NEW TECHNOLOGY UPDATE!
To assist in making life a little easier in your busy day, and to save on our natural resources, we offer email and text messages, along with telephone, for appointment reminders and office communication. By providing your email address, we can deliver messages from our office that pertain to you. These can encompass confirming appointments, appointment reminders, time to schedule hygiene therapy appointments and much more. In addition, it helps us to save on our natural resources and environment. By providing your cell phone number, we can set you up to receive text messages 72 hours in advance of your appointment. Additionally, we can send you a text 2 hours prior to your appointment. Not to overwhelm you with messages, we can customize your notification to include or exclude any combination of email, phone, text or snail mail.
Our office strives to not only provide you with the use of the latest technology to assist in your life, but to also incorporate systems that can save our resources and environment. This is one way in which we can save on the destruction of trees.
As always, we are here to personally assist or answer any questions you may have. Please contact our office at 509-464-3100, email Janet at janetl@hakesdental.com or Donna at donnas@hakesdental.com if you wish to add this service, need additional information or require other assistance.
YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR INSURANCE PLAN!
With the economic challenges facing all Americans, we are all seeing major changes in every facet of health insurance and dental insurance is not immune. And you need to be aware of them all.
The concept of dental insurance was born approximately 50 years ago, as a way to encourage and promote oral health care in a financial feasible forum. It was founded upon the platform to encourage and support oral health, maintain the patient's freedom to choose their provider and treatment, and provide economically-feasible working environments for the private practice. It seems that in today's society this has changed.
The challenge we are seeing with health insurance is an ever increasing premium, but with a continued erosion of what that premium dollar will buy. For instance, many plans rarely exceed $1,500 per year for the maximum allowable benefit. That was close to the same amount allowed back in the late 1960's and 1970's. In today's dollar, due to inflation, that yearly maximum should be close to $10,000 per year.
Insurance also sometimes gets confusing when there are multiple plans involved. The challenge comes in on how each insurance provider analyzes Coordination of Benefits or if it has Non-duplication of benefits. Most individuals assume that if both plans state a 50% coverage for a specific procedure then the procedure would be covered 100%. Some plans do work this way. However, many do not.
Another area of concern is exclusions. Initially non-existent, today there are numerous exclusions which are determined by the negotiation between the insurance company and the employer. For example, many plans do not cover any TMJ therapy or will not cover a pre-existing missing tooth.
Now, we know this is a lot of information to digest. So if you have questions, please ask us. Our office assists in utilizing your benefits towards the treatment you have decided is the best for your health and life.
Lastly, if you wish something was covered or are not happy with your current plan, bring those concerns to your HR Department and let your voice be heard!
TAMI AND BEN MILLER TO MENTOR STUDENTS!
Beginning in February of 2011, Tami and her husband Ben have each been mentoring an elementary student at Sheridan Elementary School. Mentorship begins by successfully passing a Washington State Patrol background check. Following this clearance, Tami and Ben began to serve as mentors to two elementary students. Their mentorship entails traveling to Sheridan Elementary School one day per week where their work includes: building a relationship, playing games, serving as a role model, acting as a sounding board and being a positive role model for their young person. The program will run through the academic school year and end for the summer break.
DR. HAKES AND HAROLD OFFER ORAL HEALTH PRESENTATION
In January, Dr. Hakes and her husband Harold, presented to the Whitman Elementary 6th Grade classes, Washington Oral Health Foundations 3-Point Play Presentation. 3-Point Play is a 45 - 50 minute PowerPoint and video presentation which teaches children that good oral health is necessary to have a healthy body, and how to prevent dental disease and injuries to the mouth with good oral hygiene, nutrition, preventive dental treatment, mouthguard safety, and by staying away from tobacco and other drugs. This is the 9th year that Dr. Hakes has been presenting the 3-Point Play Program.
DR. HAKES INDUCTED AS FELLOW!
On October 8, 2010, Dr. Hakes was inducted as a Fellow of the International College of Dentists at its 81st Annual Convocation in Orlando, Florida.
An honorary organization for the recognition of outstanding and meritorious service to the profession and community, the College presented Dr. Hakes with a membership plaque, a gold lapel pin and a gold key symbolic of this Fellowship for the conspicuous service rendered the art and science of Dentistry.
In an impressive cap and gown ceremony, 250 dentists from the United States were inducted into the College at this year's ceremony witnessed by hundreds of members and guests. The College, with representative chapters in more than 80 countries, has approximately 10,800 members worldwide, including about 6,500 in the United States.
The ICD was created in 1920 and formed to advance the science and art of dentistry for the health and welfare of the public, to bring together the world's outstanding members of the dental profession for the exchange of dental knowledge, and to encourage the growth of the profession worldwide.
The International College of Dentists is a leading honorary dental organization dedicated to the recognition of outstanding professional achievement, meritorious service, and the continued progress of the profession of dentistry for the benefit of all mankind.