Marketing attracts patients that provide the income. You can’t grow financially having your prophy patients refer more patients for more $115 cleanings.  What major changes does your practice need to make in its marketing attack? How are you going to attract patients who already know they need cosmetic, implant and major general dental work, but just don’t know who the right doc is ?

Here the seven ‘musts’ of marketing. Every company that wants to be No. 1 in its industry or profession has to master seven marketing weapons that turbo charge every aspect of there primary marketing efforts.

1. Advertising: There are four rules for creating high response-generating advertising: It must be distinctive; it must capture attention with a screaming (not cheesy) headline; after your headline hooks them, your body copy has to keep them reading; and it must include a call to action.

2. Direct mail: As I say in my all day seminar “one of the worst marketing mistakes is not having a new resident mailing program”.  

3. Corporate literature: This includes brochures and promotional pieces. Coordinate them so that the look, feel and content of each weapon is consistent with the others for brand recognition.

4.  Public relations: PR includes hosting an open house, charity party and sending press releases to your local media. Plus, giving lectures to local organizations such as the National Association of Business Women Professionals on Modern Dental Techniques.

5. Personal contact: Try to have as much personal contact with your patients as LEGALLY possible; no chromosome exchanges! Just lots of personal, hand wrote notes.

6. Market education: give out free information to the community. This tells the world you are the local expert on all things dental. Give out tip sheets to local professional in the area on prevention of gum disease and the heart disease risks, or a sheet on how to choose a cosmetic dentist.

7.  Internet: A website that offers information of value to your prospects. The more video clips and interactive features, the better.

Everyone loves to smile for one reason or another.  But not many people are lucky enough to have the smile they want because of various dental conditions and diseases.  The new answers to these dental woes are dental implants.  In fact, dental implant technology is nothing new; it’s been around for 45+ years.  But everyday people are still amazed by this “new and amazing” technology.  With the help of dental implants, you can achieve good oral health and receive the smile you’ve been wanting, but this is possibly only if diagnosed and treated early.

It’s a known fact that regular dental check-ups can lead to a good dental hygiene. Tooth loss can actually affect a person’s psychological, social, and physical health. But with the help of dental implants, the problems, like limitations in speech and chewing, can be corrected.  Missing teeth are also associated with old age, and edentulism (being toothless) can make you look older than you actually are. Dental implants can dramatically improve your smile and even the appearance and shape of your face. Even placing just one dental implant can improve your dental hygiene and also boosts your self esteem by a lot. They are also essential for the health of gum and jaw tissues so that they can prevent further damage to the teeth.

With the improvements of dental implants technology, the pain of going through the uncomfortable restoration service has been eliminated to a great extent. Dental implants are the permanent solution and they are also the only tooth replacement option that is considered a permanent replacement with natural look and perfect functionality.  Like your natural teeth, if these dental implants are taken care of with regular oral hygiene habits, then they tend to last for a long time, even for a lifetime.  Dental implants are a major investment; and the procedure can be time consuming.  We encourage you to do your research online and talk to your dentist or oral surgeon to see what treatment is best for you.  Dental implants are the ideal solution for replacing teeth without the disadvantages of fixed bridges or removable dentures.  That means you don’t have to go through the grinding or crowning of teeth and that also means no clasps are required like in removable partial dentures.

There are many different treatment options for your dental implant needs.  We offer anything from fixed prosthesis (teeth) to a removable prosthesis with mini implants.  Please visit us on the web at http://www.nuimageimplants.com (www.ncimplant.com) to see how dental implants can change your life.

I’m seeing another man. In fact, I saw him twice last week. I also got to spend time with his partner and we discussed a possible threesome for later in the week…:)

Did that peak your curiosity? Perhaps I should clarify before the rumor mill gets to churning out the latest gossip and sends everyone in the family into a tizzy…

Due to ongoing pain around the tooth I had rooted out back in May, I found myself back in the hot seat at my new dentist’s office three times last week. Last Monday, I had the pleasure of meeting one more of the three dentists that practice at the Myotech Dental Center. This was not the same doctor that helped fix the 4 cavities and the root canal issue that had surfaced prior to starting my chemotherapy. Since Dr. Leppo was not in, Dr. Prudent and I made plans for me to return when both Dr. Leppo and Dr. Prudent could take a look at what was going on. I was again impressed with the unbelievable bedside manner of yet another partner in that business and it completely justified my decision to divorce the dentist I had been seeing for almost 4 years.

There have only been four dentists up until now in my life. My childhood dentist was imposed upon me by my parents. I hated him. There was something about him that really made my skin crawl. My girls call those kind of people–”creepers”. When I think about it–he was. I’m sure he was a nice enough fellow, but I didn’t like him and he inflicted a great deal of pain on me during my childhood and for that–he was out. Actually, he dumped me and opted for retirement. When his son took over the practice, I stayed for a while. The commute back and forth from where I lived in the cities as a young woman to the office in my hometown was just too difficult to make over a lunch hour though and so, I left him–without so much as a goodbye.

For five years, I worked for an eye surgeon in the Quad Cities. His office was right beside a dentist’s office. One day, I decided to start up a new relationship. I stayed with that dentist and followed him when he moved to a bigger office. As I moved further away, the commute began to take a toll once again, but there was a bigger problem. I hated his secretary–just couldn’t stand her–very bitchy and always looking down her nose at me–especially when I’d come in a few minutes late (as though she had never gotten stuck in traffic or dealt with kids in meltdowns). The doctor himself was great–kind, soft spoken, gentle, and would always set my appointments for the last one in the day because he knew that I was a freaker (thanks to dentist #1). He knew that more than anything, going to the dentist for me was a major psychological hurdle. He knew where the exposed roots were on the two molars that had housed headgear bands during the phase in my life when I wore braces and he always stayed clear from them with his sharp tool. I’ll never forget (I’m sure he won’t either) the day I went in to have a silver filling that had gone bad dug out and resealed. I was a mess–couldn’t stop crying, freaking out about the drill–I mean BAD. I was literally crawling up the back of the chair to get away. What should have taken about 20 minutes took and hour and a half because he would stop and start and stop and start to give me some time to brace myself. He never laughed at me. He understood and he was patient with my freak out. I loved him for that. I sent the office flowers the day after.

Unfortunately, I just couldn’t stand to go there and be harrassed by the secretary. I showed up about 10 minutes late one night and she went through the roof and said I needed to pay a broken appointment fee. I had already had a bad day and I told her to shove it. It would be different if I never showed up, but I even called in route to tell her I was on my way. It infuriated me so much, I divorced her–on the spot. That meant, though, that I was divorcing him too and that made me really sad because I had been with him for about 15 years and so had my kids. I decided to find something closer to where we had just moved. I took a coupon out of the Welcome Wagon basket that promised free exams for new patients. Without dental insurance–that was like winning the lottery for me and my family because those new patient exams are soooo outrageously priced. My family has been with this dentist for about four years, but we haven’t liked it. Even so, I just can’t justify spending over a thousand dollars to get everyone in for new patient exams, x-rays and cleanings somewhere else. So, we’ve stayed.

The dentist at the time was someone I personally didn’t care for. He was patronizing and I just couldn’t stand that about him. He actually laughed when I told him I didn’t know if I could take having any major dental work done and that I have been known to take more than 2 or 3 novacaine shots in the past because I could feel the work being done despite the anesthetic. He would look at me incredulously and then laugh. It made my blood boil. I felt as though he really couldn’t care less and to him you were just a meal ticket. The women in the office infuriated me as well and would pad the bill each time I went in for myself or my kids. I’m always VERY SPECIFIC when it comes to dental bills because it is such a HUGE outlay of cash each 6 months that I have to budget very carefully. The last time I went in for me I told them I needed x-rays and an exam–no cleaning, no sealant, no flouride, no extras whatsoever because I was just checking on a specific tooth (the root canal one). I’ve learned with these women to repeat myself and make sure they have made notations on my account so when I actually do come in, there is no mistaking what I want or don’t want done. With all the computerization that is in that office and with the prior knowledge all these women have of me and that I can get very bitchy when someone is trying to screw me out of money–you would think that there were red flags waving signaling my arrival that day. Nope.

When I went back to the examining room the hygenist took the x-ray and then proceeded to clean my teeth. I stopped her, asked her what she was doing, and she looked at me like she had no idea what I was talking about. I got up, walked out to the office and really got into the ladies business that is in charge of scheduling. I remember her telling me, “Well, if she started the cleaning, then we have to charge you for the whole cleaning and so you may as well get it done”. OH MY GOD–ARE YOU KIDDING ME? I went nuts. I even reminded her when I signed in that day. Do you think she could have transferred that information to the hygenist? I cancelled all other appointments for the rest of the year for the kids and myself–went ahead and said ENOUGH IS ENOUGH (actually, that was the nice version of what I said) and I walked out. Before I left, I did demand all the x-rays, afterall, I paid for them over the years–why shouldn’t they give them to me?

Months go by and I hadn’t found a new dental home. I knew that wherever I landed, I wanted it to be the last one. I wanted to feel like the people in the office and the doctors themselves didn’t just see me as a walking $$ sign. I knew I needed to start looking, but I knew I was going to have to have work done to that upper tooth that gave me such problems. It wasn’t until that trip out to see my grandmother in Virginia one year ago that I passed by a billboard sign in Kentucky that promoted a local dentist and said something about sedation dentistry. I thought about it the whole way out and when I got home I started looking over the yellow pages. There aren’t too many places that provide that service here where I live. I would have to either travel or call an office that I always thought was geared more for patients needing dentures and dental implants. I took a shot on the denture office and it turned out they do all sorts of tooth restoration work. They also carried the ZOOM teeth whitening machine and I had been dying to have that done for a few years. I remember when I first called for information and prices (before I was even diagnosed) finding out that it was in my best interest to be a patient–it would be cheaper. Sigh. That meant I was going to have to start shelling out some big bucks to have all that new patient work done before I could even start any work.

It wasn’t long after Christmas last year that I had that fateful mammogram where I was diagnosed with breast cancer. When that happened, everything else took a back seat and months went by before I was again faced with the need to see a dentist. Back in April, I was told by my first oncologist that any dental work that I needed to have done would need to be done prior to starting treatment because the risk of any infection developing while my immune system was being destroyed would not be a good thing. I knew I had one cavity and it was a bad one, so I went ahead and called this denture office to see about coming in. I explained my situation and they got me in–no problem–no waiting. The doctor that came in to talk to me was hands down the nicest dentist I’ve ever met. He and I talked at length about my nerves and then discussed the x-rays and the fact that I had not one but FOUR cavities! One was so bad it needed a root canal (that was the one in question for 6 months). He told me the price of everything and I think I stopped breathing.

Where in the world was I going to come up with about $2800 in a week (I had to have it done before my first chemo on May 7, 2009)? I don’t carry credit cards–I figure if I don’t have the money for something, I shouldn’t be buying it, but now was one of those times I wished I had an emergency card. To tell you the truth–I’d just be paying interest and minimum payments for God knows how long and that’s not how I operate. I hate being “payment-ed” to death. I was really going to have to fanagle this one. That’s when he told me he could spread the payments out and give me 90 days same as cash. Still a freaking lot of money, but I had to have it done AND I know of no other dentist office that will let you do that. It included the extra $500 to put me to sleep–totally worth it in my mind and the date was set. I had to have someone drive me out to the surgical facility and hang around nearby for a few hours because I would be loopy to drive myself home. I wasn’t completely knocked out, and I can only remember bits and pieces of that afternoon.

Taken 5-4-09 right before being put under for my root canal.

I remember the nurse putting the IV in my arm and turning on the medicine that would make me fall asleep.

I remember Dr. Leppo coming in and telling me everything would be ok.

I remember him giving me a warm blanket and turning on the TV.

I remember several times opening up my eyes and seeing him hovering over me with a lot of bright lights and he was wearing micro-surgeon’s binoculars. He would ask me reassuringly each time if I was ok.

I remember my jaw aching.

I remember when it was over, he got up and he walked around holding onto his back because he had been in such an awkward position for over three and a half hours.

I remember telling him that I really appreciated his kind nature.

I remember him smiling at me very warmly and saying, “That’s what I’m here for”. He told me I would need a crown on that tooth, but because of the placement of the cavity on that particular tooth, I would be lucky not to lose the tooth sometime in the near future. He said it was a 50/50 shot and he made the decision to see if the root canal would do the trick. He said it was just too bad and that the cancer was really beginning to do some damage to my teeth. He said the tooth itself was packed full of antibiotics before being sealed. He also told me to come back with any problems and to hang tough through the chemo.

I looked at him dead on and said, “I want you to know, that if I don’t make it out of this this year, that you were one of the nicest doctors I had ever met and I was very glad to have him as part of my medical team.” He thanked me and told me it was quite alright.

It was just a couple days later when I had that encounter with the woman in the wig shop (Just Own It) and that is when I made the decision to get my tattoo. I knew that would also need to be done prior to chemo and my white cells getting killed off and I knew that all the antibiotics from the root canal would help kill off any kind of infection a tattoo might inflict. Right before going in for my first round of chemo, I went back to Dr. Leppo. I hadn’t been able to eat anything in a few days. My mouth was so sore from being clamped open for so long. I knew the other teeth he had fixed would take some getting used to chewing on again, but the side of my mouth that really had the work done was in a lot of pain. I couldn’t take the Vicadin because I transport kids during the day and the Ibuprofen just wasn’t doing the trick. He filed some stuff down and I went home. It wouldn’t matter whether I had eaten or not, the day came for my first chemo and after that I wasn’t really that hungry for a while. After about three weeks, things calmed down and I have been good since then–until a couple weeks ago.

I started experiencing pain on both sides of my upper jaw again. It got to the point where I just knew I had to get it looked at. I was worked in right away and from the initial x-rays, Dr. Leppo’s partner couldn’t tell if I had cracked the root canal tooth (with all the stress over Jasmine this summer, I had forgotten to go back for the crown), or if the tooth had two roots and one wasn’t all the way tied off or whatever they do to it. I kept saying there was something else. On the tooth right beside it. It was causing me A LOT of pain. He told me to come back on Wednesday and together, Dr. Prudent and Dr. Leppo would take a look and try to determine what was going on. Sitting in the dentist’s chair on Wednesday, I started getting nervous. What if the tooth has to come out. Then I’m going to need a fake tooth. Geez, I already have a fake boob, my face tells a nasty story with all the worry lines of what our family went through this past year, and now I am losing my teeth. I’m just so sick of falling apart.

As I waited for the doctor to come in, I mulled over a lot of stuff. “It’s detail work now, smoothing out the kinks–ya know?” I said to myself as convincingly as possible. I began to think about it more along those lines and after a few moments, I made yet another decision regarding my aftercare. As I sat there and stared at the posters for teeth whitening, I decided I would be more specific with my New Year’s resolutions and I was going to be doubly specific with what I meant by “This year I’m going to work on Me” (my resolution last year–and way to generic and vague). As far as my teeth were concerned, I was going to fix my teeth and get them back into a stable state and then I was going to ZOOM them. A little cosmetic pick me up for the new year. If my smile were to dazzle everyone, perhaps they wouldn’t see the wrinkles that were forming, the gray hair that was just beginning to grow in, the extra 30 pounds I was sporting, or the cyclops boob that was expanding on my chest.

I know its all superficial–it’s not what truly counts–but dammit, I need a makeover in the worst way. I decided that…

I would go and get my hair re-colored–I’ve tried my new natural color for six months now and it’s just not happening. I’ve tried rocking the lesbian chic look and I’m not sure I’m pulling it off. LOL.

I’m going to take myself over to the little nail salon by my house and get a much needed mani/pedi.

I am going to commit to my nutrition program and stop talking about the extra 30 pounds–instead–I’m going to do something about them. I’m going to work my ass off–literally. I want to sign up to learn how to dance salsa. That should burn a few calories.

I’m going to get ready for my next surgery where the expander will be taken out of my chest and an implant will be inserted and I will have the other side lifted. I will contemplate a matching implant for the left side and a nipple reconstruction for the right side–something I’ve not been sold on yet.

I am going to go get a spray tan–for the hell of it. I always feel better with a little color in my skin and since I’m terrified of burning my chest in a tanning bed and not feeling it because all the nerves have been severed–I am going to go get airbrushed–just because. Period. Maybe they can spray on a six pack for me–haha–afterall, I’ve often heard that you should post a picture of your goal on the fridge to remind you of what your working for. I’ll just post my pic on my gut.

Lastly, I’m getting a massage. I need one. I’ve been terrified of getting one after what I was told back in February (that massage helps the drain the lymphatic system and that getting a massage when you have invasive cancer could possible send any free radicals bee-lining for a new host location to set up shop). I need one though–not want one–NEED ONE! Too much stress buildup over this year.

I need to stop pouring so much of me into everyone else all the time and carve out time to pour back into me. I just have to be a little selfish. Period. I’ve neglected me for too long. I had been expanding my mind, but forgot about all the other stuff and as you get older it’s important to look at the whole picture–or pieces of the picture start to get torn and that’s what was happening to me.

All of a sudden, Dr. Leppo walked in beaming. He was genuinely happy to see me. He said to me, “You made it!–That deserves a hug!” He came over and hugged me and then sat down to talk to me. I said, “I’m alive”! and we spent a few minutes catching up on how the year has gone. It was like talking to an old friend I hadn’t seen in years. Our attention turned to my teeth and we came to the conclusion that I really needed a whole new set of x-rays to see the damage that the chemo has done to my teeth.

“What kind of damage does chemo do to your teeth?” I asked.

“Well, it’s not really the chemo as much as it is the fact that chemo dries your mouth out and as a result of an extremely dry mouth, you don’t have the saliva needed to keep your gum tissue healthy which can also contribute to dental carries. Without saliva, there’s nothing to wash the sugars away” he said. Thankfully, I didn’t really experience any major side effects except having my hair fall out and going into respiratory arrest–nothing major–yeah, right–so, a few cavities is nothing in comparison, right? It still didn’t explain the pain, though.

I told him I had tried to schedule a new patient cleaning, exam, and x-rays, but was told the first appointment wouldn’t be until the end of March. He and his assistant looked through everything and because we had been hit with such a snow storm the previous week, there were many cancellations from people not wanting to drive into town. I was scheduled for the next day and as I left, I was told that there was no charge for my office visit for the second time that week. I couldn’t help but think that I had found my new dental home.

The next day brought a lot of anxiety for me. I was going to have to go through all the poking with that sharp little instrument I hate so much. All the scraping on my silver fillings that sends shivers through my spine and sounds like nails on a chalkboard. I was going to have to pray my new hygenist would be mindful of the exposed roots on the upper back molars and I would have to really hold on to the hope that I hadn’t cracked my tooth and the underlying problem was, in fact, due to something else. I couldn’t have been more put at ease. The two girls that worked on me were soooo nice! They answered all my questions about water picks, sonic toothbrushes, and teeth whitening. One talked to me about my cancer and asked quite frankly what I was thinking when I realized that I was really going to have to have my boob cut off (she’s young). It didn’t shock me, and I’d rather someone just come out and ask me those kinds of questions then just whisper behind my back. She asked if I was contemplating reconstruction and I had to laugh inwardly–did she not see this huge cyclops boob on my chest? Did she just think that was the silhouette of my real boob and since it overshadowed the actual real one that the left side must be the side I had cut off because it really looks pathetic over there now. Then she told me she just had an augmentation and that’s when I asked her a bunch of questions–especially–silicone or saline? That’s the question that weighs heavily on my mind these days.

Dr. Leppo came in again and looked through all the x-rays. Turns out I have two old silver fillings that are lifting up and causing me great pain since stuff is getting in there. They’ll need to be dug out and replaced. I hate the thought of it, but am secretly glad to get rid of all the silver in my mouth. It turns the color of my teeth gray and I hate it. So, I’ll get them replaced with enamel colored fillings and that should help the discoloration on that side. We’ll start working on replacing all of them since they seem to be really wearing out–but we’ll do it slowly and as I can afford to do so and about that root canal tooth–well, it’s still too hard to determine just what is going on with it, but I do have a cavity butted right up beside it and it could just be pain radiating throughout that entire area.

We talked about the possibility that once the cavity is filled, I find out that I’m still having pain and that it really is the root canal tooth. We talked about extracting it and having an implant put in. I freaked. I don’t know a lot about that–my parents always had partials–these things that they put into their mouths in the morning and took out at night to brush and soak. On their website their is a tiny flash video of how they use a screw to anchor in the implant–it acts like a metal root. “God, I totally do not want to do this”, I prayed and then quickly proceeded to put it into context–”Chris, you had your boob cut off this year. If you can do that, then you can handle a tooth implant screwed into your jaw”. Dr. Leppo reminded me it may not come to that. I was worried about how much that was going to cost. We never did get specifics, but he did say he would apply all the money I had paid for the root canal toward the implant. He told me he would stand behind his work and if it didn’t work, then he would reimburse me. Have I mentioned lately, that I love him? He knows just what to say to help get me through all this and for me it all boils down to pain and money. How much pain do I have to endure and how much is that pain going to cost me.

We talked about doing all the work at once and again I started to panic. We came to the agreement that I would get the middle sedation treatment–a pill that would make me super relaxed–and if I needed laughing gas–he’d give me that as needed. I’ve spent almost my entire adult life not relying on drugs or meds for things and this year, I have decided–they really come in handy! I wasn’t going to do it all at once, but it sure beats having to get super freaked more than one time. I also can’t stand to take off 2 or 3 afternoons to get it all done. So, we scheduled it for over a naptime where I could feed the kids and have a sub come in to help–mostly just to make sure they nap soundly. The effects of the meds should wear off farely quickly after the procedure and thankfully, my daughters will be home to help me out should I need it with the rest of the afternoon. The 29th of December is the day and I am not looking forward to it. I paid for half the visit (which was supposed to be $350 and they only charged me $219–another score in my book) and I made arrangements to put the balance with the total from the 29th (about $700) on a 3-pay again. Hard to come up with all that during Christmas, but I just have to keep plowing ahead. I can’t think about it or I’ll get stressed. It just bites because I just registered for school to retake a couple classes. These are on my dime. I just got that bill and now I realize why I signed onto that scholarship program (note to self–never let another class slide). Sigh. It’s always something. Anyway, here’s my super nice dentist and if any of you are wanting to make a switch to their office in Moline, make sure you tell them I sent you. They have an incentive program for referrals and one of them is a massage–I mentioned earlier how much I needed one, right?

Dr. Leppo

My next appointment was on October 29, and it took about two hours because the dentist had some difficulty with one implant abutment.

Today’s appointment consisted of -
• Removing the existing hardware that’s holding in the temporary denture
• Inserting custom abutments into the implants
• Fiddling with the one implant abutment that wasn’t lining up correctly
• Taking new bite impressions
• Inserting the fourth snap into the top denture
• Putting the existing hardware back in
• Cementing in the temporary

The custom abutments are made specifically for my implants and my teeth. They will be the anchors that hold in the permanent bottom denture (or crown). The crown that was used today was made of porcelain, as will be my permanent, but it was unpolished. I’m not sure if this piece becomes the final, but I have a feeling that, with some additional work, it will take shape and become permanently affixed in my mouth. The dentist commented that the color made my top teeth look yellow, which we obviously don’t want. I’m aiming for that movie star white smile.

Because he had such trouble with the one custom abutment, he believed that something had happened to the one tooth when the crown was in the E-Z-Bake oven. Okay, I’m kidding. They don’t use an E-Z-Bake oven. They use a REAL oven that gets REALLY hot! (More about that in a future post.)

The dentist wants the lab to make some adjustments in my bite and to accomplish that, three additional impressions were taken. The bottom tester teeth were left in and using what looked like a caulk gun he shot impression material into the sides of my mouth. I then had to bite down so that he could shoot it between the front teeth. Count down the obligatory three minutes and then examine the impression to make sure it’s good. We did this three times. The third time was the charm, because that’s the impression he was happy with. Using that impression, he put the puzzle pieces of my mouth together again and bagged them up for the lab.

I go back on November 4. The dentist believes that that COULD be my final appointment, depending on how the appointment goes. If the appointment has any glitches, I will need one additional appointment. In any event, I will certainly have complete and permanent teeth by the time Connie and I leave for Curacao.

Be still my heart!

I have done my implant 3 years ago and
now i have 3 bolts in my mouth.

it costs me more than $15,000 easily…..

After implant 3 bolts on my mouth,
I have simple question about implants.

Was it really nessessary ???

When my dentist told me there was only one option for my tooth,
that was implant.

But since i changed my dentist, these days there is new cure
medicen and i dont need to take my tooth out.

I can use some treatments and wait for a few months recoving
or not.

Then need to think about implant or other options.

So i am getting doubt about my implants and my dentists who
didnt have enough skills.

The question we’ve all asked. “Where can I get cheap dental implants”? Well if you want cheap, go to the hardware store and just get some wood screws. When it comes to your health, why would you want to cheap out?

See, in some ways, a dental implant (or other health procedures) is like a car, in a way. If you buy a cheap car, then don’t expect it to last or even be up to your standards.  Yes, we’ve heard of some lucky folks who have had cheap cars last a long time, but you don’t see that everyday.  Also, in 20 years, where will your car be?  I can tell you that in 20 years your dental implants will still be in your mouth.

So yes, there are cheap dental implants available but it might take time and lot of your effort to get them.  Some dental schools offer teeth implants at a lower cost per tooth implant including the crown which is much cheaper than what a dentist in your area may charge. A lot of places do place dental implants for $2000-3000 dollars per implant (not counting the additional costs or placement of crown).

Another option to get help with dental implant costs is through dental insurance.  You need to look at dental insurance as a type of “maintenance policy”.  It’s used for general cleaning and maintenance/repair of your mouth 2-3 times a year.  A lot of insurance companies do not cover dental implants.  If they do, then it’s at most $1500-2000.  That may sound good, but if you use up your insurance for an implant procedure, then that’s it for the dentist for the remainder of the year (unless you want to pay out of pocket).  Not only that, but most procedures can get pretty costly.  Before treatment, check with your dental insurance company about coverage.

Sometimes cheap can get really costly! Badly placed implants, dentists lacking experience and expertise can screw up dental implants so bad that they can leave you in pain, a  lost tooth and a host of other gum and jaw problems. To fix a cheap dental implant you might have to spend a lot more money or live in pain for the rest of your life.

You need to do sufficient research and have satisfied yourself about the experience, expertise and competency of dental implant to really make a decision.  Surgeons/Dentists charge what they do for a reason.  Some use the best dental implant companies, while others use cheaper dental implant companies.

There are fabulous dental implants resources that include information about dental implant procedure, tooth implant treatment options, types of teeth implants, bone grafts, types of bone grafts for implants. Check out http://www.nuimageimplants.com for all dental implant information needs.

Look at it this way, getting dental implants is an investment. Not a waste of money.

There are ways to get help for dental implants and other health procedures.  Financing is available for people who qualify.  Chase health and CareCredit are two options we use.

When i went to my dentist, my dentist started treatment of tooth decay.

My dental clinic offers tooth whitening and implant too.
Alway booked out for a few months in advance and very hard to get my booking when i needed urgently.

After treated my tooth, my detist told me he went to very close to my nerves removing my tooth decay.

He also said it might be pain for next a few days as my nerve is a little bid
upset from tooth decay.

Masih bercerita seputar alat kontrasepsi. Jika sebelumnya saya sudah menceritakan tentang IUD atau alat kontrasepsi dalam rahim (AKDR), kini atas request seorang teman, saya akan berusaha sharing tentang implant atau susuk KB, hanya sebatas pengetahuan yang saya punyai saja. Jika ada diantara anda yang lebih mengetahui, silahkan turut di share juga disini

***

Seorang teman SMA saya yang telah menjadi ibu mengeluhkan tentang betapa ribetnya dia mengikuti sistem KB. Sebagai ibu yang agak sedikit sibuk dan agak-agak pelupa, dia seringkali melewatkan keteraturannya minum pil KB yang ia konsumsi sebagai obat kontrasepsi pencegah kehamilan. Tentu saja hal ini mengganggu kesehariannya, karena jika dia lupa meminum, maka dia akan merasa was-was “takut kebobolan lagi”, padahal untuk mengurus satu anaknya yang masih kecil disela-sela karirnya, bukan hal yang mudah.

Saya  menyarankan untuk mengganti cara ber-KB yang dia pilih untuk menggunakan IUD. Tentu saja setelah ngobrol-ngobrol seputar macam-macam alat kontrasepsi. Namun, sebagai seorang perempuan rupanya dia agak ketakutan jika harus dipasangi alat iud meskipun ukurannya kecil. “gak berani” begitu alasannya.

Akhirnya pilihan jatuh pada alat susuk KB atau implant.

***

Apa sih implant atau susuk KB ini?

Susuk KB adalah obat kontrasepsi yang berbentuk seperti tabung kecil, sebesar korek api-lah kira-kira. Didalamnya terkandung hormon progesteron yang akan dikeluarkan sedikit demi sedikit.

Implant atau susuk KB (foto: Dok. Pribadi)

Alat kontrasepsi ini dimasukkan dibawah kulit pada bagian lengan atas. Tidak terlihat dari luar, tapi masih dapat diraba. Tersedia dua macam, yang 1 batang atau 2 batang. Dulu, lebih ribet karena ada yang sampai 6 batang. Cara kerjanya yaitu hormon progesteron yang dilepaskan implant akan menghambat terjadinya ovulasi, menyebabkan selaput lendir atau endometrium tidak siap menerima pembuahan.

Kemarin, ketika melakukan penyuluhan di RSUD Cianjur, ada satu orang pasien post partum yang menyatakan bahwa satu batang implant itu untuk satu tahun. Jadi, katanya, enam batang implant sama dengan enam tauneun. Tentu saja ini adalah pandangan keliru sebab satu batang implant ini tidak mewakili jumlah hari (taun pemasangan). Yang terbaru dan banyak dipakai adalah implant yang dua batang, masa pakainya cukup sampai tiga tahun.

Kelebihan implant diantaranya tidak mengurangi produksi ASI, praktis dan efektif untuk masa 3 tahun, pemasangan dan pencabutannya mudah dan cepat. Pemasangan dan pencabutan dilakukan oleh petugas medis yang sudah terlatih. Kelebihan lainnya adalah bisa digunakan oleh akseptor yang mengalami ketidakcocokan dengan hormon estrogen, membantu mencegah anemia dan kehamilan di luar kandungan, serta kesuburan akan pulih setelah pencabutan implant. Namun, selain kelebihan-kelebihan tersebut, implant juga ternyata mempunyai kelemahan yaitu bisa mengakibatkan gangguan pada siklus haid karena adanya hormon progesterone yang terkandung di dalamnya, perdarahan ringan diantara masa haid, juga timbul sakit kepala ringan. karena mengandung hormone maka tentu saja akan berpengaruh pada metabolism tubuh. Sama seperti halnya pil atau suntik, tidak jarang pengguna implant yang tidak cocok akan mengalami masa menstruasi yang berbeda-beda.

Jangan menggunakan implant jika anda hamil atau diduga hamil, terdapat benjolan payudara, terkena kanker payudara, diabetes mellitus, dan memiliki riwayat darah tinggi!!!

O iya, implant ini tidak seperti susuk biasa loh, kesaktian susuk kb implant tidak akan hilang hanya karena  anda memakan sate hehehehe…. (HS)

My next appointment was on October 12 and lasted an hour. I got tissue punched again! One of the implants was not sticking out enough to accommodate the gizmos that had to be used in this appointment.

The dentist removed the spikes and screws that are helping to keep the bottom denture in my mouth. He then snapped red arrow-like gizmos onto the implants. In real life, these arrow-like gizmos are called transfer abutments. He had trouble with one of the implants, because the tissue had grown up too close to the top of the gum line. So, he brought out the novocaine and ground down the tissue. God, I’ve gotten to the point where I HATE those shots.

Anyhow, these gizmos are used in conjunction with impression material and they pinpoint exactly where the implants are and the direction that they take. For example, one implant could have a slightly different trajectory than another.

So, I got to keep the impression gunk in my mouth for five minutes. When the time was up, out came the impression with the red gizmos firmly implanted (no pun intended) in the impression, as planned. That will be sent to the lab and a “bite impression” will be returned to the dentist by next Wednesday.

The dentist also did some other kind of impression where he put a mouthpiece on the bottom and made me move my bottom jaw toward the back of my mouth and then up to meet my top teeth. I had to do that a couple of times. Fortunately, I was given a mirror so that I could make sure that my mouth was doing what my brain was instructing it to do.

I have a 1.5 hour appointment on the 22nd for more impression work and the bite “try on.” The dentist said I probably have 3-4 more appointments till I’m done. Now, that doesn’t necessarily translate into 3-4 weeks, so at my next appointment I’m going to push the dentist to have this stuff completed before my November 19-24 trip to Curacao with my sister. I obviously don’t want to push him, but it sure would be nice to be done with this before vacation.

After he was done with the impressions, he put a healing abutment on the implant that had to be tissue punched. That meant he had to shave some of the bottom denture out to accommodate the added height. Then the other spikes and screws were put back in and the bottom denture cemented into place.

Whew, writing about what happened at this appointment makes me tired! I think I’ll take a nap.

Last month I read Susan Friedmann’s book: “Riches in Niches-How to Make it Big in a Small Market”. By clearly defining your services, you eliminate much of the public confusion regarding your practice. There are dozens of dental practices out in your area; what are you doing external marketing wise to educate the public on what is unique about your office?

A forty year old woman came to my office specifically for a “consultation for veneers.” She worked in the hotel industry and dealt with guests all day long. One look at her teeth revealed tetracycline staining that was so bad I could have sworn I saw the pharmaceutical company’s logo embedded on her teeth. LILLY INC. I had seen the classic “amber gray” translucency of this common condition before, but these teeth were simply the color of the hull of the USS Ronald Regan.

After completing her $28,000 upper and lower veneers, I noticed her previous dentist’s name on some of her X-rays. He is a very good dentist with a good reputation and even looks like me, I’ve been told. Same age, same hair, same height, similar facial features, but of course not the same “sophisticated” sense of humor and ability to work in a fart joke at any moment.

I flat out asked her, “Why didn’t you just have your current dentist do these veneers for you? She answered: “I never liked the idea that he had coloring books in his office. I also have been seeing your informative marketing pieces and you just seem “specialized” in this sort of thing.”

She was right. I have been to some offices that have that weird kid’s toy consisting of a gnarled mass of wire with colored balls sliding around in never ending loops. Would you feel this is the “best” practice  for a facelift or cosmetic and implant dentistry?

Never feel that you will alienate your existing clientele or potential general dentistry patients because you market your practice as a “cosmetically oriented” practice. I market my practice just as my business card says: Cosmetic, Implant and General Dentistry. The public perceives this type of practice as an “expert” practice that can handle the most complex and most expensive type of dental treatment.

Keep in mind, you implant patient seekers like myself, I have told you before, the general public thinks a dental implant is a cosmetic procedure, just like breast implants. If you market your practice as the “Gentle Dental Family Dental Center”, you are not attracting veneers, implant and major dental rehabilitation cases. (This is fine if you don’t want to do this kind of work.)

To show your own successful “niche” of a practice, you must differentiate yourself from the legions of generalist’s service professionals. With such a saturation of generalists in the marketplace today, any one individual becomes invisible-similar to a single grain of sand on the beach.  Rather than be the grain of sand, you want to be the beach umbrella, bright, high and extremely visible.

Throughout my all-day seminars,  I constantly quote Reis and Trout, authors of “The Immutable Laws of Marketing.”  One of these laws is “the law of sacrifice”; sometimes you must give up something to get something.

I stopped treating children long ago. I did not see how the public would perceive my office as a top practice for cosmetic and implant dentistry (which now is bread and butter dentistry for a dental practice in  the 21^st century) if I had “Highlights” magazine all over my waiting room floor. What are you willing to give up? Pedo, endo, ortho, extractions (bunion removal)?

Position your self as an authority figure in your niche. In order to stand OUT, you have to get IN.

IN-spire: form a study club group with other dentists and specialist to meet and discuss cases. Tell your patients about it in email blasts or newsletters. Put a photo of you lecturing in front of your colleagues in your ads and on the home page of your website.

IN-struct: Educational Marketing.  Conduct free seminars to the public and speak at organizations like your local Woman’s Lawyer’s Association or National Associating of Woman Professionals. Give out free booklets on various dental topics.

IN-form: A well informed consumer is more likely to be a satisfied buyer.

IN-quire: Nichepreneurs always know what is going on in their profession right this minute. Make sure you are on the ADA’s email blast list. Forward to your patients and the public all the press releases they have been sending on lead in crowns, amalgam safety,  bisphosphonate use, dental tourism where patients go to foreign countries for cheaper dental fees, etc.

Un vaccin inovator împotriva cancerului, sub forma unui implant plastic introdus sub piele, poate distruge tumorile canceroase prin instruirea sistemului imunitar pentru a ataca şi ucide celulele maligne, potrivit cercetătorilor de la Unversitatea Harvard, anunta NewsIn.

La testele făcute pe şoareci, vaccinul a dat rezultate benefice, anunţă BBC.

Implantul funcţionează prin atragerea anumitor celule imunitare cărora le “arată” ce tumoare trebuie atacată. Potrivit specialiştilor britanici, cercetările făcute până acum arată că acest tip de tratament este unul promiţător.

Ideea unui vaccin care să creeze un răspuns imun împotriva tumorii nu este una nouă, existând deja mai multe variante în teste clinice.

Cercetătorii cred că asemenea implanturi ar putea fi folosite împreună cu chimioterapia, pentru a trata cancerul. Profesorul David Mooney, expert în bioinginerie, spune că noua tehnică de luptă contra cancerului este un mare pas înainte. “Introdus sub piele, precum anumite contraceptive, implantul activează un răpuns imun care distruge celulele tumorii”, explică Mooney.

Vous n’avez pas honte pour lui ?
Moi si !

Le pauvre, des milliers d’années d’évolution pour en arriver la.
C’est pathétique.
Je suis désolé, ce n’est pas de l’information, mais représentatif de l’état général du cerveau de beaucoup de personnes dans le monde.

Même s’il a l’air super intéressant, pas besoin de voir le documentaire de Chris Rock pour s’apercevoir que désormais, les perruques fleurissent sur les têtes des filles comme des mauvaises herbes entre les dalles d’une terrasse à la campagne.

Qu’elles soient connues (ou non), belles (ou non), adeptes de la frange (ou… bref), les femmes modernes aiment se rajouter sur le crâne des cheveux en poils de cheval ou des mèches d’hindoue domestiquée, pour un résultat plus ou moins réussi (Emilie de Secret Story, si tu nous lis).

Alors au risque de briser vos illusions, mais dans un souci de vous éviter une mauvaise surprise la prochaine fois que vous passerez la main dans la crinière de votre future conquête, voici une sélection de perruques (baptisées “wig” aux Etats-Unis) et de vrais cheveux, mais qu’on aurait aimé voir recouverts d’extensions capillaires synthétiques pour le coup. A vous de reconnaître ce qui est vrai… ou non.

Alors, oui ou wig?

Beyoncé:

Serena Williams:

Somaya Reece (la nouvelle meuf de Joe Budden, qui se fait pas chier l’enfoiré):

Gabby:

Halle Berry et Tyra Banks:

Foxy Brown:

Diana Ross:

Snoop Dogg:

Andre Agassi:

Le cousin gay de T-Pain et Sébastien Folin:

La fille de Kelly Rowland:

HIP RESURFACING IMPLANT MANUFACTURERS

The following device manufacturers make the hip resurfacing implant:

• Smith & Nephew
  Implant: Birmingham Hip Resurfacing system BHR
• Johnson & Johnson
  Implant: DEPUY ASR Articular Surface Replacement
• Wright Medical Technology
  Implant: CONSERVE hip resurfacing implant
• Corin Group (Stryker)
  Implant: Cormet Hip Resurfacing System
• Biomet
  Implant: ReCap Femoral Resurfacing Head
• Zimmer
  Implant: Durom Hip Resurfacing implant
• Finsbury
  Implant: ADEPT Resurfacing Hip
• International Orthopaedics
  Implant: ICON Hip Resurfacing Implant

RELATED LINKS

• See a full review of these hip resurfacing implants and their manufacturers
• Medical Tourism
• Hip resurfacing surgeons

GET FREE QUOTE FOR SURGERY
To request a FREE quote for any procedure please provide the following information in the comment box below and hit the “Submit” button:

• *Name
• *Email id
• *Phone
• *Procedure desired
• Preferred destination
• Any other comments

Note: The fields marked with * above are mandatory.

WHAT IS HIP RESURFACING SURGERY?
Let’s start by understanding the anatomy of the human hip.

The normal hip joint consists of a ball rotating inside a socket. The ball is called the head of the femur and the socket in the pelvis is called the acetabulum. The surface of the femoral head and the acetabulum (i.e. the ball and the socket) is covered by a protective layer of cartilage. This makes the joint smooth and reduces friction during movements. It covers and protects the bone like the rubber of a car tyre.

Any condition that damages the cartilage will lead to pain, dysfunction and eventually arthritis. Cartilage can get damaged due to a number of reasons including:

• Injury
• Infection
• Ankylosing Spondylitis
• Avascular Necrosis (loss of blood supply to bone)
• Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Osteoarthritis (OA)
• Developmental problem like bone Dysplasias (Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip or DDH)
• Slipped upper femoral epiphyses
• Avascular Necrosis (AVN)
• Inflammatory Arthritis, etc.

Hip resurfacing (also known as hip resurfacing surgery, Birmingham hip resurfacing, Birmingham hip resurfacing surgery, BHR, Articular Surface Replacement, ASR and surface replacement arthroplasty), an orthopedic procedure, is an approach to the treatment of hip pathology. It’s a technology that replaces the worn surfaces of the hip joint with caps of high carbide cobalt chrome.

Hip Resurfacing Surgery is a bone-conserving alternative to conventional Total Hip Replacement (THR). In a hip resurfacing, the head, neck and femur bone are preserved in an effort to facilitate future surgery should it be necessary and to enable the patient to take advantage of newer technology or treatments in the future.

BENEFITS OF HIP RESURFACING SURGERY

1. More of the natural bone is preserved
2. A resurfaced is similar to the natural hip joint resulting in increased stability, flexibility and range of motion
3. The risk of dislocation is virtually eliminated
4. Higher activity levels can be achieved with less risk

Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) is an alternative to Total Hip Replacement (THR) in younger and more active patients. Typically, physically active patients, under 65 years of age who suffer from hip arthritis, hip dysplasia, avascular necrosis of the hip or inflammatory arthritis are candidates for BHR. Patients over the age of 65 can also benefit from BHR if their bone quality is strong enough to support the implant. You must discuss your suitability for hip resurfacing with an orthopedic surgeon.

HIP RESURFACING PROCEDURE DETAILS
After making incisions into the skin, the surgeon approaches the hip joint and prepares the bone for resurfacing using specialized instruments. He prepares the head of the femur to receive the resurfacing component. The socket is then shaped to accept the new resurfacing cup. Then the socket is inserted in a position to give stability to the hip, and allow the bone to grow around it. This encourages long-term security in the newly refinished hip joint. Finally, using bone cement, the resurfacing head component is fixed into position. The incisions are then closed with sutures. Watch hip resurfacing procedure video.

RELATED LINKS

• Check out medical tourism for affordable high quality hip resurfacing surgery
• Get a FREE assessment of your case and a FREE cost estimate for hip surgery by providers on Healthbase network

GET FREE QUOTE FOR SURGERY
To request a FREE quote for any procedure please provide the following information in the comment box below and hit the “Submit” button:

• *Name
• *Email id
• *Phone
• *Procedure desired
• Preferred destination
• Any other comments

Note: The fields marked with * above are mandatory.

3200943    ปฏิบัติการทันตกรรมรากเทียม    Implant Dental Laboratory

การฝึกผ่าตัดในขากรรไกรจำลอง การฝึกทำฟันปลอมบนฟันรากเทียม การสาธิตการผ่าตัดผู้ป่วยระยะที่ 1 และ 2 การสาธิตการใส่ฟันให้ผู้ป่วย การทำงานร่วมกันเป็นทีมระหว่างผู้เชี่ยวชาญกับสมาชิกในทีม การเปรียบเทียบรากเทียมระบบต่างๆ

(Surgical hands-on workshop with jaw models, prosthetic hands-on workshop, demonstrations of stages I and II surgery, demonstrations of prosthesis placement, team work with specialists and other members; comparison between different implant systems.)

(3200943 จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย)

3200955    เอกัตศึกษาทางทันตกรรมบูรณะเพื่อความสวยงามและทันตกรรมรากเทียม 1    Independent Study in Esthetic Restorative and Implant Dentistry I

การค้นคว้า รวบรวมข้อมูลรายงานการวิจัยและรายงานผู้ป่วย เกี่ยวกับงานทางทันตกรรมบูรณะเพื่อความสวยงามและทันตกรรมรากเทียม โดยมีคณาจารย์เป็นผู้กำกับดูแล การนำเสนอผลของการศึกษาค้นคว้าในรูปแบบของรายงานหรือบทความ

(Search for and gathering of information from research and case reports regarding esthetic restorative and implant dentistry under supervision and guidance of faculty members; presentation of the information gathered in forms of reports or articles.)

(3200955 จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย)

3200956    เอกัตศึกษาทางทันตกรรมบูรณะเพื่อความสวยงามและทันตกรรมรากเทียม 2    Independent Study in Esthetic Restorative and Implant Dentistry II

การค้นคว้า รวบรวมข้อมูลรายงานการวิจัยและรายงานผู้ป่วย และการดูแลรักษาผู้ป่วยทางทันตกรรมบูรณะเพื่อความสวยงามและทันตกรรมรากเทียม โดยมีคณาจารย์เป็นผู้กำกับดูแล การนำเสนอผลของการรักษาผู้ป่วยในรูปแบบของรายงานหรือบทความที่จะได้รับการตีพิมพ์ (เผยแพร่)

(Search for and gathering of information from research, case reports, and patients’ treatment regarding esthetic restorative and implant dentistry under supervision and guidance of faculty members; presentation of the case outcomes in forms of reports or articles which will be published.)

(3200956 จุฬาลงกรณ์มหาวิทยาลัย)

I’ve been working on a post for a week in between being down and out with a horrible chest cold/migraine combination. I found myself in bed between 5pm and 6pm every night last week and I am still working through a lingering cough that hurts my chest each time I feel that tickle in the back of my throat. Like Pavlov’s response, my chest muscle spasms at the mere thought of needing to cough. It hasn’t been too pleasant and I am trying to suppress those darn coughs, but to no avail. It has worn me out and since I am not finished with that post, I thought I’d at least pop in for a quickie update.

As I worked on last week’s post–well, more like a rant–and worked through my illness which came on suddenly during our trip out west to visit out daughter–I was able to manage in two doctor visits as well. The first was with my plastic surgeon for my 4th fill and that was on Tuesday. I am about halfway through the fill process and last week marked 400cc so far. This experience is very bizarre and I am just slightly larger ( I think) than my real Bo, now. I see him each week and actually, today will be my 5th fill visit and bringing the total to 450cc. I can’t wait to start posting those pictures, you all will be truly amazed at how far my body has chosen to cooperate!

On Wednesday, I had a folow-up with my general surgeon–the one who cut my boob off. I see him every 3 months and he was really impressed with how things are going and that I had chosen to go through with the additional surgeries. He said he has been following my reports from my onco-man and my plastic surgeon and everything is looking good. No news was really given about that mass found in my left ovary and I figure, if it was something to be worried about, someone would have called me by now. He taught me what to look for and feel for now that I will have an implant soon and for the first time since I’ve been going to him, he was pretty gentle in his groping. He usually digs in so deep that I am bruised for a week after, but I begged the nurse to talk to him before he came in and tell him I had just had surgery 5 weeks prior. I was really surprised he was accommodating to that request. He also ended our visit by telling me I would only need one more groping with him in 3 more months which will bring the date just past the one year anniversary mark since we met for the first time. When I think that he got further with me (second base) on our first date then my husband ever did, it makes me sad. The men that have felt me up this year–both experienced and unexperienced–has really frustrated me and at times pissed me off. The hardest thing was having to watch my hubby watch these strange men feel me up. We all knew it was in the name of medicine of course, but I really don’t blame Jeff for no longer coming along to the visits. It’s just got to be uncomfortable and weird.

When we were up to see our daughter, we were given news during our family session that she is doing really well. We worked on a home living contract for when she is released and we learned that she has earned a pass home for the holidays! We are thrilled and busy getting the house ready and plans to do some fun things. It means a shortened work week for me as I will need to take Wednesday off and drive myself up to get her and bring her home. She’ll be here for four days and then I will return on Sunday and take her back. If all goes well while she’s here and if she maintains her levels when she gets back, she could be released by Christmas. That would be fantastic! The keys to everything, her success, her future, everything are in her hands. I pray she is strong enough to start taking back the reigns to her life. I pray.

Jeff & Justin have been putting up the Christmas lights, and doing a lot of yard work. I have been working slowly through my cold and this weekend I trained to present a class at the Arsenal this weekend. I will take the class over and begin presenting on occasion. I love that! I am also working on 2008 taxes and starting in on 2009’s. I hate that! Jordan babysat this weekend and worked on homework and confirmation studies. We all are gearing up for a big Thanksgiving with Jeff’s family like we do every year. Saturday night we were given tickets to see the Holiday Pops concert given by our local symphony and it included a Cirque de Soleil type of experience. The performers were called Cirque de la Symphonie (hit the play button when you get to the preview video) and it really was an enjoyable and free family experience! On the way home from the show, I developed cramps in my abdomen. They were reminiscent of menstrual cramps, but that couldn’t be–could it? I haven’t had one since January 2009 and my onco-man has given me two hormone tests to see where I stood with regard to menopause.

The first time the test came back, I was borderline menopausal and he chalked it up to that. The last time I saw him, we took another blood sample and that eventually came back saying I was pre-menopausal–not borderline. What changed? Now the cramps on Saturday night? I wondered if it could be something else, but Sunday morning came and Aunt Flo came back just in time for the holidays. I wish I could say I was happy about that. Quite frankly, I don’t know what to think. Honestly, I’m worried all over. I was just beginning to let my guard down. Maybe that’s why its here again. I have always felt that ever since that initial diagnosis, the extreme freakout I have been living in as a result of that diagnosis ever since, my daughter’s health and well-being, my husband’s job situation, our mounting financial obligations to a myriad of medical facilities, the monumental stress had instantaneously shut down that monthly cycle.

It is true that extreme stress, certain health conditions, and certain medicines can stop Aunt Flo from showing up, but now–after 9 months of not having one–she’s back. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? Does it mean that it has just taken me 9 months to finally calm down–really? I don’t have the stress load from school, my mastectomy is behind me, the chemotherapy has been called off, my tests are beginning to look ok, my daughter is somewhere I can locate her and she is doing well. My head is getting back in the game of life and looking forward to new beginnings with next year, my outward self-image is looking up, and my accreditation is behind me along with several other re-certification processes. Could my body just be signaling me that I have successfully chilled out enough to resume its normal functioning?

But…what if…this is a sign that something isn’t right? The Tamoxifen is supposed to shut down production of my estrogen which was feeding my cancer. Could it be that the meds aren’t working? Am I still producing estrogen in spite of the meds? If I’m still producing estrogen, then I’m still ovulating, then I’m still having periods. What does that mean in terms of my prognosis? Should I get my period back? Should the meds prevent that from happening? I am confused and worried. I have two calls in to my onco-man. I’m waiting for someone to call me back. Has this happened to anyone out there? Can anyone tell me what’s going on? Is this normal? Should I be concerned? Maybe my body has finally expelled the last of the chemo drugs. I don’t know. I wish the phone would ring…

 Implantology by Implant

2009 (14 tracks, 52:54)

dance/electronica