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It is with great pleasure that we introduce Dr. Baruffi's son to our practice!

Dr. Austin Baruffi attended Ostrow School of Dentistry at the University of Southern California, where he earned his degree. Since graduating, Dr. Austin has continued his education, building on his foundation of skills to be on the forefront of dental technology, materials and procedures. He has attended classes on complex full-mouth restorations, oral surgery, implants, laser dentistry, sleep dentistry, and special needs dentistry.

Dr. Austin's interest in community-based dentistry has led him to volunteer with service organizations both domestically and abroad which offer dental care to children in underserved communities. He has worked with the American Dental Education Association to set up guidelines for all groups in the country to improve their efforts to help people prevent dental disease before it negatively impacts their lives.

Dr. Austin has already started seeing patients and is offering evening and weekend appointments for our patients' convenience.

In honor of Dr. Austin's arrival, we are hosting an open house at our office on November 7th from 4pm - 7pm. RSVP to Diana if you are able to attend - (206) 575-1551

Perhaps you don't even know you grind your teeth. Maybe a spouse or loved one woke you up in the middle of the night and made you aware of what was happening.

For many people, teeth grinding is a habit and a mechanical reflex; when they’re awakened and informed they were grinding their teeth, they have no recollection of it at all. According to the American Dental Association, this is the nightly situation for roughly ten percent of Americans. From young children to the elderly, teeth grinding, known in the dental community as bruxism, is a serious concern.

Many people who grind their teeth in their sleep have no idea they're doing it. In fact, when they wake up in the morning they feel no jaw pain and their teeth are fine: if it hadn’t been for someone telling them about it, the teeth grinding would have gone unnoticed.

There are other people, however, who wake up with jaw pain, shoulder and neck pain, and headaches. Teeth grinding can cause a host of dental complications. From cracked teeth and receding gums to a misaligned jaw, teeth grinding is not something to take lightly.

Preventive measures are the key to combating bruxism, and a visit to Southcenter Dental can set you on the path to a healthy and safe night sleep.

The Reasons for Teeth Grinding

There are many reasons for teeth grinding. For some people, it’s a habit they acquired when they were a child and never grew out of. On the other hand, some research claims that the condition is related to stress, anxiety, or some other type of psychiatric issue.

Still other studies point to everything from poor muscle control or over-eating before bed to gastro-esophageal issues. However, the root cause of the teeth grinding is less important than identifying preventive measures against it.

Common solutions to teeth grinding include:

• Wearing a protective nightguard
• Stress management techniques
• Medications and muscle relaxers

When you make an appointment with Dr. Baruffi at our Tukwila, WA office, we will assess your situation and determine what the best course of action is. Teeth grinding is a dental concern that can cause serious health issues down the road, so be sure to take preventive measures today.

Unless you work for an insurance company, you probably do not spend a lot of your time studying all the terminology that dental insurance companies use to describe the treatments and services they cover. If it seems pretty confusing, here are some of the most commonly used dental insurance terms and what they mean.

A Basic Glossary

Annual Maximum–The maximum amount your policy will pay per year for dental care at Southcenter Dental. It is often divided into costs per individual, and (if you are on a family plan) per family

Co-payment– An amount the patient pays at the time of service before receiving care, and before the insurance pays for any portion of the care

Covered Services– A list of all the treatments, services, and procedures the insurance policy will cover under your contract

Deductible– A dollar amount that you must pay out of pocket each year before the insurance company will pay for any treatments or procedures

Diagnostic/Preventive Services– A category of treatments or procedures that most insurance will cover before the deductible which may include services like routine checkups with Dr. Baruffi, cleanings, X-rays, fluoride treatments, and evaluations

In-Network and Out-of-Network– A list of providers that are part of an insurance company’s “network”

• If you visit in-network providers, the insurance company will typically cover a larger portion of the cost of the care you receive. If you visit someone who is not part of the network, known as an out-of-network provider, the insurance company may pay for a portion of the care, but you will pay a significantly larger share from your own pocket.

Lifetime Maximum– The maximum amount that a dental insurance plan will pay toward dental care for an individual or family (if you have an applicable family plan)

• This is not a per-year maximum, but rather a maximum that can be paid over the entire life of the patient.

Limitations/Exclusions– A list of all the procedures a dental insurance policy does not cover

• Coverage may limit the timing or frequency of a specific treatment or procedure (only covering a certain number within a calendar year), or may exclude some treatments entirely. Knowing the limitations and exclusions of a policy is very important.

Member/Insured/Covered Person/Beneficiary/Enrollee– Someone who is eligible to receive benefits under a dental insurance plan

Provider– Dr. Baruffi or other oral health specialist who provides treatment

Waiting Period– A specified amount of time that the patient must be enrolled with an insurance plan before it will pay for certain treatments; waiting periods may be waived if you were previously enrolled in another dental insurance plan with a different carrier

There are many different insurance options available, so you need to find out exactly what your insurance covers. It’s important to review your plan with a qualified insurance specialist. Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the policy so you can understand it fully and be confident that you know everything your policy covers the next time you come in for treatment at our Tukwila, WA office.

We would like to give those patients with flex spend, health savings, or insurance benefits a friendly end-of-the-year reminder that it’s about that time to schedule your dental visits so you can optimize your flexible spending, insurance benefits, or health savings account.

Most dental plans have a set dollar amount to be paid out annually. Any benefits not utilized by the end of the plan year are lost. If you have dental treatment that you have been delaying, including routine preventive treatment, please give us a call as soon as possible to schedule an appointment before your benefits expire.

Now is the time to reserve you appointment with us. Space is limited and we tend to get busy toward the end of the year, so don’t wait to give us a call! If you have any questions concerning your or your family’s remaining dental treatment or benefits, please feel free to contact us. We look forward to seeing you!