McGann Facial Design

The Age of Wisdom…Teeth!

mcgannfacialdesign — Fri, 17 May 2013 19:02:47 +0000

As the school year winds down, many young adults will be returning to their hometown of San Diego for the three S’s — Sun, Surf, and Surgery! We know you were not expecting the last one but it’s true. Many college-aged men and women are informed by their dentists that they need their wisdom teeth removed, and summer is a natural time to get this done.

What are Wisdom Teeth? Otherwise known as third molars, the wisdom teeth are are the last teeth in your mouth to develop. As such, they usually come in between the ages of 17-25. Thus, many college-aged children find themselves needing a visit to the oral surgeon.

Do all Wisdom Teeth Need to be Removed? No, but according to the American Association of Oral ...

Leadership In Dentistry & Beyond….It Starts With Integrity

mcgannfacialdesign — Fri, 10 May 2013 14:18:46 +0000

Integrity can mean a number of things, but when it comes to running a successful dental practice, it is almost entirely about keeping your word to your patients and your colleagues. This was part of the inspiring message delivered at the McGann Facial Design Workshop featuring Greg Clowminzer, a seasoned practice and leadership coach.

The event was well attended by leading dentists, orthodontists, and dental specialists from around San Diego. Not only did these dental professionals take time to gain insight from Mr. Clowminzer, many brought their staff. Greg defined the concept that continuous self-improvement and communication is everyone’s shared responsibility and that creating a culture of success does not happen by accident.

In the end, the participants left with an initial roadmap of how to become better leaders, ...

McGann Facial Design Workshop — Grow Your Dental Practice!

mcgannfacialdesign — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:06:01 +0000

On the evening of May 9th, Dr. Grant McGann and the staff at McGann Facial Design are hosting an educational event aimed to help San Diego dentists, orthodontists and their staff grow their practice. Dr. McGann has invited as a guest speaker Mr. Greg Clowminzer, a pioneering business coach with a track record of success in working with dental practices. Mr. Clowminzer is going to speak directly on how growing one’s staff relates to growing the practice.

The free educational event will include dinner and create a venue to share ideas which promote leadership in dentistry. Please see the below flyer for additional information.

Don’t Risk Your Healthy, Active Lifestyle – Protect Your Face!

mcgannfacialdesign — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 14:38:32 +0000

In San Diego, a healthy, active lifestyle seems to come naturally for most of us. Given our climate and mixed landscapes, people of all ages are regularly outside enjoying everything from a walk to extreme sports. We wanted to take this opportunity to talk about protecting your face and smile with some simple moves. Why now? It turns out that April is National Facial Protection Month and with the natural increase in activity during the Spring, the timing is perfect. This month is, in part, sponsored by the American Association of Oral And Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS) of which Dr. Grant McGann is a member.

One common tool used to protect against oral injury is a mouthguard. When should you use a mouthguard? Which sports? What ...

Summer Days Are Here Again…Almost.

mcgannfacialdesign — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 13:54:22 +0000

The days are getting warmer and longer. This can only mean one thing…summer is almost here and it’s time to have oral surgery. We know, we know. That iswhat you were expecting to read, but it’s true! Summer is our busiest time of year. Many of our facial design patients schedule their procedures to coincide with their slightly lighter summer work schedule. Add the scores of students returning home in need of wisdom teeth extraction, and McGann Facial Design is busier than usual.

The truth is, that even though we are busier during the long days of summer, summer days are no different than any other day at McGann Facial Design. Why, you may ask? Because we treat every patient with the highest level of safety and professionalism, regardless ...

Dental Anesthesia – Safety is Paramount

mcgannfacialdesign — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 00:51:54 +0000

Recent news of the unfortunate death of a patient undergoing wisdom teeth extraction has put a spotlight on the safety and role of anesthesia in dental procedures. It is helpful to understand the reasons why patients need dental anesthesia. Beyond the obvious need to control and appropriately manage pain associated with procedures, many patients may prefer to have their dental treatments performed under some form of dental sedation or even general anesthesia. These patient groups generally include:

Patients with dental anxiety or dental phobia Patients that are about to undergo extensive and invasive oral surgery (e.g. removal of impacted wisdom teeth) Patients with time constraints, who want their dental treatments to be completed in as less appointments as possible Patients with sensitive gagging reflex, or very low pain threshold ...

The Importance of Continuous Learning

mcgannfacialdesign — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:46:11 +0000

It’s time for Spring Break! Usually, spring break is a time to take some time off from the rigors of the classroom and learning. However, at McGann Facial Design, we are always pushing ourselves to learn more about becoming the best practice we can be. Why? Our mission is to provide the best oral surgery care and experience to our current and future patients.

Beyond striving to improve our own practice, we like to share our learning experiences with others. As such, we are proud to be hosting an upcoming workshop on May 9th entitled “Growing Your Practice….It’s Easier Than You Think” directed toward dentists, orthodontists, specialists, and their staff. Topics will include: • The 5 myths of running a successful practice • The 3 skills every member of your staff must have ...

First, Do No Harm

mcgannfacialdesign — Sat, 30 Mar 2013 21:56:59 +0000

Healthcare providers are taught that patient safety always comes first. This is what, in part, makes the story of the Tulsa oral surgeon who exposed thousands of patients to HIV and Hepatitis C even more disturbing. According to ABC News, patients were exposed due to poor sterilization practices. While all of the facts of this case remain to be seen, these stories can be unsettling and could make one think twice before having a procedure performed.

At McGann Facial Design, we wanted to take this unfortunate incident to remind all of our current and potential patients that we never compromise on safety. We follow all Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) laws and regulations applicable to our practice. We perform weekly spore checks on our sterilizer and insure that ...

Using Bytes to Improve Your Bite.

mcgannfacialdesign — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 05:45:15 +0000

Did you know that telemedicine is a rapidly growing segment of healthcare in the United States? But what, exactly, is telemedicine? In a nutshell, telemedicine is the remote delivery of healthcare services and clinical information using information technology. This includes internet, wireless, satellite, and telephone media. According to the American Telemedicine Association (ATA), there are already 200 telemedicine networks with 3,500 service sites. It has even been used to help our deployed service men and women! In fact, the Veterans Administration delivered over 300,000 remote consultations.

In order to keep this virtual approach to medicine safe, the use of telemedicine is guided by strict technical and clinical practice guidelines. The benefits are clear – ease patients and providers and can really lead to efficiencies in the process.

The trend of ...

3D Is Not Just for Movies

mcgannfacialdesign — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 04:47:02 +0000

Over the past several years, we all have observed how 3D technology has become more and more popular with both moviemakers and viewers. However, you may not be as aware of how 3D technologies are changing the practice of oral surgery.

In fact, it is safe to say that over the past two years, 3D virtual treatment plans have revolutionized jaw surgery. Why is this the case? Traditionally, oral surgeons used models to plan treatments and surgical options. However, there can be inaccuracies when using this approach, which can ultimately lead to less than satisfactory outcomes for patients. This is where 3D virtual technology enters into the picture. Using technology known as Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) 3D, oral surgeons can see parts of your jaw not possible ...