The Right Time For Your Child To See An Orthodontist

Dr. Patrice Smith performing an Orthodontic evaluation.

Most people think that the best time to have their child see an Orthodontist is during the pre-teen and teenage years. However, there are good reasons to have your child get an orthodontic evaluation a lot sooner. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends a check-up with an orthodontic specialist no later than age 7.


Why Should Your Child Get An Orthodontic Check-Up No Later Than Age 7?

• Orthodontists can spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present.

• While your child’s teeth may appear to be straight, there could be a problem that only an orthodontist can detect.

• The check-up may reveal that your child’s bite is ne. Or, the orthodontist may identify a developing problem but recommend monitoring the child’s growth and development, and then if indicated, begin treatment at the appropriate time for the child. In other cases, the orthodontist might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment.

• Early treatment may prevent more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated.

• In some cases, the orthodontist will be able to achieve results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.

• Early treatment may give your orthodontist the chance to:

  • guide jaw growth

  • lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth

  • correct harmful oral habits

  • improve appearance

  • guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position

  • improve the way lips meet

• Through an early orthodontic evaluation, you’ll be giving your child the best opportunity for a healthy, beautiful smile.

  Because patients differ in both physiological development and treatment needs, the ortho- dontist’s goal is to provide each patient with the most appropriate treatment at the most appropriate time.

The original article can be found on the AAO website here

Risewell: A Fluoride-Free Solution To Oral Care

I love finding products that I feel comfortable recommending to my patients and that I can get behind! Recently, quite a number of my patients have been inquiring about natural dental products that are free of fluoride and some of the other popular (and sometimes toxic) ingredients that we have come to expect to be in our products. Until now I wasn’t able to recommend a product that is not only effective in removing and inhibiting plaque and bacteria build up but that also remineralizes enamel (without the use of fluoride). This is why I was really excited when I was introduced to Risewell. Risewell is brand of a fluoride-free, clinically effective natural dental products (toothpaste, mouthwash, floss) that uses the highest quality non-toxic ingredients to provide exceptional oral care.

Instead of Fluoride, Risewell uses hydroxyapatite. Hydroxyapatite is a naturally-occurring mineral that makes up 90% of tooth enamel and bone. Like Flouride, it helps to protect teeth from decay, but it also remineralizes and strengthens teeth from the outside in. It is completely natural and non-toxic. RiseWell swaps in 100% safe and natural alternatives that clean and protect just as effectively. Most natural toothpastes don’t work as well as traditional fluoride toothpastes; and if they do, they’re likely not as toxin-free as they claim to be.

I was able to try Risewell’s products and I have been using them for about a month now. While I am not currently able to speak on the remineralization process from a personal standpoint (because I do not have any incipient carious lesions), I was pleasantly surprised by the fresh, clean taste and smell of their products. While I really like the refreshing taste of the toothpaste and mouthwash, I am especially impressed with the floss as it is also infused with hydroxyapatite. With the floss also having this product, it is now easier to introduce the remineralization effect to the hard to reach inter proximal areas of teeth.

Backed by their team of board-certified dentists and doctors, Risewell is committed to using the very best ingredients, no matter the cost, to deliver oral care products that are both incredibly effective and 100% clean. If you would like to try Risewell, order below and recieve 10% by using the code: UNORTHODOC10.

UnOrthoDoc x Risewell

Use Code: UNORTHODOC10 for 10% off on your order.

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Steps To Improve Diversity & Inclusion in The Workplace

Companies that embrace diversity and inclusion in all aspects of their business statistically outperform their peers.

– Josh Bersin

Diversity & Inclusion has been a hot topic lately, and the fact that October is Global Diversity Awareness Month I thought it would be fitting to be having the conversation at this time.

While many companies are slowly adopting the idea of diversity and creating awareness, there are others that are confused as to what it truly means. The common misconception is that this idea came about as a way to fill some kind of quota but nothing could be further from the truth. This article aims to outline exactly what Diversity & Inclusion means, the effects it has on your business and the steps you and your company can take to get on board and become a more diverse and inclusive workplace.

Diversity

Diversity is defined as the many ways individuals are different and similar to one another. Thus, workplace diversity is understanding, accepting, and valuing differences between people including those of different races, ethnicities, genders, ages, religions, disabilities, and sexual orientations. It is including people with differences in education, personalities, skill sets, experiences, and knowledge bases.

Inclusion

Inclusion is the behaviors based on knowledge, awareness, and sensitivity that permit people to engage one another respectfully and value contributions. It is fostering a collaborative, supportive, and respectful environment that increases the participation and contribution of all employees.

Diversity & Inclusion

Diversity and inclusion is a company’s mission, strategies, and practices to support a diverse workplace and leverage the effects of diversity to achieve a competitive business advantage.

Some actionable Steps to Improve Diversity & Inclusion:

1. Your Executive Team Should Portray Diversity & Inclusion

   The top management of a company or the make up of the executive team speaks volumes and is a big signifier to the rest of your workforce, as well as customers, partners and stakeholders about the company’s culture. It is essential to have diversity among top management. Men and women should be equally represented and should be from various cultural and religious backgrounds.

   According to Boston Consulting Group, among the Fortune 500 companies, only 24 CEOs are women, which represents just 5% of the total number of CEOs. It is also known that among the 500 CEOs, only three are black, another three are openly gay, and one identifies as a lesbian.

2. Foster A Company Culture Where Every Voice is Welcomed, Heard and Respected

   Companies must make sure employees feel included and respected regardless of their age, gender, race, religion, sexual orientation, physical conditions, cultural background or country of origin. Most often employees quit jobs when they feel that their authentic self and uniqueness is not appreciated or valued. As such, it is vital to create an environment where they feel a sense of connectedness to the company and its people. 

3. Communicate Effectively to Differences

   This can be challenging if there’s a lack of experience speaking or interacting with people from diverse backgrounds. It’s important to understand how people communicate, verbally and nonverbally. Depending on the culture, it may be appropriate to demonstrate, for example active listening by nodding and smiling, whereas in some cultures smiling would be inappropriate. It is important to do some research so as to be on the same page when communicating specific job tasks and deadlines to accomplish goals.

4. Be Open-Minded and Flexible

   It’s important to be open-minded when meeting someone with a different cultural background. Easterners and Westerners, and many others don’t think alike, nor do they solve problems in a similar way. Avoid frustration and anger, by seeking to understand the basis for the cultural thought process. Strive to engage in productive conversations and facilitate work flow to maximize efficiency and effectiveness. Taking the extra step to communicate with an open heart and you will earn respect from your co-workers. Try to implement these methods to foster an inclusive work environment for everyone in the office.

5. Eliminate Bias In Promotion Opportunities

   According to Harvard Business Review, the hiring process is unfair and full of bias. Much of it is unconscious sexism, racism, and ageism. If left unchecked, it can harm your company. Iris Bohnet, director of the Women and Public Policy Program at the Harvard Kennedy School and author of What Works: Gender Equality by Design explains, “Seeing is believing… If we don’t see male kindergarten teachers or female engineers we don’t naturally associate women and men with those jobs, and we apply different standards” when we hire, promote, and evaluate job performance. “Managers have to learn to de-bias their practices and procedures.

Be observant, kind, and understanding to work colleagues. Be mindful of your thought process, words, assumptions, and avoid stereotypes about anyone. By treating people with respect and kindness, your cultural sensitivity will increase, creating an inviting, inclusive environment in the workplace.

I am currently reading and highly recommend the below books which have been very helpful in understanding Diversity & Inclusion in the workplace:

Jamaica: Dental Helping Hands

The DHH team was in Jamaica recently where over 500 patients received essential and life changing dental care.

The purpose of the Dental Helping Hands (DHH) Non-Profit Organization (NPO) is to provide dental services to people who do not have access to dental care, who cannot afford it and who would otherwise not be able to receive treatment. The founders of the organization have a solid mission of giving back to people of our respective communities and countries.

Our latest mission took us to St. Ann, Jamaica in the town of Cascade, where Dr. Patrice Smith, her husband Dr. Reginald Baker, Dr. Mark Edwards (Dean of The University of Technology College of Dentistry), Curtis Foster, RDH and a team of 11 dental students from The University of Technology College of Dentistry (UTech COD) and 20 dental hygiene students from Northern Caribbean University (NCU) rendered dental treatment to over 500 patients.

The Dream Team - 3 doctors, 1 RDH, 11 dental students and 20 dental hygiene students

The mission took place at Cascade Primary School

A steady flow of patients waiting to be registered

Dr. Mark Edwards performing extraction procedure of a badly decayed tooth

The DHH team spent a total of 8 hours in Cascade and rendered essential dental care ranging from simple extractions, surgical extractions, dental prophylaxis (cleanings) and scaling & root planing. Patients also received fluoride treatment, toothbrushes, toothpaste and floss to continue at home dental care.

Dr. Baker performing examination

Dr. Smith with UTech dental student as anesthesia is being administered

We always aim is to empower and support the communities we serve by partnering with local dental professionals to share knowledge. By providing communities with education on preventative measures to improve dental health, we honor, support and empower those with less and assist them in becoming self-sufficient. One of our goals is to focus on preventative education while providing patients with a safe environment for necessary care.

Our trip was a success. Exactly 507 individuals received much needed dental care. A huge part of our team’s success stems from individuals like yourself who see a need and donate either time, supplies or money. These donations go a very long way in the lives of the people we serve.

The DHH team is on a mission to not only improve the dental health but the overall quality of life of the lives we come in contact with . We will continue our mission to serve and provide these communities with much needed dental services.

If you would like to join us or donate to our cause, visit our website www.dentalhelpinghands.org and follow us on social media: Facebook and Instagram.

Reasons You Need To Visit Lake Como, Italy

Lake Como is one of the most beautiful places in Italy and one of the dreamiest destinations to travel to. This summer I happened to have my wedding there and it was hands down one of the most beautiful places I’ve been. Shaped like an inverted “Y, “ surrounded by mountains and dotted with charming waterfront villas and open air restaurants - Lake Como is the most picturesque travel destinations. It is a very dreamy and mysterious place - with its faded veneer of old money gentility, picturesque Victorian gardens, and lakeshore villas and restaurants. Lake Como is the perfect relaxing place to spend the summer and is well worth the visit.

Lake Como - shaped like an inverted “Y”

Villa on Lake Como

Restaurant on Lake Como

Best Times To Visit

Lake Como is a popular weekend getaway destination for Milanese looking to get away from the crowds of Milan, so if you are trying to beat the crowds weekdays would be best. The cheapest and less crowded times to travel to Lake Como is during the off seasons, i.e April to mid-June or September and October. The temperatures at this time are perfect since it’s not during the hot Italian summer or the cold winter. Peak season begins at the end of June through August - this is most exciting time with lots of bustling tourists, these are also the warmest months of the year. I personally enjoy warmer climates and the excitement of bustling crowds so I opted to visit in mid August.

How To Get There

The easiest way to get to Lake Como is via Milan. The closest of the two airports in Milan to Lake Como is Milan-Malpensa (MXP). From there you can opt to take a taxi or get a rental car and drive 45 minutes to Lake Como or take the 1 hour train ride from Milan. If taking the train head to Milan’s central station, Milano centrale - you can browse schedules and purchase tickets online here.

Where To Stay

There are lots of gorgeous villas and hotels in Lake Como and the “best” towns to stay in are debatable. But, I would recommend staying in the towns of Como, Varenna, Bellagio, Tremezzo or Laglio. For my wedding weekend I stayed in the towns of Laglio and Moltrasio - I will also note that the famous actor George Clooney’s villa is in Laglio.

My recommended villa’s (also the only ones that I am familiar with) are: Villa Vittoria (where some of our wedding guests stayed and is just a few doors away from Villa Oleandra - George Clooney’s home), Villa Regina Teodolindo (also close to George Clooney’s home), Villa Lario, Villa D’Este, Grand Hotel Tremezzo, and Grand Hotel Imperiale (another venue where or wedding guests stayed).

From the bedroom window at Villa Vittoria in Laglio

View from the Lake View Suite - Villa Vittoria

View from our Suite at Villa Vittoria

Grand Hotel Imperiale - Moltrasio

Town of Moltrasio

Things To Do

The best way to properly enjoy Lake Como and enjoy all it has to offer is to pick a place as your home base and then take advantage of the ferries which traverse the Como villages everyday. There are also the options of fast boats, slow boats, private boats and buses (which is much slower). Visit the towns/villages and just explore.

The Prettiest and Most Popular Towns are:

Town of Como

• Como

  • Perhaps one of the Lake’s largest, most vibrant and also, most popular towns, is Como. It is filled with lively cafes, authentic Trattoria and plenty of places to sample Italian Gelato - Como is a great place to spend a day exploring. One of the highlights of Como is the spectacular Duomo, with its grand, dominating façade, and equally astonishing interior.

Town of Bellagio

• Bellagio

  • Bellagio is by far the most famous town on Lake Como. It is famed for its majestic Italian villas over-looking the Lake, and for being the home to famous individuals. Take a ferry across and enjoy perusing the vast variety of shops, restaurants, wineries and Villas. There’s a beach (yes, you heard right), hiking trails and areas that offer water sports like kayaking and pale boarding. If you want to just take it easy, find a cafe or spa and unwind.

Town of Varenna - Villa Monastero

• Varenna

  • Varenna is a small fishing village that has a plethora of authentic Italian eateries that serve up traditional dishes with locally sourced ingredients. it’s a great place to sample local wines, as well as experiment with the abundance of gelato flavors. See Villa Monastero for sight seeing.

Town of Tremezzo - Villa Carlotta

• Tremezzo

  • One of the most popular tourist towns on Lake Como is Tremezzo, meaning that it is built up with gran hotels and incredible villas. Tremezzo is one of the most beautiful towns on the entire Lake. It’s usually a stop over point for tourists visiting Bellagio. Like most towns in Lake Como, there are a lot of villas to explore; most notably Villa Carlotta, with its grand white façade and commanding size.

Town of Lenno - Villa del Balbianello

• Lenno

  • Lenno is famous for Villa del Balbianello (where I got married). It’s a picture perfect estate that was also used as a set in the movies Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Casino Royale (James Bond). This i the most romantic place to have a wedding.

Town of Cernobbio - Villa D’Este

• Cernobbio

  • Cernobbio is famous for its luxury hotels catering to the rich and famous. It has a peaceful, cosmopolitan vibe and is home to Villa D’Este -which was the original summer home for a cardinal but now a luxury hotel. It’s also the home of Villa Erba.

Lake Como offers visitors a variety of different attractions, from its spectacular natural scenery, hiking trails, beaches and gorgeous towns and villages that are quintessentially Italian. Whether you prefer to be in the centre of activity or prefer being more isolated and enticed by the local way of life, Lake Como has something for everyone to enjoy.

5 Boss Behaviors To Grow Into

The Greatest Gift of Leadership is a Boss Who Wants You To Be Successful - Jon Taffer

A truly great boss is hard to find, difficult to leave, and impossible to forget. You’ve heard it before - people don’t leave jobs or their companies, they leave their bosses. This holds true as I think about the bosses I’ve had and as I reflect on the type of boss that I aspire to be.

Research has shown that there are a number of key leadership behaviors that bosses or managers can learn and develop. These behaviors are grounded in managing social-emotional reactions to our surroundings. By cultivating these behaviors, leaders can build a team that is accountable, trusting, resilient, proactive, and passionate about their work and the company’s mission.

Here are the 5 leadership behaviors that can have an impact on your team’s productivity and engagement:

• Compassion

  • Compassionate leadership means showing genuine interest in team members’ success and well-being. This leadership behavior establishes a commitment to understanding, but not necessarily agreeing. It is also a more objective form of empathy. Unlike empathy, compassion creates emotional distance so that the leader can make sound and proactive decisions on the team member’s behalf. This behavior will ultimately lead to more trust and loyalty from team members.

• Effective Listening

  • Listening can be more empowering than speaking. Effective communication skills are key to building trust with teammates and getting them to buy into your vision. Effective listening is a combination of both verbal and non-verbal communication skills that can be learned and practiced over time.

• Embracing Change

  • Great leaders are able to quickly change course and help their team evolve with the organization’s needs. These people enjoy the process of continually striving for improvement and pushing their teams to the next level. They also are not afraid to fail as they realize that mistakes are mere opportunities to better themselves.

• Embracing a Coaching Mindset

  Great leaders produce other great leaders through coaching. As a coach you are able to see each individual’s development and growth. Great leaders are able to tie people’s individual development to organizational objectives which increases accountability, improves retention, and develops stronger leaders within their teams.

• Cultivating an Inspiring Vision

  • Effective leaders prioritize the creation of an inspiring work environment which propels their teams to see beyond their perceived limitations and step up to new challenges. Motivational leaders have a keen understanding of how to create a strong sense of community and belonging within their organizations. They regularly celebrate and reward achievements, and sets the standard for performance. As a result, their teams tend to see lower turnover, increased productivity, and elevated levels of motivation.

Great leaders are skilled communicators that tend to be humble, compassionate, and transparent. Some are born with innate talents and a set of behaviors that make them particularly suited for greatness. However, many leadership behaviors can be learned, developed, and practiced over time.

Now, do you think you have what it takes to be a great Boss or Leader? Thought so, Let’s Do This!

A version of this article can be found at BetterUp.

Can You Refinance Student Loans After Consolidation?

Consolidation and refinancing can both be viable options when trying to simplify student loan repayment or lower monthly payments.

Combining student loan balances under one roof, either through consolidation or refinancing, has the potential to lower a borrower’s interest rate (in the case of refinancing), extend the repayment term, or both, which can reduce the monthly payment to a more affordable level.

Many borrowers, however, find themselves asking whether they can refinance student loans after they have already consolidated them.

In short, if you have previously consolidated your student loans—whether through the government or a private lender—you can still refinance your student loans if you are eligible.

Difference Between Student Loan Consolidation and Refinancing

Student loan consolidation may be referring to two different things in most cases:

1. Consolidating federal student loans via the Direct Consolidation Loan program

2. Consolidating federal and/or private student loans together via refinancing with a private lender

Federal Direct Consolidation Loan Program

Federal Direct Consolidation Loan is a program that allows you to combine outstanding federal student loan balances, either in full or in part, with the federal government. Private student loans are not eligible for consolidation under this program.

Borrowers can easily complete a consolidation of selected federal loans through a brief online request form through the Department of Education. All the provisions of federal student loans remain available to borrowers, including income-driven repayment plans, deferment, and forbearance, with a loan consolidation.

Consolidating Student Debt When Refinancing

Refinancing student loan debt is a different process that involves a private student loan lender, not the federal government. When refinancing, student loan borrowers have the option to combine one or more federal or private student loans into a single loan with a new lender—sometimes referred to as private student loan consolidation.

Refinancing is available through many private lenders, meaning interest rates, repayment terms, features, and total costs differ greatly. Refinancing can be beneficial to student loan borrowers if they are able to secure a lower interest rate than what a consolidation or their original loan terms offered. However, if you refinance federal student loans, you will lose any protections that came with the loans and access to federal repayment plans.

How to Refinance Consolidated Student Loans

Some borrowers may opt to consolidate their federal student loans initially, then later decide that they want to refinance to take advantage of benefits like a lower interest rate. In this case, refinancing can be done directly with a private lender even after a consolidation is done.

To refinance consolidated student loans, student loan borrowers need to simply find the private lender they would like to utilize, complete an application for the refinance, and once approved, make payments to the new private loan lender.

Most student loan lenders offering to refinance loans have an easy online application process, the ability to add a cosigner to strengthen the application, and several options for repayment terms.

You can compare student loan lenders and find your best match here.

How Often Can You Refinance a Student Loan?

Student loan borrowers can refinance their student loans as many times as they would like, so long as their credit and income remain strong. Lenders do not typically put restrictions on how often loans may be refinanced, although borrowers may need to move to a different lender if a refinance was recently completed.

As student loan interest rates shift, refinancing student loan debt may be a cost-effective strategy for reducing the total cost of borrowing. However, there are factors to consider before refinancing multiple times.

See the full article here: Can You Refinance Student Loans After Consolidation?


This is a sponsored post by LendEDU

Dental Helping Hands: Who We Are

Dental Helping Hands is a non-profit organization that provides dental health services to underserved communities in developing countries.

It all started when three classmates of Howard University College of Dentistry decided they wanted to give back. The group consists of an Oral Surgeon, an Orthodontist and a General Dentist with the heart to share their talents with the world. They volunteer their time and travel to different countries to provide free dental services such as, cleanings, extractions, restorations, treat abscesses and cleft lip and palate repair. Our aim is to empower and support the communities we serve by partnering with local dental professionals to share knowledge. By providing communities with education on preventative measures to improve dental health, we honor, support and empower those with less and assist them in becoming self-sufficient.

Discover your reasons to volunteer

The reasons that people decide to volunteer can be very personal. For some it might be a desire to give back to a world that has provided them with great advantages. For others, there is a longing for an experience quite removed from their day-to-day routine. There are those who simply identify a need or problem and are determined to be part of a solution. Many are drawn by an interest in traveling to new places, meeting new people, and doing something worthwhile at the same time.

From a strictly professional standpoint, short-term humanitarian dental service projects usually have one or two objectives. One is to meet the urgent emergency oral-health needs of a specific group of people—such as a village, a congregation at a site of worship, or a group of local children or orphans. Another objective is to provide education about dental health to similar groups of people.

It is quite common to hear those who have participated in a volunteer project describe it as one of the most rewarding experiences of their lives. From a strictly professional standpoint, short-term humanitarian dental service projects usually have one or two objectives.

One is to meet the urgent emergency oral-health needs of a specific group of people—such as a village, a congregation at a site of worship, or a group of local children or orphans. Another objective is to provide education about dental health to similar groups of people. There is certainly a considerable sense of personal satisfaction and accomplishment that comes with using your unique skills to help others—and doing so under less than ideal circumstances.

Many returning volunteers feel that they have gained much more than they have given because they have attained a greater understanding of different cultures and regions of the world. In sharing their knowledge and ability, they have been able to alleviate suffering caused by dental disorders and they have made new friends in the process.

I hope this inspires you to do something kind for someone, volunteer in your respective communities and perhaps sign up to be a volunteer or even a donor of our organization, Dental Helping Hands. Visit our website to volunteer or donate dentalhelpinghands.org and follow us on Instagram.

How I Saved Over $4000 by switching Cell Phone Carriers

One of the most challenging things when it comes to personal finance is finding and plugging money leaks. If you’ve seen my previous article on the topic you will find that it is quite easy to spend money without realizing. Money leaks are those small expenses that you forget about soon after spending the money. They can wreak havoc on your budget.

I did a complete financial overhaul about a year ago and discovered over $6000 of wasted money. A big chunk of that was in cell phones bills!

At the time, I was with one of the major cell phone providers carrying three lines of service. That is, three cell phones that weren’t fully paid for and three lines with unlimited talk, text and data. All this came at a cost of roughly $280/month. My fiancé had a similar situation where he was with another major cell phone provider carrying two lines of service. His monthly payments were around $240/month. Combined we were paying approximately $6240 in cell phone bills alone per year!

Nowadays, most cellphone plans don’t lock you into a contract. Gone are the days where you’re stuck with the same cellphone carrier for two years, unless you’re willing to pay hundreds of dollars in early termination fees. These days it’s easy to switch, and in many cases you can save yourself a lot of money by doing so.

We did some research and by switching providers we are currently saving roughly $4000/year! We combined my 3 lines with my fiancés 2 lines and went with a single carrier and currently pay $139/month for all 5 lines. That is roughly $1668 per year. This is saving us a whopping $4572 per year just on cell phone bills! Our services continued with the same great quality as before. I must mention however that in switching carriers, we had to purchase 3 new cell phones carrying an upfront cost of roughly $1600.

This was a simple adjustment which revealed an area that isn’t necessarily thought about when attempting to reduce expenses. If you are attempting to plug money leaks, definitely do not ignore this category as you might also find an opportunity for huge savings.

Also, If you’re hesitant to switch carriers because you get great coverage with your current carrier, there’s something you need to know. Smaller carriers such as Metro, Boost Mobile and Cricket, all run off of one of the major networks — AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint or Verizon. So, if you’re with AT&T but sick of paying $120 per month for your plan, switch to Cricket Wireless and pay just $55 per month for unlimited data all on the same network. You’ll still get the same great coverage even though you’re no longer on an AT&T plan. You can find a list of carriers here.

*This is not a sponsored post, I do not get paid for the above views.

Plugging Money Leaks

One of the most challenging parts of getting a grip on your finances is finding money “leaks” and plugging them. I speak a lot on saving/investing for retirement and tackling student loans. However, I must address the topic of unknowingly wasting money aka money leaks. The faster we figure out where all our money is going the better we will be able to plan and have more money to put towards saving, investing, paying off debt, etc.

A money leak is simply any amount of money that you spend and are unable to identify what you spent that money on at the end of the month when you’re reviewing your bank and/or credit card statements. It can happen quite quickly and sometimes go unnoticed. For example, one week you may not have gotten a chance to prepare your meals and suddenly you’re eating out everyday for lunch, or you subscribed to a free trial of HBO to binge watch a season of one of you’re favorite shows and forget to cancel the membership. These seemingly tiny expenses add up and before you know it you’re wondering where all your money went.

I did a complete financial overhaul about a year ago and discovered over $6000 of wasted money. A big chunk of that was in cell phones bills - by switching providers I am currently saving roughly $4000/year! 

Here’s how to identify and begin plugging your money leaks:

Step 1: Print out your credit card and/or bank statements for the last 3 months and highlight all your set monthly automatic withdrawals, example: mortgage/rent, savings, Insurances, car note, utilities, etc. Now look at those highlighted items and see if there’s a possibility to cut or lower the cost of any of those items like a cell phone bill, cable bill, interest rate on a car note or even a credit card.

• Are your utility bills consistent? Cell phone and cable bills are terrible money leaks. Cable companies will sometimes increase monthly payments which can go unnoticed if you’re on automatic withdrawal. 

  • Do you need cable at all? Consider alternatives like Netflix or Hulu which are a fraction of the cost. 

  • Are you paying for more services than you need? Many of us no longer utilize a landline so why pay for it?

  • If your monthly data usage on your cell phone is, say 10mb or so then why pay for unlimited data?

  • Have you tried refinancing your auto loan? This would be a good thing to do especially if your credit score has increased since you initiated the loan.

  • Call your credit card companies and request a lower rate. If the answer is no, simply switch to another company that offers you a lower rate.

Step 2: Identify all the un-highlighted items and categorize them.

• Typically the miscellaneous expenses are date nights/eating out, emergencies, etc.

  • Save all your receipts and review them each week so that you can track your spending. By knowing that you have to review your receipts you may not be so apt to spend frivolously.

  • Use a budgeting app to help you stay on track. If you find it difficult to stay on top of your finances, consider tools like Mint or You Need a Budget.

  • Avoid leaky places and budget before you go. A simple night out with friends can turn into regret if you do not plan ahead. We all know how out of control things can get when we’re having fun, especially if drinks are involved. Have a ballpark figure in mind or a set amount that you want to spend on food and drinks and don’t go over that limit.

Needless to say, once you’ve found the leaks and plugged them you must decide what do you do with that “extra” money. Treat it like it’s a bonus from work or a gift from your generous grandma - no, do not spend it. Options for this money could be investing, saving towards your retirement, paying off credit card debt, or making extra payments on your student loan debt.  

Money leaks are poison to any kind of financial progress. If you have too many of them, it can make personal finance feel incredibly confusing and hopeless because it feels like all of your money is just evaporating. Take charge, use the above guidelines to get started and take control of your finances.

Asset Protection For Young Professionals

Asset protection is a hot topic among young professionals. Let’s face it, we spent years in school and sacrificed a lot to get to this point so it’s only right to search for ways to protect what we’ve earned. Asset protection is a term used to describe the way we go about protecting our finances from those who see us as a target. These may be creditors, individuals looking to sue, etc. Everyone needs to give thought to this but there are some groups, namely physicians and dentists that are more vulnerable to legal action.

• Malpractice Insurance

  • Whether you’re a physician, dentist, or any other type of healthcare professional, having malpractice insurance is not only important but necessary. Approximately 34% of doctors will have a lawsuit or judgement against them in their lifetime, according to the American Medical Association. Be sure to purchase a malpractice insurance policy that provides the best coverage for your specialty.

• Retirement Accounts

  • Having retirement accounts are very important, but many of us are not aware how it provides asset protection benefits. All qualified retirement accounts provide complete protection from a broad array of creditor classes, including malpractice and bankruptcy creditors. Putting money away for retirement allows you to contribute to tax deductible and tax deferred accounts.

• Creating a Corporation

  • A Limited Liability company and a corporation are business entities that are separate from the owner of the business. You can create a corporation and become an employee of your own company. That way, if anyone should come after you personally or if a judgement was ruled against you it would only affect the income which you earned as an employee working for said cooperation.

• Pre-Nuptial Agreement

  • For some this can be a touchy subject but many couples are getting married at a later age and may have acquired assets prior to marriage. A prenup is a very good idea for a young doc. It gives you a chance to have control over how assets are divided in the event the marriage ends in divorce. You get to make these decisions while you still love each other without interference from the state. 

• If you get married, STAY Married

  • When discussing asset protection, we think about how to protect ourselves if we are sued. However, you are far more likely to lose assets to your spouse than to a disgruntled patient. Believe it or not, many times when a doctor or other young professional loses assets it’s through divorce. Come up with ways to stay connected with each other throughout the years and keep your marriage fresh! hint: Don’t stop dating each other.

Use the above bullet points as a place to begin and start protecting the assets you worked so very hard to acquire.

Harmful Effects of DIY Braces

*WARNING: THIS POST CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES *

Do-It-Yourself (DIY) braces and at-home teeth straightening kits have become a trend popping up all over the internet, promising dentist-quality results at a fraction of the price. While I understand how attractive these may look and sound, unfortunately, things that sound too good to be true often are. As an orthodontist I have seen some pretty damaging effects of DIY braces and wanted to share a few facts about this dangerous trend.

What Are DIY Braces

We consider DIY braces anything that you do yourself to facilitate the movement of teeth. There are videos posted online where teens and young adults use items like rubber bands, dental floss, fishing lines, earring backs, paper clips, and more to move their teeth. These items are often found embedded or covered by gum tissue. Mail order aligners are becoming very popular but many of their disadvantages are not being addressed. Here we will discuss some reasons why seeing an orthodontic professional is best.

Harmful Effects of DIY Braces

Orthodontic treatment is about more than just straightening teeth. It involves moving of teeth and bone to restore proper form and function. It must be managed properly to yield the best results. Attempting to close a gap or straighten your teeth yourself significantly increases the risk of serious damage to your teeth and gums, resulting in tooth loss, changes in speech and possible infection. It is also worth considering that repairing the damage from DIY procedures could be far more expensive than the investment in an orthodontic specialist.

• Tooth Loss

Using tight rubber bands or other materials to adjust your smile quickly is detrimental to tooth health. Rather than create the straight smile you crave, makeshift braces could destroy your teeth at their roots.

Unrestricted blood flow is necessary to maintain healthy teeth and gums. Makeshift braces and ill fitting DIY clear aligners can impinge on the tissues and cause unwanted movement of teeth. That subsequent movement can result in conditions such as the one seen below and cause a host of other issues that will require an immediate visit to your dentist.

• Infection

Since DIY braces involve nonsterile, nonmedical-grade supplies, it’s easy to develop an infection. Rubber bands, paper clips, and similar items can cut into the gums and injure the tissue, causing open sores that aren’t able to heal while you continue to wear the makeshift braces. A gum infection may not sound serious, but it can cause damage to the surrounding tissues, severe bone loss, and spread through your circulatory system.

• Speech Problems

The position of teeth also has an effect on the way we speak and pronounce words. DIY Braces often do not account for movement outside of the desired areas. This movement must be controlled properly to prevent conditions evidenced in the pic below. As a result, your upper and lower jaw may not fit together as they once did, ultimately affecting your phonetic ability.

• Relapse

DIY braces offer no guarantees, so even if you try to make your own and successfully manage to move your teeth, the results most likely won’t last. Professional braces are designed to move teeth in slight increments over a period of time. There’s a reason for this: Quick adjustments have a greater chance of shifting back.

Since DIY braces tout quick results in less time, your teeth are more likely to move back to their original positions after discontinued use.

• Pay More Than You Saved

Most people turn to DIY methods to save money, but when it comes to important dental procedures, you could end up paying much more to repair the damages. Surgery to address infections, correcting bone loss or extracting non restorable teeth can be traumatizing and expensive. When you consider the costs associated with correcting damages from DIY braces and at-home straightening kits, you’re better off saving the money for professional braces and having the treatment done right by a professional.

Please do not fall victim to these DIY trends and fast braces schemes. Do your research and ensure you are choosing the right professional for your smile and overall health.

Why You Should Consider Ditching Your Whole Life Policy

I remember sitting through many lunch and learns back in dental school and residency where we were constantly told that we needed to get life Insurance. After the differences between Whole and Term Life Insurances were discussed, many of the insurance agents(Reps) would emphasize the need for Whole Life versus Term Life Insurance, especially for us soon-to-be dentists. They advertised Whole Life Insurance as the best plan to “offer great returns”, “protect our assets,” while providing a substantial death benefit.

Fast forward a few years later and after much research, I have come to the realization that obtaining and holding a whole life insurance policy was not the best idea. Let’s look at the difference between the two:

Term Life Insurance

Term Life Insurance is “pure” life insurance. The policyholder pays fixed premiums for a limited period of time (term). If they die while the policy is in effect, their beneficiary receives a death benefit.

Whole Life Insurance

Whole Life Insurance is a type of permanent life insurance which is guaranteed to remain in force for the insured's entire lifetime. It offers a savings component and life-long protection. As long as premiums are paid, whole life insurance provides a death benefit after you die.

Life insurance is not a very good investment vehicle. Life Insurance is best utilized in case of unexpected death, hence the case for term life insurance.

Here’s Why Whole Life Insurance May Be A Bad Idea:

• The cost of whole life insurance is a lot higher than the cost of term life Insurance.

• In Term life insurance, the beneficiaries receive the death benefit IF you die during the designated period. Whereas, in whole life insurance, the death benefit is received WHEN you die.

• Whole Life insurance provides a death benefit in case you die while someone else depends on your income, but it is a very expensive way to provide that protection.

• Whole Life insurance accumulates a cash value that you can borrow against. However, it takes time to accumulate that cash value. In fact, your first year premiums usually are paid to the agent that sold you the policy. While there may be a number of uses for this cash value, it is generally inferior to other options that can accomplish the same purpose.

Tackling Student Loan Debt

Almost all young dentists face confusing (and often conflicting) choices after graduation because of the significant amount of student loan debt they have from dental school. The average dental school graduate has more than $247,000 in student debt. That figure has risen nearly 40% since 2010.

"[Dentists have] been trained for years to focus on passing the next academic exam, completing a procedure correctly or passing a licensing exam," says Dr. Douglas Carlsen, founder of Golich Carlsen, a financial consulting firm for dentists. Carlsen retired from his own dental practice in 2004. "[Dentists] have not, in many instances, been prepared well for the real world of employment and possible business ownership," he says. "They have not been prepared for the world of consumer purchasing and financial planning."

The key, Carlsen says, is for dentists to get on solid financial footing so they can start to tackle their student loan debt. Here's how:

‍

Make a Financial Plan

Carlsen recommends that young dentists address debt by establishing goals they want to reach within a certain deadline. Include your partner, if you have one. Factors to consider include what kind of lifestyle you want to have, how much student loan debt you have, how much savings you want to have and what kind of practice you will be a part of in the next one, five, and 10 years, he says. Identifying these parts of your life will help clarify the amount you can dedicate to paying down debt while living your life.

‍The goal of the financial plan is to help you keep your expenses low. By reducing your spending, Carlsen says you could dedicate 40% of net income to pay down debt. "I personally know of dentists that have paid off $400,000 in less than eight years," he says.

‍Free budgeting apps, such as Mint and Personal Capital, can make it easy for dentists (or anyone else) to track their spending.

‍

Consolidate and Pay Down Student Debt

In general, dentists with good credit can consolidate and refinance their loans with a lower rate from a private lender. For example, Common Bond could save the average dentist thousands over the life of their student loans.

‍If qualifying for student loan refinancing at a lower interest rate is not an option immediately after dental school, Carlsen recommends consolidating federal student loans and using an income-driven repayment plan.

‍

Remember Your Retirement Fund

You'll want to balance student loan repayment with other goals, such as retirement. Nate Wenner, a CPA and certified financial planner who specializes in working with dentists, recommends dentists set aside at least 10% of their gross income toward retirement.

‍"After meeting that baseline level of saving, one can look to more aggressively pay down any debt which carries an interest rate higher than what you might expect to earn by investing over the next 10 years," he says.

‍Good financial habits can help dentists retire early, Carlsen says. He notes that the dentists who retired at 50 he knows have these characteristics in common: They bought a home and remained in it until retirement. They have saved more than 20% of their annual net income after their student loans have been paid off. They started saving for retirement by age 35 or earlier. And finally, they paid cash for everything except their homes and practices.

‍

Hold off on Buying a Home or Practice

Carlsen says the worst mistake he sees young dentists make is to buy a home too soon. "A young dentist should not buy a home until he or she is stabilized in their employment or practice situation," he says.

‍Don't rush into buying a practice, either. "I see many of the national brokers promising much higher income projections for practices for sale than what is prudent," Carlsen says. "There will be a plethora of practices for sale by baby boomer dentists in the next five to eight years. Take your time and find a practice that suits your style, not what others tell you to do."

‍Following these tips can help dentists pay off their student loans faster and set themselves up for an even brighter future.

T‍his is a sponsored post from Common Bond

A version of this story was originally published in Forbes.com.

Live Your Life on Purpose

You are a person of destiny. You are equipped. You are talented. You are creative. You were designed for a purpose.

To live a life of purpose means to live your life with Intention. To say you’re living with intention means that there is meaning and purpose behind all your actions. When you are living with intention life doesn’t just happen to you, you are not merely existing, everyday is not “just another day.”

It is quite easy for us to get caught up in the minutia of everyday life. There are so many distractions that can often lead us away from our life’s purpose. This is something a lot of us struggle with and not living with intention is often times the source of much of our unhappiness.

To live a purposeful life, you have to:

1. Find What Makes You Happy, Do More of That.

Think back to the times when you felt truly happy or fulfilled. What were you doing? Who were you with? What emotions did you feel? Once you’ve identified these things, try to incorporate more of those experiences in your life.

2. Get out of Your Comfort Zone, Be Intentional.

Living beyond your comfort zone helps you embrace uncertainty and unlock your true potential. If you say “yes” to experiences, or activities that shake up your sense of security, they can lead to the discovery (and confirmation) of your talents. When you strive to live outside your comfort zone, you will find yourself confronting some limiting beliefs that often times stem from fear. Move through these things knowing you will come out the other end having grown as an individual.

3. Take Time for Stillness (Mindfulness)

We are in a world of constant stimulation and distractions and it can be hard to quiet the turbulence of our thoughts. Cultivating stillness and silence is a powerful way to restore our balance and energy. Tapping into stillness creates inner clarity and expanded awareness that will help you discover yourself with greater ease and understanding. Stillness also allows us to pay close attention to our thoughts - we become active participants in our lives. We start to notice the things that make us happy and it’s easier to reject the things that don’t.

Start living your life today purposefully and intentionally. Go!

How Student Loan Consolidation Positively Impacted My Credit Score

Many of us have student loan debt, and if you’re a dentist or physician your student loan amount may be pretty significant. Figuring out how to go about tackling them can be quite daunting; knowing whether to consolidate or refinance, choosing from the different repayment options, and deciding which is best for you.

On my own journey to pay down my mountain of debt I stumbled upon a little surprise. I discovered that a wonderful side effect of consolidating your student loans is a credit score increase. I was able to significantly increase my credit score by consolidating my loans.

Here’s how that works:

• One factor that determines your credit score is the number of lines of credit that you have open.  Remember that you get a loan for every semester of school and thus at the end of your four years (or however long your schooling is), you will end up with several student loans. As a general rule, If you have too many lines of credit, your score will go down.  By consolidating your student loans, you are replacing your many student loans with one new loan.  You will still have the same amount of debt, but the number of lines of credit goes down, thus increasing your score.

• A second advantage of student loan consolidation is that it will appear that you have paid off all of your other loans.  Any record of debt repaid is a good thing!  Depending upon how your loans are consolidated, it could read that your loans were refinanced or it could read that it was paid in full.  Either way, your credit score is helped.

• One final advantage of consolidating your student loans is that it can often lower your monthly payments.  This helps your credit score because the ratio of debt to income will go down.  

Consolidating your student loans is dependent upon the type of loans that you have.  For Federal Loans, consolidation is usually a great idea, but for private loans it gets more tricky as there are several private loan lenders to choose from (SoFi, Laurel Road, LendKey, Earnest, Splash Financial, etc). Do your research, speak with a trusted professional and choose the best option for you.