ARPD is Environmentally Friendly

We love to help our patients achieve a happy and a healthy smile. To the surprise of most that’s not all that we care about here at ARPD. We care deeply about the overall health of our patients, our staff members and the environment.  Let us tell you how we work hard to do our part to care for each other and the Earth. Here are a few of the things that we do at ARPD that are good for our patients, their loved ones and the planet!

1. We use germicidal hand wash and hand sanitizers which eliminate, for the most part, the need for paper towels.  This also minimizes water usage. In order to minimize water consumption and still ensure bactericidal cleaning, we’ve installed medical grade hand sanitizers for use by doctors and staff.
2. We use digital x-rays. Digital x-rays have the advantage of providing images with a minimum of radiation exposure.  Phosphor plates and digital sensors capture the x-ray image and are then converted into a digital image that can be viewed, manipulated, magnified and stored electronically.  Digital x-rays reduce waste by eliminating film and processing chemicals.
3. We use a nontoxic dental waterline inhibitor to prevent bacterial growth in line and prevent bacterial transfer to patients or staff members.
4. Our self-contained dental units use distilled and purified water which cuts down on chemicals transferred to the patient or the environment.  Distilled water lacks minerals which enables our dental units and our dental hand pieces to run more cleanly and energy efficiently.
5. We use microfiber washable towels for cleaning windows and other housekeeping duties in order to cut down on paper waste.
6. Our suction line cleaner is biodegradable and dissolves dental buildup in the suction lines allowing our vacuum and vacuum pump to work more effectively for our patients and more energy efficiently.
7. Rather than using plastic or latex barriers for our equipment, we clean and disinfect our chairs and every surface that is touched by the patient, dentist or hygienist before and after every patient and at the beginning and end of every day. 
8. We use automated thermostats to maintain a comfortable office temperature more energy efficiently for our patients and our staff members.
9. Our office staff even operates in a "green" manner by practicing several different eco friendly methods. 
• We regularly contact junk mail senders and request that they remove us from their databases to cut down on mail waste.
• We shred and recycle all of our office papers.
• Our office machine cartridges and toners are recycled.
10. Our office air fresheners are all natural essential oils and are nontoxic and have also been demonstrated to have some antibacterial and antiviral properties making for a healthier and happier dental atmosphere. No ‘dental office smell’ here! 

These are just the top 10 ways we operate environmentally friendly. Our newest way will be when we complete our office Renovation. We plan to improve our carbon footprint per say! 

#gogreen #greenARPD #envirodentist #drrohner #happyhealthy #protecttheearth #onethingatatime

www.drrohner.com  www.facebook.com/TheFishDentist

Getting to Know Dr. Rohner, Part I

How else to get to know Dr. Rohner than learn about the two people that made Dr. Rohner who she is today, her parents, The Robinson's!

“Everyone Deserves the Chance to Fly"

My parents, Ray and Pam Robinson, are true lovebirds, soulmates, they are meant to be together forever.   They are absolutely precious and their love for each other is humbling and inspiring.  Short version of their story?  They met in high school, got married while my dad was in the Navy, and have been together ever since!  For my entire life, my parents have been hard workers.  My dad has been a truck driver since his teen years, and recently retired from FedEx, and my mom was a pulmonology nurse for Mobile Infirmary (and yes! She still has her own stethoscope). 

Interesting story about my parents?  They have always said that when they retire… that they were going to sell everything and travel full time.  Well, last July, they did it!  They set out on the open road in their RV, towing a jeep for exploring, and, ever since, they have been having the time of their lives exploring the USA!

Their trips have taken them from their former home in Daphne, Alabama, all the way to Seattle, Washington, and all points in between, around, over and under…   so, here are a few pictures of the first few months of their journey and…here’s to my parents who finally get to ‘fly’ across the open road going wherever the wind takes them.  

Congratulations Mom and Dad!

#welovenurses  #momanddad #makingit #traveltheworld #oratleastthestates #lovinglife #livinglife #camping #rving

Board Certified, CEs, Diplomat... English please!

So, periodically our office closes for ‘Continuing Education’… What does that mean exactly?  

Not only does our State Dental Board require a certain amount and type of Continuing Education each year for my dental license, but to remain as a Board Certified Pediatric Dentist additional is required.

  

Let me give you a little history on myself. As I have written about in previous blogs I went down a long educational pathway.  I finished my undergraduate degree with honors in education, taught special education in rural Mississippi for two years, applied and was accepted to dental school, received my Doctor of Dental Medicine degree (DMD), continued on for more education in a dental residency at Children’s Hospital of Alabama and the University of Alabama at Birmingham to become a specialist in Pediatric Dentistry and, after finishing my education, my pediatric dentistry residency, and passing my exams, I electively chose to pursue MORE education in my field by choosing to study and prepare for the Board Exam in Pediatric Dentistry. 

In order to become a Diplomate in Pediatric Dentistry, which means “Board Certified in Pediatric Dentistry”, I passed a comprehensive written examination on Pediatric Dentistry and then completed a site visit in which American Board of Pediatric Dentistry Board Examiners spent several days in my office reviewing my charts and cases, reviewing my office protocol and my staff management and sterilization procedures, and observing and grading my clinical work.  And, after all of that, I was awarded Diplomate status/Board Certification in Pediatric Dentistry by the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry and became a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

The neat thing about Board Certification in Pediatric Dentistry is that it is an ongoing process.  It is a lifelong educational process that requires constant study and review.  Each year the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry requires that I complete additional continuing education in Pediatric Dentistry, pass educational modules on Pediatric Dentistry specific topics and periodically attend a 22 hour Comprehensive Review of Pediatric Dentistry as well as periodically taking (and passing) a Comprehensive Exam on Pediatric Dentistry.  In order to maintain my Certification, I must continue learning because every year there are new procedures, new materials, new ways of helping take care of my patients’ teeth that I want to learn and become expert at in order to offer my patients the best care possible.

 

That is what I do. Spend my time "off" studying and attending classes and reviewing and preparing  for the Comprehensive Exam on Pediatric Dentistry in order to renew my Board Certification.

All of this may lead a person to ask, Why did you volunteer to pursue and achieve Board Certification?

It’s simple really, continuing education and lifelong learning are high priorities for me.  I am dedicated to providing the best patient care through a commitment to lifelong learning.  Board Certification in Pediatric Dentistry gives me the opportunity to achieve and to demonstrate my dedication to excellence.

Speaking of Orgainization...

Shortly after my last blog post "How Do You Do It?", I had lunch with my sweet cousin (shout out to Laurel!) and we got to talking about how to stay organized amidst kids, husband, church, work, extracurricular activities etc and I realized that I failed to mention THE most important organizational tool that we use...

The Cozi Family Calendar App

Y’all… my family could not function without this app!  Check it out.  You can put the Cozi Family Calendar app on the phones of all family members and everyone can access it, add to it, make changes, and check it throughout the day.  Every family member is assigned a color code and it is super easy to read and use.  I even use it to store grocery lists, errand lists… even for things like reminders to pick up presents for parties that the kids attend. 

Here is a screen shot of my personal family app here --->

As you can see the organization is flawless showing dates, times, who its for, and who's calendars it has been added to. I personally love the color coding and list view. You can also view it simplified on a monthly calendar but this works best for me.

The apps cost is around $5 a month, but I cannot begin to tell you how totally worth it that is! (And no, unfortunately, I don’t get my app for free due to this post… I just love the app and wanted to share it with you)

 Seriously… we could not function without it… check it out!

How Do You Do It?

I get this question quite often -- "How do you juggle a full time job with your role as wife and mother of four? How do you maintain balance?"  

This is going to have to be part one on this subject, the things that impact my daily walk are endless. The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that I was a TEACHER before I was a Pediatric Dentist!  

As all educators know, we learn a lot in those first years of teaching.  Teaching, and my fellow teachers, taught me many life lessons that I am able to apply to my everyday life.

For example, one of the most important lessons learned was that I needed to create a sense of community in my classroom and with my fellow teachers.  In my classroom, rules and organization were vital to maintaining order so that I could teach effectively.  And, as teachers we all relied on each other for ideas, supplies  or just simple advice. It’s the same in my work and in my home. Whether it is my husband and I or my staff, we are a team.

Another important lesson learned from teaching was that organization was key. Being prepared and getting everything ready the night before is so important to keeping the ball rolling. Organization is vital to making my life work and I rely on my wonderful husband and extended family, as well as, a fantastic group of staff members to get all of the jobs done!  Whether it is getting one of my own children from point A to point B, planning field trips for Brownie troops, or helping to run my practice…it actually does take a village (actually, with four children, I think more of a state!)

I also learned the art of delegating! In my classroom, every student had a ‘job’ or responsibility each week within our classroom community.  It’s the same in my office and at home. We all have our strengths, making us all a part of the puzzle serving for the greater good!  It is vital that I collaborate with others and ask for help and delegate. I recognize that I cannot wear all of the ‘hats’ at my office nor in my home.  At work I have to train and delegate responsibilities to each staff member and know that I have the right people on my side and as part of my workplace team. I have to defer to others expertise on accounting or other matters integral to running a business. At home I have to realize that my children need me to just be me, mom. Not a car shuttle or check book- just to sit and spend time with them. I have to recognize that my specialty is Pediatric Dentistry and being a Wife/Mother, all the rest is up to everyone else and their particular strengths.    

Another principle that I learned from teaching was that, in order to gain respect from my students, I had to respect each and every one of them first, and I needed them all to know how important they were in this world.  I have tried to apply those same principals to my children, my staff members, my patients and to their parents. During my teaching days, I had students that came from dysfunctional families and low socioeconomic conditions as a result of that they tended to have very low self -esteem. By entrusting each one of my students with a responsibility for our classroom community and by being respectful of each and every student, I was teaching the students that they were important and integral to the classroom success every day. I believe that the same message applies to everyone and I strive to show this to my staff, patients and to my own children. In fact, as I write, there is a list of 100 positive, affirming phrases hanging in our staff lounge to remind all of us here to take the time to remind our patients and their parents of their value and importance in the world. Because who knows? Maybe this is the day that one particular patient or their parent really needs affirmation. Maybe they have had a bad day or a bad week. We have the privilege of being a place where we can offer a sense of community and kindness and affirmation-- we take that privilege very seriously. 

Another lesson that I learned from teaching is that in order to be an effective teacher, I needed to show my students that I was accessible and needed to show them how much I truly cared for them and their families, and I needed to exhibit and truly show my enthusiasm for teaching and learning.  Guess what?  These same qualities are required to be an effective Pediatric Dentist or support staff member.  When children feel comfortable and know that we truly care about their dental health, then we are more effective at doing our jobs and taking care of their teeth!  And, these are all qualities that I look for in staff members here at ARPD and that I nurture in myself. 

Other lessons from teaching that have served me well? 

·        Have high (but still realistic) expectations of those that I serve… . I learned long ago that people tend to live up (or down) to what you expect of them. This applies from my spouse all the way to the check out clerk at the grocery store. I strongly believe that If you don't have expectations for someone, it shows that you don't believe in them.

·        Nurture a Love of Learning… in myself and in my staff members. I know that I am never finished 'learning' to be a pediatric dentist! I love attending CE courses and keeping updated on new procedures, materials and products.  I enjoy maintaining my Board Certification in Pediatric Dentistry!  Board Certification insures that I will always be striving to be a better pediatric dentist.  There is always more to learn each year.  Not to mention what my patients and children teach me, maybe even more than all of my classes!

·        Be a Skilled Leader… boy, this takes work! In order to manage the business and a large staff I am constantly problem solving, trying everything until I find out what will work.I am always shifting gears, adapting and changing until I get it right. Unfortunately ;) this means admitting my mistakes and learning from my mistakes, a true sign of someones professionalism.  All of these skills are vital to running a business, and, might I add,  vital to being a mother and working with children!  So, once again, thank you to my education experience.

And, finally, one of the most important methods that I use to ‘juggle my life’ and find balance in all that I do is to choose positivity daily. In order to do this, I have to make a very intentional effort not to lose personal connection. I have to remember what it was like to be a child, a student, and a patient. I strive to learn from those that I serve and to those whom I interact with each day. I try to look at every person I interact with with a desire to truly understand their needs.

Not to long ago I posted about my love of reading. Well, here’s a literary reference from one of my very favorite novels (for all of you “To Kill a Mockingbird’ fans out there). This quotation is from Harper Lee’s Atticus and describes a state of mind that I truly feel makes life easier: "You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view . . . until you climb into his skin and walk around in it…”  That says it all, right?

For Parents, Our Children's Health is #1

Parent Zone?

"Is Your Clinic a No Parent Zone or Can I go back with my child?”

Can you be a part of your child’s dental experience? Of course! Parents are ALWAYS welcome in our clinics. We love visiting with our parents as much as our patients, and we appreciate your help in giving your child the best dental experience that we can. 

However, we find that the majority of children do better on their own, feeling like a “Big Kid”! But, we know that… It completely depends on the individual child. Every child is different and we treat each child according to his/her individual needs.  The decision on where the parent remains during your child’s dental visit is best made after discussion between me and, you, the parent. Ultimately, it is based completely on what is best for your child.  You, as parents, know your children better than we do. I know that is a general answer. The more realistic answer is that all kids are different and all kids go through various phases of development. Each phase calls for a different scenario. You (the parent) and I would need to talk about the procedure and together decide what scenario would work best for your child.

Let me explain what I mean by that….

I know that with my four children the answer to this question varies depending upon which child we were talking about.  For one of my children, it would be best for me to tell her everything that is going to happen before we get to the visit so that I can help her work through all of the questions that she has about the procedure.  It would be best for mommy to be with her throughout the procedure.  On the other hand, another daughter would need to know what she was having done, but, at the visit, it would be best for me not to accompany that child.  I know that I would divert her attention toward me rather than allowing her to focus on the dentist or physician performing the procedure. For another of my children, it is best if we don’t get into too much detail about the procedure beforehand because the thoughts and questions (that lead to more thoughts and questions) create crippling anxiety that would probably prevent us from getting that child in the door. That being said, when at the procedure visit, this child would need me to attend in order to help manage her behavior. 

All of that explanation leads to this: all kids are different. I have 4 VERY different personalities in my children, which, in turn, helps me to better understand how to approach each of my patients. 

The bottom line is-- where a parent remains during the dental visit is best determined through a conversation (without your child present) between the dentist or dental hygienist and the parent.  When we can be absolutely clear about what the procedure includes in terms of discomfort, dental instruments (tools) used, sounds that your child will hear, tastes that your child will taste, etc.  A very realistic picture can be painted for the parent and then together we can decide. The reason we are able to explain so thoroughly is that our procedures are very routine- oriented. They never change, in order to supply each child with consistency whether they have to come one time or 5 times.

Finally, I always provide a written description of the procedure which describes how we will describe the procedure to your child during the procedure. Again, this procedure will not change depending on whether the parent attends the procedure or not.  That way, if you want to talk about things at home, you know what to say, what terms to use, and you can have a good conversation with your child without accidentally frightening him/her about what is to come. 

But, remember--sometimes it is nice to have a break as a parent. 

Waiting rooms can be relaxing for parents.  I have learned that I can bring stuff to read, things to get done while I have my sacred 30 minutes on my own. Many of our parents utilize this time to get things done that cannot be done as easily with kids around. We have free wifi and lots of great reading (our waiting room has a plethora of magazines and reading materials) or if you’d rather you can just veg out and watch one of the movies we are playing in our waiting rooms.

Please be sure to inform the front desk staff or the hygienist/assistant that you would like to accompany your child. We can go from there on whether or not the particular situation would be beneficial for your child. The best time to make this decision is following their cleaning appointments when Dr. Rohner informs you that they need to return for a filling or extraction. Ask all the questions you need. We will find the answers and come to a conclusion on what will be best for your child’s visit.

-From The Desk Of Dr. Rohner  F.A.Q. (Frequently Asked Questions)

#parentfriendly #childfriendly #kidsdentist #parentsallowed #individual #children #personal #relationships #parenting #whatsbestforyourkid #dentist #ARPD #workingtogether #FAQs

Why Choose a Pediatric Dentist?

As I determined my career path I specialized in Pediatric Dentistry specifically, I had a strong desire to be able to make a change in children's lives. I knew I could do that by making that connection for children, that going to the dentist is fun! 

As a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry I can say that I am a “Big Authority on Little Teeth”.

The AAPD website serves as a great resource for parents!  www.aapd.org