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ANNOUNCEMENTS

2016: A Charlotte Dentist’s Year in Review

Wow, I just realized that it's April and that I never published this post about how amazing 2016 was for our Charlotte dental office!  Because it really was a great year in so many ways, and all because we have so many awesome patients. A Terrific Team For our patients who've been with us more than 5-6 years, you probably remember that there used to be frequent changes in our employees.  I admit, it is very difficult to be a good employer and to hire the right people.  But one of the wonderful things about 2016 was that we closed the year with almost all of the same great team members since the beginning of 2015, as both Rose and Charlene joined us early that year.   Megan has been our full-time hygienist for nearly 4 years, while Amber has been our part-time hygienist for 4 years and is moving closer to being full-time as her schedule fills up more consistently. Fara and I are also deeply grateful to each of them for all their hard work. The one new face in our office is Patty, who joins Fara at the front desk.  We'll be adding more information about her soon, but she's an Ohio native who moved the Charlotte in 2015 with her husband to be close to family and for the better weather.  She has more than 35 years of experience in all parts of the dental office except being a hygienist, from assisting her previous doctors to managing their whole office. Continuing to Grow One of the biggest stories in our practice this year was the expansion, which I wrote about here, although I still need to update it with some final photos. [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:28:14-04:00 April 23rd, 2017|ANNOUNCEMENTS|0 Comments
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Without Women, Dentistry Would “Grind” to a Halt

Sorry, but I just couldn't resist the opening pun.  :-D  In celebration of International Women's Day today, though, a quick article is in order.  Kind of like the article I recently wrote, Without Immigrants, Smiles by Payet Dentistry Wouldn't Exist. Women Account for Over 90% of Dental Workers My apologies for not having done a ton of research or having links today, but this point should be fairly obvious to anyone who's been to a dental office recently.  The overwhelming majority of people in dentistry are women.  I do have a few statistics and will try to find a couple more when I have more time: Out of approximately 150,000 dental hygienists in the USA, 98% are women Out of approximately 375,ooo dental assistants in the USA, 98-99% are women Out of approximately 195,000 dentists in the USA, 30% are women Basically, that means that dentistry, as a medical service and profession, would completely stop without women.  And everyone who comes to our office knows what an amazing group of women work for us.  :-D  Seriously, there is no way that we could do what we do without these awesome women. #ADayWithoutWomen To be clear, I consider myself a feminist, by which I mean the normal definition from Merriam-Webster's Dictionary:  a person who subscribes to the theory of the political, economic, and social equality of the sexes.  And because of that, I would have loved to close our office for today and participate in the marches and protests, just as I would have liked to do for #ADayWithoutImmigrants.  If any of our employees had requested time off to participate, we would absolutely have said yes.  It's difficult, though, because we have so many patients who depend [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:28:22-04:00 March 8th, 2017|ANNOUNCEMENTS|0 Comments
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A Day Without Immigrants Would Close Smiles by Payet Dentistry

Today is Thursday, February 16th, and across the United States, many businesses are either closing or restricting hours as a sign of solidarity and a protest against the actions being taken against immigrants by our government.  They're also a protest against the rising tide of racism and white nationalism that is seen in the news regularly today.  The Charlotte Observer has published a list of local businesses that are participating in the day of protest here if you want to support them. While we here at Smiles by Payet Family Dentistry are open as usual today, I would like to add my voice to this protest for 2 very important reasons: If it weren't for one particular immigrant, my family wouldn't exist. If it weren't for that same particular immigrant, I would have gone bankrupt and closed the practice around 2008-2009 during the Recession.     Who is this particular immigrant, who is so foundational to my life and work?  It's my wife, Faranaz Payet.     Fara's (and Our) Story Fara and her daughter, Natalie, were born in Pakistan.  Fara and her twin sister, who lives in New Mexico with her family, were well-educated and both earned their MBAs at one of the top universities in Karachi.  In 2002, after working with Deutsche Bank in Southeast Asia for 11 years, Fara came to the USA on a student visa, along with Natalie, who was 7yo at the time.  Fara earned her MBA degree at the College of William & Mary, after which she was hired by Wachovia Bank and stayed in the USA on an H1B visa.  They moved to Charlotte in late summer 2004, and Fara and I met (through Match.com!) in January 2005.  I [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:28:24-04:00 February 16th, 2017|ANNOUNCEMENTS|0 Comments
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Smiles by Payet Dentistry is Growing!

Smiles by Payet Family Dentistry is expanding! It's been a long time coming, but it's finally here. I'll be adding photos and updates here as things progress through demolition and construction. We're Closed for Labor Day & That Week for Construction Our office will be closed from today, Friday, Sept. 2nd, and reopen with just 4 rooms operational on Monday, Sept. 12th, as construction is anticipated to last through the end of Sept. or into early October. Since we will be short 2 rooms during the time, our schedule will be more limited, but we'll do our best to ensure everyone is taken care of in a timely manner. This is Phase 1 of 3 and includes the gutting and widening of my 2 main treatment rooms. This will greatly improve comfort for our patients and increase our efficiency, making all of your appointments faster and easier (and who's going to complain about that, right? :-) ), as well as adding a new portrait/video studio. I'm so excited about once again offering Complimentary Portrait Sessions for all of our Inman Aligner, Six Month Braces, Invisalign, and Smile Makeover patients! Phases 2 and 3 of the expansion will be mostly invisible to patients, as they will give us a bigger team break room and lockers, a laundry area for scrubs, and more storage, while Phase 3 will be an expansion of our dental lab and sterilization area and a last bit of additional storage. Phases 2 and 3 won't happen for another couple of years, though. It's Been a Good Space, but Cramped So here's how this section of the office has looked for the last 6.25 years, since we moved in on March 19th, 2010. [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:28:33-04:00 September 4th, 2016|ANNOUNCEMENTS|0 Comments
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We Do NOT Discriminate

Let me start off by saying that, while I’m not a native North Carolinian, I have lived here for almost 26 years and have deep family roots in the state, as my Mom was born in Lewisville and grew up in Albemarle (most of our extended family still live in the state, too), and my parents met in Chapel Hill during college.    I chose to start my practice here and live here with my wife and daughters.  Charlotte, NC has been my home for the last 18 years & will probably be our home until we die. However, since the passage of House Bill 2 by the NC Legislature and Governor McCrory’s signature on Wednesday, March 23rd, 2016, I am now deeply ashamed to say that I am from North Carolina.  And while I generally try very hard to avoid discussing politics within our practice, in person or in writing, I believe this is a time to stand up for what I believe is right, both personally and professionally.  The following article will describe why I believe that HB 2 is wrong and the NC Legislature should repeal HB2 immediately: Repeal HB2: It is Immoral & Discriminatory First and foremost, I believe that our state legislature and Governor have now signed into law a measure that makes North Carolina among the most discriminatory and anti-LGBT in the nation, and that is wrong.  The United States Constitution and long legal precedents have determined that ALL people are deserving of equal rights, not just the ones approved of by any single constituency or any religion.  As is often said, “Rights can’t be voted on; that’s why they’re called RIGHTS.”  But the NC Legislature and Governor have [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:28:53-04:00 April 4th, 2016|ANNOUNCEMENTS|0 Comments
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Charlotte Dentist Google+ Collections: Like Pinterest but Better

One of my favorite new(er) features on Google+ (yes, I'm still a huge fan of it and you can Circle or Follow us here: Smiles by Payet Dentistry) is Collections.  So what are Collections?  Easy: they're a way for users to organize their posts by topics.  This means that you can Follow either a Person (everything they share) or just certain Topics, so if you want to keep up with one person's photography but not their politics, you can just follow the person's Photography Collection (that's a link to my personal Photography Collection) rather than everything.  If you're the person creating a Collection, you can set it to either Private (just people in your Circles), Public (everyone can see it), or Custom (you pick who sees it).  So it's a very fun way of organizing your own content (makes it easier to find stuff later on for sure) or following specific topics from others.  And naturally, we have a bunch of them for our Page: Smiles by Payet Dentistry Collections.  But I'd like to feature a few specific ones. Foods to Make You Smile Hey, who doesn't love food, right?  As a dentist, there are things I recommend you avoid or minimize, like excess sugar and acidic drinks.  Other than that, no crazy fad diets or recommendations here, just photos of, and recipes for, yummy food that I like and that you might, too.  Want us to share your favorite recipe?  Send it to us and we'll add it! Kids' Dental Care Need tips on taking care of your kids' teeth?  When should you start a fluoridated toothpaste?  Are electric toothbrushes for kids good? How long should they brush?  Do amber necklaces help with teething? (Ummmm, NO, [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:28:57-04:00 March 10th, 2016|ANNOUNCEMENTS|0 Comments
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2015: Year in Review for a Charlotte Dentist

Hard to believe, but 2015 really is a wrap!  And what an amazing year it was for our practice, so I'd like to take a few moments and share with you some of what made 2015 such a fabulous year, along with a few challenges we faced and overcome, plus what we're excited about in 2016. A Changing of the Guard As I wrote at the end of 2014, we sadly said say good-bye to Rosie., our long-time dental assistant, who moved home to Arizona to be with her family.  And while we still miss her, we've gained 2 wonderful new assistants, Charlene and Rose, and I know that those of you who've met them know just how fortunate we are to have found them.  And you can check out the "About Our Team" page to learn a bit more about them and our other great team members.     With over 30 years of assisting experience, Charlene brings a steady hand, lots of hard-earned knowledge, and a kind heart.  She lightens my work especially with her knowledge of dentures and surgery, as well as knowing how to explain sometimes complicated procedures to patients in ways that make sense.               Rose is just a bit younger :-) and brings her youthful enthusiasm, energy, and desire to learn, as she just started assisting in the summer of 2014.  She's stepped up to the plate and does a terrific job with our orthodontic and CEREC patients especially.           While many of you know her, I really should formally introduce Amber, our part-time hygienist, who's been working with us for 3 years. She started her career as a hygienist in 2011. [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:29:02-04:00 January 22nd, 2016|ANNOUNCEMENTS|0 Comments
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2015 Halloween Candy Buy Back!

Indeed, it's once again to start planning for how to get rid of the massive pillowcases, plastic pumpkins, or who knows what else your kids used to collect ridiculous amounts of candy this coming October 31st, 2015, aka HALLOWEEN!  Because as much as I, a dentist who makes a living by fixing peoples' cavities, love the effects that candy has on everyone's teeth (no.....I promise I'm kidding, ok?  I'm trying to be dramatic here for effect - quit being suspicious!), I'm also a Dad and I have ZERO desire for my own daughter to be eating that much candy, just like you don't.  So what do you do?  Here's your answer! Yup, the perfect way to get your kids to WANT to give up that candy!  By donating their candy, they will receive $1 dollar per pound of wrapped, unopened candy up to $5 maximum.  At the same time, they will be helping to bring some smiles and happiness to our US troops serving abroad through the work of Operation Gratitude.  This non-profit organization collects the candy and divides it up as part of Care Packages that are mailed to those who are working to protect our country around the world. Not only that, we will offer Free Cavity Screenings, let the kids write a letter to the soldiers to be included with the candy, have fun with some crafts, get a goodie bag of fun stuff, and even enter a Raffle to win a Family 4-Pack of Movie Tickets.   Sunday, November 1st 1:00pm - 4:00pm 4601 Park Rd. #175, Charlotte, NC 28209 704-364-7069  

By | 2017-06-09T20:29:13-04:00 September 23rd, 2015|ANNOUNCEMENTS, Family dentistry|0 Comments
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Why I Don’t Buy Organic Food

You might be wondering why I'm writing about where I go grocery shopping, right? Good question! The reason is simple: as part of my blogging, I see myself as an educator about science and medicine. As they become increasingly complex, it's harder for the public to understand what's important, what's real, what's junk, etc. Also, as a passionate believer in the value of science and the scientific method, I am saddened and worried by the misinformation and myths that abound, especially on social media. That's why I write occasional articles current topics in science, medicine, and how they apply in our daily lives, just like I do about dentistry. Science vs. Pseudoscience I've already written several times about the difference between "real" medicine and "alternative" medicine, if you'd like to catch up a bit: Fluoride is Safe & Effective Water Fluoridation Does NOT Increase ADHD Holistic, Alternative Medicine is Usually Wrong Can Cavities be Cured? Do Silver Fillings Poison You?  Heck No, Dr. Oz! The most important point that I try to make in all of these articles is that real science has to follow strict rules, whereas pseudoscience and alternative medicine can pretty much make up anything they like.  Sadly, we're seeing a lot of the latter in current discussions about organic and GMO foods. Food Choice is Great Let's get some important points out of the way up front: I have nothing against organic foods, and if that's what you choose for you, that's great; As a dentist, I can obviously afford the higher prices of organic food - I choose not to do so. I have no tolerance for conspiracy theories.  If your primary argument against GMO foods is "Monsanto is evil," you've already [...]

By | 2017-06-09T20:29:32-04:00 April 12th, 2015|ANNOUNCEMENTS, Health & Food, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments
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Water Fluoridation Does NOT Increase ADHD

Alternately, this post could be titled: There is Good Science, Bad Science, and Plain Ole JUNK Science As a follow-up to my recent study on the incredible safety of fluoride in water and dental products, this is a perfect opportunity to talk about why science journalism, and even some research, can do far more harm than good by inaccurate reporting, or by reporting single studies without putting them in context of the total body of research on a subject, etc.  The article which I am rebutting here was published in Newsweek Magazine on March 10th, 2015 and titled: Water Fluoridation Linked to Higher ADHD Rates. As someone who was diagnosed with ADD (without hyperactivity) in 2005 ago at age 33, as well as being a dentist, this naturally caught my attention.  However, as I read through it, so many glaring errors jumped out at me, it became clear that the study is essentially meaningless, and the article DRASTICALLY overstated the conclusion.  There is one statement mid-way through the article that basically tells you how meaningless this study is on its own: But scientists were quick to point out that this is just one study, and doesn’t prove that there is necessarily a causal link between fluoridation and ADHD. They also noted a number of important limitations: Individual fluoride exposures weren’t measured, ADHD diagnoses weren’t independently verified and there may be other unknown confounding factors that explain the link. […]

By | 2017-06-09T20:29:36-04:00 March 23rd, 2015|ANNOUNCEMENTS, Taking Care of Your Teeth|0 Comments
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