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BubbleLife Staff

Dear Neighbor,

I’ve been practicing dentistry for the past seven years. I spent the first couple years out of dental school working with a dentist in Garland, TX and for the past five years I’ve had the privilege to serve the University Park/Highland Park Community. I’ve seen hundreds, probably thousands of patients at Highland Park Dental and I cannot count the number of patients that walk through my door with a story or stories of issues with past dentists or dental offices.

After dental school I was excited to enter into an honest health care profession; dentistry.  Unfortunately, as in any other profession, ethics is always called into question. On numerous occasions I’ll have new patients come to our office scared, confused, angry, and upset and looking for answers.  The usual story they tell me is they were going to a dentist for a long time and all of the sudden they went from a healthy mouth to needing thousands of dollars of dental work.

I’ve heard it so many times.  “My teeth have been healthy all my life.  I’ve never had any cavities. Why do I need all this work now?”  “I was told just six months ago everything was completely fine and now I need all this work?  Why?”  “My son just went to another office for his first visit and they found 8 cavities?  Can that be right? We were just told everything was fine and we just needed to see our orthodontist”. On some occasions the patients will even bring their treatment plan that was provided at the past office.  Comparing the plans and what we perceive the patient’s needs are sometimes are shockingly very far apart.

I often have this same feeling when I take my car to the mechanic for an oil change/inspection.   Each time I report for my oil change, I always wonder what story they are going to give me now.  What new part is broken or needs to be tended to.  I literally know almost nothing about cars.  I am putting 100% trust in the mechanic that he/she is being completely honest with me about my vehicle.  But time and time again, I get different opinions from different mechanics…..what am I supposed to do?  Whom do I trust?

Dentistry is very much the same.  You can set up new patient visits with 10 different offices and you are going to get 10 different experiences with 10 different plans for what type of dental work you need.  Unfortunately, I have seen some unethical practices in my field.  I’m sure they occur in all fields, but it’s very disheartening when you see a patient that has been taken advantage of and had their confidence in dentistry and its ethics questioned or destroyed.

Moral of the story:  trust your instincts.  Yes there are dentists out there that see each new patient as an opportunity to “sell” them something.  Maybe even a treatment that isn't even needed. Each dentist and dental office has a philosophy.  At Highland Park Dental, we focus on your goals, the patient’s goals.  Our mission is to help you get exactly what you want and have a great experience.  If you are at a new dentist’s office where there has been a major change and you are shocked by what you hear, come visit the team at HPD.  We focus on honesty, professionalism, and creating treatment plans with the patient and guided by the patient…not for ourselves or our own benefit.

Sincerely, 

Dr. Aaron Jones
Highland Park Dental

Highland Park Dental
6725 Hillcrest Avenue
(next to Starbucks in Snider Plaza)
Dallas, Texas 75205

214 521-3730
www.hpdentist.com

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BubbleLife Staff

Written by Karli Bock, RDH

For most people, when we think of dentistry, prevention is usually not the first thing that comes to mind. However, preventive care is one of the most important aspects of dentistry today.  As in the medical field, we are focusing more on how to prevent the source of disease and less on treating the symptoms. Very few people know problems in your mouth can affect the rest of your body. Research has shown that there is a correlation between gum disease and heart disease as well as diabetes.

How do we prevent gum disease?  There are large amounts of bacteria that live in your mouth. While most of them can be taken care of by daily brushing and flossing, dental cleanings are just as important. Most people have dental cleanings every 3-6 months.   We call these “healthy mouth cleanings”.  The cleaning is where a dental hygienist removes the bacteria that cause plaque and calculus (tartar) that builds up on the teeth. Plaque is tooth-colored or white sticky film that adheres to the tooth. Calculus is a mixture of plaque and saliva by-products that calcifies onto the tooth surface. The dental hygienist removes these by scaling (the process of using dental instruments that removes plaque and calculus) and polishing the teeth. This leaves the teeth feeling smooth and shiny so that it is easier for the patient to keep their teeth clean by regular home care.

 For people with gum disease, they might require a more extensive dental cleaning. We call this a deep cleaning or scaling and root planing. The reason some people need this treatment is because of bacteria and tartar down below the gum line where they cannot reach. This plaque and tartar build up below the gum line cannot be brushed or flossed out; this has to be removed by a Dentist or Dental Hygienist.  This tartar contains thousands of units of bacteria and is a contributing factor to what causes bleeding, gingival recession, cavities, bone loss, and tooth loss. In fact, more teeth are lost due to periodontal disease (gum disease) than cavities.

While dental cleanings make the teeth feel  cleaner and look whiter by removing surface stains; they also help prevent gum disease and contribute to your bodies overall health. With regular dental exams early detection of any dental problem is likely, meaning less visits to the office.

 

Dr. Aaron Jones
Highland Park Dental
6725 Hillcrest Avenue
(next to Starbucks in Snider Plaza)
Dallas, Texas 75205

214 521-3730
www.hpdentist.com

BubbleLife Staff

Dear Neighbors,

Some of you may ask…Why should we worry about cavities in baby teeth when these teeth will be replaced by permanent ones later? The answer is that baby teeth serve important functions and neglecting these teeth can cause severe problems. Consequently, it is important to make sure that even these "temporary" baby teeth remain healthy and cavity free.

I recommend wholeheartedly that you and your children strive for great oral health. Oral health, good or bad, has lasting effects. However, unlike so many other conditions in healthcare, we can actually prevent, to a large degree, the bad effects of poor oral health. It is important to take care of “baby” or primary teeth because they play a crucial role in: 

  • Chewing
  • Speaking and speech development
  • Jaw development
  • Self-Esteem
    •

The key is to start early and make our children aware of how important it is to have GREAT ORAL HEALTH!!! Some reasons why you should pay attention to your child’s baby teeth are: 

  1. Healthy baby teeth are crucial in helping your child learn how to speak properly.
  2. Baby teeth hold space for permanent teeth.  These “spacers” maintain the proper spacing and alignment so that permanent teeth have enough room to come in.  If these permanent teeth develop in a mouth that is unhealthy, they are likely to become decayed as well.  
  3. There are numerous studies that directly link the decay or “number of cavities” a child may have to other health problems.  Taking care of your baby teeth is just as important as proper nutrition and feeding.
  4. Healthy, nice looking teeth are important in building self-confidence and self-esteem. This is especially important at such an early age. 

It is important to remember that proper care of baby teeth is not only important now, but for the future as well.  Early dental care gets a child accustomed to a clean cavity free mouth, while poor dental care can easily lead to childhood gum disease. 

When it comes down to it, it is never too early to start paying attention to oral health care. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Erik Harrington

 

 

Highland Park Dental
6725 Hillcrest Avenue
(next to Starbucks in Snider Plaza)
Dallas, Texas 75205

214 521-3730
www.hpdentist.com

BubbleLife Staff

We would like to welcome Highland Park Dental to Park Cities BubbleLife!  You may have seen their sign as they are located next to Starbucks in Snider Plaza.   Like our neighborhood, they are very family oriented and cater to adult and child patients.  They practice in general, cosmetic and pediatric dentistry with special management of sensory/behavioral conditions. 

Our neighborhood expects the best, and Highland Park Dental provides the best in oral healthcare, comfort, and experience.  

Dr. Aaron Jones is a born and raised Texan. He has a degree in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University and in 2004 graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry. He ranked third overall in his class and was honored with the Certificate of Honor for Scholastic Excellence and was inducted into the prestigious Omicron Kappa Upsilon Honor Society. Dr. Jones is committed to continuing his education to ensure the quality of care is the best you can find. He is also a member for American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry. 

Dr. Erik Harrington is a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist credentialed in five area hospitals specializing in the management of pediatric dental care.  He was awarded two fellowships, one at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas and the other at Scottish Rite Hospital for Children. Dr. Harrington has a degree from his Graduate Residency in Pediatric Dentistry, has a Ph. D. in craniofacial biology and earned his doctorate degree in Dental Surgery.  Dr. Harrington has been honored with several awards including the Outstanding Senior Award from the American College of Dentists, The American Association of Dental Research and The Academy of Operative Dentistry.   

Dr. Loria Guiatas is a recent addition to HP Dental. Dr. Guiatas graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from the University of Texas at Arlington. In 2004 she graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry receiving her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. Dr. Guiatas was accepted for specialty training at the University of Maryland, Baltimore College of Dental Surgery where she pursued her interest in pediatric dentistry. 

This is not your typical dental office. HP Dental has a concierge service offering meals to go and coffee if you are pressed for time. The doctors and staff at HP Dental believe their patients deserve the best and want ensure that you have the best experience possible. 

We look forward to welcoming you to your dental family. 


Highland Park Dental
6725 Hillcrest Avenue
(next to Starbucks in Snider Plaza)
Dallas, Texas 75205

214 521-3730
www.hpdentist.com