Miscellaneous
09/26/2005
Among the dentist's recommendations, which treatments are absolutely necessary? Which are elective? Which are cosmetic? Which procedures are urgently needed, and which ones are less urgent?
Your dentist should be able to prioritize a treatment schedule to help you distinguish problems needing immediate attention from those that are less urgent. Often, treatment can be phased in over time. Be sure you understand the consequences of delaying treatment.
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How much will this cost, and when and how are you expected to pay?
Does the dentist participate in your health plan? What method of payment does he or she expect?
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09/24/2005
One piece of particularly good news is that dentists who volunteer their services may have some liability protection under federal and state laws. According to a 2004 summary and analysis of those statutes prepared by Volunteers in Health Care (VIH), "Understanding Charitable Immunity Legislation: A Volunteers in Health Care Guide," charitable immunity laws in 43 states and the District of Columbia afford some protection for routine care provided by "clinician volunteers." It is important to note that the manual provides only general information and is not targeted to dentistry.
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09/19/2005
Dental hygienists are licensed oral health professionals who focus on
preventing and treating oral diseases-both to protect teeth and gums,
and also to protect patients' total health. They are graduates of accredited
dental hygiene education programs in colleges and universities, and must
take written and clinical exams before they are allowed to practice. In
addition to treating patients directly, dental hygienists also work as
educators, researchers, and administrators.
What Do Dental Hygienists
Do?
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08/25/2005
"The good news is that efforts to reduce and prevent cavities and dental disease are paying off. We are seeing an increase in the number of children, teens, and adults who have never had a cavity in their permanent teeth," says William Maas, DDS, MPH, in a news release. He directs the CDC's division of oral health.
"It's also very encouraging to find the dental health of children in lower-income areas improved," says Maas, crediting school programs that promote tooth brushing and dental sealants.
However, "more effort is needed to improve the oral health of low-income Americans," says Bruce Philstrom, DDS, in the news release.
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08/23/2005
Dear Dr. Mady: During the holidays I have been eating so many
sweets that I am embarrassed to even talk about it. Besides what it
is doing to my waist-line, can my "sweet tooth" hurt my teeth
if I overdo it and do you have any good tips for new year's resolutions
with respect to teeth? -Jenny in Lakeshore.
Dear Jenny: You are not the only one in this predicament. All
of the holiday sweets eaten during December and into the New Year may
satisfy your sweet tooth but believe me when I tell you that they may
also cause your teeth to decay.
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08/23/2005
Dear Dr. Mady: Every time I go to see my dentist, he has his hygienist
see me and clean my teeth and he just comes into the room before and
after for a few minutes. It seems that I spend more time with the hygienist
than I do with the doctor. Does this sound normal or should I find myself
a new dentist.-L. A.
Dear L. A.- From what you are telling me, I suspect that you probably
take very good care of your teeth and that they are in excellent condition.
If this is in fact the case, it is perfectly normal to spend less time
in the dental office and more time with the hygienist.
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08/23/2005
Dear Dr. Mady: I recently had an appointment with my
dentist who I have not visited for ten years. He found all kinds of
problems with my teeth and referred me out to three different types
of dental specialists. One was for my gums, another was for my wisdom
teeth and the third was for a root canal. From what I can remember,
a general dentist office was a one-stop shop where everything was done
in one office. Does this sound right to you, is this normal protocol
and what are dental specialists for?
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08/23/2005
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 2002
Dear Dr. Mady: Just over a year ago I had a back molar's filling
replaced with a new white filling since it was leaking. Since then I
experience sensitivity to "cold" on initial contact. Simultaneously
I hear a "snap" or "crack" sound in the tooth. The
dentist examined my tooth and said it looked ok. What could be causing
the sound and when should the sensitivity go away? -Kathy C.
Dear Kathy: It is possible that there is one of a few different
scenarios taking place here. You have to realize that I have not examined
your tooth so my speculation is merely derived from your brief description.
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08/22/2005
The American Dental Hygienists'
Association (ADHA) represents the professional interests of dental hygienists
in the United States. Access to oral health care is one of the highest
priorities of the ADHA.
Position
It is the position of the American Dental Hygienists' Association
that oral health care - a fundamental component of total health care - is
the right of all people. Lack of access to oral health care is a critical
issue in the United States due to disparities in the health care delivery
system.
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08/17/2005
Survey Center report on dentists in private practice available
The third volume of the 2003 Survey of Dental Practice examining the characteristics of private practice dentists and their patients is now available from the ADA Survey Center.
Statistics gathered from 2002 show:
At 89.6 percent, the majority of all dentists in private practice were male. However, among new dentists (those who graduated from dental school within the previous 10 years), males accounted for just 77.2 percent.
Most independent dentists (79.7 percent) had not graduated from a post graduate dentistry education program.
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08/16/2005
The
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey - University Hospital
has a one-year Internship available in the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery. The program is designed to allow recent dental graduates or
those completing a general practice residency a chance to gain greater
experience in Dentoalveolar Surgery and other hospital oral surgical
activities. This is an excellent opportunity for those individuals who
wish to apply for a residency position the following year.
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08/15/2005
I have suffered from halitosis for over seven years now. I had my tonsils removed in the hope of curing the problem, to no avail. I have used all the mouthwashes one can think of, but they only provide temporary help. I have undergone a thorough medical checkup to see if I have a liver infection, but I seem to be in perfect health. Where do I go from here? I smoke two cigarettes a day and drink beer occasionally.
L.W.
A
Bad breath (halitosis) can have many possible causes. Tonsil problems and liver infections are not very close to the top of my list.
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08/10/2005
Like many of you, I stick a rapidly gyrating device in my mouth every morning. While some might view using a battery-powered toothbrush as an act of laziness, I've used my Crest SpinBrush Pro for two years. My trips to the dentist have been less painful.
Now there's a new contender to fight plaque, and my trusty SpinBrush has sat unused for a month.
Pulsar, Oral-B's new $5 toothbrush, is a fascinating little gizmo. In a rush to dominate the toothbrush market, manufacturers have tried all sorts of brush shapes and movement methods. Pulsar's approach is unique among products that retail for less than $10.
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08/09/2005
Oral health is vital for seniors
Thursday, August 4, 2005 3:01 PM CDT
I know I should not say this publicly but -- I do not like to go to the dentist. I must admit the last dentist I went to was very concerned about my comfort. I think my fear started when I was a youngster; I remember a man with flaming red hair and very uncaring large hands.
The fear is also compounded with the cost. I am a working woman who makes a decent living but I still have my mortgage, car payment, insurance, etc. to pay each month. I have found most dental insurance plans pay very little.
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08/03/2005
(PRLEAP.COM) While Chicago children suffer with dental pain, limousines delivered dignitaries to a large white tent, ringed with yellow-shirted security guards, where dentists and others, on government payrolls, kicked off a four-day 60th birthday party for water fluoridation replete with ice sculptures, free duffle bags, food and specially made fluoridated bottled water, on July 13, 2005, in Chicago’s Millennium Park, hosted by the American Dental Association (ADA) and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), reports the New York State Coalition Opposed to Fluoridation (NYSCOF).
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08/01/2005
We believe in Smiles For All!
The following article was prepared in celebration of Dental Awareness Day, July 15, 2005, by Analisa Pearson, RN BSN, Child Care Nurse Consultant, Scott County Health Department and Smiles For All team member.
Among the top ten advances in public health during the 20th Century is the fluoridation of drinking water. Fluoridation of drinking water began in 1945 and has reached hundreds of millions of people in the United States, inexpensively reducing dental caries (cavities) among children and adults by about fifty percent.
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08/01/2005
Salvo said blurry vision and a rotting tooth that he suspects requires pulling brought him to the Day of Caring, a morning-long medical outreach coordinated by White County Medical Center.
"I don't even remember the last time I saw a dentist," said Salvo. He said his last job in 1996 as a dental technician in Searcy did not provide him with dental insurance.
Salvo is one of hundreds whom flyers or word of mouth have drawn from all corners of the county in hope that life will be a little easier with the medical care and supplies available inside.
Anna Aparicio and her 5-year-old daughter, Emma, await the calling of their number, 371.
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07/31/2005
Their only experiences with teeth cleaning may have been regular trips to the dentist, but that is not stopping five members of Cobblestone Church from traveling on a 10-day dental clinic trip to Peru in August.
Bob and Coralee Shearer of Oxford, Vic and Kay Conner of Bath, Ind. and Phyllis Wykoff of Hamilton, will partake in one of Latin America Dental Missions’ summer mission trips. They will visit the Peruvian cities of Arequipa, Puno, Colca Canyon and Puerto Maldonado to hold four to six full days of dental clinics, treating close to 1,000 patients.
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07/29/2005
Dental Care Plan for Cats
From Franny Syufy,
Your Guide to Cats.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Optimize your cat's health with a regular dental care routine
If you understand the importance of a regular dental care routine for your cat, you're probably ready to start one now. If you need convincing, or you think just feeding dry food will handle "teeth cleaning," read "Open Wide, Kitty," linked at the sidebar to the right. Veterinary professionals advise a three-step program for maintenance of your cat's teeth and gums. I have added a couple more.
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07/28/2005
SIKESTON, Mo. - When children drop in for a dental checkup or cleaning, Dr. Gail Redman usually ends the appointment with her familiar reminder to brush and floss regularly. But she recently added something new: "Whatever you do, don't do meth."
The unusual advice, rarely heard in a dentist's office, is the result of Redman's seeing more and more cases of a disturbing dental decay considered a telltale sign of methamphetamine abuse. The condition, commonly known as "meth mouth," leaves users' teeth black-stained, rotted and often unsalvageable.
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07/27/2005
The concept, called "direct reimbursement," has been around for years. But the dental association's stepped-up marketing and employers' hopes for a lower-cost plan have created a buzz in the marketplace. The Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and the Colorado Group Insurance Association have sponsored panels on the topic, and state lawmakers will hear the pros and cons of direct reimbursement plans on Thursday, July 28.
The debate has traditional dental insurers squaring off with the dental association. Brokers -- the ones who help set up dental plans for employers -- are lining up on both sides of the issue.
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07/26/2005
Increasingly, people are placing a premium on natural therapies. Sales of herbal remedies rose from approximately $2.5 billion in 1996, to an estimated $4.1 billion in 2001. According to the National Center of Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) of the National Institutes of Health, roughly 14 percent of Americans use herbal supplements in hopes that these botanical products can sustain or restore health.
Chun-Su Yuan, M.D., Ph.D.
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07/24/2005
By Bob Eighmy, Editor
Last week my wife paid her semi-annual visit to the dentist and was told, once again, that she has perfect teeth.
She, in turn, reminded me that I do not have perfect teeth.
It's a ritual we've repeated throughout the course of our marriage.
Her kind of dental snobbery is exactly what one could expect from a person who has never had a single cavity her entire life.
As far as I'm concerned, Anne's care of her pearly whites rates high on the old obsessive/ compulsive scale.
For example, she's been known to floss her teeth during meals.
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07/21/2005
About a quarter of the nation's 45 million uninsured are between 25 and 34 and are single. In response to this drastic number, eHealthInsurance examined the cost of high-deductible (but less than $1,000) plans available on the individual market in the country's largest 50 cities.
According to researchers:
A 30-year-old single, nonsmoker can buy insurance for $54 per month in Long Beach, Calif., $56 in Sacramento, Calif. and $58.77 in Tucson, Ariz.; that's less than two dollars per day.
In Dallas, singles pay $146.42, nearly three times more than Long Beach; other Texas cities are slightly more affordable -- $146.28 in Houston, $129.
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07/21/2005
But the investigation of a Harvard University professor accused of playing down links between fluoride and bone cancer may signal a mainstreaming of the debate.
Millions of Americans consume fluoride through community drinking water. Mainstream medical groups like the American Dental Association and the Centers for Disease Control have staked their reputation on fluoride, having long praised fluoridation schemes as beneficial for healthy teeth.
But anti-fluoride activists say a growing body of peer-reviewed scientific evidence counters long-held assumptions about fluoride's safety, and they're turning up the heat.
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07/20/2005
Martinsville, VA - When it comes to dental care, many in our area are left without many answers. According to the Virginia Dental Association, one out of four people in Martinsville and Henry County are without dental insurance.
So Thursday afternoon the Association announced more funding for an area dental clinic. A $10,000 dollar donation from Delta Dental Plan along with a $450,000 federal grant will operate on a sliding fee scale and accept Medicaid.
Penny Hodges, Without Dental Insurance - "Not at the moment we don't because everybody around here has to go to different jobs because there's nothing to do in this economy.
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07/20/2005
Smokers who give up are much less likely to lose their teeth prematurely than those who don't kick the habit, pioneering research has shown.
Dental researchers at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, observed a group of cigarette smokers with chronic gum disease over one year and found some symptoms were more likely to improve in the people who quit during the study period.
Chronic gum disease, which is characterised by inflamed gums that increasingly recede from the teeth, can lead to tooth loss in its advanced stages if preventive action is not taken.
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07/19/2005
Smokers who give up are much less likely to lose their teeth prematurely than those who don't kick the habit, pioneering research has shown.
Dental researchers at the University of Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, observed a group of cigarette smokers with chronic gum disease over one year and found some symptoms were more likely to improve in the people who quit during the study period.
Chronic gum disease, which is characterised by inflamed gums that increasingly recede from the teeth, can lead to tooth loss in its advanced stages if preventive action is not taken.
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07/13/2005
Chose healthy beverages and get free dental health advice in July
CHICAGO (June 1, 2005) – During the hot summer months, it’s important for people to stay hydrated. Unfortunately, many people might reach for a can of soda to quench their thirst. It isn’t just soda’s empty calories (about 150 per 12-ounce can) they should worry about. These beverages contain large amounts of sugar and flavor additives, which can harm tooth enamel, the protective shell around teeth.
The Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) is asking people to “kick the can” and avoid sodas on July 15, 2005.
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07/13/2005
s employers continue to react to climbing costs for health care, businesses across the country are seeking a new way to offer employees dental benefit solutions, without absorbing escalating expenses. Nationally, employers are spending 63 percent more on health care than they spent four years ago, and 88 percent more than eight years ago, according to a Towers Perrin study. The consulting firm’s national survey reports that employers expect health care costs to increase eight percent this year.
While not as significant as medical costs, but a serious concern, dental costs are also increasing for employers.
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07/12/2005
"I enjoy seeing him smile, and he is such a really nice guy," Lowers said. "And he's a wonderful dentist."
Lowers has evidently been pleased with Citrano as her dentist - she has been one of his patients for 48 years. That's almost as long as he's been practicing general dentistry in Huntsville.
Almost.
Citrano, 79, has been a dentist in Huntsville for 50 years - pulling countless teeth, filling cavities and tending to patients reclined in his chair.
That number lingers around 200,000 patients - give or take a few hundred visits - based on conservative estimate of 10 patients per day since his office opened in July of 1955.
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07/07/2005
1. Tea contains antioxidants. Like the Rust-Oleum paint that keeps your outdoor furniture from rusting, tea's antioxidants protect your body from the ravages of aging and the effects of pollution.
2. Tea has less caffeine than coffee. Coffee usually has two to three times the caffeine of tea (unless you're a fan of Morning Thunder, which combines caffeine with mate, an herb that acts like caffeine in our body). An eight-ounce cup of coffee contains around 135 mg caffeine; tea contains only 30 to 40 mg per cup. If drinking coffee gives you the jitters, causes indigestion or headaches or interferes with sleep -- switch to tea.
3.
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07/07/2005
Oral health goes beyond the appeal of sweet breath and gleaming pearly whites. "The mouth is a window to a person's overall health," says Kathleen Lapham, director of the dental assistant program at Minneapolis Community and Technical College (MCTC).
Lapham points out that researchers have found that poor oral health can be a predictor of heart disease. Poor oral health has also been associated with stroke, diabetes and the birth of premature, low-birth-weight babies.
If you're considering a career in this important field, but aren't interested in becoming a dentist, consider dental assisting.
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07/05/2005
Thursday, June 30, 2005 e-mail this story | print it
Check with your dentist on fluoride use
To the editor:
I felt compelled to write in response to the interview with Naomi Malik in the Feb. 23 issue on the subject of fluoride in the drinking water and it's systemic affects.
I am a dentist in the community and realize there can be systemic complications from ingesting too much fluoride, however the amount of fluoride found in the water supply is minimal at 1 part per million, making it extremely difficult to ever reach a toxic level.
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