Blog

Dr. Biegert leaving Davidson Family Dentistry

After 5 years of treating and preventing dental disease at Davidson Family Dentistry. Dr. John Biegert will be leaving us effective September 3, 2020. We will miss his caring and competent skills and wish him the best in his new endeavors. We will all be working diligently to get all of his existing treatment plans into his schedule before he leaves.  We are reworking the schedule so that the treatments that cannot be finished before he leaves are absorbed by other dentists here in our office.

Plans Changed? What to do?

August & September plans changed again?  What to do?

Vacations                                                                    Cancelled

Concerts                                                                      Cancelled

State Fair                                                                     Cancelled

Festivals                                                                       Cancelled

Iowa – ISU Football                                                   Cancelled

Downtown Farmer’s Market                                   Cancelled

Iowa Cubs                                                                    Cancelled

Iowa Wild                                                                    Uncertain

Schools                                                                         Uncertain

Restaurants                                                                 Limited

Churches                                                                      Limited

Shopping                                                                      Limited

Public Gatherings                                                       Limited

Movie Theater                                                             Limited

Library                                                                          Limited

Museums                                                                      Limited

Polk County Offices                                                    Closed

State Capital                                                                Closed

Davidson Family Dentistry                             Open

With everything closed, uncertain, limited or cancelled, Davidson Family Dentistry is ready to fill your empty schedule.  Our facility is open with all Federal and State safety mandates in place PLUS many additional safety measures we have added for your protection.

This is a great time to redirect your budget and take care of yourself. If you have dental treatment that needs completed, now is the time!

Call us at (515) 279-3848 to schedule.

Re-Opening Announcement

On May 6, 2020, Governor Kim Reynolds allowed the resumption of routine dental services throughout the State of Iowa starting Friday, May 8, 2020.  Our community has been through a lot over the last few months, and all of us are looking forward to resuming some of our normal habits and routines. While many things have changed, one thing has remained the same: our commitment to your safety.

Infection control has always been a top priority for our practice and you may have seen this during your visits to our office. Our infection control processes are made so that when you receive care, it’s both safe and comfortable. We want to tell you about the infection control procedures we follow in our practice to keep patients and staff safe.

Our office follows infection control recommendations made by the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In some cases we have taken additional steps that we believe are prudent to protect patients and staff during this time that COVID-19 is still active in our state.

You will see some changes when it is time for your next appointment. We made these changes to help protect our patients and staff. For example:

• Our office will communicate with you beforehand to ask some screening questions. You’ll be asked those same questions again when you arrive at the office before entering.
• When you arrive for your appointment, remain in your car and call our office. Someone will come out to your car, take your temperature and ask some basic health questions.
• We have hand sanitizer that we will ask you to use when you enter the office. You will also find some in the reception area and other places in the office for you to use as needed.
• You may see that our waiting room will no longer offer magazines and newspapers, children’s books and toys and so forth, since those items are difficult to clean and disinfect.
• Appointments will be managed to allow for social distancing between patients. That might mean that you’re offered fewer options for scheduling your appointment and that you will wait in your vehicle until it is time for your appointment.
• We will do our best to allow greater time between patients to reduce waiting times for you, as well as to reduce the number of patients in the reception area at any one time.

We look forward to seeing you again and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice.

Thank you for being our patient. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.

Making Smiles Happen,

Davidson Family Dentistry

COVID-19 UPDATE!

We continue to operate under Governor Reynolds proclamation regarding delaying routine dental procedures until May 15th.  Both old and new patients are being seen with

• dental pain,
• conditions that could result in serious problems if treatment is delayed

We have attempted to determine patients who fall within those categories and call them. However, if you fit any of the above classifications and have not scheduled with us, please give us a call at 515-279-3848.

Monday – Friday we have a dentist scheduled for emergency patients.  We will not be doing any hygiene or cleanings of any kind unless pain is present.

Plans are being made for after we are allowed to return to doing more routine procedures.  We have already updated a number of our health safety systems (new UV air filtration system designed to kill viruses circulating through the HVAC system, deep cleaning of all surfaces in the office, face shields and/or N95 masks for some procedures, and new protocols for check-in).  We are exploring adding more hours and offering extended hours during the recovery period.  However, we will need to see what additional mandates or guidelines are provided by various governing authorities.

Be assured that we are all anxious to be of service to you again for your dental needs. We have missed seeing all of our patients and after this forced separation we are excited to see you again soon.

Covid-19 Update!

We continue to operate under Governor Reynolds proclamation regarding delaying routine dental procedures until May 1^st.  Both old and new patients are being seen with

• dental pain,
• conditions that could result in serious problems if treatment is delayed, or
• the completion of in-process major treatment started before the quarantine and who will be harmed if delayed.

We have attempted to determine patients who fall within those categories and call them. However, if you fit any of the above classifications and have not scheduled with us, please give us a call at 515-279-3848.

Monday – Friday we have a dentist scheduled for emergency patients.  Commencing Monday, April 20^th, we will also have a dental hygienist scheduled for emergency patients who need deep cleanings or periodontal maintenance and are having pain or discomfort in their gums.

Plans are being made for after we are allowed to return to doing more routine procedures.  We have already updated a number of our health safety systems (new UV air filtration system designed to kill viruses circulating through the HVAC system, deep cleaning of all surfaces in the office, face shields and/or N95 masks for some procedures, and new protocols for check-in).  We are exploring adding more hours and offering extended hours during the recovery period.  However, we will need to see what additional mandates or guidelines are provided by various governing authorities.

Be assured that we are all anxious to be of service to you again for your dental needs. We have missed seeing all of our patients and after this forced separation we are excited to see you again soon.

Important Coronavirus Announcement

Effective today Tuesday, March 17, 2020 our office will be closing until April 6, 2020.

At Davidson Family Dentistry our first priority is to our patients, staff, and community. We have been closely monitoring the COVID-19 situation.  The American Dental Association and the Iowa Dental Association have recently announced their recommendation that all elective treatment for the next 3 weeks be delayed.  We will follow this recommendation. Elective procedures include all cleanings and routine restorative work or any procedures that can wait 3 weeks without issue.

We will be seeing patients on a limited emergency basis by appointment. We will have a staff member in the office Monday through Thursday from 8-5, and Fridays 8-2, to take your calls (515-279-3848) and make the same day appointments for emergency cases.

If you have an appointment scheduled with us in the next 3 weeks, our staff will be reaching out to you to reschedule.

We will be updating our status through email, text, and FaceBook should the situation change.

We appreciate your understanding and support as we navigate this unprecedented situation.

Thank you,

Davidson Family Dentistry

Dr. Vonnahme leaving Davidson Family Dentistry

After 12 years of preventing and treating dental disease at Davidson Family Dentistry, Dr. Vonnahme will be leaving us effective March 13, 2020. We will all miss her kindness and caring, competent skills and hope that she continues to stay in touch.  We will all be working diligently to get all of her existing treatment plans into her schedule before she leaves. We are reworking the schedule so that the treatments that cannot be finished before she leaves are absorbed by other dentists here in our office.

We wish her all the best.

2019 Office Year in Review

Merry Christmas, Season’s Greetings, and Happy Holidays from all of us at Davidson Family Dentistry.  Here is our news of the year 2019.

New Employees

Many of you who came from our Beaverdale office in 2005 see our growth in size and all the new employees.  Of the original 10 employees that came with Dr. Dave from Beaverdale, we still have 7 of our original team.  One retired and two took new challenges.

Dental assistant Julyn returned to us in May from a brief employment excursion in a local orthodontic office.  “Sometimes what we want is right where we are” to quote a quasi-famous dentist that you all know.  Welcome home Julyn.  Originally, Julyn was from Fairfield, Iowa.  We were fortunate to recruit her to our office when she transplanted herself to the Capital City. Julyn works mainly with Dr. Michael.

Dr. Cameron Clause comes to us from The University of Iowa College of Dentistry.  Dr. Clause is originally from Mankato, Minnesota and had a temporary landing stop in Sioux Falls, South Dakota before finding us.  Like Dr. Michael, Dr. Clause is the son of a dentist.  To our good fortune, Dr. Clause is engaged to Dr. Holly Steger from Indianola, which is what brought him from Sioux Falls to Des Moines.

Dental assistant Meredith joined us in June from the same orthodontic office where Julyn had worked.  Meredith works mainly with Dr. Stemper.  Welcome Meredith.

Business assistant ReChelle joined us in June.  She is a registered dental assistant but enjoys the business side of the office.  She had experience in other offices before joining us part-time.

Dental hygienist Amber I. came to us in July.  Amber is originally from Algona and worked for one of Dr. Dave’s good friends in Algona before moving to the bright lights of Des Moines. We are excited to have her as part of our hygiene team.

Dental assistant and business assistant Chrislyn joined us in August.  Chrislyn works both in the front office areas and in the back helping out wherever necessary.

Business assistant Deb came to us in October.  Deb is experienced in dentistry and has returned to our profession from management in the food service and hospitality world.  Deb is originally from Arizona and had worked with assistant Aubrey at another office before joining us.

Dental assistant Nancy S. is our most recent addition.  Nancy joined us shortly after Dr. Dave’s retirement in November.  Nancy is an experienced dental assistant.  She works primarily with Dr. Biegert and has hit the ground running. She adds a bilingual assisting element with a fluency in Spanish.

Babies

Dr. John Biegert added the only girl for our Davidson Family Dentistry family in June.  Baby Alice was born in July to Dr. John and his wife Erin.  Alice joins her big sister Rose.  Congratulations Dr. John and Erin.

Dental assistant Liz gave birth in July to her first baby, a boy named Logan.  Congratulations to Liz and her husband Keith.  Logan is their first child.

Dr. Alyson Baier had a baby boy named Hudson in August.  Congratulations to Dr. Alyson and her husband Andrew.  Hudson is their first child.

Dental hygienist Sarah B had a baby boy named Carver in August.  Congratulations to Sarah and her husband Trent.  Carver joins his big brother Grady.

Dental hygienist Amber F. had a baby boy named Bodie in October.  Congratulations to Amber and her husband Matthew.  Bodie is their first child.

Dental assistant Amela had a baby boy named Kenan in October.  Kenan joins his big brother Vedad.  Congratulations to Amela and her husband Ricky.

New Equipment

This year we added a new Quattro as part of our instrument sterilization package.  As you know, equipment and instrument sterilization and the protection of your health is of utmost importance to us.  We have 3 autoclave type sterilizers and a whole host of other techniques and procedures with additional offsite monitoring to ensure our accuracy.  The Quattro helps with this mission.

We also purchased a new computer server and several new computer stations.  With state-of-the-art dental technology we must have the computer hardware to support our high tech dentistry.

New Training

Dr. Clause had training in dental implant placement.  Implants are the future of dentistry and we are pleased that the dentists at Davidson Family Dentistry are all active in implant placement and/or restoration.  The future is now at DFD.

All of our doctors, dental hygienists, and dental assistants spent well over 200 collective hours in continuing dental education this past year. We learned more on dental products and procedures as well as updates on sterilization, personal protection, HIPPA compliance, and our OSHA mandatory training.

Our business assistants were involved in insurance, HIPPA and OSHA training and other education to help you negotiate your dental visits as easily as possible.

Dr. Michael, Dr. Dave, Diane, and our team-leads spend countless hours learning and teaching to provide an office ”culture”  that is second to none.  The reason we are here is for you.

Insurance  Changes

In September, Davidson Family Dentistry joined the network at United Healthcare Dental.  In November we left the Aetna dental network, although we continue to process all insurance for our patients.

Expanded Functions

In 2012, the Iowa Board of Dentistry approved Dr. Dave to teach a class for dental assistants and dental hygienists in nine specific dental procedures: making temporary crowns, monitoring nitrous oxide, placement of periodontal dressings, placement and removal of dry socket medications, testing pulp vitality, final impressions, applying cavity liners and bases, occlusal registrations, and gingival retraction.  In 2015, the Board of Dentistry added two more procedures to the list of approved dental procedures: preliminary charting and removal of adhesives.  Dr. Dave was approved to teach the additional classes.

Dr. Dave has not only taught our own staff but he has had dental assistants and hygienists from all over the state.

In 2019, the Board of Dentistry revamped expanded functions and again Dr. Dave has prepared coursework for the changes.  Cementing temporary crowns and placement of a class 1 temporary fillings are the two new classes.

Dental Board

Many of you already know that Dr. Michael Davidson has served our state by being one of five dentists chosen by the governor to be part of a nine person Board of Dentistry overseeing and setting policy for Iowa in regards to dental practices and for the protection of the public.  After this current three year term, Dr. Michael has decided not to submit his name again to the governor.  With the retirement of Dr. Dave, his young family, and in general a busy life, he has decided to withdraw from this large commitment.

Retirements

Star (Lois) retired in August.  She had promised Dr. Dave she would work as long as he worked. When Dr. Dave announced his retirement, so did she.  Star has been Dr. Dave’s right hand since 1986 and she is already missed but we are happy and grateful for her many, many years of faithful service to our practice and our patients.  Good luck in your new adventures Star.

After 39 years, Dr. Dave (blog writer) retired from active practice as of November 6.  Dr. Dave had been looking for an additional dentist for a couple of years because he knew the magical 65 was approaching.  This last June we found Dr. Cameron Clause and knew he was the dentist for which we had been searching.  Dr. Dave is now the “permanent substitute”.  He jokes that “if we need a right-hander from the bull pen, I’m available”.  So far, he has been called in once in December.  He was very appreciative of the hundreds who came to his retirement party and others who called, emailed or sent cards with encouraging words.  Dr. Dave and Dr. Michael are the owners of the business, Davidson Family Dentistry, so Dr. Dave continues to watch over the patients and the business.  Even with his retirement, it is business as usual at Davidson Family Dentistry.

Holiday Wishes

Merry Christmas, Season’s Greetings, and Happy Holidays to you all.  We are very thankful and grateful you have chosen to place your dental health with us.    All 45 of us at Davidson Family Dentistry wish for you a blessed season and a healthy and prosperous 2020.

Dr. David Davidson

Sleep Apnea – It’s not just about snoring!

Sleep apnea is a potentially serious sleep disorder in which breathing repeatedly stops and starts during sleep.

There are three main types of sleep apnea,

• Obstructive sleep apnea, the more common form that occurs when throat muscles relax. These muscles support the soft palate, the triangular piece of tissue hanging from the soft palate (uvula), the tonsils, the side walls of the throat and the tongue. When these muscles relax, your airway narrows or closes which can lower the oxygen level in your blood. Your brain senses this and briefly rouses you from sleep so you can reopen your airway. You may not even be aware this is happening. This pattern can occur 5 to 30 times or more each hour, all night, impairing your ability to reach the deep, restful phases of sleep.
• Central sleep apnea, which occurs when your brain doesn’t send proper signals to the muscles that control breathing.
• Complex sleep apnea syndrome, also known as treatment-emergent central sleep apnea, which occurs when someone has both obstructive sleep apnea and central sleep apnea.

SYMPTOMS

The most common signs and symptoms of obstructive and central sleep apnea include:

• Loud snoring can indicate a potentially serious problem, however, not everyone who has sleep apnea snores.
• Episodes where you stop breathing during sleep and gasp for air.
• Dry mouth in the morning
• Morning headache
• Difficulty staying asleep (insomnia)
• Excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia)
• Difficulty paying attention
• Irritability
• Lack of energy
• Anxiety
• Sexual issues

RISK FACTORS

Sleep apnea can affect anyone, even children. But certain factors increase your risk.

• Excess weight. Obesity greatly increases the risk of sleep apnea. Fat deposits around upper airway can obstruct your breathing.
• Neck Circumference. People with thicker necks might have narrower airways.
• A narrowed airway. You may have inherited a narrow throat. Tonsils or adenoids also can enlarge and block the airway, particularly in children.
• Being male. Men are 2 to 3 times more likely to have sleep apnea than are women. However, women increase their risk if they are overweight, and the risk rises after menopause.
• Being older. Sleep apnea occurs significantly more often in older adults.
• Family history. Having family members with sleep apnea might increase your risk.
• Use of alcohol, sedatives or tranquilizers. These substances relax the muscles in your throat, which can worsen obstructive sleep apnea.
• Smokers are 3 times more likely to have obstructive sleep apnea than are people who have never smoked. Smoking can increase the amount of inflammation and fluid retention in the upper airway.
• Nasal congestion. If you have difficulty breathing through your nose, whether from an anatomical problem or allergies, you are more likely to develop obstructive sleep apnea.

COMPLICATIONS

Sleep apnea is a serious medical condition. Complications can include:

• Daytime fatigue. The repeated awakenings associated with sleep apnea make normal, restorative sleep impossible, making severe daytime drowsiness, fatigue and irritability likely. You may have difficulty concentrating and find yourself falling asleep at work, while watching TV or even when driving.
• You may feel quick-tempered, moody, anxious or depressed. Children and adolescents with sleep apnea might perform poorly in school or have behavior problems.
• High blood pressure or heart problems. Sudden drops of blood oxygen levels that occur during sleep apnea increase blood pressure and strain the cardiovascular system. Obstructive sleep apnea might also increase the risk of recurrent heart attack, stroke and abnormal heartbeats, such as atrial fibrillation. If you have heart disease, multiple episodes of low blood oxygen (hypoxia or hypoxemia) can lead to sudden death from an irregular heartbeat.
• Type 2 diabetes. Having sleep apnea increases your risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes.
• Complications with medications and surgery. People with sleep apnea might be more likely to have complications after major surgery because they’re prone to breathing problems, especially when sedated and lying on their backs
• Liver problems. People with sleep apnea are more likely to have abnormal results on liver function tests, and their livers are more likely to show signs of scarring (nonalcoholic fatty liver disease).

Consequences of sleep apnea may become very serious and affect quality of life. Davidson Family Dentistry offers you the opportunity to come in for a consultation and evaluation. Call our office (515-279-3848) to schedule an appointment to see if you would be a candidate for an oral device. If sleep apnea is diagnosed we may be able to fit you with a custom oral sleep appliance.

Source: Mayo Clinic

Vegan/Vegetarian Diets and Dental Health

Progressively more people have decided to move to a vegan or vegetarian diet for both health benefits and environmental impact. It is always a good idea to discuss large dietary changes with your dentist and physician first. They may be able to discuss with you the vital vitamins and minerals you may have to supplement.

Dietary changes can cause issues with dental health if not done carefully. Eating a plant based diet can change the pH balance in your body and mouth, which can cause an increase in tooth decay and gum disease.

A study published by The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that vegetarians are much more likely to suffer from tooth decay, more acidic salivary (spit) pH levels, and lower stimulated saliva flow than non-vegetarians.

What is it that is missing from vegan and vegetarian diets that is leading to this tooth decay?  Not getting enough vitamin D and calcium.

Vegans looking for vitamin D probably will need to look at supplements. Supplements can be challenging because often they are not as regulated as other health products. Keeping with larger brands is usually more predictable with supplements for getting what is advertised. Check the labels carefully, as some of the ingredients in the supplements may be derived from animals. Often vitamin D is derived from ground bones. Vitamin D2 and D3 from lichen are vegan friendly.

Vegan sources of calcium include: calcium fortified soy or nut milks, tofu, soybeans, soy nuts, bok choy, broccoli, collard greens, Chinese cabbage, kale, mustard greens and okra.

There are 3 main concerns when a diet lacks meat and dairy: snacking, acid, and a lack of re-mineralizing food products.

Vegans and vegetarians often include snacking to maintain their bodies need for energy due to the lower fat content in these diets. However, constant snacking is a huge problem for oral health.  The pH level in your mouth drops the moment food goes in and stays lower for 30 minutes. This creates a more acidic environment that wears down tooth enamel and provides a breeding ground for the bacteria that causes tooth decay. This acidic environment continues for 30 minutes. If you eat a snack every 30 minutes you will stay constantly in a lower pH. Neutralizing the acid found in plaque can be aided by adding garlic or ginger to your diet. It also helps to rinse your mouth with water after a snack or better yet brush and floss after each snack. Take a break between snacks and meals to give salivary glands, teeth and jaws the proper rest they need.

What further complicates this approach to eating is the type of food vegetarians and vegans are prone to snack on: carbohydrate-rich acidic fruit, or dry sticky fruits. This double-whammy of a constantly acidic mouth from snacking combined with even more acid from fruit is a recipe for weak enamel and cavities. Dried fruit, even organic, has a lot of available sugars for bacteria and can become a huge problem.

To counter this effect, snack less, avoid sticky fruits, choose from more firm, less acidic fruits and keep a bottle of water nearby to continually rinse your mouth. Seek out more complex carbohydrate choices such as whole grains, nuts, and whole fruits.

Research also suggests that meat, dairy and seafood help teeth in 2 ways. They may counteract acidity in the mouth, and aid in the remineralization of teeth that have been demineralized in an acidic environment. Nuts, green leafy vegetables and sea vegetables can help with remineralization.

Vegan and vegetarian diets can be wonderful in many ways. As with every diet make sure you follow it in a way that will help your health. Food choice is the most important drug you can take. Also consider supplements that will provide proper balance of vitamins and minerals lacking in whichever diet you choose.

Please remember that diet is a vital part of a person’s medical history. Patients should always inform their dentist and dental hygienist if they follow special forms of diet.

Maintaining healthy teeth is an important part of healthy living!

Davidson Family Dentistry