Welcome to Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry

Dr. Vlachakis and her staff would like to welcome you to their office. Here at Healthy Smiles we look forward to meeting you and appreciate the trust you have placed in us. Our philosophy governs everything we do in our professional and personal lives. This is Dr. Vlachakis and her team's philosophy:

 Our number one priority: treating each patient as if they are family. We want only the best for our family and that is how we see each one of our patients.  We want our patients to be as comfortable as they possibly can. We are constantly striving to earn our patients' trust through open and honest two-way communication.  We know that every patient has different needs and it is our goal to meet those needs to the best of our ability.  We work with only one patient at a time, and do not double book. The time that you reserve with us is yours and yours alone. When we make your appointment, we are reserving a room for your particular needs. We ask that if you must change an appointment, please give us at least 24 hours’ notice. This courtesy makes it possible to give your reserved room to another patient who would like it. 3 missed appointments or last minute cancellations will result in loss of future appointment privileges.  We are constantly striving for the best outcome, realizing there can be unexpected outcomes. We will keep you informed at all times.  We are esthetics oriented, while maintaining optimum comfort, function and health. To help you look and feel your best.  We feel that our patient's time is valuable. When your appointment is made, a room is reserved, your records are prepared, and special instruments are readied for your visit. Except for emergency treatment for another patient, you can expect us to be prompt. We, of course, would appreciate the same courtesy from you.

At your first visit, we will take the time to get to know you (and you, us) and discuss your dental needs and desires. We will perform a comprehensive dental evaluation and gather information to make a customized plan for you. This will take approximately 60 minutes. Enclosed you will find our new patient information form. Please fill this out and bring a list of any medications that you take with the dosages.

We look forward to meeting you. Best Regards,

Dr. Amy Vlachakis Healthy Smiles Family Dentistry 820 Gessner Rd, Ste 1560 Houston, TX 77024 281.974.4494 www.healthysmileshouston.com Five Things Your Dentist Really Wants You To Know

By Gerald P. Curatola

1. DON'T WAIT UNTIL IT HURTS. This old adage continues to ring true today. So many patients procrastinate a checkup or treatment simply because of the false notion that "nothing hurts." Gum disease is a silent, painless, progressive killer of teeth that is also a source of chronic low-grade inflammation to the whole body. Tooth decay is also painless until it becomes deep, which puts you at risk of needing more extensive dentistry such as root canal treatment.

2. PLAN YOUR WORK AND WORK YOUR PLAN. Always get a prioritize treatment plan for the problems that may exist in your mouth. Even if you cannot do all the treatment at the same time, you can get your treatment done in order of importance or necessity to minimize incurring unnecessary costs from disconnected "patchwork" dentistry.

3. GOOD DENTISTRY MAY BE EXPENSIVE, BUT NOT AS MUCH AS BAD DENTISTRY. Many patients try to "shop" for the cheapest dentist they can find. Often, unknowingly these patients can find themselves in inexperienced hands or with a dentist who uses inferior materials or laboratory services, resulting in ill- fitting dental appliances or dentistry that fails or breaks down quickly.

4. CHANGE THE OIL. The same way that you need to maintain the new car that you drive off the lot, many patients finish large treatment plans and do not understand the need for follow up care or maintenance. Besides the obvious benefits of prevention, the periodic maintenance is a key component of your ability to function with any restorative treatment you may receive, and the ability of this dentistry to last - including fillings, veneers, crowns, implants and dentures.

5. THE HEAD BONE IS CONNECTED TO THE NECK BONE. In other words, your mouth is very much a reflection of what can be going on in the rest of your body, and the oral/systemic link is a major topic of interest in medical research. In fact, oral disease puts you at greater risk of diseases of your heart, brain, liver and pancreas to name a few. Conversely, good oral health is linked to living a longer and healthier life. Keep those regular dental checkups and cleanings.

* Retrieved from: http://www.doct oroz.com/blog/gerald-p-curatola-dds/five-things-your-dentist-really-wants- you-know How to Have Cavity-Free Dental Check-ups In A Nutshell: Use these sweets only in moderation (less than every day):  soda pop*  sugared drinks  coffee drinks with syrups or mocha added  sports drinks  chewing gum  breath mints & fresheners  cough drops  hard candy  sticky candy  Tums or other chewable antacids  chewable vitamin C  chewable aspirin *Sugar-free alternatives, which are safe for your teeth, are available for all of these.

*Keep teeth free of bacteria by brushing 2 to 4 times every day, and flossing every day. Use home fluoride treatment daily.

More Detail:  What are cavities? Cavities don't just suddenly appear. A cavity starts with a healthy tooth. Bacteria that is present on the tooth ("plaque") digest sugar and produce acid. With each and every exposure to acid (from the bacteria or from carbonated drinks), the tooth dissolves little by little, leaving a hole. The effects are cumulative; it takes hundreds of these small episodes to damage the tooth enough to where we can identify it as a cavity. In some people it takes many years for enough acid exposures to accumulate and make a cavity; in other people, it takes only a few months.  Sugar: Most people know sugar and cavities go hand-in-hand. What many people don't know is that it isn't just how sweet something is that makes it bad for your teeth. It's also how long the sugar is contacting your teeth. That is why soda pop, gum, mints, cough drops, hard candy, and sticky candy cause the most cavities. Antacids, chewable vitamins can also cause cavities.  Soda pop: Bad stuff for teeth! You get a double-whammy when you drink sodas. It is loaded with sugar, plus it's extremely acidic (the carbonation) and can dissolve tooth enamel directly, bypassing the bacteria. Even sugar-free sodas damage teeth due to the acid! If it's carbonated, it's bad for teeth. Drink healthier beverages.  Brushing, flossing: Cavities are caused when the bacteria on your teeth ("plaque") changes sugar into acid. The more often you brush and floss, the less bacteria you have on your teeth to produce these damaging acids. Brushing twice a day is a minimum; three or even four times a day is best. Floss once a day. If you are not flossing, the bacteria is never removed from between your teeth. This is why people with good brushing and eating habits can still get cavities between teeth.  Fluoride: Fluoride can help prevent new cavities, and reverse early cavities when they are just starting. In most cases, using a toothpaste with fluoride is adequate. In people with higher tooth decay risk, an extra fluoride supplement is needed. These fluoride gels or rinses should be used consistently once every day on an ongoing basis. Fluoride mouth rinses (Act®; Fluoriguard®) are available in most stores. Fluoride gels (such as Gel-Kam®; Prevident®) are available at your pharmacy desk, or at many dentist offices.  Dry mouth: Saliva is an important natural defense against cavity-causing bacteria in the mouth. The mouth can become unusually dry ("xerostomia") as a side effect of many medications, diseases, or simply with age. People with very dry mouths can be quite susceptible to cavities. Minimize this risk by taking frequent sips of water throughout the day. Don't suck on hard candy; the sugar will cause cavities very quickly. Use fluoride. *Doctor's note: "I have seen dramatic changes in those patients who follow not just some, but all of these guidelines religiously." Facts About Dental Insurance

As an optimal-care dental practice, we strongly believe our patients deserve the best possible dental services we can provide. In an effort to maintain a high quality of care, we would like to share some facts about dental insurance with you.

Fact #1: Your dental insurance is based upon a contract between your employer and the insurance company. Should questions arise regarding your dental insurance benefits, it is best for you to contact your employer or the insurance company directly.

Fact #2: Dental insurance benefits differ greatly from traditional medical health insurance benefits and can vary quite a bit from plan to plan. When dental insurance plans first appeared in the early 1970's most plans had a yearly maximum of $1000. Today, some 30+ years later, most plans still have an annual maximum of $1000. That the premiums remained the same, allowing for a conservative yearly rate of inflation, your yearly plan maximums should be in excess of $4500 today. Your premiums have increased, but your benefits have not. Therefore, dental insurance was never set-up to cover your services 100%; it is only an aid.

Fact #3: You may receive a notification from your insurance company stating that dental fees are "higher than usual and customary." Insurance companies never reveal how they determine "usual, customary and reasonable" (UCR) fees. A recent survey done in the state of Washington found at least eight different UCR fee schedules for one zip code in the Seattle area. The fees are somehow determined by taking "a percentage" of an average fee for a particular procedure in a geographic area. Average has been defined as "the worst of the best" or "the best of the worst." We do not provide average dentistry nor do we charge average fees.

Fact #4: Many plans tell their participants that they will be covered "up to 80% or up to 100%," but do not clearly specify plan fee schedule allowances, annual maximums, or limitations. It is more realistic to expect dental insurance to cover 35% to 50% of major services. Remember, the amount a plan pays is determined by how much the employer paid for the plan. You get back only what your employer puts in, less the profits of the insurance company.

Fact #5: Many routine dental services are not covered by insurance companies. This does not mean they aren't necessary or appropriate, just not covered. We feel that dental insurance can be a great benefit for many patients and want you to know we will do everything in our power to insure that you get every benefit dollar you are entitled to. However, the treatment we recommend and the fees we charge will always be based on your individual need, not your insurance coverage. The ultimate decision as to what will be done and how fast we proceed will always be made by you. Based on your decision, we will discuss the total cost of treatment and what assistance you can expect from your dental insurance. 'All arrangements are strictly between you and our office. The full responsibility for payment of services rendered will always be with you. Notice of Privacy Practices This notice describes how health information about you may be used and disclosed, and how you can get access to this information. Please review it carefully. The privacy of your health information is important to us. OUR LEGAL DUTY We are required by applicable federal and state law to maintain the privacy of your health information. We are also required to give you this Notice about our privacy practices, our legal duties, and your rights concerning your health information. We must follow the privacy practices that are described in this Notice while it is in effect. This Notice takes effect 10/11/2012, and will remain in effect until we replace it. We reserve the right to change our privacy practices and the terms of this Notice at any time, provided such changes are permitted by applicable law. We reserve the right to make the changes in our privacy practices and the new terms of our Notice effective for all health information that we maintain, including health information we created or received before we made the changes. Before we make a significant change in our privacy practices, we will change this Notice and make the new Notice available upon request. You may request a copy of our Notice at any time. For more information about our privacy practices, or for additional copies of this Notice, please contact us using the information listed at the end of this notice. USES AND DISCLOSURES OF HEALTH INFORMATION We use and disclose health information about you for treatment, payment, and healthcare operations. For example: Treatment: We may use or disclose your health information to a dentist, physician, or other healthcare provider providing treatment to you. Payment: We may use and disclose your health information to obtain payment for services we provide to you. Healthcare Operations: We may use and disclose your health information in connection with our healthcare operations. Healthcare operations include quality assessment and improvement activities, reviewing the competence or qualifications of healthcare professionals, evaluating practitioner and provider performance, conducting training programs, accreditation, certification, licensing, or credentialing activities. Your Authorization: In addition to our use of your health information for treatment, payment, or healthcare operations, you may give us written authorization to use your health information or to disclose it to anyone for any purpose. If you give us an authorization, you may revoke it in writing at any time. Your revocation will not affect any use or disclosures permitted by your authorization while it was in effect. Unless you give us a written authorization, we cannot use or disclose your health information for any reason except those described in this Notice. By state law, your authorization is valid for 90 days. To Your Family and Friends: We must disclose your health information to you, as described in the Patient Rights section of this Notice. We may disclose your health information to a family member, friend, or other person to the extent necessary to help you with your healthcare or with payment for your healthcare, but only if you agree that we may do so. Persons Involved In Care: We may use or disclose health information to notify, or assist in the notification of (including identifying or locating) a family member, your personal representative or another person responsible for your care, of your location, your general condition, or death. If you are present, then prior to use or disclosure of your health information, we will provide you with an opportunity to object to such uses or disclosures. In the event of your incapacity or emergency circumstances, we will disclose health information based on a determination using our professional judgment, disclosing only health information that is directly relevant to the person's involvement in your healthcare. We will also use our professional judgment and our experience with common practice to make reasonable inferences of your best interest in allowing a person to pick up filled prescriptions, medical supplies, x-rays, or other similar forms of health information. Marketing Health-Related Services: We will not use your health information for marketing communications without your written authorization. Required By Law: We may disclose your health information when we are required to do so by law. Abuse or Neglect: We may disclose your health information to appropriate authorities if we reasonably believe that you are a possible victim of abuse, neglect, or domestic violence or the possible victim of other crimes. We may disclose your health information to the extent necessary to avert a serious threat to your health or safety or the health or safety of others. National Security: We may disclose to military authorities the health information of Armed Forces personnel under certain circumstances. We may disclose to authorized federal officials health information required for lawful intelligence, counterintelligence, and other national security activities. We may disclose to correctional institution or law enforcement official having lawful custody of protected health information of inmate or patient under certain circumstances. Appointment Reminders: We may use or disclose your health information to provide you with appointment reminders (such as voicemail messages, postcards, or letters). PATIENT RIGHTS Access: You have the right to look at or get copies of your health information, with limited exceptions. You may request that we provide copies in a format other than photocopies. We will use the format you request unless we cannot practicably do so. You must make a request in writing to obtain access to your health information. You may obtain a form to request access by using the contact information listed at the end of this Notice. We will charge you a reasonable cost-based fee for expenses such as copies and staff time. You may also request access by sending us a letter to the address at the end of this Notice. If you request copies, we may charge you $0.83 for each page up to thirty (30) and $0.63 for each page after thirty, a $19 administrative fee to locate and copy your health information, and postage if you want the copies mailed to you. Radiographs (x-rays) will be duplicated at a reasonable fee. If you request an alternative format, we will charge a cost-based fee for providing your health information in that format. If you prefer, we will prepare a summary or an explanation of your health information for a fee. Contact us using the information listed at the end of this Notice for a full explanation of our fee structure. Disclosure Accounting: You have the right to receive a list of instances in which we or our business associates disclosed your health information for purposes, other than treatment, payment, healthcare operations, and certain other activities, for the last 6 years, but not before April 14, 2003. If you request this accounting more than once in a 12-month period, we may charge you a reasonable cost-based fee for responding to these additional requests. Restriction: You have the right to request that we place additional restrictions on our use or disclosure of your health information. We are not required to agree to these additional restrictions, but if we do, we will abide by our agreement (except in an emergency). Alternative Communication: You have the right to request that we communicate with you about your health information by alternative means or to alternative locations. You must make your request in writing. Your request must specify the alternative means or location, and provide satisfactory explanation how payments will be handled under the alternative means or location you request. Amendment: You have the right to request that we amend your health information. Your request must be in writing, and it must explain why the information should be amended. We may deny your request under certain circumstances. Electronic Notice: If you receive this Notice on a Web site or by electronic mail (e-mail), you are entitled to receive this Notice in written form. QUESTIONS AND COMPLAINTS If you want more information about our privacy practices or have questions or concerns, please contact us. If you are concerned that we may have violated your privacy rights, or you disagree with a decision we made about access to your health information or in response to a request you made to amend or restrict the use or disclosure of your health information or to have us communicate with you by alternative means or at alternative locations, you may complain to us using the contact information listed at the end of this Notice. You also may submit a written complaint to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. We will provide you with the address to file your complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services upon request. We support your right to the privacy of your health information. We will not retaliate in any way if you choose to file a complaint with us or with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Privacy Officer: Dr. Amy Vlachakis Telephone: (281)974-4494 Email: [email protected] Address: 820 Gessner Rd Ste 1560 Houston, TX 77024