Putnam Dental Dec 2017

DECEMBER 2017

CARL F. ERN, DDS VINCENT M. CAFARELLI, DMD JEANNINE HOLZ, DDS

smile, conversation, meal, and kiss! For your EVERY A PASSION FOR EXCELLENT SERVICE

Though I am relatively new to Putnam Dental Associates, I have been working in the dental field most of my professional career. I am originally from the Northeast, but my work took me to sunny Florida for many years where I worked for a dental practice management company

as the director of training. Though I enjoyed my work, I missed my family and our New York weather. So my husband, Tom, and I made the move back. Now, I work as the team lead for the front desk, and I couldn’t love my job more. Not only do I work side-by-side with my team, organizing schedules and pulling charts, but I also provide them with anything they could possibly need. Our biggest goal is to bring a wow factor to the patient experience, and it is one of the things in which we pride ourselves the most. When I first interviewed

training, I used to manage one specific dental office where I was able to greet and welcome our new patients. After I began training, I wasn’t able to do what I was truly passionate about, which is making patients feel like the No. 1 priority. Every single person who comes through our door has a story about bad customer service, but Putnam Dental will never be included in one of those stories. Our patients are people first and patients second. I feel so fortunate to be on a team where everyone is dedicated to providing excellent service and cultivating real, meaningful relationships.

for the position, I knew my experience in dental practice management would make me a great fit, but after I saw the way Putnam Dental Associates strives to provide impressed. I was looking to work for a dental office that offered an experience you couldn’t get anywhere else, and I found it. the best care possible for their patients, I was

Another thing we all take pride in is our ability to help people overcome their fear of the dentist. We work hard to show our patients they are in the best hands possible, and they know we genuinely care about their health and comfort. No one wakes up thinking they would love to go the dentist that day, but if we can take some of the fear factor away, our patients can look forward to getting the best treatment possible. We often forget how

My favorite part of my role is welcoming new patients to our practice. Before I switched to dental practice management

CONTINUED ON PAGE 3

Inside This Issue:

Thank You for Your Support

Community Award Page 3

Good For Your Teeth?

Page 2

Page 4

845-363-6115

| www.putnamdental.com | 1

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT

In October, we asked our Facebook followers to like a post of Dr. Ern wearing a pink tutu in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Dr. Ern’s sign read, “If I get 200 likes, I will wear this tutu for one day! If I get 500 likes, we will donate $200 to the American Cancer Society! Please like and share!” And share you did! At the end of the week, our followers had shared the post 155 times and liked it 650 times. Since we surpassed the original goal, Putnam Dental Associates will donate $300 to the American Cancer Society, and Dr. Ern will wear a pink tutu for a day. Watch for pictures of this event in an upcoming issue! In addition, Putnam Dental Associates gave $3,500 worth of free oral cancer screenings during the month of October. Thank you to all our patients for your continued love and support.

FRANCINE CAPALBO

Fran, our hygiene team lead, will not be seeing patients on Tuesdays (she will be in the office, but will be dedicating one day each week to administraive duties). She is, however, seeing patients on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. If you prefer Tuesday appointments, we have three amazing hygienists here to accommodate your needs. Call the office to schedule your appointment.

PUTNAM DENTAL ASSOCIATES AWARDS FOR 2017

• Dr. Ern was awarded the Dr. Richard G. Spolzine Access to Care Humanitarian Award 2017. • The Putnam Dental hygiene team was awarded the Westchester Dental Hygienists’ Inc. Outstanding Contribution in the Community award. • Dr. Ern was featured in Westchester Magazine’s Top Docs issue for his work in the Teeth Tomorrow procedure. • Dr. Cafarelli and Dr. Ern were awarded the Top Dentists USA award. This is a special recognition as winners of

this prestigious award are nominated by their peers in the dental industry. • Dr. Ern, Dr. Cafarelli and Dr. Holz were all honored with the Hudson Valley’s Parent Favorite Doctors and Healthcare Professionals. • Dr. Ern was recognized by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International with the Paul Harris Fellow Award in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world.

2 |

www.putnamdental.com

|

845-363-6115

CONTINUED FROM COVER

much a beautiful smile can change someone’s life, and it’s a great feeling to be part of that experience. I come from a very large family, and I am happy to be back home and closer to my relatives. Tom is a Floridian, and it took some convincing to get him to try living in New York amid the snow and cold. This will

are avid sports fans. The Miami Heat, Washington Redskins, and the New York Yankees are our teams. Believe it or not, Tom was a Yankees fan before I even met him 36 years ago, so I didn’t have to convert him.

(Brewster, New York) — On Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, the entire hygiene team at Putnam Dental Associates in Brewster was awarded the prestigious Westchester Dental Hygienists’ Association, Inc., Outstanding Contributions in the Community Award, an award given to those who exemplify volunteerism with a common denominator to improve the lives of those in need. This year, the Westchester Dental Hygienists’ Association, Inc. decided to nominate an entire dental office for their teamwork approach to improving the lives of those they serve and their endless contribution to the underserved populations within their community and overseas. According to WDHA President Josephine Booth, RDH, BA, “Putnam Dental Associates is a multifaceted office that really shows how to put the word team into teamwork. Throughout the year, this office holds various events and seminars with their community. Education and awareness is their goal, whether it’s providing oral cancer screenings, HPV seminars, oral health and wellness, pregnancy/baby dental care, sleep apnea, or various dental concerns. Putnam Dental Associates provides important information to help individuals improve their quality of life.” Since May 2012, Putnam Dental Associates has organized and hosted Dentistry From the Heart, an event providing free dental services to those in need. Incorporating various dental specialties is the key to providing necessary care to the first 100 attendees. General dentists, oral surgeons, dental hygienists, dental assistants, and the office team are recruited to this amazing event led by Putnam Dental Associates. be his second winter, as well as Dora’s, our chubby rescue chihuahua. Funny enough, Dora has adapted to the change in weather much more easily than Tom! In our free time, we play golf, read, and watch movies. We like cooking and trying new recipes together. Shopping for ingredients, prepping, and making a meal is a great date night. We also play scrabble and card games like cribbage, gin rummy, and canasta. As extremely competitive individuals, our games are always a lot of fun. Finally, we

Overall, our move back has been wonderful. I love being around for the holidays and celebrating Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s. Personally, I’ve been loving the snow, and maybe after a few years, Tom will love it too. Happy holidays and we will see you soon. –Clare Kaufman FRONT DESK TEAM LEAD

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTIONS IN THE COMMUNITY AWARD

Each fall, Putnam Dental Associates embarks on a mission trip to Palmarito, a small village in the Dominican Republic. Bringing their own supplies and equipment, the team provides much-needed dental service to this impoverished community. The team performs dental services in extremely poor working conditions, yet patients of all ages are

seen. The need for care in this community is endless, and the team provides treatment, preventative care, and education to improve the quality of life of those served. Throughout the year, the team hosts several fundraisers to acquire the funding needed to purchase portable equipment, and donations are collected from various resources, including WDHA. According to Booth, “Putnam Dental Associates is an amazing office and an excellent example of volunteerism. Their dedication to those in need comes from their heart. They work year-round to make our world a better place, providing education, compassion, and care. The Westchester Dental Hygienists’ Association is very proud to nominate Putnam Dental Associates for their Outstanding Contributions in the Community.”

845-363-6115

|

www.putnamdental.com

| 3

PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

Connect with us! @ PutnamDental

Carl F. Ern, DDS 2435 Route 6, Middlebranch Office Brewster, NY 10509

SEDATION DENTISTRY COSMETIC DENTISTRY IMPLANT DENTISTRY

INVISALIGN PREFERRED PROVIDER RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY SAME-DAY CROWNS

PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY FAMILY DENTISTRY TEETH TOMORROW

Hours

Mon/Tues – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wed – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thurs – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Fri – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Contact Us :

Tel: 845-363-6115 Fax: 845-279-8144 [email protected] www.putnamdental.com

HOLIDAY TREATS THAT ARE GOOD FOR YOUR TEETH

The holiday season is upon us, and everywhere you look, delicious food is on the menu. However, it’s not just your waistline that could suffer from overindulgence. Hard candies and carbonated beverages aren’t exactly the top items on your teeth’s wish list. Even the classic eggnog can do a number on your smile. Luckily, some seasonal treats are actually good for your teeth. If you’re looking for the best snacks of the holidays, here are some items you can put on the “nice” list. NUTS We don’t just mean chestnuts roasting on an open fire. Packed with magnesium and iron, holiday favorites like almonds and walnuts provide the nutrients your body needs. Plus, the extra dose of calcium will help keep your teeth strong. PEPPERMINT Peppermint candy canes are horrible for your teeth. If you bite down on hard candy, you risk chipping a tooth, but

if you suck on them, you expose your teeth to the sugar for a lot longer. That said, you don’t have to ditch the minty goodness completely. In fact, a little peppermint is actually good for you. A little low-sugar peppermint tea will freshen your breath, help with indigestion, and take the stress out of the busy holiday season. CHEESE Cheese is antibacterial and has a low pH level, which means eating a few slices can help reduce the acidity of your mouth. And, much like nuts, the extra calcium in cheese is great for your teeth. Now, this isn’t the green light to polish off Aunt Sue’s entire holiday cheese ball. But when you pass the cheese plate at your next New Year’s party, feel free to grab an extra slice of cheddar. ’Tis the season for good eating. While many of your holiday favorites might make your dentist’s “naughty” list, others (like the ones above) can help ensure your teeth are in good shape for the new year.

4 | www.putnamdental.com

|

845-363-6115