Prehn Dental Office , Dentist - Blog

Unlike medical insurance, dental insurance usually has a maximum amount they pay out toward your dental health each year.  If it is not used, it expires and starts over at the calendar year of your insurance plan.  Many times, crowns, periodontal therapy, and other treatments are necessary.  If you put them off until the following year, you basically lost the benefit that you and or your employer have paid for.  We encourage you to maximize your insurance benefits as much as possible for the sake of our dental health! 

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At Prehn Dental, we will discuss with you the different types of toothpaste.  Some whitening and tarter control toothpastes can be very abrasive on the teeth and cause a lot of sensitivity but some patients experience no side effects, at all.  The bottom-line is that all toothpastes have been approved by The American Dental Association and have gone through rigorous testing to prevent injury to your teeth.  We will discuss this, in more detail with you, at your cleaning appointment as to the type of toothpaste that is best for you.  Feel free to ask any questions you may have. 

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When you come into Prehn Dental Office, we are always asking if there have been any changes in your dental insurance, phone numbers, addresses, e-mail address, etc…  It is very important that I am able to get in touch with you for emergency reasons. Having your current information is an important part of your dental record.  Your dental insurance is important because we strive to help you receive the best benefit from your insurance company.  For this to occur, it is paramount that we have the most up-to-date dental insurance information.  Please keep us informed of any changes that we need to be aware of. 

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Your Dentist takes your blood pressure, for many reasons, during your cleaning and dental surgery appointments.  Many patients do not see their Physician on a regular basis but they do see their Dentist.  We are sometimes the leader in detecting high blood pressure in patients.  High blood pressure can also affect our treatment and our decisions on how we treat you.  Keeping your blood pressure under control is a very important aspect of your health care.  At Prehn Dental, we take pride in making that a part of our total evaluation for you as a patient. 

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Dr Prehn is one of the few general Dentists in the area that has hospital privileges at Aspirus/Wausau Hospital.  He does this because he thinks dentistry is very important and hospital dentistry is needed for certain complex patients or patients who are unable to have dental procedures performed in a dental office setting.  If general anesthetic is necessary for cooperation and or comfort, Aspirus/Wausau Hospital is a good alternative. 

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In Central Wisconsin, many people are on well water that do not live in the city limits.  City water is fluoridated to the proper parts per million to help children in forming strong teeth.  On the other hand, well water can be anywhere from 0 parts per million fluoride to excessive parts per million fluoride.  Make sure you have your well water tested on a regular basis to insure the amount of fluoride in your well is adequate (and not excessive) for you and your children’s dental health.  

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Our office phone number (715-842-1270) is answered 24/7 by our answering service.  They can get in touch with Dr. Prehn for all after hour dental emergencies or you can leave a message with them if you need to schedule or change an appointment and the next day our office will contact you.  This is a service we have had for over 40 years and will continue it for as long as patients appreciate it. 

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Dr. Prehn and his staff strive to know each patient on a personal level.  I think it is important that I get to know you as a patient; as well as your medical history, family history and your desires in order to be the best Dentist possible for you.  I work hard to maintain relationships, as our family has for over 90 years, in the Wausau and surrounding area.  I consider all my patients part of my extended family.  In many cases, I am now seeing the fourth generation of some of my patients that my grandfather saw—dating back to 1923! 

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It is that time of year that you should use your flex dollars and remaining dental insurance benefits.  Dental insurance benefits run out and typically start over at the next calendar year; frequently the end of December. (In other words, you lose it if you do not use it.)  Do not have your employer or you pay the premiums and not use the benefits that you have worked hard for.  Get in before the end of the year.  We will do our best to accommodate your schedule.  

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I just cemented two implants today on a patient and I reflect back on the many successes we have had over the past 24 years.  I performed the first implant in Wausau, with Dr. John Stilp as my Oral Surgeon partner and I just saw this patient yesterday.  It was so experimental back then but now it is state-of-the-art with most dentists performing implants on a regular basis.  What a wonderful choice you have today for replacing missing teeth!  From implants, to bridges, to partials, to dentures to denture supported implants…the list goes on but by far the most satisfying for the patient and me is to do cemented crowns or bridges many times on top of implants.  Ask today if you have any questions about implants.

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Prehn Dental would like to wish everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving.  Our office will be closed Wednesday, November 23,  November 24, and Friday November 25.  If you are a patient of record and have an emergency please call the office and they will reach Dr. Prehn.  We will re-open on Monday, November 28th.  

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As some of our Prehn Dental patients already are aware that you can view your account information and appointments online through T-Link.  The company Televox is the one who allows this.  In order to get started all you need to do is give us your e-mail address and Televox will send you a notice to inform you that you will be activated as soon as you confirm all your information.  They will then in return give you a password to access your information.  At that point you will be able to change your password to what ever you would like.  We also send out e-mail confirmations through Televox. 

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Is winter giving you the blues?  Then come into Prehn Dental for a relaxing spa-like cleaning.  You can start out by cozying up by the fireplace with a fresh cup of coffee, tea, or hot chocolate.  Then once you are in the dental chair you can have a massage while you watch your favorite tv show. 

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At Prehn Dental we have life changing dentistry and cutting technology to enhance your smile or lifestyle. 

Investing in yourself is the best step you can take to achieve:


Gorgeous confident smile

Inner Confidence

Brighter Outlook

The career you always wanted

Better performance and achievements


                                                     

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tips for new parents about preventing cavities

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At Prehn Dental our smile team works very hard to safeguard our patients and staff against infections.  When you visit our office we take great pride in our clean and inviting office.  Your protection happens even before you enter the treatment room.  Here are a few things you don't see:  Every surface and object is cleaned and disinfected with an OSHA approved cleaner.  Any potentially infectious item is disposed of and all instruments are sterilized following OSHA and CDC recommendations.  When working with patients our team of professionals always wears gloves, eye protection and the proper clothing.  A new pair of gloves is used with each new patient with constant hand washing.  Our clothing"scrubs" are washed  here in the office following proper CDC standards.  We strive to make sure our patients are protected, comfortable and that their care is outstanding.  So check us out!

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A complication of third molar (wisdom teeth) removal is a possible dry socket.  I had a series of these over the last few weeks.  We still do not know why this occurs but we know the mechanisms that cause the pain.  Basically, the blood clot that forms in the socket (after surgery) disintegrates and reforms.  During the time the blood clot disintegrates and a new clot forms, the bare mandible or bone is exposed causing some pretty intense pain.  It is NOT an infection--it is just the body’s way of reforming the clot and starting the healing process all over.  Most of the time we just pack a dressing into the socket, that tastes a lot like cloves, for a few days to help calm things down during this period of time when the pain is intense.  Unfortunately this is about a

10 - 15% complication rate.  If it happens, just know that it is only a matter of time before it gets better.

 

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Is called xerostomia and is a common condition—especially in senior citizens.  This leads to not only the lack of saliva and taste but to a large increase in root decay.  If you experience dry mouth from medication or aging, please let you Dentist know because there are things we can do to help decrease the frustrations associated with dry mouth syndrome.

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It is quite common that patients come into the office with a “tooth ache” on their upper back molars.  A good percentage of the time, the pain is actually from a new or long-standing sinus infection.  The symptom that many patients talk about is biting pain and general diffused pain with their upper molars and sometimes their bicuspids.  Tests in the office can rule out if it is tooth related.  With x-rays and clinical tests, we can determine if it is a sinus infection.  So, before you have a root canal make sure you determine whether the pain is coming from the tooth and possible nerve death or from a sinus infection causing tooth related pain.

 

By: Dr. Prehn

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There has been a lot of talk in my office about snoring and if snoring can be related to sleep apnea.  One needs to rule out a serious case of sleep apnea before you make a snoring device.  Although snoring is a condition that usually frustrates your bed partner, sleep apnea is a serious medical condition that can lead to sudden death.  If you are interested in a snoring device, I strongly urge you to go through the proper protocol and determine the cause of your snoring.  If it is indeed sleep apnea, address that prior to any type of appliance being fabricated.

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