Even the recession couldn’t vanquish vanity; steady consumer demand for teeth bleaching, tooth-colored fillings, implants and other cosmetic procedures has kept dentists smiling through today’s tough economic times. It’s also helped keep dental benefits popular and prompted some leading dental insurers to broaden plan coverage to include cosmetic services.

“More and more dentists see cosmetic procedures as a way to increase their revenue,” says Dr. Roma Virani, second vice president, Dental Cost & Utilization at Assurant Employee Benefits. For example, “most practices are doing tooth-colored fillings. It used to be that only a third of the fillings on back teeth were composites. Now that is reversed.

“While some people are concerned about the safety of amalgams,” she continues, “the switch is primarily driven by aesthetics. You get equally good results, so one type is not better than the other. However, people want their fillings to be tooth-colored so they are not as visible.”

Whitening leads the way

By far the most popular cosmetic procedure is teeth whitening. Dental magazines report that the most common conversation dentists have with their patients is about bleaching. Bradley Dykstra, DDS, wrote about the trend in Dental Economics magazine in April.

“The quest of baby boomers to stay forever young and society’s expectations to look our best drives this demand,” he says. “It is important to understand that patients, both male and female, want whiter teeth – period.”

Until a few years ago, bleaching was not covered by dental benefit plans. This changed when a handful of dental plan providers heeded requests from brokers and employers for voluntary insurance products that would offset the cost of cosmetic dental procedures for employees.

“All insurers in this industry are always looking for something new and different for brokers to sell,” says Kevin Martin, dental product development leader at Sun Life Financial. “Cosmetic was something the industry shied away from because it was not necessary care. Sun Life came up with the thought that since people want nice, shiny teeth, wouldn’t it be nice to offer a benefit that covers some, but not all, of the cost. I guess covering cosmetic was our iPod.”

Sun Life offers two cosmetic dental riders to its insurance plan. One covers teeth whitening done in the dental office or at home with products provided by the dentist. The other includes veneers as well as whitening.

The cost of the riders is based on the annual maximum selected and adds 3% to 6% to the standard dental insurance premium.

“It’s all about the smile,” maintains Paul Sherman, vice president and national sales director for American General Benefits Solutions, which began covering cosmetic procedures under its voluntary “Smile Maker” benefit plan two years ago.

Smile Maker currently covers teeth whitening and implants and will soon be expanded to include implants and composite fillings, according to dental product manager Sadia Zoppi. “It works like a lifetime orthodontia benefit for each family member,” she says. “About 2% of our business has this feature, but we anticipate that it will increase as more plan sponsors ask employees to contribute to the cost of their dental plan.”

The Smile Maker add-on is $8 per month for an individual and $32 per month for a family. “That can be a substantial increase in cost on a lower-priced dental plan that’s, say, $50,” notes Zoppi.

These products are expensive in nature, says so you’d expect this, says Zoppi. “But they are still very attractive, and they are meeting a need. There is a growing demand for these services.”

According to AACD, the mean amount spent by the average patient in 2006, the last year for which data is available, was $5,640 and the median was $3,860. At the high end, 3% of practices indicated an average amount spent per patient of $20,000 or more.

At the other extreme, 2% of practices reported average patient costs of less than $500. The most often indicated categories were $5,000-$9,999 (23%) and $2,500-$4,999 (22%).

Assurant Employee Benefits also was one of the first to cover teeth bleaching. Some of its plans also include posterior composites and porcelain crowns on posterior teeth, which it considers restorative rather than cosmetic.

“Going along with these trends, Assurant has come out with products that will take employees’ benefits farther,” says Virani. “We have Family Share Max and Preventive Max Waiver products that give more benefit dollars to plan members for these services. With the Preventive Max Waiver, preventive work does not count toward the annual maximum, so more dollars are available for non-preventive services.

“This supports our belief that if patients are getting preventive work done, they’ll need less restorative work in the future.”

Guardian broke new ground in 2004 when it extended coverage to implants. The company also offers coverage for whitening, posterior composites, porcelain inlays and onlays, and porcelain crowns and veneers.

“We take a lot of pride in customizing our plan designs to meet brokers’ and plan holders’ price points,” says Dr. Richard Goren, second vice president of Guardian’s group dental unit.

“There are hundreds of options. No one offers everything that we do.”

Brighter smiles, better health

Dentists view cosmetic dentistry not only as a means to increase revenue, but also as an important way to improve Americans’ oral health.

“If I want to whiten my smile, the dentist is going to talk about restorative needs before doing cosmetic work,” says Goren. “The motivation for a bright smile and white teeth is coming from the individual patients, and the drive for overall care is coming from the dentists.”

Like bleaching and tooth-colored fillings, implants improve patients’ appearance and promote self-esteem. But they also can help prevent problems down the road, Goren notes. “Bridge work involves shaving the tooth and cementing the bridge on top of it. When that happens, the tooth is never as good as when it was healthy. With an implant, no one is contributing to a tooth’s demise.”

Dermal filler next?

Dermal filler therapy may be a natural progression of where the cosmetic dental industry is heading, according to Goren. “With proper training, these procedures are easy for dentists to accomplish. Patients are motivated to accept these therapies and excited about having them done under local dental anesthesia, making dentists the health care professionals of choice to deliver these procedures.”

Whether dental plan providers will push the cosmetic coverage envelope to cover dermal filler therapy remains to be seen. Meanwhile, however, a new national movement is underway among dentists that could spark discussions about including cosmetic procedures as part of basic dental plans.

The dental industry has been lobbying across the country for states to prohibit insurers from negotiating discounts on services that are not covered.

Because there is a great deal of discounting on cosmetic procedures, this trend is significant, according to Evelyn Ireland, executive director of the National Association of Dental Plans in Dallas.

“The dentists feel that they are in an unequal, negative position,” she says. “Their position is if a carrier won’t pay toward a service, they shouldn’t be required to discount it.”

“The no-discounts on non-covered services legislation is not very consumer friendly,” says Virani. “If a service that is cosmetic in nature is not covered, the dentist will have better luck convincing the patient to have it done if it can be provided at a discount. Discounts are the cornerstone of PPO products, so this is changing things quite a bit.”

“Carriers aren’t happy [with these regulations] because employees are losing out on discounts,” agrees Martin. “It is possible that we’ll see a resurgence of requests for coverage for cosmetic services because then we could offer a discounted fee if that’s requested.”

Discounted or not, there’s no doubt that patients will continue to request cosmetic procedures and dentists will continue to expand the scope of these services.

“It’s a nice time to be a dentist when you have patients who are smiling, looking good and you know they have a healthy mouth,” says Guardian’s Goren. “It’s a stark contrast to getting feedback that it hurts and they don’t like anything you can do for them.”

By the numbers

In 2007, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry put the market for cosmetic dental procedures at $2.75 billion, based on a 2006 survey of its members. Of that, $138.8 million was for bleaching and whitening, $383 million was for posterior composites, or rear fillings, and $144.3 million was for implants. The total number of patients seeking cosmetic services was estimated at 2.69 million, which represented a 12.8% increase over 2005. Furthermore, the survey respondents expected another 11% increase in patients and revenue in 2007.

Credit: By Lynn Gresham

CDA, based in Sacramento, Calif., has more than 25,000 members representing over 70 percent of dentists practicing in the state. The organization, comprised of five entities including an insurance company, was using two separate general ledger applications. This burdened accounting with several manual processes and did not provide the up-to-date financial data that management needed to run each business unit as efficiently as it needed. To help improve efficiency, CDA wanted to consolidate its various applications into a central general ledger system.

“We chose Lawson because we needed a solution that could better accommodate the intricacies of our various business groups, yet was robust enough to grow right along with us,” said Bob Spinelli, CFO for CDA. “The Lawson solutions will help us distribute more frequent, timely reports to senior management so they have a heightened awareness of the fiscal health of their particular business.”

The S3 Financial Management Suite will help CDA improve transparency of business processes and reduce costs by standardizing the chart of accounts and company structures. It includes core financial functions that are necessary to run a business, such as general ledger, which is integrated with accounts payable, accounts receivable and cash management tools. This helps support more efficient invoice processing. The organization also uses Lawson Business Intelligence for customized reports and distribution. This deeper view into key data will help provide CDA leaders with a more complete view of information, allowing them to analyze operational processes faster, make decisions, and enter those decisions back into operational systems to help capitalize on business opportunities.

“The insurance industry today is facing growing demand to be profitable, and many insurers are turning to solutions like Lawson to help eliminate inefficient administrative processes,” said Dave Siebert, general manager for Lawson Services Industries. “Lawson solutions are designed to meet the industry-specific needs of organizations like CDA, and provide tools for gathering, analyzing and sharing financial and operational information that is vital to the success of the business.”

About Lawson Software

Lawson Software provides software and service solutions to 4,500 customers in equipment service management and rental, fashion, food & beverage, healthcare, manufacturing & distribution, public sector (United States), service industries, and strategic human capital management across 40 countries. Lawson Software is a global provider of enterprise software, services and support to customers primarily in three sectors: services, trade and manufacturing/distribution. Lawson’s solutions include Enterprise Performance Management, Human Capital Management, Supply Chain Management, Enterprise Resource Planning, Customer Relationship Management, Manufacturing Resource Planning, Enterprise Asset Management and industry-tailored applications. Lawson solutions assist customers in simplifying their businesses or organizations by helping them streamline processes, reduce costs and enhance business or operational performance. Lawson is headquartered in St. Paul, Minn., and has offices around the world. Visit Lawson online at www.lawson.com. For Lawson’s listing on the First North exchange in Sweden, Remium AB is acting as the Certified Adviser.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements that contain risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements contain statements of intent, belief or current expectations of Lawson Software and its management. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future results and involve risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially from the potential results discussed in the forward-looking statements. The company is not obligated to update forward-looking statements based on circumstances or events that occur in the future. Risks and uncertainties that may cause such differences include but are not limited to: uncertainties in uncertainties in the software industry; uncertainties as to when and whether the conditions for the recognition of deferred revenue will be satisfied; increased competition; general economic conditions; the impact of foreign currency exchange rate fluctuations; continuation of the global credit crisis; global military conflicts; terrorist attacks; pandemics, and any future events in response to these developments; changes in conditions in the company’s targeted industries and other risk factors listed in the company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Lawson assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information contained in this press release.

Not everyone has the extra time it takes to visit a dental school. Here are more options to save on your dental bill:

Online coupons

Some dentists do marketing and advertising to attract patients. Check the Valpak coupons that come in a blue envelope by mail or at www.valpak.com under “health.” Last week four Twin Cities dentists offered deals, including an exam for about $75. Moneymailer.com had a $99 offer for X-rays, evaluation and cleaning under the “professional” category. Groupon.com recently had a cleaning and exam special for $59.

Low-cost dentists

Go to tinyurl.com/y8un6y2 for a list of some dental clinics in Minnesota that provide services to patients on public care programs, or that offer services at reduced cost. Services, hours and costs at the clinics vary. If you’re unemployed or in financial difficulty, you also can check with your regular dentist about lowering fees before calling the clinics, which might require a longer wait. Call 1-800-950-3368 for a clinic near you if you don’t have a computer.

Insurance

Whether you are considering insurance privately or through an employer, ask these questions: Is there a waiting period? (Some plans require you to be on the plan for a year before major work can be done.) What percentage do you pay for a specific procedure? (The policy could cover as little as 50 or as much as 100 percent of the cost of the procedure.) What’s the maximum coverage in a year? (Many plans have a limit, such as $1,000 per calendar year.) What’s the deductible? (You might be responsible for the first $250 or so.) What’s excluded? (Orthodontia often is not covered.)

Dental plans

An alternative to insurance, dental plans offer members discounted fees at a wide network of dentists, but few of us have heard of them. At www.dentalplans.com (1-888-632-5353), an individual pays about $105 per year or $160 for a family plan. Sample discounted prices, according the site, include $25 for a routine checkup (usual fee $56), four bite-wing X-rays $33 (usual fee $70), a white, one-surface filling $75 (usual fee $175) and a crown $624 (usual fee $1,190). Check to make sure your dentist participates in the plan. There is a 30-day cancellation policy and no waiting periods, deductibles or maximums. Orthodontia is included in some of the plans, including those underwritten by Cigna and Aetna. When I called earlier this week and said that I wasn’t quite ready to join, I was offered a 20 percent discount if I signed up immediately.

“The color looked a little different on one of the front teeth,” Garcia said. “I started looking to see what was wrong with that tooth.”

Tuesday morning, the Garcia family decided to take Daniel to the Wilson County Health Department to see what was wrong with the tooth.

Turns out little Daniel has a cavity on the back of that front tooth, said Valerie Brock, child public health nurse, after examining him.

The Wilson County Health Department has a new dental screening and fluoride varnishing program called “Into the Mouths of Babes,” which allows parents to bring in children as young as 6 months old to have a dental screening and fluoride varnish applied to the teeth.

The program, which is funded by the state, is for children up to 3 1/2 years of age and the treatments are suggested to be given every six months. The program started March 8.

“Getting the varnish is just like having a fluoride treatment at the dentist,” said Kay Long, child health coordinator. “We just put a very small amount of the varnish on the teeth and it sticks to the teeth until parents brush it off the next day.”

Long said the varnish tastes like bubble gum and the procedure doesn’t hurt the child.

“Children do make a fuss,” Brock said. “But it’s only because they don’t want you to go into their mouth.”

Brock said Daniel cried because he didn’t understand what she was doing.

“His father held him and comforted him,” she said.

Long said the sooner parents bring their children get the varnish, the fewer cavities they will probably have. She said studies show children receiving the procedure have fewer cavity-related treatments in a dental office than children who do not receive the treatment.

Brock said it also helps children to continue into adulthood with dental care when they start early.

Health department officials are trying to get more parents educated about why it is important for children to have regular dental check-ups.

“You would be surprised to know how many children don’t see the dentist,” Long said. “Statistics say 40 percent of children who start kindergarten have cavities.”

Long said many times children come to the health department for their well child check-ups needed to enter school and she finds their teeth and gums are in bad shape.

One reason very young children get cavities is because parents put babies to bed with a bottle.

“Milk has sugars in it and when a baby falls asleep with milk in his mouth, the sugar from the milk sits on the teeth,” Long said. “Toddlers also have sugary drinks in their sippy cups. All of those things cause cavities.”

Access to dental care for some parents is out of reach, Long said.

“There are not many pediatric dentists and only 25 percent of North Carolina dentists participate in Medicaid,” Long said. “So many children don’t get to see the dentist.”

It is not necessary for a child to receive any other health department services to get the dental screening services.

But the parent or guardian of the child must be present when the child gets the varnish.

“It is important that the person who cares for the child be here so they can learn first-hand about cavity prevention and what they can do,” Long said.

Appointments are not necessary. Walk-ins are welcome.

Recently honored as the title sponsor at Sealants for Smiles 2nd Annual Gala Benefit held at the Grand America in Salt Lake City, Dental Select was recognized for its 2009 contribution of more than $400,000. This commitment will allow Sealants for Smiles to expand school visits into more Utah counties, increase the number of oral health presentations, and ultimately place more sealants on the 2nd and 6th grade children who need them.

During the 2007 and 2008 school year, Dental Select contributed more than $420,000 to Sealants for Smiles. As the sole administrator for this program, Dental Select continually provides Sealants for Smiles with necessary technology expenses, an office facility, staff wages and salaries in order to allow 100% of donations to go directly toward advancing program services.

In the past two years, Sealants for Smiles has placed more than 31,000 dental sealants on children who were screened with moderate to urgent dental needs. Because of Dental Select’s contributions, Sealants for Smiles can continue to expand and see a larger percentage of underprivileged children each year to improve Utah’s community youth.

Dental Select, headquartered in Salt Lake City, is the largest dental provider in the state of Utah, and provides benefits to more than 5,000 client groups across Utah, Texas and Nevada. Dental Select specializes in affordable and flexible dental plans, offering a wide array of discount, PPO, Indemnity, and self-funded dental plans. With over 20 years experience, Dental Select has been a recurring Utah 100 company, and on the Inc. 500 list of America’s fastest growing companies. More information regarding Dental Select is available by visiting the company’s web site at www.dentalselect.com or by calling 800-999-9789.

“This is the first index we know of to focus exclusively on consumer sentiments vis-a-vis retail banking,” said Debbie Bianucci, president and CEO of BAI. “We designed this research with a rigorous methodology, so the index will have maximum value to executives who are focused on measuring consumer trust and confidence in retail banking.”

“In today’s fast-changing scenario, consumer opinion counts more than ever before and technology has made the consumer highly empowered,” said Haragopal Mangipudi, global head – Finacle, Infosys Technologies Ltd. “Presented with diverse and ever-dynamic consumer segments, banks need to anticipate changing requirements and fine-tune business strategy. Finacle with BAI has launched this index for banks to gain insight into consumer trends for innovation on future business strategy and differentiated product offerings.” Among the index’s findings were the following: Financial Stress and the Economy: One-third of consumers feel their financial situation has deteriorated in recent months, but few expect things to grow worse then now. When asked if they thought the current overall employment situation in the country was better, worse or the same as compared to six months ago, 73 percent of respondents said it was worse, 21 percent said things had remained the same and 5 percent felt the situation was better. But 40 percent felt the overall economic condition of the country would be better in six months. When asked which items among a list of behaviors respondents had altered to address their financial concerns, 71 percent said they had trimmed spending on entertainment, 60 percent had changed eating habits to save money, and 34 percent had postponed medical or dental care. Access to Credit: Along with mortgage-related products, most consumers find accessing credit a challenge. Compared to six months ago, 31 percent of respondents feel access to mortgages is worse; 5 percent say it is better, and the remainder saw no change. Those surveyed showed optimism when asked if they thought access to mortgages would be better, stay the same or become worse in six months, with 12 percent saying things would be better and 15 percent saying it would be worse. When asked to look ahead six months and say how likely they were to take out a loan to purchase a car, buy a home, or open a line of credit, respondents who were not likely to do so tallied 71 percent, 82 percent and 80 percent, respectively. Managing Personal Finances: Consumers basically trust their banks, but are less certain about their bankers’ ability to truly understand what consumers are trying to accomplish financially. While 65 percent of consumers surveyed say they trust their primary financial institution and another 81 percent feel their bank will still be in business a year from now, only 35 percent of respondents felt their primary financial institution was concerned about their financial well-being. One out of three respondents said their primary financial institution understood their financial goals. When asked to look ahead six months and project whether they would feel differently about their primary financial institution in these areas, the numbers were largely unchanged.

“In spite of everything that’s happened to our economy, most people still trust their primary bank. And people surveyed said they have some willingness to take on more risk, but they’re concerned about their ability to make the right decisions,” remarked Ajay Nagarkatte, managing director, BAI Research. “For bankers, this is an opportunity to take a fresh approach to how they work with their customers, and develop an array of new products and services that will go further to help people with their financial decision-making.” Consumer Trust: The level of trust consumers expressed in their financial services institutions was largely based on how familiar they were with the organization. Fifty-three percent of respondents who were customers of large national banks said they trust their bank. The same measure rose to 63 percent for clients of regional banks, 82 percent for customers of community banks, and 83 percent for those banking at credit unions. Customers of community banks and credit unions were likely to recommend those institutions by a measure of 72 percent and 76 percent, respectively. Fees & Disclosure: Less than a third of respondents find overdraft fees fair or reasonable. When it comes to fees and disclosures, consumers appear to understand to some extent why banks charge overdraft fees. But only 30 percent of those surveyed believed banks needed to collect such fees to manage overdrawn accounts. Only half of respondents felt the disclosures that financial institutions give for accounts, terms, rates, and fees were easy to understand.

“Recent changes introduced by some of the nation’s large banks are a good initial step to address consumer concerns. But simplified disclosures and clarity around when fees are assessed will continue to be a central theme, unless meaningful, long-term changes are made,” added Nagarkatte. About the Index and Survey BAI and Finacle created this new index, in part, to help bankers and industry-watchers understand the level of trust consumers have in the U.S. banking system. Along with that, the index assesses potential changes in consumer behavior, tracks consumers’ attitudes about their financial service providers, and offers a view behind the trends affecting the financial industry.

At this year’s event, Oral-B will be exhibiting a new range of toothbrushes with Anti-Bacterial Bristle Protection, a technology which inhibits bacterial growth on bristles for up to three months. The new Oral-B Expert toothbrushes with Anti-Bacterial Bristle Protection use silver ion technology – a silver additive that is known to have antimicrobial properties. This allows for controlled silver-ion release and the constant introduction of new silver containing particles as the bristles wear during normal use. Silver ions are common antimicrobial agents and are used in a variety of different consumer and medical products.

Mr Azzawe believes Oral-B’s new technology will go along way to improving oral hygiene.

“Bacteria lives everywhere and in particular it grows on wet brushes after they have been used. Oral-B’s new technology helps to keep your brush clean and effective keeping acid erosion and cavities at bay.”

Oral-B works with dental professionals around the globe to develop products that are clinically proven to remove the most plaque and to promote oral hygiene. By showcasing this latest technology at Dentistry 2009, Oral-B will ensure that practitioners in the Middle East are aware of the most technologically advanced dental products and will be able to recommend the use of these products to their patients, saving time, money and unnecessary trips to the dentist.

“There will also be a corner devoted to Crest Expert Gum Protection, a new advanced toothpaste technology that shows improved product benefits that specifically addresses areas dentists care about enamel, gums and sensitivity,” says Mr Azzawe. “The toothpaste contains stannous fluoride which strengthens the enamel, in addition to reducing gum inflammation and tooth sensitivity. The formula is made novel with the addition of Sodium Hexa Meta Phosphate (SHMP) which protects teeth against staining.

“Dentistry 2009 is organised by IIR Middle East Life Sciences Division, the same organisation who brought the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress to Dubai. Oral-B associates itself with leading organisers in order to reach out to the industry professionals who attend an important meeting like this.” 2009 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)

– Offer healthier alternatives to candy – This does not have to mean

carrot sticks and toothbrushes, but treats sweetened with ‘xylitol,’ a

natural sugar substitute, help prevent plaque build up on teeth.

Offering sugar-free gum after eating candy is a great way to fight the

bacteria that causes tooth decay and the chewing motion also stimulates

the flow of saliva, which helps cleanse teeth.

– Monitor you child’s candy consumption – Parents should be in charge of

Halloween candy, not children. Establishing a candy bank is a popular

option and giving access to the bank after eating dinner helps to limit

the quantity of candy consumed. This is also an ideal opportunity to

teach about the importance of moderation.

– Better to eat two pieces at once than separately over the day – It is

the frequency that is the most important factor in tooth decay not the

quantity. This helps to limit exposure to acids that are left behind on

teeth after eating.

– Avoid sticky candies like taffy and gummy candies – Anything that stays

in the mouth or on the teeth for an extended period of time leaves acid

on teeth that causes tooth decay. This includes hard candies, lollipops,

caramel chews and the always dangerous jaw breaker.

– Reinforce positive oral health habits – Remind your child to brush their

teeth after every meal or at least twice a day and to floss each day.

Look at the labels of candy and other foods to show your child what to

look for on the packaging. Anything that ends in -ose like glucose,

fructose, and sucrose are sugars and should be avoided.

– Visit a CDA member dentist – In order to maintain proper oral and

overall health all children should visit a dentist twice a year starting

at age 1 or when their first tooth comes in.

Go to www.cda.org for more information on maintaining your oral health or to find a CDA dentist in your area.

The California Dental Association is the non-profit organization representing organized dentistry in California. Founded in 1870, CDA supports its members in their practices and service to the public through innovation in education, advocacy and related programs. CDA also contributes to the oral health of Californians through various comprehensive programs and advocacy. CDA’s membership consists of more than 24,000 dentists, making it the largest constituent of the American Dental Association. For more information, visit cda.org

She would appreciate it if the fairy could leave behind her tooth so she could save it in her baby book, but she would still like the cash, her mother, Amber, said.

When Mackenzie awoke in her grandparents’ motor home Tuesday morning, she was delighted to see the tooth was left behind, along with $3 — two more than she gets from the tooth fairy at home.

Her delight faded Thursday morning when she learned thieves stole her tooth fairy booty.

When her mom went out to the family’s Ford Excursion to bring Mackenzie’s twin brother, Logan, to his school, she discovered someone had broken into the SUV. Gone were a GPS, costume jewelry and Mackenzie’s dental dough.

Guy said she was supposed to deposit the $3 in her daughter’s savings account Wednesday, but they never made it to the bank.

“Mackenzie is saving her money because she wants to buy a computer,” her mother said.

The money — four quarters and two dollar bills — was taped to a letter written by the tooth fairy to Mackenzie.

“Dear Mackenzie, You have one of the best teeth that I saw tonight. You have an A-plus tooth. Here’s the tooth back and the money,” Guy recalled it saying.

Mackenzie planned on keeping the letter for her special book, too, her mother said.

The tooth, sealed in a baggie, had been attached to the 8-by-11 sheet of paper. When the thieves rummaged through the SUV, they took the letter and money but left the bag with Mackenzie’s pearly white.

“She’s happy that at least she has the tooth,” Guy said.

When Mom broke the news to her daughter, she was taken aback by her reaction.

“It is OK,” the Oakstead Elementary first-grader told her. “It’s only $3.”

“My heart sunk and broke at the same time,” Guy said.

Guy said when the family returned to their home in the Oakstead subdivision Wednesday night the children were asleep, so she got them inside and forgot to lock her passenger-side door.

“It’s Mom’s fault,” she said.

She said she also had a “false sense of security” in the gated community but has learned a valuable lesson, as has Mackenzie.

“It’s a new low for criminals,” Guy said. “I would’ve given the guy the $3 if he had knocked on my door. I would’ve given it to him. Unfortunately, criminals aren’t that nice.”

Mackenzie plans on writing a new letter to the tooth fairy in hopes of getting another $3 toward her mini-laptop computer.

She might soon get even more cash toward the computer. The tooth directly next to her new empty space in her mouth is loose, her mother said.

“The tooth fairy is going to be busy with trips to our house,” Guy said.

Reporter Lisa A. Davis can be reached at (727) 815-1083.

Credit: Tampa Tribune, Fla.