I went to see Dr. Dorfman for a  tooth whitening.  The procedure  took about one hour, but I was listening to music the whole time and it was really relaxing.   The best part about it was that I didn’t have to take any bleaching trays home with me. Everything was done at the office and that was what I was looking for.  My teeth looked nice and white. I cant wait to go back in a few months to get it done again before my sons wedding day.

S. S., Middle Village, NY
12/19/2008

Yelp review (filtered)

Yelp needs Help!

Our company, a world leader in Internet Dentistry, is not impressed with Yelp.  Their algorithm favors reviews written by users with lots of Yelp friends and who write lots of Yelp reviews.  Older, more successful people are therefore likely to be dramatically underrepresented in Yelp reviews.

The conclusion:  Yelp reviews may be valuable to young people seeking an opinion about less expensive things.  I wouldn’t buy the stock.

My review is colored by the fact that Dr. Dorfman and his team saved my smile and so much more. Dr. Dorfman took an active interest in my overall health, eventually introducing me to his own physician, who helped me lose weight and be the healthiest I’ve been in my adult life. The wait times are minimal, the staff is courteous and professional, and the work is carried out expertly and efficiently. But it’s the personal touch that makes this the place to go.

–Bridget G.

Yelp Review (filtered)
8/21/2011

Sharon McLaughlin, Clinical Assistant Professor at NYU College of Dentistry since 1997, is primarily involved in the clinical component of the dental hygiene curriculum.

Sharon draws upon her decades of work experience in private specialty dental practices to guide the student’s development in the areas of professional judgment, treatment planning and clinical skills.  Prior to joining The Center for Special Dentistry, Sharon worked in the dental practices of Dr. Terry Bellman and Dr. Neil Cohen.

Sharon’s skills, in combination with didactic training, enhance the students’ ability to deliver optimal comprehensive dental hygiene patient treatment.

Canker sore treatment with a medicine that offers pain relief.

Canker sore treatment with a medicine in an acidic solution that offers pain relief.  A canker sore is also known as an Aphthous Ulcer.  1) This patient came in with severe canker sore pain on the left side of her tongue.  2)  The applicator for the medicine.  3)  Following initial application of the medicine the tongue was retracted to reveal a broken tooth that likely caused the initial irritation that caused the canker sore to develop.  4)  Post op view of the tongue after the rinsing out the canker sore medication.  The patient felt immediate pain relief from the canker sore.

Before and after photos of a Smile Makeover performed with Dental Implants in a patient who suffered from Dental Fear.

Smile Makeover for a 32 year old woman who suffered from Dental Phobia.  Before and After photos.  Nine teeth were extracted and six dental implants and crowns were placed.  Cavities in teeth were treated with teeth-colored Bonding.  The surgeries were performed using IV (intravenous) Conscious Sedation.

How to Treat Tooth Decay, a Cavity, Below the Gum.

This patient had a very large cavity underneath an old dental crown.  #1 – following crown removal this tooth had decay (cavity) below the gum. Gum inflammation can be seen. The soft tooth structure is the remaining cavity. Photo #2 – an Endodontist then performed root canal. Photo #3 – the root canal was reshaped into an oval to prevent rotation of the cast post & core. A gingivectomy was performed at this time to remove this excess gum tissue before taking an impression for the cast post & core. Photo #4 – the cast post & core with a Kaitlyn Loop with a long piece of dental floss tied and knotted through it. The Kaitlyn Loop will help prevent accidental swallowing of the post & core if it is dropped in the back of the mouth. Photo #5 – the cast post and core is cemented in the tooth. The interocclusal clearance is checked. Photo #6 – a Periodontist then performed crown lengthening periodontal surgery.  A marginal incision was made on buccal side and a 4 mm submarginal incision was made on the lingual side. A distal wedge was removed. Interproximal soft tissue was removed and then 1-2 mm of osseus reduction was performed on the mesial, distal, and lingual sides of the tooth. 4-0 chromic gut sutures were next used. A provisional cap was cemented with temporary crown cement and then periodontal packing was placed around the tooth and temp.

Dentists and doctors are increasingly reliant upon the internet in general and search engines in particular.  The power that search engines exert upon private practice has reached an alarming level.  Free speech exists for an anonymous “patient” to criticize a doctor online while search engines employ censorship without explanation.  Many doctors don’t know that they are breaking the law in many states by offering discounts on coupon websites.  It is time for a national discourse on internet dentistry and medicine.

Censorship is a timely topic as evidenced by the recent SOPA-inspired Google and Wikipedia blackout.

In America, great power incurs great responsibility.  On the internet, Google yields great power.  Some would argue it is a monopoly deserving the fate that befell Microsoft in the prior decade in the U.S. and Europe.  Google should therefore avoid corporate policy that puts it at risk for government intervention.

“Democracy… Is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty… Is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.”

– Benjamin Franklin

Google is not Coke.  Coke’s secret formula has no impact on millions of American businesses; Google’s secret algorithm does.  The “review” sites like Yelp or the bottom-dwelling, Doctoroogle, are not any better.  Yelp’s algorithm only displays “reviews” if the “reviewer” has written many other “reviews” and has many Yelp friends.  This tends to censor (“filter”) reviews from older, busier and probably wealthier consumers whose opinions may matter most in certain market segments like luxury items.

I suggest the following definitions:

Censorship – the illegal delisting of a website without proper notification and without access to an impartial review board.

Suspension – the legal delisting of a website with proper notification and with access to an impartial review board.

Search engines like Google should properly:

1) send notification to a website that it deems worthy of delisting and provide contact information for an impartial review board.

2) create an impartial review board where the delisted website owner may adjudicate the delisting without disclosing it’s algorithm.

“Review” sites need to be held accountable for how “reviews” are shown online.  Bad “reviews” should not be disproportionately displayed in order to force a doctor to become an advertiser.  I understand the issue of Free Speech on the internet but extortion is extortion.  Doctors have rights too.

Removable Dental Braces Before and After Photos.

This patient underwent orthodontic treatment for twelve months with an Orthodontist.  At the end of treatment the front teeth were reshaped by a Cosmetic Dentist to create symmetrical teeth shape and size.  People should consider straightening their teeth with dental braces before beginning cosmetic dentistry.

Your mother was right.  Sugar is bad for your teeth.  Like it or not, that fact doesn’t change the older you get.  We’ve seen many adult patients who are relatively cavity-free for years suddenly develop new cavities.   The reason?  Most likely, it’s because they’ve been eating more sugar.  Chocolate, candy, cakes, soda and ice cream are not the only culprits.  Sugar also comes from foods we consider good for us, like fresh fruit, juices or honey.  Complex carbohydrates like potatoes, pasta and bread become the simplest form of sugar – glucose – once you digest them, and they also can wreak havoc on your teeth.

Far be it from us to suggest that you avoid sugar or starch completely.  Rather, consider adopting a few new habits when you indulge.  Mom may have always told you to eat slowly, but when consuming sugar or complex carbs, it’s actually better to eat more in a shorter time.  (Sorry, Mom.)  So, if you’re inclined to savor sweets until they literally melt in your mouth or snack on crackers throughout the day, don’t.  The longer these foods stay in your mouth, the greater the potential for cavities.

Once you’ve gotten your sugar or starch fix, remember to clean your teeth.  While flossing and brushing are the gold standard, they’re not always practical.  If you’re on the go or don’t have a toothbrush, floss or mouthwash handy, no worries.  Simply drink a mouthful of water.  And, if you’re partial to fruit juices, water will also clean the citric acid they leave behind on your teeth.  Water isn’t just a convenient way to clean your teeth, it’s also essential for daily nutrition (the recommended average for adults is 50 ounces per day), so you’re getting a double benefit.

By making these simple changes, you can enjoy your favorite sweets and carbs while reducing your potential for cavities.  Mom will be so happy.

–Mary Di Landro