August 16th, 2008   -   Alex

Dear Dr. Ruiz, I am writing to you on behalf of my sister, Mary, who is a full-time resident of Lake Havasu City. She is a hard working single parent who is in desperate need of dental work. Her problem is she is low income and does not have dental insurance. I was wondering if you could provide us with information on where she could go for very low cost dental. I don't know when she last saw a dentist, but I do know that she has a tooth missing and also is in need of veneers on her front teeth. Any information you could provide me with would be helpful. Thank you.
Sincerely Diane Cartwright
619-445-6332

Hello,
If you are an established patient we can get you in immediately for needed restoration such as crown and bridge. Have you already come into our office? We can always place awaiting patients on a “quick call list” so if appointments become available we can get you in sooner. Thank you for being patient. I wish I knew what your name was as it only says “K” sent me the message. Please feel welcome to call our office directly for any questions. Dr. Ruiz 928-855-8333

Hi.
I had to wait 30 days for my first appointment with you. I know on the first appointment you take xrays & go over the work to be done. Nothing is really done on the first visit. If a person is having crowns or bridges, what is the wait period between appointments?

Dr. Ruiz:
I am in my forty's and have the most ugliest teeth. I also have gum problems. I am interested in getting veneers, if I can. Is there any reason why a person could not, as I have a very large space between my two front teeth, plus they are crooked, my bottem teeth are also crooked, I am still to this day very embaressed to show my teeth. I have thought of dentures but I am so scared to get them because my entire family has had to get them and always complain about how they hurt or how they affect their life - no teeth, etc. Could you give me a high/low dollar amount for vaneers so that I can start saving the money. I do not have insurance. I do realize you would want to visit with me before making such a call but if you could give some kind of idea of costs I can than make a decision of what really matters - if it cost to much I guess I'll have to live with these ugly teeth. I sure appreciate your time. Renee Noyes, Lake Havasu

Hi Renee,
I understand your concerns and I can offer you a consultation to address your cosmetic needs. Call my office and mention that we chatted online. Dr Ruiz

Hi,
I work with Cheryl Vigil and Sherry Jester at my office and they recommended that I contact you for a second opinion. They think that I am being charged too much for the work I have to have done. I have a price sheet from the dentist that I am seeing now & also a disk with my xrays & pics of my teeth. I need to know how much you would charge to view these & give me your opinion. Do you do RTC's? Thank you so much for taking the time to read my email! Debi Zockefoose

Hello Debbie,
Yes, we offer second opinions. Please call my office and we will be glad to assist you. 928-855-8333 Dr. Ruiz

Dr. Ruiz
You can delete the Message sent May 23rd I will have them send you info through the mail. There website is not that informative His material he sends direct to you is much more informative. Thank you . Nannette Murray

The Freedom Bridge Foundation thanks you for your support for our community. We are looking forward to banner waving times and the next “fun” event for the Foundation!

Hello Carlos and Debra,
Just wanted to say and hope all is well in the new office.

Carlos:
Got your card from Don Peters (it sure is a small world!). I thought you retried? It looks like you are working as hard as ever. Hope the new practice is going well and you are doing ok.
I did not have an email address so thought I would contact you here. Hope this gets to you.
If in Mammoth let us know it would be good to see you.
Take Care. Gregg

Hello Nannette,
I am sorry but we do not offer twilight sleep in our office. Come meet me and my staff in May and let's go from there. We use many other “day spa” type amenities to relax our patients.
See you soon, Dr. Ruiz

Dr Ruiz
While visiting my daughter in Denver she had gone to A dentist and was able to have everything she needed done in one session. I believe they put her in twilight sleep. She sufers from the same fear of dentists I have.
Iam very nervous about going to A dentist and it is such a big issue with me that I feel if I can go in and have it done all at once it would be the thing I would like to do. She had wonderful results and recovery was short.
She had to have 2 wisdom teeth removed, peidontal GUM scaling I believe they put in antibiotic packs in her gum area.
Is this something you would consider? I have a n appointment set up for May with you. My husband is alredy going to you.

Thank you for your time.

While on hold with your office I heard a advertisement regarding the treatment of bad breath.
Would you kindly expound on the various reasons & treatments? Besides my wife's needs, I
have some work of my own, so am interested in this along with your high-tech (KIND) way of
injecting Novocaine. [[ The last Dentist I saw said “It'll Always Hurt when I give you an injection” , and darned if he wasn't RIGHT!! ]]
Thank you for any information you might be able to supply. I can always be reached at the email i listed.
Regards, Scott Ellenwood

Hi Nannette,
Nd yag is absorbed by soft tissue not the tooth. We look forward to assisting your family with all your dental needs. See you soon. Dr. Ruiz

Dr Ruiz,
Thank you so much for your reply to my question. The reason for the question is in the earlier use of Laser I had heard there was some fear of fracturing or creating a small crack in the tooth with the pulsing. Now, I am just a layman and you know what that means we “hear things” not necessary by a knowledeable person but I wanted your professional opinion.
I have a dentist I have gone to for years and he is very good (I have a big fear of dental work and he does work with me)but it is impossible to meet the “right now” payments. I have Aflac Insurance but I have to wait another 7 mo for the major work and I am afraid if I wait that long it may be worse. He will not accept the Credit Care .
Thank you for the options. You will see my family soon.

Hi,
Cerec technology is here now in our office which means we can offer crowns in just one visit!

Kathy,
Thank you for the well wishes on our new office. We love it here! Best move we have ever made. The citizens have embraced us with such warmth and kindness. We couldn't be happier! Come visit us soon!..

Hi Nannette,
We use the Zap laser which is a ND Yag. I”ve been using lasers for soft tissue (gums) for many years now with outstanding results.

Dr Ruiz,
I am very interested in your Laser. Can you please tell me is it a pulsed or continuos laser and is it Co2 or Yag.?
Thank you

During a recent visit for a seriously infected molar (which Dr.Ruiz handled with second-to-none care) I mentioned my desire to quit smoking. Dr.Ruiz recommended Chantix.

After smoking for almost 41 years and having numerous failed attempts I am amazed what Chantix is doing. During the 1st week you are allowed to smoke while taking the medication. I found myself not able to enjoy a cigarette after day 2 or 3. The second week becomes your quit week… which I've just completed. I have found my desire to smoke seriously deminished and the urges easy to deal with when they do occur. The Chantix website supplies a wealth of information that people considering Chantix should read in depth. Understanding the addiction and how Chantix works is important to the success of quiting.

I may have lost that molar… but Dr. Ruiz may have saved my life. Thank you.

Hi,

Thank you for the great question! We are happy to report that in the near future we will be offering Cerec Technology in our office. Cerec is a great tool for dentists. For years, I have followed the research and science behind the technology and I know feel comfortable with the quality of the new version of Cerec. There are many hours of staff and dentist training that are neccessary first before patients can have Cerec crowns, onlays and inlays placed. Check back with our office web site for updates. Smiles, Dr. Ruiz For more information about Cerec I have attached information. See below.

CEREC is a dental restoration product that allows a dental practitioner to produce an indirect ceramic dental restoration using a variety of computer assisted technologes including 3D photography and CAD/CAM. The restoration of a tooth, (or teeth), can be performed in a single sitting with the patient. The cavity preparation is first photographed and stored as a three dimensional digital model and proprietary software is then used to approximate the restoration shape using biogeneric comparisons to surrounding teeth. The practitioner then refines that model using 3D CAD software. When the model is complete a milling machine carves the actual restoration out of a ceramic block using diamond head cutters under computer control. When complete, the restoration is bonded to the tooth using a resin. CEREC is an acronym that stands for Chairside Economical Restoration of Esthetic Ceramics.

History
The system is developed and manufactured by the Sirona dental technology company.

1980 Development of the CEREC method at the University of Zurich (W. Mörmann, M. Brandestini). 1985 Treatment of the first patient with CEREC (University of Zurich, material: VITABLOCS® Mark I). 1986 Siemens acquires the license to market and further develop the CEREC equipment. 1987 CEREC 1 is introduced (chief indication: single and dual-surface inlays; material: VITABLOCS® Mark II). 1990 International CEREC Symposium at the University of Zurich. 1991 Hydraulic machining drive replaced by an electronically controlled motor. 1994 CEREC 2 is introduced (range of indications: inlays, onlays, veneers). 1996 CAD/CAM Symposium to mark a decade of CEREC (University of Zurich). 1997 Sirona was formed as the result of the sale of the Dental Division of Siemens AG. 1997 CROWN 1.0 program for producing full-ceramic posterior crowns. 1998 Second material manufacturer partnership is formed (lvoclar, ProCAD®). 1998 CROWN 1.11 program for producing posterior and anterior restorations. 2000 CEREC 3 is introduced (compact Windows®-based CAD/CAM system). 2000 Third material manufacturer partnership is formed (3M Paradigm™ MZ100). 2002 More than 2,500 CEREC users in the United States and over 5,000,000 CEREC restorations placed worldwide. 2006 CEREC Celebrates 20 Years!

Technique
The treating dentist prepares the tooth being restored either as a crown, inlay, onlay or veneer. The tooth is then coated with a white powder, imaged by a 3D imaging camera and uploaded to the CEREC computer. Using the proprietary CEREC software in various modes, a restoration can be designed to restore the tooth to its appropriate form and function. This data on this restoration is stored in a file and is sent via wireless serial transmission or direct wiring to a milling machine. The restoration can then be milled out of a solid ceramic or composite block. Milling time varies from as little as four minutes to as long as twenty depending on the complexity of the restoration and the age of the milling unit.

Design Methods
The design software for the CEREC system has undergone significant changes in the years since the technique was first introduced by Professor Mormann. Currently, a dentist can choose from four major design approaches.

Database:

This design mode uses a library of tooth shapes that is stored on the computer to suggest the shape of the proposed restoration. Most commonly a recording of the bite registration (the imprint of the opposing or antagonist tooth in a wax like or rubbery material) is also added to the data the software can use when deciding the proposal. This data together with a 3D optical imression of the prepared tooth establishes the approximate zone with which the new restoration can exist. The proposed restoration can then be morphed to fit into this zone in an anatomically and functionally correct position. The dentist can then make correction to this proposal as he sees fit and then send it to the milling unit for completion.

Materials
The ceramic material has some properties that make it very suitable for use in dental restorations. It expands and contracts in response to temperature changes at a rate approximately half-way between those of enamel and dentin. It also wears away at approximately the same rate as enamel. There is also a composite material available which has some advantages in restoring smaller inlay type restorations.

Advantages / Disadvantages
The main advantage of the CEREC system is the possibility to create full ceramic restorations in one sitting at the chairside. This can be a tremendous convenience to the patient and reduce the number of local anesthetic injections needed. It also allows for greater efficiency in the dental office and ultimately reduce the costs to the dentist of fabricating and placing the restoration. One of the major draw backs is the need to powder the teeth prior to taking the optical impression. In addition, all ceramic restorations may not be indicated in all patients or on all teeth. The cost of obtaining this system is high and extra training is necessary to become proficient at this technique.