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HOW to...2012Guide

Plymouth

2 How To – Thursday, February 23, 2012 – www.MinnLocal.com In the Community, With the Community, For the Community

choose a

Choosing a family dentist is not exactly ontop of everyone’s “to do” list. However, theright dentist, combined with proper hygiene athome, reduces the likelihood of potential teeth,mouth and even general health problems downthe road.

Remember, the dentist you choose is yourpartner in health care, much as your physicianor nurse practitioner might be, so it’s impor-tant to choose your dentist wisely.

Here are a few tips for the search:

Make sure you know what typeof dentist you need

Dental care ranges from orthodontics (repo-sitioning of teeth), to pedodontics (the careexclusively for children and teens), to peri-odontics (who mainly care for gums and sup-porting mouth tissue), to prosthodontics (den-tists trained for full mouth rehabilitation). Forthe most part, a general dentist will be all youneed, and that dentist will refer you to a spe-cialist if needed.

Ask for referralsAlthough it’s tempting to pick out a dentist

from the yellow pages (or even off theInternet), referrals are always a better way togo. Friends, neighbors and co-workers mighthave some ideas, as would your physicianand/or local pharmacist. If none of these refer-rals are options, contact your local dental soci-ety or the American Dental Association (ADA)for a referral. Even if you’re on a dental HMO,you can still ask the office for patient referrals.

How does the dentist handle emergencies?

There is nothing more frustrating thencracking a tooth on a Saturday – and findingyour dentist is unavailable for help untilMonday. While most dentists will arrange for acolleague or can refer in such an emergency,it’s always helpful to know this before an actu-al accident happens.

Don’t be afraid to ask about fees

Most dental practices are more than happyto discuss fees and financial arrangementsprior to your first visit. Don’t be afraid to pickup the phone and call for information.

Be sure the practice offers dentalhealth education

The mark of a good dental practice is onethat shows you preventative care such as howto brush your teeth properly and how to floss.The good dental practice also has the appropri-ate literature on hand to reinforce the instruc-tions. Preventing dental disorders now meansfewer dental costs in the future.

Make sure the office staff is friendly and helpful

For many people, going to the dentist can bea challenge enough. Being faced with a surly,unsympathetic or abrupt receptionist or officemanager can leave a bad first impression andcan ensure the patient will never return again.

While going to the dentist isn’t necessarily awalk in the park, it doesn’t have to be a hugeproblem, either. Selecting the right dentist foryou and your family can make the entireprocess of getting your teeth cared for thatmuch easier. You can have a better experiencewith dentistry by both taking the time toresearch and make the right choice in dentists,and by performing good oral health care athome in between visits.

February is National Dental Health month.It is very important that you get regular, profes-sional dental care.

Your teeth and gums are indicators of gener-al health. Keeping your smile beautiful makessense for obvious reasons. But changes in yourmouth can also sound the early alarm for otherconditions like heart disease, systemic infec-tion, cancer and more. Your dentist is a keyplayer on your total health care team.

Important points• Make sure you know what type of dentist

you need• Ask for referrals• How does the dentist handle emergencies?• Don’t be afraid to ask about fees.• Be sure the practice offers dental health

education.• Make sure the office staff is friendly and

helpful.

DENTIST

How to...

In the Community, With the Community, For the Community www.MinnLocal.com – Thursday, February 23, 2012 – How To 3

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Dr. Scott Scharf

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It may be a gift to those you loveIt was Ben Franklin who said nothing is cer-

tain but death and taxes. This article does notdeal with taxes, but rather the other certaintyin life.

Everyone dies, so a discussion of funeral plan-ning is never irrelevant. When someone we lovedies, there are varying stages of anger, confusionand numbness. The funeral is one of the mostsignificant means we have of dealing with grief.The funeral ritual helps us focus our emotionsand brings a sense of meaning to death. It con-firms the reality of death and provides a catalystfor mourners to talk about the deceased. Expertstell us being able to talk about the life of adeceased loved one is one of the first stepstoward accepting death.

Prearranging your funeralPrearranging your funeral is not much differ-

ent than any other planning you have carriedout during your lifetime. You buy insurance incase of fire, flood, theft or death. These cover-ages are purchased as an act of love and respon-sibility for those you love in case an unfortunateincident occurs.

A pre-planned funeral accomplishes the samegoals. A preplanned funeral can prevent your fami-ly members from having to make a number of sig-nificant decisions at a time when they are confusedand upset. They will have enough on their mindsdealing with grief without having to make severalimportant decisions in a very short period of time.Experts tell us that there are an average of 50 deci-sions to be made when arranging a funeral.

Adding to the need for preplanning is thefact that our lifestyle is more complex intoday’s world. Family members often live in dif-ferent states, complicating rapid decision mak-ing. Further complications stem from frustra-tions that occur when dealing with governmentagencies in different states. A solid preplan-ning session can help prevent these complica-

tions which can loom very large during a timeof pain and sorrow.

How to planA call to a funeral director or a pre-arrange-

ment specialist probably would be a good begin-ning in making sure you have covered all yourbases in your planning. He or she can lead youthrough a process to ensure you don’t forgetvital information in your plan. Some funeraldirectors and prearrangement specialists offerfree booklets that provide a “punch list” of top-ics to think through and record your wishes.

Topics in these guides include funeral detailsranging from visitation to the memorial serviceand alternatives from burial, cremation orentombment. These are obvious decisions, butother important topics include categories thatwill provide a helping hand to your family.

Additional topics include organizations tobe notified with phone numbers, persons to benotified, medical history, estate information,banking information, real estate holdings andinsurance policies. Many include obituaryinformation outlines, personal property inven-tories and special instruction and informationpages. There may also be information regard-ing the importance of your will and how to goabout ensuring it is accurate and updated.

Prefunding your funeral Prefunding your funeral also is an important

consideration. Your funeral director or pre-arrangement specialist can show you optionswhich will waive your family from possiblefinancial burden later. You may take out a lifeinsurance policy which would cover funeralexpenses, or invest in a funeral trust account orfinal expense insurance policy. In most cases,funds invested today would be enough to coverthe total cost of the funeral since interestearned by the funds will offset the effect ofinflation.

Government regulations safeguard yourinvestment so funds will always be available foruse. Another important part in your plan is tomake sure your loved ones know where yourrecorded wishes can be found. Millions of dol-lars in government and insurance death bene-fits go unclaimed because family members donot know where to find information they needat the time of death. Some considerations thatalso need to remain in the forefront of the pre-planning agenda:

• Social Security: When a loved one dies,dependents and survivors may be eligible forcertain benefits such as death payments, sur-vivor’s benefits and Medicare. Qualificationsdepend on several factors such as age, maritalstatus, number of dependent and whetheremployment was under Social Security. YourSocial Security account should be verified peri-odically to ensure contributions are posted. Allbenefits must be applied for since payments arenot automatic.

• Veterans Benefits: Honorably discharged vet-erans are entitled to benefits that may affect deci-sions about funeral arrangements. For example,veterans may qualify for a cemetery plot and bur-ial allowances, a headstone and burial flag, aswell as pension for survivors.

• Medicaid: Having a properly structuredprepaid funeral is a very important reason whypreplanning a funeral is imperative. If an indi-vidual has placed their funds into a prepaidfuneral plans, after they have itemized a funer-al pre-arrangement, the money would mostlikely be protected 100% from paying for anynursing home costs. In most cases they can alsopay for burial space items for their immediatefamily members. Each persons situations isunique and laws change, however, most funeraldirectors and pre-arrangement specialistswork closely with Elder Law Attorneys whokeep them updated on current MedicalAssistance laws.

choose aFUNERAL PLAN

How to...


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Finding the right bank means assessingyour needs first.

Whether you're looking for a new bank orjust want to evaluate how well your currentbanking relationship is meeting your needs,answering the following questions can help youidentify your “banking personality” and per-haps make your shopping a bit less of a chore.

• What is your goal in establishing a bankingrelationship? Answers may include “to savemoney,” “to have a checking account,” “to get aloan,” or all of the above.

• How much money can you keep on depositeach month and how many checks will youwrite? This will help you figure out how com-plex or simple an account you might need.“Packaged” or “multi-service” accounts offer avariety of services for one fee, while "no frills"accounts offer a minimum number of servicesat an extra-low price. Other accounts might bedesigned cafeteria-style: you choose from avariety of services and pay as you go.

• Will you be buying a home or car or makinganother large purchase in the near future?You'll want to find out about the variety of loanproducts offered.

• How many savings products are offered? Thisis important if you hope to save for a big expenseor toward your child's or your own!) future educa-tion. Many banks now offer uninsured invest-ments, such as mutual funds, as well as the moretraditional insured deposit accounts.

• What time of day do you expect to do mostof your banking? Some people prefer to visitthe bank during their work hours, while othersprefer a bank located close to home that theycan visit over the weekend.

• Do you like the convenience of automatedteller machines and other types of electronicservices — like banking through your personalcomputer, or do you prefer to deal directly withbank personnel? Answering this question will

help you determine if you’d be happier at abank with an extensive branch network empha-sizing regular, evening, or weekend hours, orone that focuses more on electronic serviceslike ATMs and PC banking. Now that you havethe answers to these questions, call or visit sev-eral banks near your home or office — moreand more banks even offer information overthe Internet.

Shop your current bank first if you thinkyour relationship isn’t all it could be. Perhapsthey have introduced new accounts or servicesyou aren’t even aware of that would better suityour needs. Let them know if the level of serv-ice or convenience don't meet your expecta-tions and give them the opportunity to design arelationship that works for you.

Compare fees and service charges at thebanks you're considering, as well as interestrates on loans and deposit accounts. What doeseach charge for services like cashiers checks,safe deposit box rental and ATM use? Becauseprice isn’t the only — or even most important —factor for most people in choosing a bank, take aminute to think about how comfortable you feelat each institution. Are your questionsanswered quickly and accurately? Do customerservice personnel offer helpful suggestions?Will the hours and locations save you time andmeet the demands of your lifestyle? Finally, lookfor an institution that is federally insured. Thestandard insurance amount is $250,000 perdepositor, per insured bank, for each accountownership category. You will find federaldeposit insurance stickers displayed on doorsand teller windows.

ATM safety tipsThe automated teller machine (ATM) revolu-

tion has made banking more convenient todaythan ever before. With the touch of a few buttons,you can withdraw cash, make deposits and trans-

fer funds virtually anywhere an ATM is located.Bank customers should always use common

sense when using an ATM. These tips are astart, but the best advice is simply not to use anATM if you feel at all uncomfortable doing so.ATMs provide convenience, but they haven’treplaced the bank teller. If you prefer, conductyour business in the bank lobby.

• Always protect your ATM card and keep itin a safe place, just like you would cash, creditcards or checks.

• Do not leave your ATM card lying around thehouse or on your desk at work. No one shouldhave access to the card but you. Immediatelynotify your bank if it is lost or stolen.

• Keep your Personal Identification Number(PIN) a secret. Never write it down anywhere,especially on your ATM card.

• Be aware of your surroundings, particular-ly at night. If you observe or sense suspiciouspersons or circumstances, do not use themachine at that time.

• Have your ATM card ready and in yourhand as you approach the ATM. Don't wait toget to the ATM and then take your card out ofyour wallet or purse.

Important points• Assess your banking needs.• Visit several banks near your home or

office.• Think about how comfortable you feel at

each institution.• Look for an institution that is federally

insured.• Compare fees and service charges.

Questions to think about• What is your “banking personality?”• How much money can you keep on deposit

each month?• How many checks will you write?

choose aBANK

How to...


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Burning money? Encouraging moldgrowth? Aggravating allergies? Theright heating and air conditioning sys-tem can help ensure you do not faceany of these problems. What thingsshould you know before you chooseair-conditioning or heating systems?

•Selecting a Reliable, ExperiencedContractor is Essential

•Getting the Right Size System isExtremely Important.

•The Efficiency and Life Expectancyof Systems Varies Greatly

•Humidification andDehumidification are as Important asHeating and Cooling

•Fresh Air Ventilation Creates aHealthier Environment

•Adequate Filtration Is AlsoImportant to Safeguard Your Family’sHealth

•Warranties Differ – Make Sure YouAre Covered

Contractor SelectionFinding a conscientious, licensed,

bonded and insured contractor is cru-cial. A large Yellow Pages ad doesn’tmean competence, dedication or serv-ice. It may be a firm with more market-ing dollars than experience. Checkwith the local Better Business Bureauand ask about their years in business.Everybody may say they have 24-hourservice should you have problem. Canthey truly deliver it?

Equipment SizingHaving the right sized heating sys-

tem is essential for Minnesota winters.If you have some areas of your homethat always seem to be cold a higher fancapacity variable speed furnace mighthelp. But with air conditioning, biggeris not better! An oversized cooling sys-tem can leave you uncomfortable andunhealthy. It also may give you higherenergy bills and installation cost. Itwill stay on shorter times, which maycool your home fine but not removeenough moisture from the air. You alsoget blasts of cool air. This is unhealthyand makes your house feel like a cave.

If there is any question about siz-ing, the contractor should be able to doa load calculation to confirm that thesystem is properly sized.

Efficiency & Life ExpectancyIt is important to consider the “True

Cost of Ownership” of your expensivemechanical systems. An inexpensive,low-bid system will usually cost muchmore in the long run. First, a smallamount spent up front on a more effi-cient system will pay back quickly inlower energy bills. It might be tempt-ing to save by not replacing the indoorair conditioning coil. But that greatlyreduces efficiency.

You usually get what you pay for in

terms of equipment life. A low-cost sys-tem may need to be replaced in 5 to 7years instead of 15 to 20. Or, you may befaced with extensive repairs over time.These are both costly and a headache(and possibly disastrous because equip-ment typically fails when running hardin a deep freeze or heat wave.)

Humidification/DehumidificationThe humidity in gets sucked out of

your home in the winter and seeps induring the summer. Both can lead tocomfort problems, unhealthy air anddamage to your home. A dry winterhome can lead to more viruses and res-piratory problems. It will pull mois-ture from walls (causing cracks), fromwindow and door frames (creatinggaps and more problems), from pic-tures and artwork, and even from yourskin. Summer humidity leads to moldgrowth and unhealthy damp air. Itwarps woodwork and damages otherporous material.

Central humidifiers and dehumidi-fiers are inexpensive remedies com-pared with ruining your valuablebelongings, wasting energy and hurt-ing your health.

VentilationThe air in your home can be as much

as 5 times as polluted as the air outside!Dust, pollen, mold, carbon monoxideand other pollutants can make the

indoors very unhealthy. That is whymany homes built today have heat orenergy recovery ventilators to con-stantly flush out the stale air and bringin fresh outside air. They will recoverup to 80% of the energy of the outgoingair.

FiltrationThe typical 1-inch furnace filter

traps only 15% of the pollutants, fillsand then dumps most back into the airstream in about 60 days! The particlescirculate through your home in the airyou breathe. A 5-inch high-efficiencyfilter is about 99% efficient, will notdump and requires changing every 6months. Electronic air cleanersremove a greater variety of particu-lates and pollutants.

WarrantySome companies’ warranties are

very short and the equipment is hard-ly covered by the manufacturer. Todaysome high efficiency equipment hasextended warranties up to 10 years.Make sure you are covered in writing.

choose aHEATING & COOLING SYSTEM

How to...


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Those who are looking to a bathroommakeover without high expense andhassle should consider a bathtub linerand wall surround.

These liners and surrounds fit overyour existing tub and walls for a quickand affordable remodel.

Replacing bathroom tile, and the tubor shower are some of the most com-mon bath remodeling projects, accord-ing to the National Kitchen and BathAssociation.

However, these projects can be costly.A basic remodeling job includesreplacing the tub, removing tiles andplumbing, possibly costing $6,000 to$8,000. The average remodeling job ismore extensive, and costs close to$10,000, according to the NationalAssociation of Realtors.

These remodel projects can takeweeks to complete, depending on howextensive the project is.

Choosing a tub liner and wall sur-round can be a less expensive alterna-tive. For example, a tub liner and wallsurround can be installed in one day,with complete systems starting at$2,800.

What to look forWhen shopping for a bathtub liner

and wall surround, ask the companymany questions. How do you deter-mine which type of tub I have? How isthe liner installed? Are the walls seam-less?

Some wall surrounds cover the wallsin one piece with no seams; others willhave multiple panels with seams in thecorners. Are you the manufacturer or adistributor?

When required, do you use a licensedplumber?

Is your bathroom ready?Never install a tub liner or wall sur-

round over a degraded bath or showerarea. Installing a wall surround over awall that is rotting or missing tile willonly worsen current conditions, neces-sitating a major remodeling overhaulin the future.

Any damage should be evaluated andrepaired prior to installation of the tubliner and wall surround.

Find a reputable company Are the installers properly trained?

Installers should be trained in theinstallation of tub liners and wall sur-rounds, not windows, gutters or siding.Ask what kind of product training isinvolved.

Are they using employees or subcon-tractors? Make sure you feel comfort-able allowing this company to work inyour home. The company should bethere for you after the installation.What type of warranty do they offer?

Ask your company for references,call these past clients, and ask them ifthey were satisfied with their serviceand if they would hire that companyagain.

Finally, check with the BetterBusiness Bureau for any complaints orsuits filed against the companies youare considering.

chooseBATHTUB LINERS ANDWALL SURROUNDS

How to...


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