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All Posts in Category: News

Brenda – Happy Birthday

Did you Know?
– Brenda has been with us the longest! She worked for Dr. Bietz for 32 years and has been with Dr. Smith ever since.
– Loves gardening, cooking, and being outdoors
– Is an avid gym rat (look at those muscles)
– Enjoys spending time with people
– Would love to travel to London
Happiest of Birthdays Brenda, we sure love having you here and appreciate all you do of us!

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Happy Birthday Dr. Smith!

  • He loves being a dentist! He truly enjoys doing dentistry and says he has the “best job ever”
  • Last year he became a first time Grandpa!
  • His next big dream is to become a Pilot
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Clinic Update! – Resume of Routine Cleanings and Elective Dental Procedures

 

Dear Dental Family and Friends,

 

According to Arizona State guidelines and the American Dental Association we are pleased to announce that starting Monday, May 4th, we will resume routine cleanings and elective dental procedures. Our practice revolves around the health and well-being of our patients, community and team.  We are not taking the current Coronavirus problem lightly and wanted to make you aware that we are stepping up our efforts to care for you and your families during this unsettling time.  The State of Arizona and the ADA have approved dental procedures.

 

In addition to our normal safety and cleaning procedures, there are a few things we would like to make you aware of.

  • Our team has done a full and complete review of safety protocols and standards and will be taking additional precautions to preserve their health/well-being as well as yours.
  • We are thoroughly sanitizing and deep cleaning all areas of our office down to the smallest of details.
  • We are asking all patients to wash their hands or use sanitizer before and after appointments.
  • We will take all patients temperatures and provide an ADA/ CDC approved oral rinse prior to all dental treatment.
  • We will be practicing social distancing, by asking you to call us when you arrive for your appointment and remain in your car. Our patient lounge has been modified for social distancing and is available if higher temperatures make it uncomfortable in your vehicle or simply by personal preference.
  • Team members temperatures are checked daily and will self quarantine if any symptoms suggesting possible infection arise.
  • We are asking all patients to fill out a questionnaire to inform us of potential risks and will make changes to treatment as necessary.
  • We will provide masks and eye protection upon request.
  • We are following both local and national updates very closely in order to make adjustments as needed.
  • We willingly provide a clean restroom facility for your use but ask you kindly to try and use the restroom before your appointment to conserve cleaning supplies and limit social risk.
  • We will offer appointments and provide front desk services chairside where permissible to limit congestion.

 

I want you to know that our Tempe Family Dentistry team is truly amazing and they are anxious to see you all again.  Please contact us with any questions, concerns, or helpful suggestions at 480-839-0330. We appreciate your trust and want you to feel as safe here in our practice as you are in your own home.

 

Warm regards,

 

Dr. Smith and Team

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Tempe Family Dentistry – Emergency Update For Patients

Dear Dental Family and Friends

Our practice revolves around the health and well-being of our patients, community and team.  We are not taking the current Coronavirus problem lightly and wanted to make you aware that we are stepping up our efforts to care for you and your families during this unsettling time.  At this time we have been advised by the CDC and American Dental Association to stop routine cleanings and elective treatment for the next couple of weeks. We are, however, available for non elective treatment and emergencies, so please don’t hesitate to reach out if you are experiencing pain, infection, or swelling during this short time.  I will be on-call throughout and will be available for teledentistry consults as well, even for regular questions! I can be reached by calling the office at (480) 839-0330 and following the prompts.

Please feel free to share our contact information with your family and friends that may have issues as well, we will be able to see all dental emergencies, even if they are not patients of record.

In addition to our normal safety and cleaning procedures, there are a few things we would like to make you aware of.

  • Our team has done a full and complete review of safety protocols and standards and will be taking additional precautions to preserve their health and well-being as well as yours.

  • We are thoroughly sanitizing and deep cleaning all areas of our office down to the smallest of details.

  • We are asking all patients to use hand sanitizer before appointments which we will provide.

  • We will be practicing social distancing.  We will be asking you to call us when you arrive for your appointment and remain in your car.  We will call or text you when your room is ready so you don’t have to wait in the patient lounge.

  • Please forgive us for not shaking your hands at this time as we try to decrease transmission of any illness.

  • Team members that exhibit any symptoms of illness have been asked to self-quarantine should it become necessary.

  • We are following both local and national updates very closely in order to make adjustments as needed.

  • We willingly provide a clean restroom facility for your use but ask you kindly to try and use the restroom before your appointment to conserve cleaning supplies, and limit your exposure.

 

I want you to know that our Tempe Family Dentistry team is truly amazing and they are anxious to see you all again.  In the meantime, please take care of yourselves (and your teeth!) and try not to watch too much TV. We look forward to seeing you in our office again soon.

Warm regards,

Dr Smith and Team

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How Much Does The Average Dentist Make A Year

Studying and choosing to be a dentist is not that easy to deal with, but some people are very dedicated to be one of the best dental practitioners not just because they love the job but because the the average salary of dentists is very reasonable too.

There are more than 113,000 dental professionals in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Stats (BLS). That’s not unexpected given that the majority of Americans are checking out the dentist at least once a year: The CDC discovered in 2014 that 62% of Americans in between the ages of 18 and 64 had actually visited a dentist in the past year. That’s close to the portion (64%) of Americans who have dental benefits.

That means a constant stream of business for dental practitioners, and it sometimes adds to the occupation’s high incomes. Let’s take a better look at the job landscape for dental experts and the typical wage of a dentist.

The Average Wage of a Dentist: The Fundamentals

According to the BLS, the 2018 mean annual income for dental practitioners was $175,840 each year. The number of dental practitioners is forecasted to grow by 19% between 2016 and 2026. That’s much higher than the 7% projected development rate for all fields.

The top-paying state for dental practitioners is Delaware, where the annual mean wage for dental professionals is $264,440. Other high-paying states for dental experts are Alaska, Rhode Island, Minnesota and New Hampshire. The top-paying city location for dentists is Amarillo, TX, with a mean annual wage of $279,580. Other high-paying metro areas for dental experts are Longview, TX; Fond Du Lac, WI; Reno, NV; Sebring, FL; and New Haven, CT.

Dentists delight in a high income and can feel great that their field will grow in the years to come. Ending up being a dentist is no walk in the park. According to the American Student Dental Association, the average student debt for all indebted dental school graduates in 2016 was $285,185. Approximately four out of 5 2018 dental school graduates reported financial obligation levels of more than $100,000. Given that 1990, the amount of debt that dental students handle has actually increased fourfold.

The Average Salary of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons

Not remarkably, oral cosmetic surgeons tend to make greater incomes than non-surgeon dental experts. The mean yearly wage of a maxillofacial and oral cosmetic surgeon is $242,370 each year, $116.52 per hour. Amongst the highest-paying states for oral cosmetic surgeons are California, Nebraska, Indiana and Maryland. Among the highest-paying city areas are Washington-Arlington-Alexandria; Chicago-Naperville-Elgin; Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim; and Grand Rapids-Wyoming.

The Average Wage of a Orthodontist

Orthodontists, too, earn greater salaries than dentists. The average wage of an orthodontist is $225,760 each year, $108.54 per hour. The greatest paying state for orthodontists is Massachusetts. Other high-paying states are South Carolina, North Carolina, New Jersey and Iowa. The top-paying city location for orthodontists is Boston-Cambridge-Nashua. Other high-paying city locations are North Port-Sarasota-Bradento (Florida); Sacramento-Roseville-Arden-Arcade; New York-Newark-Jersey City; and Washington-Arlington-Alexandria.

The Average Salary of a Prosthodontist

The average wage of a prosthodontist is $191,400 annually, $92.02 per hour. The BLS lacks state- and metro-specific information on prosthodontist pay. Prosthodontists build oral prostheses that complete spaces in patients’ jaws or teeth.

The Typical Salary of a Dentist

The typical wage of a dental hygienist is $75,500 per year (or about $35 per hour, presuming a 40-hour work week). The top-paying state for dental hygienists is Alaska, where dental hygienists make a yearly mean wage of $114,320. Other high-paying states for dental hygienists are California, Washington, Arizona and New Jersey. The top-paying city location for dental hygienists is Fairbanks, AK, where the annual mean wage in the occupation is $113,190. Other high-paying city locations are San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA; Anchorage, AK; San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward, CA; and Santa Rosa, CA.

The Typical Salary of a Dental Assistant

Dental experts tend to have a good work-life balance and make high incomes. However, ending up being a dentist involves a significant investment of time and cash. Those who train to become experts such as oral cosmetic surgeons and orthodontists stand to make over $200,000 each year.

For affordable dental plans and Tempe Dentist, don’t hesitate to give us a call or visit us at our clinic.

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Birthday Do-over

Sometimes our days get a bit crazy and birthdays come and go.  Today was a special day for Koby and Dee, they got a do-over birthday celebration where they were able to celebrate when everyone could be apart of the party!

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Balloon Dentist

Over the weekend Dr. Smith had the wonderful opportunity to take the Mattison family for a hot air balloon ride to honor their beautiful daughter Hannah.

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Dr. Michael G. Smith IV Sedation

IV Sedation

Dr. Smith and Ana attending their annual member meeting in Las Vegas, getting additional course work in IV Sedation dentistry. While there, they made friends with other assistants, one from CA and one from AZ!

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Staff Bonding Time

Last month we were able to spend some time together as a staff outside of the office. Top Golf was a great place to relax, let our hair down, indulge in yummy food, and just have fun. Dr. Smith was a great teacher showing lots of novices how to hold a golf club while Jennifer and Ana had a face off on who our MVP was to be. Ana celebrated with a Target shopping spree! Thank you Dr. Smith for a memorable night.

 

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End of the Year Celebration

Dr. Smith surprised us with an end of the year party. We ate fabulous food together and Dr. Smith spoiled us with gifts of appreciation for such a wonderful year.

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