Cosmetic Dentistry in Scranton | Scranton Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry in Scranton is as advanced as just about anywhere else in the world. While it used to be that you'd have to go to Hollywood or New York City to find a dental “magician” that could give you a movie-star smile, advances in technology and dental education mean that you won't have to travel far to get the best results.

Along with the new composite fillings that look and feel like natural tooth enamel, composites can completely remake your smile. Cured outside the mouth, these newer composite veneers can fill gaps, create new crowns and even totally reshape the look and color of natural teeth.

Porcelain veneers have been getting a lot of attention lately. These specially formulated porcelain mixtures are so strong and hard that a very thin veneer can be bonded to your teeth without having to (painfully) grind down the existing tooth material. They are long-lasting, match the appearance of natural teeth and are considered superior to older porcelain crowns.

Replacing lost or damaged teeth can now be done below the gum line. Dental implants that are anchored into the jawbone can be indistinguishable from natural teeth (except when they are X-rayed). While these implants require the patient to commit to careful and continuous oral health maintenance, they can be worth the extra effort for those who wish a better solution than regular dentures.

In-office teeth whitening or bleaching by the dentist outperforms at-home methods of removing stains and discoloration from teeth. The Zoom™ teeth whitening system uses a light activated gel that penetrates the tooth enamel and bleaches away stains better than just about any other method.

The newest method of straightening teeth, called Invisalign™, replaces old metal braces with nearly invisible forms that fit over the teeth. The cost for this particular method is comparable to regular metal braces.

Go immediately to Scranton Cosmetic Dentists and find out just how your smile can be improved at http://vincerunza.com/scranton/dentists/cosmetic/

Plumbing in Scranton | Scranton Plumbers

Plumbers in Scranton have it easy. Make no mistake; they're hard-working, industrious and know their business. It's easy for them because of the number of older homes in the area.

Plumbing that dates back nearly a century inevitably means leaky pipes. Some of those pipes are actually made of lead, which is toxic to living things who drink water from lead pipes. Repair and replacement of old pipes is just one thriving plumbing application.

Ground water and wet basements means sump pumps -- which need maintenance, repairs and replacements. While the annual rainfall here is less than that of the Pacific North-West (which is classified as a temperate rain forest), there's still plenty of rain and groundwater to get into the foundations of houses.

Hot water heaters have a limited life span. When they go, they need replacement. Local plumbers can upgrade the quality of the replacement to be more energy efficient (including the new solar hot water solution).

Then there are the inevitable clogs, leaky faucets, sewer problems and the like. Bathtubs and sinks eventually wear out and need to be fixed or replaced. All the normal plumbing chores that need attention just add to the ease with which Scranton plumbers get more and more work.

The trick for Scrantonians is to find the right plumber for the particular job that needs doing. A pipe-fitter or steam-fitter is not a plumber. Neither is a “helpful” neighbor with a smattering of plumbing knowledge (who recently screwed up the installation of a float in a toilet). Check out Scranton Plumbers for a reliable, hard-working plumber at http://vincerunza.com/scranton/plumbers/.

Scranton Mortgages | Mortgage Brokers in Scranton

The word "mortgage" literally means "dead hand". Figuratively, it means a pledge unto death. Old-fashioned mortgages were never paid off. They didn't amortize, or liquidate the debt itself. Instead, they gave the right to build and use the property for life, with the understanding that the ownership of the property remained with one who originally owned it.

Old English property laws were intended to protect the holdings of the elite. Mortgages were a way to "monetize" their land without surrendering control of it. Nowadays, the idea that someone could "mortgage" land without eventually surrendering it to the one paying the mortgage is unthinkable.

There are still forms of this archaic method of long-term leasing:

• Ground rent
• 99 year leases of property

There is also a type of non-amortizing loan called a "balloon loan" or interest-only loan. Typically, the loan payments are as if one had a 25 or 30 year amortizing loan, but no payments are credited to paying off the principal. Instead, in only 5 to 7 years, the principal becomes due and payable as a lump sum.

Today's mortgage market has seen a troublesome use of so-called ARM (Adjustable Rate Mortgage) loans. While these loans are not in and of themselves bad, giving them to those who will not be able to make the payments when the loan "adjusts" upward has created a crisis in the Real Estate market and the world economy as a whole!

Rather than dissect this problem here, consider well which type of loan you choose for your own home purchase or Real Estate investment property. It is up to you to do your own due diligence when it comes to borrowing a substantial amount of money. It is imperative that you do so when that money represents your life savings and your future net worth.

In Scranton, there are plenty of mortgage brokers to choose from. The key is to find one that will take into account your total financial plan and fiscal "fitness". Do your research and find the Mortgage Brokers in Scranton that will best serve your needs and select the best of the best.

A Scranton Masonry Contractor: D.P. "Don" Shiffer

I watched a local masonry contractor put up some very large blocks as a retaining wall. Stone masons, bricklayers and others who build structures out of the stuff of the Earth used to be part of a secret guild. The way this particular contractor did it looked like magic to me.

One day, there was a stack of these impressive, ornate blocks ready to be fashioned into something useful. The next day, they were! It wasn't a particularly large job, but even a dozen of these blocks that were used reminded one somewhat of building the Pyramids in Egypt.

I stopped and introduced myself to Don Shiffer, the owner, telling him of my admiration of his work. "I've been a bricklayer since 1978," he said. There was a quiet pride in his eyes, something he'd earned from decades of skilled labor and a well-deserved reputation.

He doesn't have a fancy display ad in the Yellow Pages. A simple classified listing of his Clarks Summit location and phone number is enough. He gets referrals from other satisfied customers.

His son, Mark, has been thinking about getting a Web page or something for the business. Looking at the future of local business promotion, that's at least a better choice for this business than some others are.

Given the nature of how the Internet works these days, having a Web presence via a Front Door page could be the best solution for a Scranton Masonry Contractor. There's an example here: http://www.vincerunza.com/scranton/contractors/mason/ for Mark Shiffer to consider. It's new construction, will build to suit and no long-term lease!

Brazilian Restaurants in Scranton? There's at least one...

If you search Yahoo! local for Brazilian restaurants in Scranton, here's what you get: Sorry, no Brazilian Restaurants found in or nearby Scranton, PA. Funny, there's one about half a block from me here in North Scranton. Ipanema Grille is most definitely Brasilian in tone, flavor, presentation and the food on the menu!

Of course, given that local listings from a huge, impersonal search engine can be mistaken, I feel it's my duty to set the record straight. This is an authentic Churrascaria with a special flair.They describe it this way: “Churrascaria is a traditional Brazilian Steak House that distinguishes itself from others with its specialty, Rodizio...”

Their rodizio has to be seen to be believed! Oven roasted meats (more than a dozen varieties, with grilled pineapple as a delightful “foil” to those flavors) are presented on skewers at your table and hand carved directly onto your plate. There's a method to this madness, too. You get a “flipper”, which is red and green:

Green means "Bring it on"

Red means "Stop for now"

1st Stage- Keep the flipper Green side up, the carvers will keep on visiting the table.

2nd Stage- You always can slow it down or take a break by turning the flipper to Red.

3rd Stage- When you are ready to indulge again, turn the flipper to Green and keep on enjoying.

4th and Last Stage- Remember you are in control of how much your stomach desires. Your Rodizio meal is only over when you ask your waiter to remove your plate.

There's a sumptuous salad bar, a varied menu that includes American and even Italian cuisine and incredible desserts. They have a fully-stocked bar that offers all your favorite cocktails, Sangria and Brazilian caipirinha.

They're open for lunch and dinner:

Tuesday to Friday -- Lunch : 11:00 am/3:00pm. Dinner: 5:00pm/10:00pm
Saturday & Sunday -- Lunch: 12:00pm/3:00pm. Dinner: 5:00pm/10:00pm

Call for reservations! You may walk in on a night when they're packed and have to wait, stomach growling, as some table turns their flipper to green. The number in Scranton is 570-558-0742.

Ipanema Grille: the answer to the question, “Are there any Brazilian restaurants in Scranton?”

Scranton Malpractice: Doctors and Lawyers and...Counties?

Professional malpractice, whether it's involving doctors or lawyers, is a hot topic in our increasingly litigious society. That's why this article in The Times-Tribune caught my eye. For those of you who inevitably won't click through to it, the article lays out a case for possible "municipal malpractice" in hiring 5 local lawyers with questionable qualifications to work on a bond issue. It turns out that "none is a member of either the National Association of Bond Lawyers or the Pennsylvania Association of Bond Lawyers."

Wait, it gets better. Some don't even practice in areas of finance and municipal law. Sure, there's at least one who does medical malpractice and personal injury. But where's the expertise in finance, municipal law and bond issues in particular? I especially liked this quote from the article: "Mr. Munchak conceded that hiring an attorney who does not have a background in finance to work on a municipal bond transaction doesn’t make sense." The real issue here is one of transparency and accountability, not finger-pointing.

This brings up the point as far as The Scranton Front Door Pages: is there a need for a new classification: scranton/municipal? That'd be the place for Scranton Lawyers Municipal Malpractice and Scranton Insurance Municipal Malpractice to promote themselves. While I invite local law firms who specialize in medical malpractice and insurance agencies who issue malpractice insurance for professionals to avail themselves of the service, I'm not sure I want to get involved with any municipal malpractice at all!

Scranton Chiropractors and Their Advertising

Chiropractors in Scranton put in many years of their lives to become health care providers. Many of them banded together to push for insurance coverage for their services. They've bucked the medical establishment and thumbed their noses at allopathic medicine as the only "cure" for disease. You'd think they'd have learned something about promoting themselves.

They haven't, at least in Scranton. Despite the fact that more than 50% of all people looking to avail themselves of services do so by searching on the Internet, not one local chiropractor shows up on the first page of the search engine results for Scranton Chiropractors. Instead, a bunch of directory listings and Yellow Pages classifieds show up. But that's not the whole story.

If you go to the local Yellow Pages book and look up Chiropractors, lo and behold, page after page is filled with full-page display ads for this profession. Never mind that they cost a fortune and cannot be tracked or measured like a Web page. These display ads represent the state-of-the-art in promoting chiropractic health care. That's so 20th Century!

Fortunately, there's an alternative for at least one local Scranton Chiropractor. It's a great spot in the search engines for the most motivated of all Scranton Chiropractors. The Scranton Front Door Pages have unique qualities that no other resources for businesses and professionals can offer: targeted local traffic that is looking for services like this one. The most motivated and savvy professional or business owner in each niche represented by the portal can get what no one else has in Scranton -- a top spot in the Search Engine Results Pages.

Alas, there can be only one. Are you the one?

The Portal is Officially Online with Every Niche Filled...

After a few delays, all the current niches are filled with "placeholders" for appropriate businesses, professionals and targeted local traffic. You can also find active listings for local businesses that are special favorites of the portal manager. If you are considering getting in on this chance to get your business in the best possible place in the Search Engine Result Pages, decide quickly. Your competition may beat you to it!

Right now there are listings available for:
Accountants
Architects
Chiropractors
Consultants
    Building
        Code
    Business
    Executive Search
    Financial
        Planning
    Forensic
    Lighting
    Zoning
Contractors
    Building
    Concrete
    Drywall
    Electrical
    Equipment
    Excavating
    General
    Heating and Air Conditioning
    Insulation
    Landscape
    Painting
    Paving
    Roofing
    Swimming Pools
    Waterproofing
Cosmetic Surgery
Dentists
    24-Hour
    Braces
    Emergency
    Endodontists
    Neuromuscular
    Orthodontists
    TMD-TMJ
Doctors
    Cardiology
    Dermatology
    Gynecologists
    OB-GYN
    Obstetrics
    Ophthalmology
    Orthopedic
    Plastic Surgery
Engineers
    Civil
    Consulting
Fences
Golf
    Courses
    Equipment
Insurance
    Adjusters
    Auto
    Aviation
    Brokers
    Business and Commercial
    Consultants
    Contractors
    Health
    Homeowners and Renters
    Life
    Marine
    Motorcycle
Lawyers
    Aviation
    Bankruptcy
    Construction
    Contracts
    Corporation
    Estate
        Planning
    Immigration
    Incorporation
    Medical Malpractice
    Real Estate
    Securities
        Fraud
    Tax
    Trusts and Wills
Mortgages
Physical Therapy
Plumbers
Podiatrists
Real Estate
    Appraisers
    Developers
    Managers
Surgeons
    Cardiac
    Maxillofacial
    Oral
    Orthopedic
    Plastic
Tree Service

Remember, there is only one first place in the search engines. These listings are available on a first come, first served basis. If it is your desire to get targeted local traffic to view your business in the best light, this is the place!

Scranton Attractions: The Zoo at Nay Aug Park and The Houdini Museum

Last year, an old friend (okay, we're both old) came to visit me here in NEPA. For a few days, we did all the touristy things you should do if you're visiting from out of town. Two of the local Scranton attractions we "did" were the Zoo at Nay Aug Park and the Houdini Museum.

For a couple of old fogies, the Houdini Museum was a hoot! With all the wide-eyed kids gawping at the illusions and the tour of the Houdini memorabilia, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. Dorothy Deitrich and Dick Brooks have devoted their lives to this museum, and their dedication shows!

Our trip to Nay Aug Park was unfortunately cut short because of a scheduling conflict. We did get a quick look at the Scranton Zoo there. While it ain't the Bronx Zoo by any means, it does itself proud as a genuine Scranton Attraction.

You can find out more about both at the Scranton Portal

A Local Scranton Directory of Businesses and Professionals that's Actually Local: The Scranton Portal

The "Local" Scranton business directory that pops up in the search engine results when you search for a Scranton business or professional is usually put up by a big advertiser who is trying to cross promote its own paid classified listings. It's not even in the area, as a business. Whether it's a "Yellow Pages" directory, a "scraped" directory (that grabbed all its listings from the Yellow Pages) or some other generic classified site, it's usually useless. If you want to actually find out something about a local business so you can pick up the phone and call them, you're usually out of luck.

Gee, wouldn't it be great to find a local directory that's actually based here in Scranton? Even better, how about a directory that targets the specific things that people in Scranton are looking for? Say, for example, you're looking for local attractions in Scranton. You search for "Scranton Attractions" and, lo and behold, actual Scranton attractions show up in the search engines (like the Zoo at Nay Aug Park and the Houdini Museum), not just a page full of irrelevant stuff and a few lame links to yet another classified directory listing. Would that be useful?

I'm just asking...

Got Used Guitars, Amps, Drums, PA Equipment? Buy, Sell or Trade Them at Wade's World in Scranton!

Used gear can be a valuable asset if you need cash or are looking to trade up to something special. Musicians know this, even if they're only amateurs. Guitar players, drummers and singers want the best stuff they can get to make their sound just right for them. In some cases, used guitars, amps, drums and PA equipment can be better than new stuff, simply because the brand or model you want has the right sound.

Everybody who does business locally has places that they favor. For my guitar-playing needs, I favor Wade's World in North Scranton. He's got all the usual stuff I either wear out or break (usually strings; picks like the Dunlop Tortex .88 mm's just don't break like the old ones). What I really like are all the axes he's got in stock. At any given time, there are a number of models I'd take home in an instant -- if I had the room!

Wade knows his stuff, too, when it comes to fixing things that break or installing new pickups, bridges, etc. He's not a luthier himself, but he knows one of the best in the area. In fact, simple repairs can often get done overnight. No waiting for your baby while some other guy sends it out for repair because he doesn't know the working end of a Phillips-head screwdriver from a vodka-and-OJ.

Naturally, not every piece of gear that somebody brings into Wade's World is acceptable for sale or trade. I'd never offer him my Les Paul Junior with the fire damage, missing pick guard, no tone or volume controls and crack in the top of the neck! The thing is, he's willing to give you free appraisals and sell your stuff on consignment for you, if you want.

The best part about Wade's World is Wade. If you don't know that already, go to Wade's World Music and find out for yourself. Party on, Garth!

Are You "Geo-Located" on Your Website?

You can stuff all the local keywords you want into your Web page that tell people "I'm in Scranton". That's so 20th Century. Haven't you heard of GPS?

There's a nifty tool you can use to narrow yourself down to the exact spot in your parking lot reserved for special customers or clients: Address Fix. Just go there, type in your address (don't worry, your information isn't stored or given away) and bingo! You get a map with a pointer that's very close to the right spot. Zoom in on the map, move the pointer around until it's exactly where you want it and the exact latitude and longitude for that spot is calculated and ready to go as code you can put into the [head] portion of your Web page.

Here's the location of the Scranton Portal:
[meta name="geo.position" content="41.437426; -75.658175" /]
[meta name="geo.placename" content="Scranton, PA" /]
[meta name="geo.region" content="US-PA" /]

Scranton Equipment Rental Services -- Your First Shot at Fame!

Search for scranton equipment rental services and all that that search engines will give you is a crowded map of somewhat related businesses (if you count a pizza deliver service as related) and the rest are basically classified ads. Not one local equipment rental service has a website showing up in the results for this listing.

The problem is that these services know their business, but don't know Internet stuff. For example, did you know that the [title] code in a Web page isn't really there for you to put the title of your company first? No. It's an index title holder for robots to read. Therefore, if you put [title] Scranton Equipment Rental Services XYZ Company[/title], you'll be doing the right thing. If, instead, you do what most companies (and website builders who don't know SEO), you'll put [title]XYZ Company: We rent trucks, construction equipment and more![/title]. That kind of pitch is actually better put in your [meta] tag for description, since it will show underneath your title in the search engine results.

If you made a mistake like this, try fixing it soon. The next time the robots come around to peek at your site, they'll like the new title much better for your particular niche and will reward you with a better showing in the search results.

The Scranton Front Door Portal is online!

After hunting around for a decent portal to showcase the businesses that could use it the most, it was time to DIY -- Do It Yourself. In the spirit of "don't worry, be crappy and get something up there NOW", you can see the first draft of the Scranton Front Door Portal at: Scranton Front Door Portal

This portal will be very exclusive. It will be for particular niches or sub-niches that have a top spot available in the search engine results. These particular niches typically spend heavily to promote their businesses or professions, but clearly haven't gotten their websites (if they have them) indexed for their main keywords.

Only one category is live at this point: scranton equipment rental services. Within a very short period of time, you will be able to put those four words into the search engine and see the "placeholder" page for that niche. If you are just dying to see what a plain vanilla placeholder page looks like, go to Scranton Equipment Rental Services. Thrill to the trenchant text there! Click away at the poll for readers! Imagine your own rental service with a great spot in that search engine I mentioned.

Now imagine that same spot in the results leads to your website. Through the magic of computers, a kind of call forwarding can make that happen! Best of all, once yours truly either fixes your current page to rank well in search engines or has an exclusive team of Web page builders craft a website for you that will present the right face to your prospects and clients, you'll be able to stand on your own!