Dr. Stella’s Product of the Month

CareCredit is a flexible patient/client payment program, specifically designed for healthcare expenses, that makes it easier for you to get the treatment or procedures you want and need. CareCredit is ideal for co-payments, deductibles, treatment and procedures not covered by insurance, and can be used at over 45,000 practices nationwide.

How can CareCredit help me get the treatment or procedure I want?

CareCredit lets you begin your treatment or procedure immediately—then pay for it over time with low monthly payments that are easy to fit into your monthly budget.

What type of payment plans do you offer?

CareCredit offers a full range of No Interest and Extended Payment Plans for treatment fees from $1 to over $25,000.

With CareCredit, you pay no up-front costs, no pre-payment penalties and no fees. Plus, CareCredit is a revolving credit line for additional treatment or add-on charges, without the need to re-apply.

Hope this helps!

 

Dear Patient,

As we near the end of 2011, I wanted to remind you to take advantage of any unused dental benefits. Every year you and your family receive a maximum amount from your dental insurance company – make sure to use all available benefits to complete any outstanding treatment. Almost all plans do not let you rollover unused dollars to the next benefit year.

If you have funds set aside in a flexible spending account (FSA) or healthcare saving account (HSA), now is the time to schedule treatment so your copayment amounts can be applied to this year’s deductions.

Call us today to schedule your appointment. We find that the holiday season is always our “busy time.” We look forward to seeing you soon. Please call or email us with any questions.

P.S. If you have friends or family who you feel would benefit from our preventive approach to healthy gums and teeth, please send them our way. We’ll take good care of them! Be sure they mention your name so that we can thank you personally with a token of our appreciation.

Best,

Dr. Bob Stella

(562) 627-8800
Info@FUNtasticDental.com

1. Do not buy a dry Christmas tree.

2. Never put a tree near a fireplace or heater.

3. Do not throw any kind of wrapping paper into a fireplace.

4. Never burn your tree in a fireplace.

5. Use caution when using candles.

6. Check Christmas lights before you use them, (Never use lights that have a frayed cord or missing light bulbs)

7. Turn off all Christmas lights prior to leaving your home.

8. Extinguish candles before you leave a room, your home and when you go to bed.

9. Get rid of your Christmas tree, before it becomes brittle or before January 1st.

10. Make sure your Christmas tree has plenty of water and has not been placed too close to a heat source or anything that gives off sparks.

11. Know how to call 9-1-1 or your local seven digit emergency number.

12. Know how to “STOP, DROP, and ROLL”

13. Make sure you have smoke detectors. Change the batteries once a year.

14. If you have a fireplace, make sure you have a spark arrestor.

15. Place a screen around your fireplace when it’s in use.

Have A Safe And Happy Holiday Season!

 

 

Dr. Stella’s FUNtastic Dental & Orthodontics is proud to team up with The U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and other caring corporations to support The Toys for Tots program and Operation Santa Paws this year.

The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in our community. The objectives of U.S. Marines Corps’ Toys for Tots program are to help needy children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas and to unite all members of local communities in a common cause during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign.

Operation Santa Paws on the other hand, seeks donated pet toys for shelters and rescues to improve the health and demeanor of those pets while reducing their stress to increase the animals’ chances of being adopted. The simplest toys can make the animals much more comfortable. Cats enjoy rolling toys, such as small plastic balls or other “batting” toys that can be hung from cage doors, while dogs tend to prefer items like the heavy-duty Kong rubber chew toy.

Please help us help both of these amazing programs. Bring in a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots, and/or bring in pet toys, treats, and supplies for Operation Santa Paws. We will be collecting donations until Monday, December 19. Thank you for all your help and support!

 

Dental expenses can usually be used as a medical expense deduction on your state and federal taxes. There are qualifying minimums, so check with your accountant to see if you may benefit by having your dental work completed this year. Our office can provide you with a printed summary of your expenses to make your tax filing easier!
Self-employed Individual
Dental expenses for people who are self-employed (with net profits for the tax year) can be deducted. These expenses can be deducted as income adjustments, for the total amount put forth for an individual’s dental insurance, as well as the dental insurance of the individual’s children and spouse.

Travel Expenses
Travel to and from a dentist’s office can also be used for dental tax deductions. Gasoline for cars, as well as repairs and toll fees can be deductible. Taxi cabs and other forms of public transportation like public buses are also deductible (even if you have to travel out of town to visit a dental specialist).

Keep in Mind
When making dental tax deductions, you can only deduct the amount of your dental expenses that is over 7.5% of your gross adjusted income. Your total gross adjusted income is available if you look at your form 1040 and examine line 34 carefully.

Tips
In order to be able to use dental expenses for tax deductions, it is essential that you efficiently keep track of and save all documents regarding your dental expenses. Whether these documents are credit card statements or invoices, it is vital that you keep accurate records of your dental expenses.

*If you have any questions, or would like to schedule a visit, please call (562) 627-8800 email
Dr. Stella at Info@FuntasticDental.com

Dr. Stella’s Product of the Month

CareCredit is a flexible patient/client payment program, specifically designed for healthcare expenses, that makes it easier for you to get the treatment or procedures you want and need. CareCredit is ideal for co-payments, deductibles, treatment and procedures not covered by insurance, and can be used at over 45,000 practices nationwide.

How can CareCredit help me get the treatment or procedure I want?

CareCredit lets you begin your treatment or procedure immediately—then pay for it over time with low monthly payments that are easy to fit into your monthly budget.

What type of payment plans do you offer?

CareCredit offers a full range of No Interest and Extended Payment Plans for treatment fees from $1 to over $25,000.

With CareCredit, you pay no up-front costs, no pre-payment penalties and no fees. Plus, CareCredit is a revolving credit line for additional treatment or add-on charges, without the need to re-apply.

Hope this helps!

 

Dear Patient,

As we near the end of 2011, I wanted to remind you to take advantage of any unused dental benefits. Every year you and your family receive a maximum amount from your dental insurance company – make sure to use all available benefits to complete any outstanding treatment. Almost all plans do not let you rollover unused dollars to the next benefit year.

If you have funds set aside in a flexible spending account (FSA) or healthcare saving account (HSA), now is the time to schedule treatment so your copayment amounts can be applied to this year’s deductions.

Call us today to schedule your appointment. We find that the holiday season is always our “busy time.” We look forward to seeing you soon. Please call or email us with any questions.

P.S. If you have friends or family who you feel would benefit from our preventive approach to healthy gums and teeth, please send them our way. We’ll take good care of them! Be sure they mention your name so that we can thank you personally with a token of our appreciation.

Best,

Dr. Bob Stella

(562) 627-8800
Info@FUNtasticDental.com

1. Do not buy a dry Christmas tree.

2. Never put a tree near a fireplace or heater.

3. Do not throw any kind of wrapping paper into a fireplace.

4. Never burn your tree in a fireplace.

5. Use caution when using candles.

6. Check Christmas lights before you use them, (Never use lights that have a frayed cord or missing light bulbs)

7. Turn off all Christmas lights prior to leaving your home.

8. Extinguish candles before you leave a room, your home and when you go to bed.

9. Get rid of your Christmas tree, before it becomes brittle or before January 1st.

10. Make sure your Christmas tree has plenty of water and has not been placed too close to a heat source or anything that gives off sparks.

11. Know how to call 9-1-1 or your local seven digit emergency number.

12. Know how to “STOP, DROP, and ROLL”

13. Make sure you have smoke detectors. Change the batteries once a year.

14. If you have a fireplace, make sure you have a spark arrestor.

15. Place a screen around your fireplace when it’s in use.

Have A Safe And Happy Holiday Season!

 

 

Dr. Stella’s FUNtastic Dental & Orthodontics is proud to team up with The U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and other caring corporations to support The Toys for Tots program and Operation Santa Paws this year.

The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in our community. The objectives of U.S. Marines Corps’ Toys for Tots program are to help needy children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas and to unite all members of local communities in a common cause during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign.

Operation Santa Paws on the other hand, seeks donated pet toys for shelters and rescues to improve the health and demeanor of those pets while reducing their stress to increase the animals’ chances of being adopted. The simplest toys can make the animals much more comfortable. Cats enjoy rolling toys, such as small plastic balls or other “batting” toys that can be hung from cage doors, while dogs tend to prefer items like the heavy-duty Kong rubber chew toy.

Please help us help both of these amazing programs. Bring in a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots, and/or bring in pet toys, treats, and supplies for Operation Santa Paws. We will be collecting donations until Monday, December 19. Thank you for all your help and support!

 

Dental expenses can usually be used as a medical expense deduction on your state and federal taxes. There are qualifying minimums, so check with your accountant to see if you may benefit by having your dental work completed this year. Our office can provide you with a printed summary of your expenses to make your tax filing easier!
Self-employed Individual
Dental expenses for people who are self-employed (with net profits for the tax year) can be deducted. These expenses can be deducted as income adjustments, for the total amount put forth for an individual’s dental insurance, as well as the dental insurance of the individual’s children and spouse.

Travel Expenses
Travel to and from a dentist’s office can also be used for dental tax deductions. Gasoline for cars, as well as repairs and toll fees can be deductible. Taxi cabs and other forms of public transportation like public buses are also deductible (even if you have to travel out of town to visit a dental specialist).

Keep in Mind
When making dental tax deductions, you can only deduct the amount of your dental expenses that is over 7.5% of your gross adjusted income. Your total gross adjusted income is available if you look at your form 1040 and examine line 34 carefully.

Tips
In order to be able to use dental expenses for tax deductions, it is essential that you efficiently keep track of and save all documents regarding your dental expenses. Whether these documents are credit card statements or invoices, it is vital that you keep accurate records of your dental expenses.

*If you have any questions, or would like to schedule a visit, please call (562) 627-8800 email
Dr. Stella at Info@FuntasticDental.com

Some Natural Ways We’ve Heard Around The Office
To Help Treat A Diaper Rash

 

We’ve heard that the best thing for diaper rash is fresh air. Have your child go without a diaper for awhile. You can even lay a cloth diaper underneath baby when he/she is taking a nap. Make sure you keep checking and if the diaper gets wet and replace it with a dry one.

We’ve also been told you can try tea bags. Place 3 or 4 tea bags into the diaper at diaper change. When he/she pee’s, the tea bags release a certain chemical that helps in the healing of diaper rash. It may turn his/her bottom brown but the rash will be gone within 24 hours.

There’s been talk that oatmeal works wonders and is a healthy alternative for diaper rash. Before bathing your baby put some oatmeal in the water and stir in. Don’t have oatmeal? You can put two tablespoons of baking soda into the babies bath water. Mix it in until it is all dissolved. Soak your babies bottom in it for at least 10 minutes every day.

Some of the moms at the office say to try using the milk of magnesia. Each diaper change pour milk of magnesia onto the rash. Should work quick and you should notice difference with the next diaper change.

Vegetable oil is something else we’ve heard. After a bath, making sure the diaper area is completely dry, rub plain vegetable oil in both your hands and rub into the babies bottom. Do this with each diaper change.

Lastly, we recently heard to try some cod liver oil capsules. Cut the tip off of about 4 and pour the oil onto your babies rash and rub it in. If the rash is only small you may need to only use 1 or 2 capsules.

Let us know on facebook, FUNtasticDental, if you’ve tried any of the above or if you have any of your own that are not listed. We love to hear all about natural remedies for our patients and their families.

 

 

These toothbrushes are designed to make brushing your teeth fun, Brush Buddies’ exclusive Justin Bieber dentistry products encourage children and teens to brush properly while enjoying their favorite pop and R&B tunes.  Plus, each toothbrush is designed with a soft, replaceable DuPont bristle head for gentle cleansing, and is coated in soft rubber for improved grip. Join the Bieber brushing revolution by adding a high-quality Justin Bieber singing toothbrush to your brushing stations at home!

 

 

 

Now is the time to think about “Open Enrollment” for Dental Insurance and it is also the time to prepare your Flex Spending Accounts for the coming year.

Most businesses have the month of November as the time to make changes to your dental plan that will become effective in January. Often, we find that people seem to think they know what they have signed up for, only to find out they wished they had chosen the other insurance for their orthodontic needs. Sometimes this mistake can delay treatment for a full year.

We would like to help you in making the best choice. Please call the office now, (562) 627-8800, for your FREE orthodontic exam. At this appointment Dr. Steven Miao (our incredible new orthodontist) will do a complete exam and let you know if treatment is recommended. Also, Veronica or Zulma (our incredible treatment coordinators) will go over your expenses to help you prepare your finances and insurance choices.

In addition, having an orthodontic exam before January 2012 can help prepare you for your medical and dental taxed free savings known as Flex Spending Accounts or Cafeteria Plans.

Tell a friend too! They would be grateful that you reminded them about their benefit.

Best,

Dr. Bob Stella

 

 

Dr. Stella’s FUNtastic Dental & Orthodontics is proud to team up with The U.S. Marine Corps Reserves and other caring corporations to support The Toys for Tots program and Operation Santa Paws this year.

The mission of the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in our community. The objectives of U.S. Marines Corps’ Toys for Tots program are to help needy children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas and to unite all members of local communities in a common cause during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign.

Operation Santa Paws on the other hand, seeks donated pet toys for shelters and rescues to improve the health and demeanor of those pets while reducing their stress to increase the animals’ chances of being adopted. The simplest toys can make the animals much more comfortable. Cats enjoy rolling toys, such as small plastic balls or other “batting” toys that can be hung from cage doors, while dogs tend to prefer items like the heavy-duty Kong rubber chew toy.

Please help us help both of these amazing programs. Bring in a new unwrapped toy for Toys for Tots, and/or bring in pet toys, treats, and supplies for Operation Santa Paws. We will be collecting donations until Monday, December 19. Thank you for all your help and support!

Thanksgiving is just around the corner – 24th of November being the precise date. It is one of the most anticipated holidays of the year. Thanksgiving is associated with many foods and the best part is that not only are traditional Thanksgiving foods delicious; they are nutritious and great for your teeth. The traditional foods such as sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and cranberries help prevent tooth decay and gum disease because they are a great source of cavity-fighting vitamins and minerals, and hence lead to good dental health. Below is a great recipe for Thanksgiving that we acquired from simplyrecipes.com. Try it and let us know what you think on our facebook page FUNtasticDental.

Mashed Potatoes with Brown Butter, Goat Cheese, and Sage Recipe

Ingredients:

1.5 lbs. yukon gold potatoes, peeled and quartered
1/2 teaspoon of salt
3 tablespoons of butter
3 tablespoons of milk
1 teaspoon of chopped fresh sage
4 ounces of goat cheese chevre
Directions:

Place the potatoes and salt in a pot and fill the pot with cold water until the potatoes are covered. Bring to a boil over high heat, then bring the heat down to low and simmer for 15-20 minutes or until a fork easily pierces the potatoes. Drain the water from the potatoes. Place the butter in a small saucepan over low heat and brown the butter. The butter will foam for a bit before calming down. When the butter turns to a light amber color watch for it to turn to a nutty brown (this can happen very quickly). Immediately take off heat. Add the chopped sage to the butter (it may cause some foaming). Pour over the potatoes. Add the goat cheese chevre, and milk and mash the potatoes with a potato masher until smooth and all ingredients are well incorporated. Salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

“On Thanksgiving Day, like any day, brush your teeth, avoid foods filled with sugars as best you can, and don’t snack often– and if you do, brush your teeth again,” says Dr. Stella, and “Have a Happy Thanksgiving Day!

*If you have any questions, or would like to schedule a visit, please call (562) 627-8800 email
Dr. Stella at Info@FuntasticDental.com

Dr. Stella’s Product of the Month

 

Dr. Stella loves this product because it delivers results that you and your dentist will notice. Research findings have shown 34% less gingival bleeding versus a regular manual toothbrush. No other brush performs like this one. The stand-alone SmartGuide has technology that helps guide you to better brushing behavior. It comes with a timer that provides visual guidance and timing to promote proper brushing; 5 brushing modes deliver a customized brushing experience; and the pressure sensor alert brightly displays a warning when brushing too hard. All of this adds up to a difference in your brushing habits: Plus, an extra 3-minute mode on the SmartGuide encourages longer brushing for patients with persistent gingivitis.

 

Dear Parents & Caregivers,

Now is the time to think about “Open Enrollment” for Dental Insurance and it is also the time to prepare your Flex Spending Accounts for the coming year.

Most businesses have the month of October as the time to make changes to your dental plan that will become effective in January. Often, we find that people seem to think they know what they have signed up for, only to find out they wished they had chosen the other insurance for their orthodontic needs. Sometimes this mistake can delay treatment for a full year.

We would like to help you in making the best choice. Please call the office now for your FREE orthodontic exam appointment. At this appointment Dr. Sanjideh (our incredible orthodontist) will do a complete exam and let you know if treatment is recommended. Also, Veronica or Zulma (our wonderful treatment coordinators) will go over your expenses to help you prepare your finances and insurance choices.

In addition, having an orthodontic exam appointment before January 2012 can help prepare you for your medical and dental taxed free savings known as
Flex Spending Accounts or Cafeteria Plans.

Tell a friend too! They would be grateful that you reminded them about their benefit.

Best,
Dr. Bob Stella

Send us your favorite quotes by email Info@FUNtasticDental.com or post them on our facebook wall @ FUNtasticDental!

 

Halloween is around the corner! After your child goes trick-or-treating and enjoys some of the candy you collected, we invite you to give the rest of the candy to a good cause.

Your local Pediatric dentist, Dr. Bob Stella wants to buy back your Halloween candy! All candy will be donated to Operation Gratitude, who sends care packages to U.S. troops overseas.

Just bring your candy into our dental office on Thursday. November 3, between 2-6 PM and get $1 per pound. You will also get free goody bag.
Although we will only be paying $1/pound on November 3, we will be accepting candy and shipping cost donations all week up to
November 5th.

Our office is located at:
2700 N. Bellflower Blvd. #217, L.B., 90815
Between Spring & Willow right off the 405 Fwy.

Teach your child to share their candy with those who couldn’t go trick-or-treating this year.

For more information, call (562) 627-8800. We hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity to give your Halloween candy to a good cause.

Have A Safe and Happy Halloween, Dr. Stella’s FUNtastic Dental & Orthodontics

www.FUNtasticDental.com

*If you have any questions, or would like to schedule a visit, please call (562) 627-8800 email
Dr. Stella at Info@FuntasticDental.com