Welcome Sharon
Here is a little Q&A with our newest dental hygienist, Sharon.
How long have you been a hygienist?
Sharon: 38 years!
What made you choose the hygienist career path?
Sharon: I had orthodontics when I was young and loved going to the orthodontist and dentist. It was always a positive experience and I learned the value of a nice smile at a young age. This sparked an interest in me to become a dental hygienist.
What do you like most about working with your patients?
Sharon: I enjoy helping people improve their oral health and seeing them feel confident in their smile. I also like getting to know my patients and their interests.
What do you like most about working here at Smile Sarasota?
Sharon: I like working with a team of professionals who all do their jobs well and work together for the good of our patients and each other. I am thankful to be working for a doctor that is trustworthy, honest and skilled in the treatment he delivers.
How do you teach patients about proper oral care habits?
Sharon: I teach my patients about proper home care through communication and visual demonstrations.
How many kids do you have?
Sharon: I have 3 children – Twins boys and a daughter. I have 6 beautiful grandchildren.
What kind of hobbies do you enjoy?
Sharon: I enjoy being outdoors, walking, biking, going to the beach and local parks.
Smile Sarasota and Dr. Adam Still are so grateful for all the great reviews our patients post on Google and other sites. It means a lot to us to hear that you are happy with the care Dr. Still and and our great staff provide and we do our “Happy Dance” each time we receive a stellar review. 
Gillespie Park in Sarasota, Florida is an up-and-coming place! A recent Smile Sarasota Blog focused on The Rosemary District and the old Ringling Shopping Center in downtown Sarasota, but we would be remiss if we didn’t discuss Gillespie Park!
Communication plays a vital role in breaking down barriers between the patient and dental health professional, and in strengthening the treatment alliance. At your first visit, the 
Everyone wants to be seen on time; it is simply human nature to not want to be kept waiting. At Smile Sarasota it is always our goal to be prompt so that any waiting is minimized. Sometimes, however, our best intentions don’t go as planned It is not unusual to have multiple patients call every day with severe toothaches, broken teeth, or swollen tissue, as well as assorted other dental problems. But even so, we rarely keep you waiting here at Smile Sarasota. We strive to adhere as much as possible being a “Wait-Free Practice”.
As you all know, part of Smile Sarasota’s logo is an awesome photo we commissioned of the John Ringling Causeway. For those of you who may not know the history of this beautiful bridge, we thought it might be interesting! After all, it’s the gateway to downtown Sarasota from Bird Key, St. Armand’s Circle and Longboat Key, and we proudly serve all those area, providing high quality dentistry in a relaxed, caring atmosphere. So rather than discussing dental bridges, we will learn about the Ringling Bridges – and yes, there have been more than one!
It’s that time of the year to say ‘WELCOME BACK’! Like many dental offices in Sarasota, Florida, Smile Sarasota sees our share of “Seasonals” or “Snowbirds” – patients who come down from up north to spend the winter here in Sarasota. They’re usually with us from November until May. Many of them have been patients of ours for many years and they are used to our office ‘sharing’ them with their northern dentist. This is obviously the best scenario – it means they continue regular, good care year-round between the two practices.
Do you love your teeth? We mean, really love them. As in appreciate all that they do for you. As in being grateful that you have them, no matter how much trouble they may be giving you at the moment.
Most of here at Smile Sarasota have pets and those for who don’t, it’s only temporary until a new ‘furbaby’ is part of the family. We are starting a little contest today – we are posting photos of our staff’s furbabies on 
As most of you know, many of the staff at Smile Sarasota has lived in Sarasota for many years, and our dental office has been at its downtown Sarasota location at Ringling Boulevard for almost 25 years. This area has seen many changes over the decades. For a very long time, we used to shop at the Publix and eat lunch at the restaurants across the street at the Ringling Shopping Center. For now, at least we can still park under a tree and ‘brown bag it’ in the parking lot. It’s a little sad for those of us who remember the good ‘ol days.
Being one of the few high quality restorative and cosmetic dental offices located in downtown Sarasota, we are very excited to hear all the news blurbs about the makeover of the up-and-coming Rosemary District. The unique Rosemary District, once known as Overtown, was part of the original plat of the Town of Sarasota in 1885. If you’re somewhat old-fashioned and maybe a bit romantic, you’re likely to fall in love with the Rosemary District in downtown Sarasota.
From time to time we ask our patients to review our practice or fill out a survey about their experience in our office. Most surveys have check boxes and most businesses are happy when the customer checks the ‘Satisfied’ checkbox. At Smile Sarasota, we believe in reaching higher and making you feel not only satisfied – we want to exceed your expectations and make you feel special.
If you are new to our practice, you may be curious about what is involved with a New Patient Comprehensive Exam. This one hour exam is only done the very first time we see you as a patient in our practice. Thereafter, Dr. Still will do a shorter concise periodic exam at least two times per year following your teeth cleanings with our hygienists. The Comprehensive Exam must be done prior to your FIRST teeth cleaning and for more on that topic, read our previous Blog, 
At Smile Sarasota, the reason we continuously put effort into our work and strive to provide the best service is because of YOU. Our patients are the reason that we get up every morning and the reason that we are always smiling. It’s hard not to love your job when you have patients as amazing as ours. We want you to know how much we appreciate you, so here are a few of the reasons why we think you’re the best!
“Patients don’t care how much you know, until they know how much you care.”
Studies have repeatedly shown that doing good deeds for others is good for the soul. In fact, everyone can benefit from doing something to improve another person’s way of life. Donating to worthy causes can benefit the givers as much as the receivers! Smile Sarasota does this in two ways – we support a number of local charities, and we award monthly gift certificates to small, local businesses.
After obtaining your dream smile at Smile Sarasota, much of the credit can easily be given—and rightfully so—to Dr. Still, who prepares your tooth and then places your crown. What most people may not realize is that behind the scenes is an equally talented artisan who created your crown. Good dental porcelain in the hands of a skilled dental laboratory technician can make for spectacular tooth imitations by mimicking tooth enamel perfectly. This is one of the reasons why long-lasting, great looking crowns and veneers are worth every penny. They require the expertise of a team to produce your desired results.
This coming week, just about everyone in the United States will celebrate the best holiday of the year: Thanksgiving. At its best, this is a holiday about gratitude, about family and about possibility. It brings people together to not only celebrate the end of the harvest, but to look one in another in the eye and share something magical.
It’s Important to be On Time!
Considering that you and your dentist will be partners in your dental healthcare for the long haul, choosing the right dentist is an important decision for you and your family. How do you go about finding the right dentist?
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is the law enacted to protect your privacy, allow access to your dental records and designate who can speak on your behalf and to whom we may speak to regarding your dental care. This law was written for the consumer, not the provider.
We are seeing an unfortunate trend in today’s dentistry. We are a consumer driven society conditioned to “shop around” for the best deal.
Should You Get a Second Opinion?
Our office welcomes new and existing patients with dental emergencies. Please contact Smile Sarasota at 941-957-3311 to arrange an appointment with Dr. Still. Listed below are some common problems and initial recommendations. Always seek professional help and call Dr. Still for definitive diagnosis and treatment.
What the heck are we doing to each other??!! Pictured is Bill Sullivan of the American Heart Association, with Dr. Still, Liz and Lori, brushing up on the life saving skills of CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation), use of an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and the Heimlich Maneuver, now called the Abdominal Thrust, which could save someone from choking.
Depending upon your age, you may remember sitting in the dental chair and to your left was a bowl that was used to spit in. (The correct name for this bowl is a cuspidor.) Ever wonder why most dental offices no longer use them? It’s pretty simple if you think about it…first, the running water. It ran and ran and ran all day long. While you may think this washed out bacteria and other gook, think again, and that thought may make you say ICK, hence the second reason dental offices no longer use the spit bowl. Ick.
YAY!! Our office is officially CHARTLESS! Thanks to Dentrix, our world-class dental charting and administrative software, Dexis, our digital X-ray system and to the hard work of our front desk staff over the past 5 years, all of our patient records are now digital. Several thousand paper charts have been scanned and are stored and backed up on encrypted servers.
Lots of people have asked us why some dentists have a “DDS”, after their name and some may be listed as “DMD”. Dr. Still is a DMD. The DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery) and DMD (Doctor of Medicine in Dentistry or Doctor of Dental Medicine) are the same degrees. Dentists who have a DMD or DDS have the same education. It’s up to the universities to determine what degree is awarded. Both degrees use the same curriculum requirements set by the American Dental Association.
So what does compassion mean when choosing a dental office? Compassion requires the ability to identify with a patient’s overall well-being. Relieving pain and suffering is a common attribute of dental practice. Acts of kindness and a sympathetic ear for the patient are all qualities of a caring, compassionate dentist. We feel that the most important person should be you, the patient. We put you and your comfort at the top of our priority list. Dr. Still sees only one patient at a time, so you will never feel like a number at the bottom of a chart. At Smile Sarasota, compassion is part of the services offered…we care about you, your needs, and you can feel it from the moment of your first contact with our office.
