Apr 18, 2022
At FDA, our goal is to provide the best oral care possible and that starts as soon as our patients walk in the door. Our front desk team is there to help our patients immediately feel comfortable and welcome. We are so lucky to have such a great group at the front desk, and we are excited to welcome a new member to the team – Amy! You’ve likely experienced the compassionate care of Sue, Marlene, Lauren, and Amy as they help you get checked in for your appointment with Dr. Brunacini or Dr. Karagiorgos, answer your questions, and make sure you are scheduled for your next check up. They are at the heart of our practice and we are so grateful for their hard work and commitment to patient care. In honor of these wonderful women, let’s hear what they have to say about their work:
Sue
“Over the past 30 years I have seen many changes in dentistry. I am so happy to work with doctors who keep us current with the latest techniques and technologies.”
Sue is our office manager as well as a hygienist. Known for her excellent listening and communication skills, Sue is always available to help patients learn about the treatment options that will meet their needs. She has been a part of our team for close to thirty years!
Marlene
“I love seeing our patients and building a connection with them. I try to help them feel at ease right away, from their very first phone call and when they walk in the door.”
Marlene has been working in the dental field since 1990. She completed business school in New York and brings much experience and knowledge to our caring front desk team!
Lauren
“Our team is what makes FDA feel unique beyond other practices. I have the pleasure to work with people who are good humored, warm hearted, and great educators.”
Before joining FDA, Lauren worked in social services as a supervisor at a homeless shelter and as an administrative specialist at a psychiatrist’s office. Providing patients with support and care fills Lauren with a sense of accomplishment and pride.
Amy
“There is an amazing group of people at FDA. Everyone is willing to jump in and help each other out.”
Always interested in the dental field, Amy became a member of the front desk team in 2022. Prior to joining FDA, she worked as a cosmetologist for 17 years, as well as a preschool teacher and certified nursing assistant.
Thank you, Sue, Marlene, Lauren, and Amy! We are appreciative of all you do to help our practice run smoothly and our patients get the best care possible!
If you have questions or need to schedule your next check up, please give us a call at 207.781.5900. We look forward to helping you have a healthy, happy smile!
Aug 17, 2020
Safety and infection control has always been a top priority for us in providing you with the highest quality oral health care. Perhaps you’ve seen our staff wear PPE for certain appointments in the past, but today per the guidance of the American Dental Association (ADA), the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) we now wear them for every appointment. It’s a change for all of us and does shift the feeling of the environment we create for your care. A big part of our oral health care practice is to make sure that as our patient you are comfortable, your needs are accommodated, and you feel connected to our compassionate team of professionals. That can feel harder now that our team is behind layers of equipment, but even if you can’t see our smiles, please know that we are so happy to answer questions and want to do everything we can to help you feel safe and comfortable in our office. Many of you have questions about our PPE, so we thought we’d give you a peek behind the mask and tell you about the components of our protective equipment and what it’s like for us to wear them. We spoke with Dr. Brunacini to learn more.
1. What are the elements of the PPEs you and your staff wear?
We have always practiced “universal precautions” in the clinical areas which include gloves, surgical masks, and safety glasses. Now, because of the nature of dentistry and how coronavirus is spread, we have taken additional precautions to manage what is called the “droplet precautions.” These additional precautions include surgical caps to cover our hair, N95 masks, face shields, shoe covers to protect our shoes, and washable full gowns. We are basically covered head-to-toe! There are even plexiglass barriers installed at the front desk for safety.
2. How does wearing the PPE affect your job?
Of course, wearing many layers of PPE can get pretty hot, so the A/C is running colder than before. Also, I find the need to change gowns for each appointment slows me down in checking patients throughout the day. The biggest challenge is maintaining the relationship aspect with our patients. Feeling buried in PPE can create a challenge for us to help our patients feel comfortable and trusting, especially when we are meeting someone for the first time. Patient comfort is one of our top priorities, so we are all doing our best to find ways to communicate our compassion.
3. I hear there is a shortage of PPEs in our country, is FDA concerned?
During the closure, it was very difficult to obtain PPE through the normal supply chains. There were some days that I simply searched for ways to obtain the PPE, and didn’t know when it would even arrive as a lot of PPE was backordered. It does seem that the PPE production backlog has improved slightly, which is allowing us to get the necessary PPE.
4. What do I need to do to help protect you and your staff during my appointment?
We are requiring all patients to arrive wearing masks until they are escorted into the dental room. We are also asking everyone to be patient and understanding of the screening questions that we must do prior to their appointments. It may be repetitive, but it is prudent to do in order to keep people safe. We are grateful to have our wonderful family of patients to care for, and really appreciate everyone doing their part to keep our office safe for everyone.
Thank you, Dr. Brunacini!
From our FDA family to you and your family: thank you for being our patient…we’re in this together! We’re happy we can continue to safely provide you with the highest quality oral health care. If you have any questions about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe in our practice, please visit our COVID protocol page or give us a call at 207.781.5900. If you are overdue for your appointment, rest assured we will be in touch as soon as we catch up on our backlog; we appreciate your patience! We look forward to seeing you at your next appointment!
Aug 27, 2018
Dr. Brunacini on Digital Dentistry
One of the most exciting and useful advancements in dentistry in recent years has been the incorporation of digital tools. Digital Dentistry is an integral part of our practice at Falmouth Dental Arts. Perhaps you read about Dr. Brunacini’s commitment to Digital Dentistry in his bio and have been curious to learn more. We decided to ask Dr. Brunacini about this innovative component of our care. Here’s what he had to say:
1. What is Digital Dentistry?
Dr. Brunacini: Digital dentistry has permeated many aspects of dentistry. For example, our patient’s dental and health information is all done digitally through our dental software. No need for paper charts! X-rays are another way that digital dentistry has changed how we do things. Digital x-rays have many advantages: convenience, drastically reduced radiation exposure, and increased diagnostic capabilities. We even have x-rays that can be seen in 3 dimensions, which provides so much more information for the team and patient. It’s also really cool! Lastly, digital impressions can now be used to fabricate crowns and other lab-processed dental prostheses. It’s all very fascinating!
2. How does FDA incorporate Digital Dentistry into its practice?
Dr. Brunacini: We have been using computer-based patient record management software for years. It allows us to better communicate with the patients directly as well as with their dental insurance companies to provide a better overall experience. We also utilize intraoral cameras (camera this fit inside the mouth) to be able to show patients exactly what we see in their mouths. We can use these digital images to help us make a treatment plan and communicate that plan easily to the patient. Being able to plan the end result for a patient prior to making irreversible changes to a their mouth helps us assure long term success. It becomes a very powerful motivator and education tool.
We are working towards implementing digital impressions for crown fabrication, but are still in the learning phase of it. We are continually developing new skills and working to implement new technologies in our practice to give our patients the best care possible.
3. What’s in store for the future of Digital Dentistry?
Dr. Brunacini: Digital Dentistry will continue to simplify and streamline the workflow. We are already seeing how the intraoral digital scanners (which create 3-D images of teeth) are getting faster and smaller so we can use them more universally. I also see potential in 3-D printing of dental prostheses for patients, which will assure a more precise fit and quicker turnaround times. It’s an exciting time and there are sure to be even more advancements in the future!
Thank you, Dr. Brunacini! Come in and experience all of our digital equipment at your next appointment! Schedule one today by calling us at 207.781.5900.
*Image courtesy of www.dentalassets.com
