HEALTH Focus

INSURANCE Laura Mutsko Agent and CSA

Q: Is there still time for me to sign up for Health Insurance through the Marketplace for this year? When is the deadline?

A: You still have time, but the deadline to get Marketplace coverage is quickly approaching. You have until August 15, 2021, to enroll in a plan.

In years past, once the Affordable Care Act Open Enrollment Period ended in December, folks would have to wait to sign up for a Health Insurance Marketplace® plan until the following November unless they qualified for a Special Enrollment Period. This year is different. The window to enroll re-opened, providing a lifeline to affordable comprehensive health insurance coverage to those without it. It is one of a series of steps that experts say is providing access to health plans for millions of uninsured Americans.

The American Rescue Plan which was passed earlier this year contains a number of provisions to make health care coverage more affordable, with most people eligible to receive additional premium subsidies.

In fact, The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently reported that 1.5 million Americans have signed up for health insurance through HealthCare.gov between February 15, 2021 through June 30, 2021; with 373,000 consumers signing up for health insurance in the month of June. A recently released report shows that since April 1, 2021, 1.2 million consumers (34%) have selected a plan that costs $10 or less per month after the American Rescue Plan’s (ARP) premium reduction.* The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that roughly 30 million Americans were without coverage even before the pandemic. An additional 2 to 3 million workers lost employee-based health plans between March and September 2020 and did not know they qualified for subsidies or missed the deadline to enroll so the additional open enrollment period was badly needed.

I encourage you to take advantage of this extended open enrollment period and find a plan that works for you and your family. You can learn more about plans by visiting www.healthcare.gov. To learn if you qualify or to enroll in an Affordable Care Plan, please contact me at 440255-5700 or email me at Lmutsko@ mutskoinsurance.com.

*The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) June report.

Laura Mutsko Mutsko Insurance Services, LLC

6982 Spinach Drive, Mentor, OH 44060 440-255-5700 www.mutskoinsurance.com

PLASTIC SURGERY Paul Vanek, MD, FACS

Q: What product can be injected that really increases my collagen in my face?

A: The only injectable agent that improves skin texture and volume on the market is called Sculptra. We know that 70% of our skin is composed of collagen. It serves as the support structure for our cells in our body. As we age, we lose the elasticity and collagen content found in our youth. Dietary sources do not increase the actual collagen in our tissues. A healthy protein source is broken down and then exported by our cells in our tissues. Some creams and many applied energies like radio waves and laser light can stimulate our tissue machinery to make collagen. But a bioactive injection can be delivered into the deeper tissues and under the skin to stimulate in the exact places we want it in our aging face. Sculptra is the name of the molecule polyL-lactic acid. It is mixed with local anesthetic in advance of administration and injected in the cheeks, the chin and in the temple areas. I don’t use it in the lips or forehead. Once it is injected it works to stimulate your cells and dermis to make your own natural collagen over time. The usual patient should plan on three injection sessions about a month apart. Most patients have results appearing and improving along the way, so you will see a gradual improvement of your appearance for over six months. It lasts up to two years. The patented material has been used as a dissolvable suture material for over 30 years. It is safe, effective and biodegradable- and used in other medical products. The goal of this product is to provide you with natural and gradual results that can manifest over time. The use of Sculptra does not take the place of long lasting and impactful results achieved by plastic surgery. I utilize Sculptra in surgery patients who want some improvements as they have aged. I also use Sculptra in patients who want natural appearing changes and are willing to let their own body make them happen. The body physiology after Sculptra injection restores facial volume and provides support to the skin to improve the look of smile lines (called naso-labial folds), radial cheek folds (verticle wrinkles below the cheek), and chin wrinkles. It also results in improving temporal wasting appearance and hollowness and wrinkles in the forehead temple region. Patients with dramatic weight loss sometimes have substantial changes to their face that ages their appearance. The use of Sculptra is used in exercise enthusiasts who love their lean body, but don’t like what they see happening to their face when combined with their aging changes. There is a risk of bruising form any injection. You may exercise prior to your treatment, but skip your regimen until the day after the injection. We will take before and after pictures of you, and show you results of those who have generously consented to sharing their photographs with you. Our consultation process will help you decide what is best for your outcome goals and your budget and down time. Join us at Mentor Plastic Surgery & Medspa!

Dr. Paul Vanek M.D.,F.A.C.S. Mentor Plastic Surgery

7537 Fredle Road Concord, Ohio 44077 440-205-5750 www.MentorPlasticSurgery.com Accepting new patients for non-intrusive and surgical cosmetic and reconstructive solutions

DENTAL CARE Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD Q: What Do You Think of Adding Another Tooth?

A: Frequently we talk about conversations that I have with patients, but today I will move in a different direction. I met a new patient a couple of weeks ago in my Bay Village office. This patient came to me with a directive from his periodontist. A periodontist is a dentist who specializes in and treats diseases of the teeth and gums. He or she does not deal with cavities or broken teeth. Gum disease is the purview of a periodontist. The referring doctor wanted to know whether or not I could keep his two lower front teeth. Both of these teeth showed swelling and signs of infection.

Whenever a tooth exhibits a bacterial infection, a dentist must decide how to deal with the infection.

We must find the source of the infection and the extent of it. Both of these factors will guide the dentist in the right direction. Sometimes the treatment for a dental infection is endodontic or root canal treatment. In other cases, such as gum infection, a form of surgery will solve the problem. Whether the cause of the infection is a tooth or the surrounding bone and gum, in the case of great severity, the only solution is tooth removal.

We have discussed tooth removal before, and typically I recommend placing a dental implant. A dental implant with a crown over it is the closest thing that dentistry has to mimic a natural tooth. A dental implant is also the least invasive of all the possible solutions. However, to place a dental implant bone is a requirement. When there is little or no bone present, the implant option comes off the table.

Another solution for replacing one or two missing teeth is a permanent bridge. A bridge connects to the teeth next to the missing one and provides an anchor for the bridge. Custommade teeth will span the gap where the missing tooth or teeth were in the mouth. The bridge is affixed to the adjacent teeth and held in place with a particular type of dental glue. The result of all of this work is teeth in the mouth which do not require removal daily for cleanliness.

Today’s patient had a particular problem. One of the teeth that I planned on using to support the bridge had questionable bone health. The periodontist who treated our mutual patient was not ready to throw in the towel and request the removal of that tooth. He felt that it could support the bridge but was not strong enough to last a long time. He asked my opinion, and together we decided to help that weak and struggling tooth.

By adding another tooth to the planned bridge on the left side of his mouth, I added years to the life of that bridge. The patient will also see an added benefit for his mouth. The addition of the strong tooth will aid in stabilizing the weak tooth. The extra tooth will prevent movement of the weak tooth and allow new bone to form. One of the best parts of a permanent bridge procedure in my office is that the patient is never without any teeth. This fact is essential when we deal with front teeth, and cosmetics are on everyone’s mind. If you have a question about a loose or weak tooth, please call us at 440.951.7856 and speak to Nicole or Sarah. I look forward to meeting you.

Jeffrey Gross, DDS, FAGD, is an Ohio licensed general dentist and is a staff member at Case School of Dental Medicine in the Department of Comprehensive Care.

The Healthy Smile

34586 Lakeshore Boulevard (¼ mile west of Route 91 on Lakeshore Blvd) Eastlake, Ohio 44095 440-951-7856 Severance Medical Arts, Suite 603 5 Severance Center Cleveland Heights, Ohio 44118 216-371-2333 www.jeffreygrossdds.com

OPHTHALMOLOGY Gregory Eippert, MD

Q: I will be having cataract surgery in the near future and heard about monovision where one eye is set for distance vision and one for near. How does monovision work and how do I know if it is the right choice for me?

A: Monovision is the vision correction practice of setting distance vision in one eye and near vision in the other eye for those who are affected by presbyopia. Presbyopia occurs when, as a natural part of the aging process, the eye loses its ability to focus on near objects and read small print. Presbyopia often results in the need for glasses to correct these vision changes to see close-up. The main benefit of monovision is that it can decrease your dependence on glasses by allowing you to see clearly at both distance and near without always needing reading glasses. In cataract monovision, an intraocular lens is implanted in one eye that is focused for distance, usually the dominant eye, while implanting a near-focused lens in the other eye. Monovision works because your brain automatically adjusts your visual system for clear vision when you are focusing on near and distant objects. When focusing on near objects, the brain partially suppresses vision in the distance eye thus allowing you to have clear vision at near. Likewise, when focusing on distant objects, the brain partially suppresses vision in the near eye thus allowing you to have clear distance vision. Keep in mind that because one eye is focusing on distance and one at near, you may lose some depth perception. Also, you might still need to use reading glasses in certain cases such as reading fine print.

One way to determine if you would be comfortable with monovision is with a contact lens test-drive prior to cataract surgery. Your eye doctor can place soft contact lenses in your eyes for a few days that would let you experience monovision to help you decide if this is a good option. You must feel comfortable with monovision before deciding to have this done surgically.

For those who have cataracts and presbyopia, monovision is a viable option to achieve good, functional vision at distance and near without glasses. You may still need a pair of glasses for backup, such as for nighttime driving or reading small print for an extended period of time. Talk with your eye doctor about the details and your particular vision needs to determine if monovision is the right option for you.

Gregory Eippert, MD

8140 Norton Parkway Mentor, OH 44060 440-255-1115 www.opivision.com