in Weymouth.

The Smiling Neighbor award will be given out on a quarterly basis to citizens of Weymouth going above and beyond the call of duty for their fellow citizens. People can nominate a Smiling Neighbor by sending an e-mail of 200 words or less to toothboss1@aol.com. Please remember to include your name and telephone number as well as the name and telephone number or e-mail of the person they are nominating. Nominations can also be sent to The Toothboss, 1121 Main Street, South Weymouth, MA  02190.

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 honors first “smiling neighbor”Read More

A donation with some teeth to it. Weymouth dentist donates filing cabinets to Raisin in the Sun Foundation

Dr. Rick Wolfert, AKA “The Toothboss”

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA…

Dr. Richard Wolfert, DMD, thought switching from paper to electronic files would not only make his South Weymouth dental practice run more efficiently but be greener as well. What he didn’t realize was how his conversion could benefit fellow dentists thousands of miles away in Haiti. Yet that’s exactly what happened as he donated to his filing cabinets to the Raisin Foundation.

Wolfert, also known as “The Toothboss”, heard about the Milton, MA-based non-profit from a fellow National Guardsmen, Dr. Fidel Gabriel. The Haitian native told him of the organization’s efforts to get supplies to start a dental practice in Leogane, Haiti. Wolfert inquired as to the types of items the Foundation would accept and mentioned his filing system and the rest is history.

“The filing system itself costs approximately $2500 but the benefits of going paperless far outweighed the cost. To find an organization like the Raisin Foundation that could benefit from the donation of the filing system was icing on the cake. The fact it was going to help a dental practice was the cherry on top,” said Wolfert.

The Raisin Foundation is dedicated to collaborating with the people of Leogane, Haiti to improve the physical and mental health of the community and assist in the economic and technology development.

“As you can imagine, the equipment and technology that we enjoy and perhaps take for granted here in the U.S. aren’t available in remote places like Leogane,” said Wolfert. “I encourage dentists, doctors and other health care professionals to visit The Raisin Foundation’s website to see if they need other items. One man’s upgrade is another’s treasure.”

For more information, visit RaisinFoundation.org.

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.

A donation with some teeth to it. Weymouth dentist donates filing cabinets to Raisin in the Sun FoundationRead More

What’s missing in bottled water for kids? Plenty.

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

SOUTH WEYMOUTH, MA

Give parents a choice between soda, a juice box or a bottle of water for their children and most would probably go for the bottle water. What many people don’t realize is that opting for bottled water, though better for their children than soda or sugar-loaded fruit juice, is missing a key ingredient their children need: fluoride.

“A lot of people prefer bottle water or filtered water over tap water because of the taste. But tap water in many communities, including Weymouth, provides a source of fluoride that’s critical for growing strong, healthy teeth,” said Dr. Richard E. Wolfert, DMD, also known as “The Toothboss”, has a dental practice located at 1121 Main Street in South Weymouth.

According to the American Dental Association, children should consume fluoride through drinking water or supplements in the following amounts:

  • Birth to six months – none
  • Six months to three years – .25 mg/day
  • Three to six years – .5 mg/day
  • Six years to 16 years – 1 mg/day

“Fluoride is incorporated into developing teeth and that hardens the tooth and makes it more cavity-resistant. That’s why many dentists have younger patients take fluoride supplements, whether they live in a community where the tap water has fluoride or not,” said Wolfert.

To find out whether or not your town is a fluoridated community, the Massachusetts Dental Society has a map on their website, www.massdental.org. You can also call your town’s Water Department.

“Fluoride and fluoridation are important for the prevention of cavities. If your child is under 10 and not taking fluoride supplements, you should consult your dentist,” said Wolfert.

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.

What’s missing in bottled water for kids? Plenty.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