In our 3rd and final installment of how Jones Family Dental helps our patients with their dental insurance, we will discuss how to manage the problem of insurances not paying for needed patient services. Many times insurance claims aren’t paid right away. Sometimes they send a denial letter or sometimes...
Author Archives: Charles E. Jones DDS
How We Make Dental Insurance Work for You
Last month I tried to help answer some common questions surrounding the confusing world of dental insurance. This month I am going to start the discussion of what we, at Jones Family Dental, do to help navigate the ins and outs of your coverage. Whether you have insurance or not,...
Treating the Patient not the Insurance Company
Understanding dental benefits and insurance is challenging. There are as many different plans as there are contracts, and dental insurance is not the same as medical insurance. In fact, it’s not really “insurance” at all. Dental benefit plans are designed to share the cost of dental care. While most plans...
Lovely Breath for Valentines
February is the month of love. One thing that can definitely put a damper on Valentine ’s Day is chronic bad breath – Halitosis is something that mints, mouthwash or a good brushing can’t solve. Unlike “morning breath” or a strong smell that lingers after a tuna sandwich, halitosis remains...
Removing Barriers to Care: The Cost of Dentistry
I’ve written this before but there are three things that are barriers to care for patients today. The common barriers are fear, time, and finances. We at Jones Family Dental have solutions for the phobic patients where we utilize various techniques including sedation to improve patient experience. We offer modified...
WTF: What the Floss!
You don’t have to floss all of your teeth…..just the ones you want to keep. “The world’s most interesting man” Where it reads: I don’t often floss my teeth but when I do, I have a dental appointment in two days. Lying through your teeth doesn’t count as flossing. “Looks...
Expanding our Spheres of Empathy
Last month we had the opportunity to travel to Saint Lucia to perform a humanitarian service mission. This is the first time that I have been a part of something like this. As you may know we are fortunate to have a dental community that actively works with Medical Teams...
Removing Barriers to Care: The Cost of Dentistry
I’ve written this before but there are three things that are barriers to care for patients today. The common barriers are fear, time, and finances. We at Jones Family Dental have solutions for the phobic patients where we utilize various techniques including sedation to improve patient experience. We offer modified...
Holistic Dentistry vs Evidence Based Care: Is There a Middle Ground?
The terms holistic dentistry and biological dentistry are used interchangeably for dental philosophy that steps outside of the traditional evidence and research based approach to dental care and wellness. The American Dental Association defines it as: “encompassing scientifically unproven practices and products that do not to conform to generally accepted...
Holistic Dentistry vs Evidence Based Care: Is there a middle ground?
The terms holistic dentistry and biological dentistry are used interchangeably for dental philosophy that steps outside of the traditional evidence and research based approach to dental care and wellness. The American Dental Association defines it as: “encompassing scientifically unproven practices and products that do not to conform to generally accepted...
Oil Pulling for Healthy Teeth?
One of the things I love about living here in Ashland is the wellness focus that so many people have. There is a consistent emphasis by many people here to look to nature or “ancient medicine” to help achieve “balance” or “wellness.” These approaches are often tradition-based, intuitive, and/or based...
We’ve Come a Long Way Baby!
Happy February! If you are anything like me you’ve written 2016 a couple dozen times and are now just starting to get used to the idea of this being 2017. I was recently having a conversation with a patient regarding the comfort and technological advancements in dentistry. It brought me...
A Wish, A Gift, And A Goal 2016
The holiday season is upon us once again and as far as I’m concerned it can’t come quick enough. We find ourselves in a place this season where some communities seem to be more divided than united and the holidays are a welcome reprieve and opportunity for healing and progress....
The Worn Dentition Part 2
Well last month’s article demonstrated many different types of wear. I discussed some of the causes and referenced some of the long term risks and complications of tooth wear. This month I want to focus on solutions for some of these problems. First it is crucial to diagnose the causes...
Senior Project Turns Into Ongoing Charitable Dental Program Right Here in Ashland!
Thanks to the charitable organization, Medical Teams International, the Ashland Emergency Food Bank directed by Pam Marsh, and high school senior Ethan Jones (who happens to be my son), Ashland has a new program to provide free dental care for those with financial need. When my son was contemplating what...
Jones Family Dental
First, I wanted to wish everyone a happy Spring 2016. I want to thank our many loyal patients for their continued trust and faith in us. Many of these wonderful patients have left great reviews on our website, here are a few: Great people, excellent care! March 2, 2016 Jack...
A Beautiful Crown in One Visit!
I’ve heard the horror stories of people going to the dentist to receive dentistry 40 or 50 years ago and the dentist did not use local anesthetic. They talk about the process as though it was yesterday. These patients are always my favorite because they are often so pleased and...
Dental Trauma
I’ll never forget the call I received at the end of my workday about 6 years ago. I was just finishing up some chart reviews and was the only person left in the practice. I was literally walking out of my door when my cell phone rang. It was a...
What in the World is Periodontal Maintenance?
Let’s face it, sometimes when we hear medical terms and explanations it sounds like another language. Dentistry is no exception! One of the often misunderstood concepts in everyday dentistry is the differentiation between a regular cleaning (prophy) and a perio cleaning (periodontal maintenance.) A regular cleaning, or prophy, is a...
A Wish, A Gift, And A Goal
The season of giving is upon us. And no matter your religious, philosophical or political leanings, one thing is clear this time of year – people throughout the land tend to look for opportunities to help others, gather close the ones they love, and help themselves to wrap up the...
Preventative Dentistry: The Cheapest Most Effective Path to Wellness
I have always focused my practice of dentistry on a foundation of prevention. As many of you know, restorative dentistry is quite expensive. It requires time and risk of discomfort or complication. The easiest, best way to ensure dental wellness is through prevention. Preventative dentistry can save you tens of...
Drink More Coffee and Tea?
It’s well known that consuming multiple cups of coffee or tea a day is a sure way to stain your teeth. What you may not know, is that drinking coffee or tea in moderation can actually help you protect your teeth. So, if you’re a fan of the numerous fantastic...
Xerostomia: The Dangers of Dry Mouth
Are you a person that keeps a water bottle with you at all times because your mouth gets so dry? Do your lips smack or stick together when you talk? Does your mouth even burn a little sometimes? If you answered yes to some or all of these questions, you...
Jones Family Dental – Oil Pulling for Healthy Teeth?
Oil Pulling for Healthy Teeth? by Charles E Jones DDS One of the things I love about living here in Ashland is the wellness focus that so many people have. There is a consistent emphasis by many people here to look to nature or “ancient medicine” to help achieve “balance”...
A Quality Dental Experience: Part 3
We’ve spent quite a bit of time covering what a quality dental experience looks like. We’ve talked about the big three that come up: pain, cost, and convenience. We then discussed the rapport and philosophy often present in quality dental care. We will continue and spend a little more time...
What Does a Good Dental Experience Look Like? Part 2
After the big 3 questions of Cost, Schedule, and Comfort here is the single most important determinant to the quality of your care: Does my dentist and team have my very best interests at heart and can I trust them? Here are some ways to help you determine whether your...
What Does a Good Dental Experience Look Like? Part 1
Of late I find myself having lengthy conversations with new and prospective patients where said patients have had a “bad experience” with a previous dentist or dental procedure and are now skeptical of dental care or even dental science as a whole. In many of these cases, patients felt unsatisfied...
Improving your Dental Experience
A significant number of Americans do not visit the dentist for regular checkups because they are too fearful or suffer from dental anxiety or are simply too sensitive to get treatment comfortably. Sedation dentistry offers an excellent way to provide a safe, anxiety-free, dental experience to those who are afraid...
Invisalign®
One of the primary concerns people often have about dental braces is the aesthetic impact of the metalwork on their smile. Especially for adults, the prospect of wearing unattractive metal braces for long periods of time can be very discouraging. Invisalign® offers an almost invisible aligning system that straightens teeth...
Dental Trauma
First, we want to thank all those that made our open house/fundraiser such a success. Grizzly Peak Winery, Rogue Creamery, Patterson Dental and all the individuals that donated time were key to the success of our last event! Now on to our article: What do I do if I get...
Open House and Grand Re-opening Celebration and Fundraiser!!!!
All over town people keep asking, “What is going on at Jones Family Dental?” Well maybe not everybody, maybe just a few people. Okay maybe not even a few people other than our wonderful patients that have endured two weeks of limited appointments and construction. Well even if you’re not...
Dentistry, Meditation and Alpha-Waves: A Drug Free Approach to Dental Anxiety
Happy Spring! The weather is beautiful, the flowers are blooming and many of us are doing our spring cleaning preparation for a wonderful summer. I’m excited to share that we too will be doing some “Spring cleaning” by renovating our office. Stay tuned for events, promotions, and details announcing completion...
A Beautiful Smile
A beautiful smile is one of the most attractive physical characteristics. I believe that this is because a smile represents so much. A smile has been called the universal language of kindness; it can initiate a friendship or diffuse confrontation without any words. It has the ability to brighten someone’s...
Dental Wellness
Establishing wellness vs. a lack of symptoms: This emphasis has now permeated all facets of desirable healthcare. A lack of illness/symptoms is no longer considered health. In my practice I take it a step further and say that even diagnosing and removing symptoms is not health. I love the “nails...
Removing Barriers to Quality Dentistry
November was a fabulous first month at Jones Family Dental and I am having a great time getting to know numerous wonderful people. Fortunately and gratefully I am finding the patients I’ve met are quite receptive and appreciative of our approach to dental care. My philosophy centers around patient wellness...