Smile Club

When was the last time you went to the dentist before you had a toothache?  Let’s be honest – a lot of times we wait until there’s a problem before we go in.

We see it here.  Almost every day.  New patients calling, wanting to come in today.  Because today, their tooth hurts.  Problem is, what could have been fixed 6 months ago with a simple filling now needs a crown.  Or a root canal.  Or worse.  If thinking about doing to the dentist conjures up images of pain and dollar signs, believe me we know.  We see it way too often.  Because often we don’t get to see you until it’s too late.

We want to change that.

A few years back, most of our patients had dental insurance.  They were the lucky ones.  But one by one, our patients are telling us they don’t have insurance anymore.  Or if they do, it’s not covering what it once did.  We get that.  And it stinks.   The problem is, your teeth don’t care if you have insurance or not.   You are still using them every single day.  Just like the tires on your car.  They take a beating, and you don’t really notice until there’s a problem.  But just like your tires can get worn and need replacing before you notice, your teeth can develop problems before you notice them.  And with worn tires, it’s easier to patch or replace the tires before they blow out.  The same is true with your teeth!  And you use them every single day!

The truth is, you CAN usually get away with not fixing your tires for a while.  Until they blow out.  The same is true for your teeth.  What is ok today and tomorrow may be ok the next week and month and year, until it isn’t.  I know.  I’ve seen it too often in our office.

 But I’ve also done it myself.  I got a lot of fillings growing up, and I just assumed they were good forever.  After I grew up and was on my own, even though I had dental insurance, it didn’t occur to me to go in for regular checkups.  Until the 4^th of July one year.  The evening of the 3^rd my tooth started hurting when I bit a piece of cheese.  I later found out that my old silver filling wasn’t tight to the tooth, and long story short, a cavity had formed under the old filling, and had gotten bigger and bigger until it hit the nerve.  On a long weekend.  The 4^th was a Friday, and by mid-day I couldn’t drink water or even breathe through my mouth without pain.  Since I didn’t have a dentist, I didn’t have anyone to call, until Monday.

 After Monday’s root canal, I felt immediately better.  But what a weekend.  It turns out, if the broken filling had been caught at a regular checkup, I may have avoided the later root canal and crown.  I definitely would have avoided the holiday weekend pain.

Now I know:

1.        It pays to have a dentist before you need one.  If I had a dentist, I would have had someone to call, even on a holiday.  Patients of record in our practice can always call, 24/7.  We hope you never have to, but it’s nice to know if you need us, we’re just a phone call away.

2.       We don’t always know there’s a problem until it’s too late.  You can’t see a cavity developing under a filling, but in my case a routine dental exam would have caught it.

3.       I could have saved myself a lot of pain and expense by taking care of the problem before it became an emergency.

We can’t fix a problem unless we know about it.  And that’s why we want to see you, every 6 months.   With a Smile Club membership, your twice a year checkups are FREE!

Imagine what it would be like to go to the dentist in total comfort because nothing hurts.  To catch any developing problem early.  And to finally not worry about the cost.  For Smile Club members, there is no additional cost for emergency exams during office hours either.  So you don’t have to worry – we’re always there when you need us.

Finally, there’s no excuse not to come in before it hurts.

We designed our Smile Club 3 years ago, right here at Lake Shore Family Dental.  Now we’re seeing similar programs pop up in dental offices all over the country – and for good reason.  Our Smile Club is very popular.  Our goal has always been to make it affordable for you to come in for your checkups.  We think we’ve done it with our Smile Club.  Individual Membership is only $25/month.

You’ll get all these benefits:

·         FREE!  Two checkups a year, with all necessary x-rays

This isn’t the typical “checkup for $1” offer.  A typical appointment for a new patient is a truly comprehensive examination.  Usually we take more than the “two bitewings” that others advertise.  We take all necessary x-rays, which means a complete x-ray series for new patients so we can establish a baseline.

·         FREE!  Regular teeth cleanings and fluoride treatment twice a year

Did you know that the ADA recommends a dentist-provided fluoride treatments every 3-6 months for all ages?  They consider it standard in preventive care.  But many insurance companies that say they pay 100% for preventive care will only pay for fluoride for children, and only once a year.  Smile Club members don’t have to worry about any insurance limitations for standard preventive care – cleanings and fluoride treatments are 100% free, twice a year.

·         FREE!  Emergency exam and x-ray during regular office hours

We hope you never have to use this, but it’s nice to know we’re there when you need us.   Accidents do happen, though, and we see a fair number of kids who have had unfortunate run-ins with floors, sippy cups, or siblings’ heads, to name a few.  We’re just a phone call away.  Members pay nothing for exams and x-rays during regular office hours.

·         20% Discount.  All other dental treatment done in our office

We all know dentistry isn’t free.  As a benefit of the Smile Club, we made it 20% more affordable for you.

·         No insurance middle-man.

No claims to file, no worry about denials.  Smile Club has all your dental services covered.

All for as long as you’re a Smile Club member in good standing!

Remember how you felt when you finally found your trusted mechanic for your car, your hairdresser, or other advisor.  With your Smile Club membership, you’ll finally find your dental advisor!

“Dr Hong is just so kind and gentle.  He explains every procedure needed.  He is genuinely concerned about your comfort.  He makes sure he can do whatever is needed to insure a pleasant visit.  I can now sleep the night before my next appointment.  I now can walk in and out of Dr Hong’s office smiling.  I now have a dentist I can refer to my family and friends.  Thank you Dr Hong and staff!!  You are the Best!!”  Linda Thackston

“Normally visiting a Dentist’s office is anything but pleasant.  However the exact opposite is what I experienced at your office.  This tells me that you & your staff are something special, also your costs are very reasonable.”  Doris Beall

“Dr. Hong and his staff are the only dental professionals I will go to.  They treat me as if I’m their only patient, and that makes me feel special.”  Rhonda P.

“I have never felt this comfortable in a dental office like yours.”  S.H.

“The entire procedure was much more pleasant than I had ever imagined and I would highly recommend you to anyone in need of dental services.”  Ralph A.

Now you can join the hundreds of other happy patients who call Lake Shore Family Dental their dental home, for only $25/month. 

Isn’t $25/month worth it for the peace of mind of having a dentist you can trust, when you need him?  Don’t worry, there’s no long contract.  You can cancel your membership at any time, just by letting us know.

Don't wait- call the office at 410-317-8420 today, or request an appointment on-line.

P.S.  Dr Hong is fond of saying “the periodic exam is the most important service I provide.”  Why?  Because of our focus on prevention at Lake Shore Family Dental.  We can’t prevent problems if we don’t know about them.  And having a periodic exam every 6 months is only way to do that.

P.P.S.    Even if you have insurance you can join our Smile Club.  We will pass the 20% discount on to your insurance company (and no-charge for checkups).  Call us at 410-317-8420 to activate your membership.