News

The Carolina Dental Specialty Center is scheduled to be a sponsor and vendor at the Jacksonville-Onslow Sports Commission’s (JOSC) 2022 Fit4U Fitness & Health Expo presented by Clean Eatz on Saturday, Jan. 15 from 8:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. at Northside High School located at 365 Commons Drive S.

The Fit4U Fitness and Health Expo, which saw more than 600 attendees at its inaugural event in 2020, provides an atmosphere for people to connect with local businesses, organizations and like-minded individuals who are striving to live healthier. The expo plans to feature raffles, giveaways, a “Fabulous 5K” charity run and more than 35 vendors specializing in health and physical fitness.

“We created this event so people could find out what it means to truly be ‘fit for you,’” said Scott Smith, executive director of JOSC. “Attendees can find tons of resources — everything from healthy eating to martial arts to running shoes and more. The only way to truly take in everything the expo has to offer is to attend it yourself.”

Attendees will be provided a stamp card upon arrival to document their engagement with vendors. Those who visit at least half of the event’s vendors will receive one ticket to enter the raffle, while those who visit every vendor will receive three tickets. The raffles will feature health-conscious prizes, including a running package valued at $65, massage vouchers, Apple AirPods and more.

“We’re so proud to support this event because it gathers so many members of our community to promote good health and overall wellness,” said Dr. Jose Arauz, Jacksonville periodontist and founder of Carolina Dental Specialty Center, a vendor and sponsor of this year’s Fit4U expo. “With the new year upon us, many people have set goals and expectations when it comes to their health, and we want to provide whatever resources and information we can for those interested in improving their oral hygiene.” 

Admission to participate in the Fabulous 5K is $5 with proceeds benefiting JOSC, which plans to use the funds to create new events, as well as foster economic development and quality of life through sports in Jacksonville and Onslow County. 

Those interested in participating in the charity run have until 7:45 a.m. the day of the event to sign up. Runners unable to attend in person can participate virtually by signing up through the JOSC race web site at www.racejosc.com.

Those looking for more information on the Fabulous 5K, prizes or any other information pertaining to the Fit4U Health and Fitness Expo are encouraged to visit www.playjosc.com/fit4u.

Dr. Jose Arauz shares financial planning advice for patients considering dental implant surgery in 2022

As people finalize their list of New Year’s resolutions, some may be considering investing in a new smile for 2022. While that may mean a teeth-whitening session or wearing plastic aligners, others may require dental implants to correct imperfections, which can be costly. With that, Dr. Jose Arauz, a Jacksonville periodontist and founder of the Carolina Dental Specialty Center, is sharing tips to help others financially plan for a new smile through dental implant surgery.

According to the National Institutes of Health, smiling more often helps reduce the body’s response to stress and lowers the heart rate in stressful scenarios. When those who are less confident in their teeth smile less, their body reacts less favorably to stress, causing high blood pressure and other health complications, which can lead to a decrease in life longevity.

Aside from aesthetics, dental implant surgery can help to prevent and eradicate periodontal diseases that can lead to more serious conditions, such as cardio-vascular disease (CVD), diabetes and even preterm births, according to Arauz. 

While choosing to have a healthier and happier smile seems simple, treatment plans like dental implant surgery can be expensive, sometimes costing $30,000 per arch, making it difficult for most to pay by themselves or all at once.

“We understand that not everybody can write a check that will completely cover their dental implant surgery, but that doesn’t mean getting implants is an impossibility,” said Arauz, a board-certified periodontist practicing in Jacksonville for the last 14 years. “There are several financial options that patients can explore to give them the smile they want and regain their confidence.”

Arauz and his clinic recommend patients explore the following financial options when considering dental implant surgery:

• Dental Insurance. Patients exploring dental implant surgery as a treatment option should consult their clinic about who their in-network dental insurance providers are and what the process is for filing with out-of-network insurances. Be sure to request a pre-treatment estimate for services to submit to your insurance company before undergoing any major treatments.
• Dental Loans. Dental loans are a particular type of personal loan meant to pay for medical expenses. Compared to generic personal loans, some dental loans offer lower interest rates, different term lengths or higher borrowing amounts. Dental loans are often unsecured loans, meaning that the policyholder does not have to put up collateral to the lender to get a loan. Credit companies like CareCredit, LendingClub and GreenSky, which are all accepted by Carolina Dental Specialty Center, offer various plans to match individual needs.
• In-House Payment Options. Some practices offer various payment arrangements to help patients pay for their treatments without a third-party financial provider. Because each patient and case is different, those looking to work out a payment schedule should consult with their dental care provider about what payment plans are available for them.

For more information on various treatment plans and payment options, visit our Payments & Benefits page.

via Morgan Starling – The Daily News

A Jacksonville dentist is taking dental surgery to the next level with the first and only robot-assisted dental surgery technology in Eastern North Carolina.

Dr. Jose Arauz of the Carolina Dental Specialty Center, located at 200 Doctors Drive Suite N in Jacksonville, is one of only approximately three North Carolina dentists currently using Yomi, which according to a news release, allows him to operate with a never-before-seen level of accuracy and efficiency.

The release stated that Yomi helps Arauz plan the surgery before, then gives him real-time guidance during procedures. Even though the technology is robotic, Arauz maintains control at all times, as “Yomi augments rather than overrides his expertise.”

“It minimizes the human error, but takes advantage of the human mind in the brilliant aspect,” said Arauz.

Arauz received Yomi in February of 2020, and since then has had 188 implants placed using the robot.

Dr. Arauz’s robot is one of only three in North Carolina, the other two of which are in Raleigh. MORGAN STARLING/THE DAILY NEWS

Arauz said he discovered the robot at an implantology conference in Orlando in 2019, and felt the robot would be the perfect solution to some of his problems.

Prior to the robot, Arauz and his staff would have to use a static guide, which they’d have to put on the teeth and it would remain there. They would have to then send the guide to a lab, which would sometimes take four to six weeks to get back, which would also make treatment more costly.

“From a business standpoint, this is not good because the patients are not happy, the referral doctors that are referring here are not happy because you cannot see them soon enough,” said Arauz.

Additionally, according to Arauz, there is no price increase for patients to have surgery this way, and it also is less costly for the office than working with the dental laboratories.

“It was out of a need for being able to guide for precision and accuracy, but not having to wait four-to-six weeks to really get to take care of patients more efficiently,” said Arauz. “So, that became a resolution for our practice.”

With robotic technology, though, comes some skepticism from patients. However, others are excited for the chance to experience it and even ask for pictures and videos to be taken of them in the process.

The robot’s tracking arm gets connected to the patient’s mouth and has a haptic sensor.

Dr. Arauz shows The Daily News parts of the robot and how it works. MORGAN STARLING/THE DAILY NEWS

“I think that patients are already scared being here because there’s nothing here that doesn’t involve cutting. Normally, everyone will be apprehensive,” said Arauz. “I feel there is a little bit of excitement, and there is a little bit of intimidation as well.”

Arauz said the patient comes for a tooth, not an implant, but the implant is a means to an end and has to happen before the patient can get the tooth, and their goal is to make people feel as comfortable as possible.

“You want to walk into a place and feel comfortable,” said Marketing Director and Event Coordinator Kayla Anderson. “That’s what we aim to do here.”

Despite the success of the robot, Arauz and his staff have encountered malfunctions, as with any technology, but none have been major and all were fixed right away due to what Arauz calls Yomi’s “unbelievably good” customer service.

“They’re always listening to the feedback of the customers, the users, and they are daily working on a series of projects from that list to be able to improve it,” said Arauz.

He said nothing is going to be 100%, but the important part is to be honest about it and address and fix the problem.

As the robot continues to improve and change the way dental surgery is done, Arauz looks forward to continuing to serve the patients of Jacksonville with what he considers some of the best technology.

“I would want the best results for me, my friends, my family,” said Arauz.

For more information, visit our Dental Implant Robotics page!

To achieve this result, though, the new crown or veneer requires fabrication in a dental laboratory, a meticulous process that may take a few weeks. In the interim, we often install temporary crowns. These help in a number of ways: because we’ve prepared the teeth for final restoration by removing some of the tooth structure, the temporary crown protects and stabilizes the teeth, reduces sensitivity and helps maintain gum health. Temporary crowns also enable the patient to present a more natural smile while waiting for the permanent restoration.

Many people aren’t as familiar with gum injuries and the treatment options as they are with tooth problems. Unlike the hard enamel that protects teeth, the gums are sensitive, soft and moist. In fact, your gums are more susceptible to damage from accidents or other trauma than your teeth. Here is a shortlist of common gum injuries.