Joel C Scalera, D.D.S., P.A.
Family: Joel and Donna grew up locally, met and married while in college. It is a difficult balance to grow a practice and spend quality time with three children, now include grandchildren! The oldest daughter is a professor at major university. Their son has a wonderful family and is pastor at a local church. The youngest daughter and her husband are school teachers.
Civic Involvement: Member of Prince of Peace Anglican Church. Member of the Rotary Club of Suntree, past Sergeant – at -Arms. Previously, in Cocoa Rotary, held offices of President, club director, Sergeant – at Arms. Rotary is a rewarding and interesting outlet for service.
Professional Affiliations: Florida Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Association, Central District Dental Association, Brevard County Dental Society (offices: President, Program Chairman, other offices)
Continuing Education: Today as always, it is important to discern where to obtain new and reliable education of value to me as I serve my patients. I have limited time to spend, as my family time is top priority. I was fortunate early to attend the Pankey Institute for Advanced Education (Pankey.org). Listening to other lecturers has given me a well-rounded and comprehensive perspective for diagnosis and treatment planning. Predictable outcomes that are lasting in function and beauty are desired. Because some of my patients are 3rd generation, I have been fortunate to see how patient factors influence the longevity of restorative work. New patients often are appreciative about explanation of their previous, unexplained questions.
Hygiene Department
The hygienists participate in continuing education to further their advanced knowledge in preventative care and periodontal treatments. Just as important, they have an unteachable quality, a driven desire to always do their best. To clean teeth below the gumline is a medical procedure but to do it with gentleness is appreciated.
Dental Assistants
The clinical assistants are an integral part of our team. Each of them has come to us because they share our beliefs and values. They too participate in continuing education and help us deliver the highest quality of technical care possible.
In our office the assistants help us make your visits pleasant:
- Before by completely informing you of what will be done at each appointment.
- During by assuring any pre-medications, or other discomfort-reducing procedures are planned with your restorative procedures.
- After by ensuring that you are comfortable once procedures are completed.
We are uniquely different from any dental practice you have ever experienced. Not simply because of the pleasant surroundings, highly skilled professional staff, or even the highly technical work we do.
Our practice is different because our mission is different. In today’s world you are offered many choices as how dental health care will be delivered to you, the patient. You can choose an HMO (Health Maintenance Organization), a PPO (Preferred Provider Organization) or a CAP system (Capitation System). In all these health and delivery systems, you the patient do not have a choice with regard to your treatment plan, you are not free to choose the dentist who attends you and normally you do not develop a significant relationship with either the dentist or the staff.
Our practice represents the 2-3% of dentists in the United States who have made a commitment to practice in a free environment. You are free to choose us or not. We will recommend the best treatment plan that is consistent with your needs, wants and values. This is no idle, passive statement because we do not believe patients involved with HMO’s, PPO’s or CAP systems are free to choose. Normally they receive substandard treatment that does not involve the patient as part of the solution. The patient becomes the object of cure rather than participating in the prevention and curative phases of treatment.
Prevention
We have centered our practice around prevention and health as opposed to one that simply emphasizes emergency and repair care. The supporting gum tissue and bone are just as vital as the teeth themselves. Unfortunately, only lip service is normally paid to these important areas and prevention of disease may be inadequately stressed.
The best way to protect and maintain the crucial supporting structures for life is to have a qualified hygienist clean your teeth regularly, at which time prevention procedures can be implemented to protect your dental health. While the responsibility for returning for periodic preventive treatment lies with you, we will provide an ongoing program of health maintenance with you.
For patients to choose a dental office appropriate to their needs there must exist a match between the services sought by the patient with services provided by the office. If the value you possess for your teeth and health coincides with our belief in fine dentistry, we will have a mutually-rewarding relationship. As a form of welcoming you and sharing our beliefs about how we serve patients, the following information is provided.
Briefly stated, our philosophy of practice is this…
“To make a difference in quality of care, clinical excellence and personal caring for patients. Our goal is to cultivate patients with services and products of consistent quality and value. We will also create a pleasant atmosphere of enthusiasm, respect, professionalism and teamwork that still allows for fun and flexibility.”
A dental office is a small health-oriented team of professionals dedicated to serving patients. Each office maintains certain standards of skill and concern and we want an aura about us that unquestionably makes a statement of our quality care. To make this evident, we have committed to a particular kind of practice. In a philosophical sense, basically one is devoted to either quantity (do a little for a lot of people) or to quality (optimal care on a long-term basis for regular patients). We want to attract and care for people who share our values and belief in excellence or can grow to this level of appreciation through education and motivation. We seek a patient population dominated by people with high expectations of good health and happiness.
Examination Process…
Excellence in dentistry begins with a careful diagnosis and master plan designed to move us toward the goals we will establish together. We will perform an extensive and comprehensive examination of the teeth, gums, bite, joints and soft tissues. When needed, and with your permission, we will utilize all appropriate x-rays; if beneficial we will use intraoral photographs and study models of your teeth and jaws to identify areas of concern. We believe this in-depth examination to be the cornerstone of quality dentistry.
Maintenance of Traditional Values…
In this country, at this time, with government becoming more involved in health care, insurance carriers trying to dictate treatment and fees, and some dental offices competing through advertising, extended hours and pricing, the very foundation of dentistry is being tested. We believe there has never been a time when a practice dedicated to prevention, service and excellence can be more highly rewarding to both our patients and to us, in providing quality, long-term health care. We hope you agree and will join our family.
