Now Introducing Dr. Matt Wolfe
Dr. Matt Wolfe took an interesting path to dentistry — he started his professional career as an engineer, working in the auto industry.
“I liked working with my hands, fixing things and had a mechanical sort of mind. I thought engineering would be a good field for those skills,” he said.
But engineering didn’t turn out to be a good fit for Wolfe. He did not like sitting at a desk working on the same small part or problem for long hours.
“There was so much desk time, and limited interaction with people.” he said.
He’d always been interested in science, and medicine. He made the decision to try something else, and he decided dental school would be the right fit for him.
After dental school, he knew he wanted to move South. He looked at numerous practices, including Norge Dental Center in Williamsburg. “This was the office I liked best. I liked the attitude, and I wanted to be somewhere I could continue to learn and grow as a dentist,” he said. “I saw a few places that were focused on ‘get in and get out’ dentistry — but Norge was about building relationships with patients. I was excited that I could be doing patient-focused customer service and doing the best dentistry we can,” at Norge Dental Center,” he said. Today, Wolfe knows, “That’s what makes us who we are.”
As a dentist, Dr. Wolfe’s engineering background and mind tend to make him a bit of a perfectionist — and he readily admits it.
“I want it to be done the right way. I want the work I do to be so steady, and have perfect margins and just be the best for the patient,” he said. “We use all the technology possible for our patients, and take our time. We give them all the options for the best smile, and the best mouth possible.”
He thinks that most patients realize the difference, but he always talks to patients first about treatment options, explaining the what and the how of each step. “I hear from people all the time ‘that’s the first time someone has explained that to me.’ I think talking and spending the time is important,” he said.
“A personable dentist is going to explain things, and ask ‘Do you have any questions?’ I want them to know what’s happening in their mouths, and understand the technology we have now. I let them know what we offer, and we do a lot of our own work here — like implants. We just sit and talk until they are comfortable,” he said.
His pride in his work rests on doing what’s best for patients with a treatment plan that works for them. Sometimes that means going back to education on the basics. Dr. Wolfe always keeps in mind that patients didn’t go to dental school and tries to start any explanation with the basics.
Proactive dentistry is also a key part of working for Norge Dental Center, and it’s a philosophy that Wolfe feels is important for the patients’ sake.
“We want to take care of problems now and we don’t want to wait until something breaks. It usually breaks in a bad way and the fix is worse at that point — we may have fewer options,” he said.
Personally, he’s very proactive about his own health, eating a low sugar diet, running regularly with his dog Bentley and avoiding processed foods. He also loves sports, especially the NFL. Dr. Wolfe is engaged to a dental hygienist, Michelle, that he met at dental school in Michigan and the wedding is set for May 2012.
"Let our experience put a smile on your face."
Introducing Ryan Buckwalter
Back in the 7th grade, Ryan Buckwalter knew he wanted to be a dentist. His dentist “was a cool guy, and I thought he had a cool job. It was fun and never stressful. It also helped that I never had any cavities,” Buckwalter said.
But shortly after that, Buckwalter’s easy time in the dental chair came to an end. At the age of 13, he had an accident that resulted in facial trauma. The experience was scary; five of his front teeth got pushed up into his gums. As a result, he had to undergo extensive repair work.
“I saw a whole rotation of specialty practice dentists, from oral surgeons to endodontists,” he said.
Rather than dampening his enthusiasm for the profession, it actually made him more committed to it.
“It was important for me to see how much my mouth affected me. I thought about it every day. I was self-conscious about my smile, and I spent a lot of time in the dental chair getting work done,” he said.
Buckwalter said that today, those experiences have given him the ability to truly relate to patients and their fears. During the course of his dental work, he spent a lot of time with his mouth “under construction.” Although initial repairs worked well, changes to his teeth in his early 20s sent him back for more.
“For every new solution, I had to relearn how to speak and eat. Those are the kinds of things you take for granted — well, I don’t anymore.”
Buckwalter eventually decided on implants for his front teeth — and one of the compelling reasons for him was that dental techniques and materials have come a long way over the years.
“I believe a lot of the anxiety comes from people’s perceptions of what dentistry used to be, not what it is today. I like that dentistry is a dynamic industry — it’s rapidly evolving, and the profession has changed a lot. The materials are better and so are the techniques we are trained on.We even have lasers at work!” he said.
What Buckwalter takes away from his personal experience is that patients need to know how much their dentist cares.
“I make sure to talk with patients about their needs and expectations before any work starts.Trust is so important – and I know that from having been in the chair myself so many times,” he said.
“You want to connect with your patients and know where they are coming from – what makes them tense, and what kind of dental experiences have they had before they came to see you,” he said.
With his own children (5 year old twins and a 11⁄2 year old,) he’s seen that the first few experiences in the dental chair can set the tone for life.That makes him want to make each experience a great one for each and every one of his patients.
“I am so excited to be at Norge Dental Center. It’s an amazing place that’s focused on the patients, and everything is top quality.The staff is on the ball all the time, and we all receive training constantly to make sure the care we give our patients is the best,” he said.
Buckwalter is glad he pursued his childhood dream of becoming a dentist so he can connect with his patients. That career assessment test from back in 7th grade indicated he should go into carpentry — he’s saved that for a hobby instead. And the patients at Norge Dental Center are glad he did!
"Let our experience put a smile on your face."
Introducing Dr. Tim Johnston
Dr.Tim Johnston is working to put himself out of business. He firmly believes that if everyone got good preventive dental care, that he’d have no teeth to “fix.” The practice he created, Norge Dental Center, is known for taking a proactive approach, as well as an emphasis on education and technology. Dr. Johnston’s goal is for everyone to have “a comfortable mouth with teeth that last.”
When he started his practice in 1989, he decided to do it the best way he knew how.That’s why Norge Dental Center lives the mission he set for them over 20 years ago: to “look after the needs of our patients so thoroughly and with the highest level of competence, integrity, and care, that they will feel privileged to be members of our family of patients.”
Many people are fearful, to the degree that they come to appointments with apprehension and anxiety. Dr. Johnston and his staff know that this is common and one of their commitments is talking to patients first, before they ever ask for them to open their mouth:“Meeting the person before meeting the teeth helps us know what people expect, and what fears may need to be overcome.” No one is made to feel ashamed of prior dental neglect: “The past doesn’t matter — I can tell you what I see now, I can help look forward for you, and we can make this a positive experience where we take care of your teeth, your smile, and your entire self-image.”
Dr. Johnston’s staff are a big part of his success. He starts with high standards, trains his people well and then entrusts them to do their best for the patients.“I give my employees permission to be their best.We continually evaluate what’s new and what works the best for our patients,” he said. It works. Compared to the industry average, employees at NDC stay much longer so staff turnover is low. Continual training and opportunities for feedback help make them all key team members.
Dr. Johnston feels that “A dental license is nothing more than a license to learn more.” Continuing education is part of his life, with many days each year spent on new knowledge. After teaching dental students for 17 years at his alma mater, the Medical College of Virginia, he’s now focused on teaching at his growing practice. He’s mentoring his associates and staff, and sharing his unique philosophy.
When he’s not in the office, Dr. Johnston is helping coach the New Kent High School swim team that his children are on, as well as pursuing adventure sports. “The dentist part of me is careful and methodical, but the business owner part of me is always pushing the envelope,” he said. Pushing the envelope leads him to hobbies like scuba diving, skiing, snowboarding, car racing — it keeps him fresh and edgy.
With a daughter in college who plans on becoming a dental hygienist, and a 14-year-old son who plans on becoming a dentist, the next generation of Williamsburg patients are in good hands already! His 16-year-old son has his eye on the business world.
Dr. Johnston’s wife, Kelly, was a Labor & Delivery nurse at Williamsburg Community Hospital for over a decade. Kelly now helps coordinate functions for the team at Norge Dental Center: “We’re really very close with the people we work with, and I think that shows and creates a wonderful work environment!”
We love a contest and we happen to enjoy the iPad a lot too! So we thought a little giveaway where one of our patients could win, would be exciting for all of us! Refer a friend for a chance to win!
Oral cancer is indeed on the rise. At Norge Dental Center we utilize the latest technology in early oral cancer detection: The VelScope. It is a simple hand held light that identifies normal tissue from abnormal tissue. Anything abnormal then requires follow up. Oral cancer screening should be considered the standard of care during regular dental appointments. Here is a great video on the importance of oral cancer screening and who is at risk...
When found at early stages of development, oral cancers have an 80 to 90% survival rate. Unfortunately the majority of cases are found as late-stage cancers, accounting for the high death rate of about 45% at five years from diagnosis, and high treatment related morbidity in survivors.
- Found early, while still Localized (confined to the primary site), oral cancer's five-year survival rate is strong: about 83%. Only 33% of all oral cancer discoveries fall into this category.
- Found while Regional (after progressed to regional lymph nodes), the five-year survival rate drops significantly, to about 55%. Approximately 46% of all oral cancer discoveries are Regional.
- Found late, oral cancer's five-year survival rate is poor: approximately 32%. This accounts for approximately 14% of all oral cancer findings.
Clearly, finding oral cancer in its early stages is key to survival. Routine VELscope Vx examinations can improve the morbidity and mortality of oral-cancer, because the VELscope Vx system assists in early detection, potentially saving lives through less invasive, more effective treatment. We consider this a part of our standard of care here at Norge Dental Center
Here are some of the known risk factors:
- HPV virus (Human Papilloma Virus)
- oral sex
- family history of cancer
- use of alcohol
- use of illegal drugs
- history of eating disorders
- substance abuse problems
- smokeless tobacco
If you have not been screened for oral cancer ask your dentist/hygenist today about their screening methods.
My kids and I go camping along the Appalachian Trail a couple of times each year. We go with two of my best friends and their kids, hiking a few miles and then camping overnight with a big fire, spooky stories, tents, etc.
A few trips ago, one of the little girls in the group woke up in the morning and asked if we heard the bear in our camp the night before! It was then that one of my friends, who happens to be a neurologist and runs a sleep study center, informed us all that it was not a bear… just me snoring!
Well, I’ve known for a long time that I snore at night. But since my wife can sleep through anything (really!), it was never a problem in my house. But my friend the neurologist informed me that I also stopped breathing… several times… and for long periods of time. He suggested (no… insisted) that I come in for a sleep study to determine if I needed a CPAP machine to sleep properly.
Being ever the skeptic, I simply took home my own pulse oxymeter (which measures the concentration of oxygen in your blood through a finger) and set it up to record while I slept. Now it’s an important detail to know that we have played with this little machine in the office, and no matter how long someone holds their breath they can never get the reading below 90%. So that night I set the machine to only record a reading any time it went below 90. Much to my surprise, it recorded so many “events” that it ran out of paper! Sometimes it went into the low 80’s, which is very dangerous, and can lead to cardiac arrest!
So by now I was a believer. But the last thing I wanted to do was wear a scuba mask (CPAP) to bed every night. I will let the image below speak for itself.
That’s how I became interested in oral sleep apnea devices (aka: snore guards). As soon as I researched the best devices on the market I had one made for myself, and have been wearing it ever since.
It resembles a simple mouthguard, about the size of a sports mouth protector. It works so well I have noticeably better sleep, feel more rested in the morning, sleep completely through the night, and I barely snore at all anymore. My oxygen saturation is normal now also… all night long. And recently a new and improved model came out that promised to be even better! I have just sent my own models off to the lab to have one fabricated for myself.
Oral sleep apnea devices are appropriate for mild and moderate sleep apnea (a sleep study will determine that), or people with severe apnea who cannot wear a CPAP machine. Men and women are equally at risk, and respond equally as well. If you, or someone you love, snores or has documented sleep apnea, you might be a candidate for an oral sleep apnea device.
If you or your spouse keep you up at night snoring, or you find yourself completely exhausted even after a full nights rest you might be a great fit for an oral sleep apnea device. Contact us today to schedule a complimentary consult.
Curious to know more? Click here to watch Tim Johnston's video on Sleep Apnea.
Yes, it's true... Norge Dental Center, Timothy K. Johnston was on GMA Tuesday! Check out the real story here:
Workplace 101: Tory Johnson's Tips for How to Ask for A Raise
Know Your Worth, Don't Threaten to Leave If Things Don't Go Your Way
By TORY JOHNSON Workplace Contributor
Jan. 18, 2011 — Will you see an increase in your paycheck this year? There's a good chance, but don't go spending big bucks so quickly. In 2011, employees can expect median base increases of 2.8 percent, according to Hay Group and Buck Consultants. It's better than last year's 2.4 percent, but far from the pre-recession raises of the last decade that averaged 3.5 to percent. For starters, unless it's in your contract, a raise isn't guaranteed. Erin Edwards, owner of The Vintage Pearl, a boutique store and e-commerce jewelry business based in Tulsa, Okla., with about 30 employees, says she pays a very fair wage and there's often a cap on what some positions are worth.
Determine your eligibility. No matter how fabulous you are, many roles are only worth so much to an employer. Start by doing your research using online salary calculators such as PayScale.com and Salary.comto get a sense of the realistic range for your particular position. Ask your boss or the HR department for the range allotted for your role and where you currently fall on that spectrum. If you're already at the very top, you'll either have to go for a promotion to higher paying role, or you'll have to look elsewhere for a new job.
Focus on performance -- yours and your employers. Depending on your organization, raises may be based on your performance, the employer's performance or both. At food services giant Sodexo, Arie Ball, the VP of talent acquisition, says employees are ranked by immediate managers on individual performance, which determines the eligibility and amount of a raise, if any. On the flip side, Dr. Timothy Johnston of the Norge Dental Center in Williamsburg, Va., says his practice will grow 10 percent this year and he anticipates average raises as a result. If an employee expects greater than average, he or she must prove a contribution to the firm's bottom line.
Ask for benchmarks. Ask your manager directly -- and now is a great time for that conversation, at the start of the year: "What exactly must I do to earn a raise?" Focus on the specific benchmarks, milestones or results that you must reach or achieve in order to qualify for an average raise. Then ask what it must look like for a larger than average raise. Put it in writing and send a copy recapping the conversation to your boss and consider copying the HR department so everyone's on the same track. Refer back to that document every month on your own to be sure you're on track and continue to monitor your results. Each quarter you might review this with your manager, and be prepared to readjust based on company performance or shifting priorities. In the case of Dr. Johnston, the dentist, he's very clear about awarding above average raises to employees who impact his bottom line, which means referring patients, selling specialized dental services, and finding ways to cut costs and save money. Find out what your manage values most -- and then focus on delivering it.
Don't fake it. When you're at your wit's end, which many workers now are, it's so tempting to dangle the idea that you have another job offer as a way to get a raise. Don't do it unless you truly do have another role lined up because the boss may call your bluff. Avoid threats that you can't carry out.
Identify alternatives. If more money isn't an option, consider other forms of perks or benefits you might ask for: a spot bonus, a few additional vacation days, tuition reimbursement for some courses you'd like to take, or a better title which may help you as you pursue your next job.
Know your own bottom line. If you're not going to get the raise you believe you deserve based on your research, your performance, and your conversations with the boss then it's time to focus on a full-force job search. But don't quit because right now the reality is it's easier to find a job when you have one. Continue to do your job well and simultaneously look for new work. Finally, if you're out of work now and negotiating for a new job offer, there's natural concern of being low-balled because you've been out of work and you think employers know your options are limited. But rest assured that the savviest employers won't do this because they know if they severely underpay you, you'll jump as soon as something better comes along. Nobody wants a sullen worker on their hands. And while that may have worked two years ago, it doesn't work now. We're seeing a move away from employers getting rock bottom, cheap labor.Even if you've been out of work, you should negotiate the offer with confidence, not cockiness. If they've made you an offer, it means they've decided they want you. Thank them for the offer and let them know you're thrilled at the prospect of coming on board, and also ask if there's an opportunity to negotiate. Find out where this salary falls in the range budgeted for this role. Do your research quickly and even if more money isn't an option, perhaps there are other perks and benefits to negotiate.
Tory Johnson is the workplace contributor on "Good Morning America." Connect with her at Facebook.com/Tory or Twitter.com/ToryJohnson or www.womenforhire.com. Click here to return to the "Good Morning America" website. Copyright © 2011 ABC News Internet Ventures
Prior to modern dentistry and x-ray technology (pre1960′s), there was indeed a good deal of scatter radiation that went all around the head and neck. This was due to the type of machine used to produce the radiation.
This was called a point-source x-ray machine. It produces all the radiation at the very tip of the machine, and so radiation just went everywhere. That’s why the technician always stepped out of the room, and why patients wore lead aprons. The amount of radiaton was also quite high due to the inefficiencies of the xray film.
The first big improvement on all this was the “columnated” x-ray head. The point of radiation production (the point source) got moved to the back of the machine, then a leaded tube (the column) only let radiation out through the end of the tube. There is still some spread… but only a small degree. Think of the old point source like a stick of dynamite: it explodes and goes in every direction. The columnated version is more like a shotgun. There is still an explosion in the gun, but everything is directed down the barrel, with just a little spread once it leaves the end of the barrel.
It was at this point that the risk of radiation spreading to the rest of the body really diminished. So much so, that many European countries don’t even mandate the use of lead aprons in dental offices anymore. To prove this point to my staff several years ago, I taped paperclips to x-ray films, and stuck them all over the lead apron: in the neck area, chest, tummy, & lap. If any scatter radiation hit them, we would have seen an image of the paperclip on the film after processing them. We put that apron on a patient, and took the normal “full mouth series” of 18 x-rays. We then developed all the paperclip films, and found absolutely nothing on them.
The next improvement came in the sensitivity of the film itself. By improving the sensitivity, the film required less radiation to produce the same quality image. When I graduated dental school in 1989, the industry standard was “D” speed film. “Ecta” speed had just come out, and required even less radiation. Then came “F” speed, cutting the radiation in ambout half.
The next big thing was digital x-rays. The term “digital x-ray” is really a misnomer. The x-ray, or radiation, hasn’t changed (other than using less of it), It’s the sensor that is digital. By putting computer sensors in your mouth instead of x-ray sensitive film, we have been able to turn down the amount of radiation being delivered to 1/4 (yes, one-fourth) of what it was with D speed film. We switched over to digital x-ray sensors in my practice in 2003.
- Dental x-ray rooms only need the normal sheetrock on the walls to meet code for x-ray blockage (and that was for D speed film)
- Standing 6 feet away, with no barrier, also yields no exposure risk.
- One GI series in the hospital will give you more radiation than an entire life-time of dental x-rays.
- Traveling on an airplane across the country gives you the equivalent radiation exposure of 4 bitewing x-rays.
- Just being alive in the US exposes you to the equivalent exposure of 360 dental x-rays EVERY YEAR. (Natural background radiation)
- It would take 5,000 dental x-rays (again… with D speed film, so more like 20,000 films using digital) to get to the maximum safe YEARLY occupational exposure, as determined by the government.
- My lead aprons, at this point, are superfluous. Totally unnecessary. But I don’t want to take the time to explain all of the above to each and every patient… so we keep using them. The “flip-up” cervical collar Dr. Oz mentions isn’t even on my aprons. They got in the way of taking lower jaw x-rays, so we ordered aprons without them 20 years ago.
Hope that clears things up… according to Dr. Timothy Johnston, your Williamsburg Family Dentist!