Drilling Into Our Fear Of The Dentist — And What To Do About It

Any time of year can be the right time to begin taking better care of your smile.

Many see the New Year as the best time to make a resolution to practice better dental hygiene—starting with regular dental visits.

While routine dental visits are something many people dread, practicing good oral hygiene throughout the year may change the way you feel about your smile, improve your overall health and boost your self-confidence. Routine visits to the dentist help ensure your dentist is catching and fixing any small dental issues before they become big issues.

To help, here are a few key tips from Dr. Nathan Laughrey, D.M.D., of Aspen Dental. Dr. Laughrey has been treating patients for more than 15 years and believes that by incorporating his advice into your daily, monthly and yearly oral health routine, you can improve your overall health.

• Brushing your teeth at least twice a day WILL help with dental decay.
Brush your teeth and gums twice a day for at least two to three minutes. Put your timer on and don’t forget to floss twice a day to remove food particles and prevent plaque buildup between your teeth.

• Choosing and using the proper equipment makes a difference. 
Use fluoride toothpaste and a soft-bristled toothbrush that fits your mouth comfortably. Consider using an electric or battery-operated toothbrush, which can help reduce plaque and a mild form of gum disease.

• Toss your toothbrush and get a new one regularly.
Buy a new toothbrush, or a replacement head for your electric or battery-operated toothbrush, every three to four months. When your bristles are frayed, they do not clean properly and bacteria can harbor in the bristles.

• Don’t delay going to the dentist, even if you dread it. 
It pays to visit the dentist twice a year for an annual checkup and more often if you have high risk factors for periodontal disease. That’s because you will save money in the long run with routine visits and your visits will likely be less eventful.

• Even if you wear dentures, visiting the dentist is important.
Visiting the dentist is not just for teeth cleaning. Dentists also screen for oral cancer and help with many other issues. Preventive visits are key for everyone.


Source: Idaho State Journal

A hygienist everyone can admire

What? Social networks talk about us? "Dental diva?" Really? How can we promote our positive role when we see photographs and postings referring to us as divas or perhaps more unflattering terms around the World Wide Web?

Helping the office promote a positive vibe with prevention is the first step. 
As hygienists we are dental providers, not only in scaling and polishing but in helping the office strive to keep patients well educated on their oral conditions, from the smallest of cavities to full-mouth reconstructions. We are among the front-runners in keeping the mouth in great shape. We need to remind the practice (in little ways) that our recare appointments matter just as much as the full-mouth case that is entering through the office door. That full-mouth case may never have happened without our help or the help of the whole team together. We promote healthy mouths to help maintain healthy bodies. A few tips for keeping that positive vibe strong in the dental practice:

Look at other options in continuing education: marketing strategies, management, and sales. 
There are many classes that offer marketing strategies for dental practices. Sometimes you need to just do your research and see which class would best suit your practice. Ask your sales representatives; they have great resources to help you find the best classes to attend. Think outside the box and maybe take a college business class; that is a fantastic way to help develop that businessperson inside of you.

Use the intraoral camera, not only to point out the plaque, but also the patient's smile.
Maybe suggest whitening or a smile makeover. Dust off that intraoral camera and start using it on all of your patients. Take pictures of their smiles and leave them on the screen so patients can look at them and critique their own smiles; you will be surprised at what they will ask you. Take a photo of an older restoration, maybe a leaking amalgam, and ask them questions about what they see. Have them do the initial diagnosis. Most of the time, the patient will be curious to know how it can be repaired. That will create happy dentists as well as better relationships with patients. We need to build trust, and having patients own their care, rather than us telling them what they need, will make a huge difference to our practices.

Prediagnose. 
There are many tools to help screen patients for dental health. The DIAGNOdent is a fantastic instrument that can help prediagnose pit and fissure caries of nonrestored occlusal surfaces.
Ask for referrals. Internal referrals are the best referrals. The patients are not only prepped to be there, but there is already a relationship built. It is said that most internal referrals become long-lasting patients as well. Ask the office manager or dentist about adding incentive for existing patients by adding a $50 credit to their account for every referral they bring in.

Online advertisement. 
Ask your patients to write some feedback on various websites about their experience at your office. It can be a simple five-star rating to a full write-up about how they had a great time at your practice. Discuss various websites that your office may want to target. Maybe suggest hiring a company that specializes in social networking.

Help the front desk by scheduling patients' next appointments or collecting the patient portion of fees. 
Don't hide from the front desk; embrace it. The staff will appreciate it and patients will own their appointments that you make for them. Whether it is a simple six-month recare or periodontal therapy, patients will be less likely to cancel since you built relationships with them during their visits. Also, know your fees and understand how insurance works. Ask the front desk person to train you; she/he will be glad to teach you how the insurance process functions. You will gain the ability to answer insurance questions easily and, again, build that relationship with your patients. You can ask the front desk person to tell you ahead of time if a patient's collection is due at the end of the appointment. When necessary, you can collect the patient's cash portion and relieve the front desk of some details. It will also help with accounts receivable. It's a win-win for all.

Find new ways to promote prevention to your patient. 
There are so many new and exciting things that you can do to help promote prevention in the office. A great thing you can add is a dental store. Stock it with exciting products that your patients cannot easily find elsewhere. Patients love to shop, and it gives opportunity for you to affect your patients' choice of products. You can stock it with fluoride rinses, xylitol products, or organic dental products. It will help with production for the dentist and help supply patients with healthy dental products at home.

Make it personal during their visit. 
Talk to your patients and see what they've been up to. Are they getting married, expecting their first child, or going on an exciting trip? Write it down and let the dentist know. This will help build trust and better relationships with your patients. It does not take long, just a few minutes before you lay them down and begin working. I've been in practice for the last 16 years, and I've asked every single patient how they are and what they've been up to in the last few months. That alone built long-lasting relationships with patients. Just having someone they can talk to will bring them joy, especially if you are the only one they can talk to.

Watch the clock. 
I've often been asked how I stay on time with everything I do. All I can say is that I watch the clock and manage what I need to do ahead of time. Many dentists, patients, assistants, and the front desk staff will thank you merely for staying on time.

Simple time management steps can be taken:

• Time how long it takes for bitewings
• Time your periodontal charting
• Time your scaling
• Time your polishing
• Time the dentist exams

These simple steps will help guide you in staying on time.
I have timed myself to a T. From the moment patients sit in the chair and I ask how their day is going, my clock is running.

Look, listen, watch. 
Read about the latest products that are available to the practice. Look at the research that backs the new products. Things to look for might include price or ratings from other offices. You can ask your sales representative about new products and if you can get samples of any to test in the office. You might also ask if there is something new on the market that your practice may be the first to try. Suggest advertising the latest and greatest within the community.



Read more: http://www.rdhmag.com/articles/print/volume-33/issue-12/features/a-hygienist-everyone-can-admire.html

TOP 5 WAYS TO AVOID GRINCH-LIKE SMILES DURING CHRISTMAS

Image Via TheraBreath

All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth. Well, maybe add some oral health to the Christmas list? The festive red-and-green holiday? means an abundance of tasty sweets, sugary drinks and rich food. Fortunately, today we can do more than simply wish to avoid cavities, bad breath and other problems. Here's the best five ways to take care of your smile during the festivities:

1. Avoid an excess of holiday drinks, including apple cider, eggnog and hot chocolate. While these beverages may make you feel warm and fuzzy on the inside, they're leaving your teeth out in the cold. Hot cider packs more than 65 grams of sugar when decorated with caramel and whipped cream, while eggnog has more than 20 grams of sugar per cup. On top of that, the alcohol in the drinks can dry out the mouth, leaving it more prone to odor-producing bacteria and cavities.

2. Limit holiday sweets. Candy canes are a particular doozy, since they're essentially pure sugar. The biggest issue occurs when people suck on candy canes over a stretch of time, as this allows the sugars drench your teeth, wearing down enamel. Caramels are another dental nightmare, as the sticky substance clings to molars long past the moment you chew it. Sugary snacks, especially cinnamon-flavored options, can lead to bothersome canker sores.

"No one wants to be the Grinch about enjoying all the special experiences of the holidays, particularly the tasty treats that are usually around," Dr. Bill Kohn, Delta Dental Plans Association's vice president for dental science and policy, explained. "Try to enjoy in moderation, and if you find yourself overindulging, perhaps spend some extra time flossing and brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste."

3. Schedule a visit to your dentist. During regular check-ups, make sure your kids are getting fluoride treatments until at least age 15. Children in particular consume stockings worth of sugar throughout the year, which breaks down into a byproduct of acid that wears down teeth. Fluoride is an excellent treatment in both neutralizing those acids and rebuilding enamel.

Ever notice that the Grinch never shows his teeth when smiling? That's likely because he hasn't seen a dentist in Whoville in a while. Luckily, we can change that. Your dentist would love to see you during the holiday season.

4. Besides giving your kids an new Xbox under the tree, it's not a bad idea to throw in an electric toothbrush on the side. Most electric brushes have a built-in timer to ensure that the full brushing is done at each session. Improper brushing can result in swollen gums, plaque build-up and overall poor oral health. According to a study conducted at the University of England, electric brushes with rotating bristles reduced plaque by more than 10 percent while lowering signs of gingivitis by 6 percent. Your kids might not be too grateful now, but they'll certainly thank you down the line.

5. Take a deep breath and try not stress yourself out. The holidays are a time for relaxation. When you feel overwhelmed, it actually affects the health of your mouth. Individuals with high anxiety levels often experience dry mouth. This is because saliva, a natural cleansing agent that rinses out the mouth, diminishes up to tenfold. This leaves odorous bacteria around, leaving you more prone to problems such as bad breath and canker sores.

Read more: http://www.therabreath.com/articles/blog/oral-care-tips-and-advice/top-5-ways-to-avoid-grinch-like-smiles-during-christmas-32039.asp

Good looks, fresh breath

Not many people know that they have bad breath. For fresh breath, you need proper hygiene. Here are tips to help you:

Dental care

•Brush your teeth and scrape your tongue every morning or anytime you awake from a nap.

•Rinse your mouth thoroughly and gargle with cool water after brushing and scrapping your tongue.

•Drink a significant amount of water after brushing your teeth. Avoid eating or drinking anything else for at least 30 minutes.

•Visit a dentist, at least twice a year. Bad breath has been known to be caused by dental problems, if you suffer from a chronic bad breath, consult your dentist.

Diet

•Avoid sugary foods, garlic, onions, meat, fish, poultry, and eggs. These foods cause bad breath. Fresh fruits and vegetables help to cleanse your entire system. Leafy green vegetables, in particular, are well known for assisting the body in maintaining fresh breath. Try chewing fresh peppermint, spearmint, parsley, or basil instead of gum.

•Drink plenty of fresh water daily. This way, you keep your body properly hydrated. This helps in the natural cleansing processes, and can help tackle bad breath.

•Chewing gum, candies or using mouthwash are not adequate solutions for curbing bad breath. These substances can complicate hygiene issues if left in the mouth for a significant amount of time. Leafy green vegetables, lemons, and limes are much better in emergencies when your toothbrush is not close by. Always remember to rinse thoroughly with water after each application.

•Eat guava, gooseberry and bread. These help in cleaning the back of the throat. Drink plenty of water after food.

For fresh breath

•Floss after eating.

•If you must eat onions or garlic, a trick is to only eat them in the company of others who are also eating them.

•Brush with baking soda or swish with a solution of baking soda and water after brushing your teeth with toothpaste. It helps to level out the pH balance in your mouth, making it harder for bacteria to fester. Do this before bed, and you can eliminate morning breath. Be sure to rinse your mouth after swishing with or brushing with baking soda.  Be careful not to use overdose of baking soda as this may damage your teeth and gum.

•Avoid breathing in anyone’s face whenever you suspect you may have bad breath. Breathe in while facing others, and breathe out when you are not facing them.

CAUTION!

•Don’t over-brush! It can damage your gums, which may exacerbate any existing hygiene problems. Rely on fresh water more often than your toothbrush, and switch to soft bristles if necessary.

•Don’t overeat.

•Don’t smoke tobacco.

•Avoid alcohol and when you do, brush your teeth after.

•Don’t cough violently as it may cause the release of bad smelling tonsil stones which may stay on the back of your throat for days.

Read more: http://www.punchng.com/spice/for-men/good-looks-fresh-breath/

7 Tips To Help You Pick The Best Medicare Advantage Plan

This is open enrollment season, running from October 15 to December 7, when you have a chance to choose a Medicare Advantage Plan, the type of coverage selected by about 28% of the 50 million people enrolled in Medicare.

During open enrollment, you can transfer from Original Medicare to a Medicare Advantage plan, or you can swap your membership from one Medicare Advantage plan to another. Medicare Advantage plans have extra benefits such as prescription drugs, eye care and dental care, that are not covered by original Medicare. In return for these extra benefits, people who enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan, receive their care though networks of doctors and hospitals chosen by the plan.

Here are 7 vital things you need to know:

1-Follow the doctors. If you have primary care doctors or specialists you have been using, and want to keep using, make sure they will continue to be in the network of the Medicare Advantage plan where you are enrolled. The networks, which are the lists of approved doctors and hospitals by the Medicare Advantage plan, change frequently. Many insurance companies are deciding to narrow their networks for 2014. Ask your doctors now if they have signed up to continue in the plan for 2014. If the doctors have dropped out, you could face a big financial risk. If you go outside the network of your particular plan, you may be required to pay a much larger share of the cost, and in some, cases you may have to pay the full cost without any reimbursement from the insurer.

The Medicare Rights Center says you should ask these questions when you select a plan

"Will I be able to use my doctors? Are they in the plan's network?
Do doctors and providers I want to see in the future take new patients who have this plan?
If providers aren't in the network, will the health plan still cover my visits if I choose to see them?
Do my doctors recommend joining this plan?
Which specialists, hospitals, home health agencies and skilled nursing facilities are in the plan's network?
Who can I choose as my Primary Care Physician (PCP)?
Does my doctor need to get approval from the plan to admit me to a hospital?
Do I need a referral from my PCP to see a specialist?"

2-If you have developed a serious illness or chronic condition, it may be better to quit your Medicare Advantage plan and return to original Medicare. Under original Medicare, you have coverage for any doctor or hospital participating in the Medicare program. This means you can see any primary care doctor, any specialist, and receive treatment at any medical center specializing in your ailment or condition. You will pay more under original Medicare, for Part B doctor coverage, Part D drug coverage, and Medi-gap supplemental coverage for your co-payments and deductible charges, than you have been paying for the Medicare Advantage plan. But you now have access to a bigger array of doctors and hospitals, an important tool in dealing with your new and challenging medical condition.

3-Check your drugs for coverage under the plan. The list of approved drugs by Medicare Advantage plans, called a formulary, is constantly changing. Plans add and remove drugs, and change the co-payments and deductibles for these medications.

Go to the government's official Medicare website.

When you search for a health plan at this site, be sure to enter all your medications. Click on "Find health & drug plans." You can enter up to 25 drugs, and the plan finder will show you all the plans in your zip code including the charges for medications. The system will give you a password you can retain and use later if you need to modify your drug list.

4-Check the preferred pharmacy list to make sure there is a drug store conveniently close to you. The drug prices depend on buying the medications at a pharmacy which has a contract with the health plan. Many plans are now using lists of preferred pharmacies, where the price will be cheapest. It can make a substantial difference, so you want to use a preferred pharmacy whenever possible. Make sure the plan has one located conveniently near you.

5-Check the "snowbird" coverage. Many people on Medicare travel during the year on vacation, or to visit family members. Some are "snow birds," spending months at a time in Florida to avoid the cold weather in the northeast. If you are among them, be sure your plan has coverage in the area where you will be vacationing, or spending long periods of time. If you get sick and need lots of expensive treatment while away from your home base, you don't want to run up huge bills to be paid out of your own pocket.

6-When using the plan finder at Medicare.gov, check the plan's total cost, not just the premium. Some people are dazzled by the idea of a plan that seems to be free because it has a very small or even a zero monthly premium. Don't get fooled by this. Look at the column "Estimated annual health and drug costs," to see what a plan is likely to cost you. And look at the "Health Benefits" column, which shows the out-of-pocket spending limits for the year when you stay within the plan network, and the limits when you go outside the network to get care. Some plans may have no limits for out-of-network spending, which could drive up your spending if you develop a sudden health problem and need to see lots of specialists.

7-Look at the stars. The federal government gives plans ratings between one and five stars. Only a small number of plans get the top 5-star ratings. Although Open Enrollment ends on December 7, you can still change to a five-star plan between December 8 and next November 30.

The 5-star plans are called "excellent" by the federal government, and the four-star plans are designated "above average."

Only 3% of all Medicare Advantage plans get the 5-star rating, while 35% are ranked at 4-stars or 4.5 stars, according to HealthPocket, which offers comparisons and rankings on a wide variety of health insurance plans, including Medicare, Medicaid, and private coverage for individuals and small business.

Source: Huffington Posts

Dental care: tips for whitening teeth naturally

Whiten and brighten your teeth naturally and inexpensively with these easy techniques.

While it’s natural for teeth to darken with age, it’s also natural to want to fight that, which has lead to the variety of teeth whitening products on the market today. Those products can be expensive, however, and many use harsh chemicals. If you feel hesitant to put something so artificial into your mouth, you’ll be interested in these natural methods of teeth whitening.

All teeth whitening methods are split between two categories: there are those products that use mild abrasives to polish away the stains, while others use mild bleaches to remove the stains.

Bleaching techniques

An easy and delicious way to bleach your teeth is with strawberries. Simply crush a berry or two and rub or brush the pulp onto your teeth. If you use your brush to apply the berry pulp be careful to avoid hurting your gums with the seeds. Let sit for a few minutes, then rinse and brush your teeth as usual.

Hydrogen peroxide is another way to whiten your teeth. Chemically similar to water (hydrogen has extra oxygen atom,) peroxide is a oxygen bleach that is a popular disinfectant and tooth cleaner. You can buy it in the pharmacy section of your local grocery store. To use, simply swish an ounce or two around your mouth and between your teeth. Then, as with the strawberries, rinse and brush.

Polishing Agents

Like sanding a piece of wood will remove dirt and imperfections, using mildly abrasive substances on your teeth will remove stains. How much you can lighten your teeth depends on how deep the stain goes. You need to be very cautious with this technique, however, as you can seriously damage your teeth if you use a substance that is too abrasive.

One great way to polish your teeth involves eating plenty of crunchy fresh vegetables. The mild abrasion provided won’t damage your teeth but will produce a noticeable lightening after a few weeks. As a bonus, the rest of your body will benefit, too.

Salt is an abrasive that some people like to use for tooth whitening, but you should avoid this if you have any health conditions that would keep you from eating salt. If you have no prohibitions against trying this method, bear in mind that salt can be very abrasive. Use it lightly and for short periods only.

A better abrasive method than salt is baking soda, an old standby for clean teeth. To double the effectiveness of the baking soda, mix it with hydrogen peroxide to make a paste. Use this as you would any toothpaste. Be warned, however, that this isn’t the best tasting concoction. You might want to add some flavoring to make it more tolerable.

Smile Maintenance

You should begin to see results after a couple of weeks using these techniques. Be realistic, though, about your goals. Using these natural methods will brighten your smile a few degrees, but they won’t do miracles. If you have severe staining that doesn’t respond to bleaching or polishing, or if you want the type of brilliant white smile an actor in a movie might have, visit your dentist to discuss your options. To try to reach that degree of bleaching at home could actually harm your teeth.

Once you’ve whitened your teeth, maintain them with regular brushing. Also avoid activities and foods which can stain your teeth again. Smoking, drinking coffee, tea or red wine, and eating curry or soy sauce can all stain your teeth. If you consume any of those substances, brush your teeth as soon after as you can to minimize any possible darkening of your tooth enamel.


Source: Newsfix 

Bozart Family Dentistry Tip of the Week: Overcoming Fear of the Dentist for Children

Does your child have a fear of going to the dentist?

Even if they don't, it's just as important that you take the proper steps to help ensure that they never develop a fear of the dentist as this is something that many people can carry with them for the rest of their lives. In order to eliminate fear, we must first better understand where our fears are rooted.

Children's dental centers in Valley get state reprieve

Image Via Fresno Bee

Children's dental surgeons have reason to smile this week. 

The state Department of Health Care Services announced Monday that pediatric dental-surgery centers that provide care for poor children should be exempt from a 10% cut in Medi-Cal reimbursements.

Four of the centers are in the central San Joaquin Valley, including the Fresno Dental Surgery Center. The others are in Visalia, Tulare and Atwater.

The state said the exemption is necessary to maintain access to dental services. The exemption still needs approval by the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services; the state is proposing it be effective Dec. 1.

The Valley centers provide care for thousands of children who are too young, too scared or have too much dental decay to be treated at a regular dental office. At the centers, the children are sedated so they are not traumatized and to allow multiple procedures to be done in one sitting.

The state's exemption proposal was cause for celebration Monday, said Alan J. Vallarine, owner of the Fresno Dental Surgery Center.

"We are so thankful to get this 10% exemption. Otherwise, we were going to be history," Vallarine said.

The children's dental centers are among health providers in California that are subject to Medi-Cal cuts under Assembly Bill 97, which was approved by the Legislature in 2011.

Providers fought the legislation in court, but earlier this year, the state received federal approval to reduce payments to dentists, doctors, pharmacists and clinics. The state began implementing the cuts last month.

Pediatric dental-surgery centers said the cut would force them to close and more lower-income children would be seen in hospital emergency departments in pain. Last month, they took their cause to legislators, asking for letters of support.

Most of the children seen in dental surgery centers are on Denti-Cal, the dental branch of Medi-Cal, the state-federal insurance for the poor. Vallarine said his Fresno center provided care to 4,059 patients last year and all but 46 were covered by Medi-Cal.

Vallarine said the proposed exemption comes in the nick of time to save pediatric dental surgery centers, but even with the proposed reprieve on the 10% cut, he could owe the state about $1 million in retroactive payments back to 2011. "I'm not sure what they are going to do," he said.

Tony Cava, a spokesman for the Department of Health Care Services, said the state still is considering what to do about the back payments but added that the state won't surprise providers with a bill.

Statewide, 14 centers provide at least 95% of their Medi-Cal services to children and are proposed to be exempt from the 10% reimbursement cut.

Read more here: http://www.fresnobee.com/2013/11/25/3632030/childrens-dental-centers-get-state.html#storylink=cpy

Dental insurance tips: Use it or lose it

Once again, the holiday season is upon us. And while I understand that this wonderful time of year is often filled with family, friends and fun, there is one other thing that you should be thinking about. Dental insurance. Boring, I know. Mundane, definitely. I get that. But there are also some important things you should understand if, like most people, you rely on your dental insurance to help cover the cost of maintaining your pearly whites.

Did you know that you could save hundreds or even thousands of dollars by using your dental benefits before the end of the year? That's right - it's all about timing. Most dental insurance plans run on a calendar year (check yours) - and this means that this is an important time for you to understand their rules. Here are five reasons that will show you why these next couple of months could be the best time to make an appointment.

Yearly Maximum. This is the most money that the dental insurance plan will pay for your dental work within the year, and averages around $1,500 per person. If you have unused benefits at the end of the year, they will not roll over. You lose them as soon as that calendar page flips.

Deductible. The deductible is the amount of money you must pay to your dentist out of pocket before your insurance company will pay for any services, and averages about $50 per year. Again, as soon as 2014 arrives, your plan requires you to meet that deductible all over again.

Premiums. If you are paying your dental insurance premiums by the month, you should be using your benefits. Otherwise, why are you paying? It's like throwing money into the garbage! Even if you have healthy teeth and aren't in need of treatment at this time, your regular cleanings and exams are usually covered at 100 percent. This is because insurance companies have figured out that it saves them (and you) money if you catch problems when they are small, rather than waiting for expensive treatment needs.

Fee Increases. Another reason to use your dental benefits before the end of the year is possible fee increases. It is a fact that health care costs are rising way faster in America than inflation, despite a struggling economy. This is especially true in light of current events. Most of these increases occur at the beginning of the year.

Dental Problems Can Worsen. This is intuitive: By delaying dental treatment now, you are risking more extensive and expensive treatment down the road. What may be a simple cavity now could turn into a root canal later and maybe even lead to tooth loss.

So, if you have dental insurance, take a year-end inventory of your plan and see if you can put it to work for you. It really is, as they say, a "use it or lose it" proposition. Don't lose it.


Source: CDA Press

Thoughtful Parenting: Child oral health and learning

Steamboat Springs — Early tooth loss caused by dental decay can result in failure to thrive, impaired speech development, absence from and inability to concentrate in school and reduced self-esteem.

Thoughtful Parenting

#This weekly column about parenting issues is written by area child care professionals. It publishes on Wednesdays in the Steamboat Today. Read more columns here.

Nutrition and learning
#• People who are missing teeth have to limit their food choices because of chewing problems, which may result in nutritionally inadequate diets.

#• The daily nourishment that children receive affects their readiness for school. Inadequate nutrition during childhood can have detrimental effects on children’s cognitive development and on productivity in adulthood. Nutritional deficiencies also negatively affect children’s school performance and their ability to concentrate and perform complex tasks and their behavior.

What parents can do to support oral health
#1. Have your child seen by a dental professional when they get their first tooth or by their first birthday,

#2. brush at a minimum two times daily, and

#3. limit the amount and number of sugary snacks.

#Students with preventable or untreated health and development problems may have trouble concentrating and learning, have frequent absences from school or develop permanent disabilities that affect their ability to learn and grow.

#Children who take a test while they have a toothache are unlikely to score as well as children who are undistracted by pain.

#Poor oral health has been related to decreased school performance, poor social relationships and less success later in life. Children experiencing pain are distracted and unable to concentrate on schoolwork.

#Children are often unable to verbalize their dental pain. Teachers may notice a child who is having difficulty attending to tasks or who is demonstrating the effects of pain, anxiety, fatigue, irritability, depression and withdrawal from normal activities. However, teachers cannot understand their student's behaviors if they are not aware that a child has a dental problem.

#Children with chronic dental pain are unable to focus, are easily distracted and may have problems with schoolwork completion. They may also experience deterioration of school performance, which negatively impacts their self-esteem.

#Left untreated, the pain and infection caused by tooth decay can lead to problems in eating, speaking and learning.

#If a child is suffering pain from a dental problem, it may affect the child’s school attendance and mental and social well-being while at school.

#School nurses report a range of oral health problems such as tooth decay, gingival disease, malocclusion (poor bite), loose teeth and oral trauma in children.

#When children’s acute dental problems are treated and they are not experiencing pain, their learning and school-attendance records improve.


Source: Steam Boat Today

Polishing up our oral health

No matter one's age, oral health is extremely important. Problems that start in the mouth can negatively affect other conditions and hamper overall wellness. And in an elderly population, often there are already many major health issues to contend with. 

Kristin Outlan, DDS, whose practice in Los Angeles serves the elderly, talked with Gilbert Guide about the importance of oral health and how it's linked to overall health. In diabetics, for example, excess plaque routinely leads to oral yeast infections and urinary tract infections. Broken or ill-fitting dentures can cause serious infections, which can be overlooked during a routine exam. The problems become even worse when patients cannot verbalize their discomfort.

Overdue regulations

Nursing homes across the United States are ignoring the signs of deteriorating oral health in their residents. Many needs go unmet until a resident is no longer able to wear dentures or starts losing weight. 

Why is this happening? It could be that legislation is long overdue; some states don't mandate that nursing homes have a dentist on staff.

Simple steps to take

Despite the fact that the American Dental Association doesn't currently recognize geriatric dentistry as a focused specialty, some dentists have taken the initiative on their own, working exclusively with elderly patients. 

Outlan is one of these dentists. In fact, for the past eight years, the bulk of her practice has included providing on-site dentistry services in nursing homes. She believes that many problems can be avoided by performing regular oral health screenings and stepping up patients' daily oral health routines.

“It's not fancy dentistry,” Outlan says. “Ensuring that aides are cleaning dentures properly is a part of basic oral care. CNAs are the first line of defense.” 



Source: Mcknights.com

Financially Strained, More Seniors Are Unable to Get Dental Care

ohnnie Collier, 71, recently went to Mercy Care’s downtown Atlanta facility to have a tooth extracted. He said it had been hurting him for many years.

Another patient, David Perlete, 63, who is uninsured, also had a painful tooth pulled there. Other facilities charge hundreds of dollars, he said.

Despite the work of charity clinics like Mercy Care, millions of older adults are unable to get the dental services they need.

Traditional Medicare, the federal health insurance program for people 65 and older and the disabled, does not cover routine dental treatment. (Some private Medicare Advantage plans do offer some coverage.)

The VA, which provides a wide range of medical care to millions nationwide, provides dental care to only a few, very limited categories of veterans.

Medicaid for adults in Georgia covers only extractions, said James Peeples, a Mercy Care dentist. And he tells patients to get them done in time and not to wait until they need a root canal.

“Unfortunately, extractions have become a way of life for many of the older patients we see,” Peeples said.

A State of Decay, a report released last month by Oral Health America, describes a shortage of oral health coverage, a strained dental health workforce, and deficiencies in prevention programs across the nation. The report said the highest-ranking state for dental health is Minnesota, with a 92.9 percent score, while the lowest is Mississippi, with 29.3 percent.

Georgia, which has no dentist in 24 of its 159 counties, got an overall score of 62.4 percent, and was ranked “fair.”

Dental health is an important part of overall health. Experts agree, for instance, that a tooth abscess left untreated can lead to serious, even life-threatening, complications.

Among Georgians 65 years and older, almost one in four have lost all their teeth, according to the CDC’s State Oral Health Profile.

Short shrift for oral care?


“Georgia’s dentists have a grave concern about the elderly population in our state and the lack of safety net programs for oral health,” said Nelda Greene, the Georgia Dental Association’s interim executive director.

“We have some very good pro bono programs,” said Greene, “but it doesn’t take care of all needs and it is not a sustainable health care delivery system.”

“It comes down to funding,” she continued, and dental care gets low priority.

“It’s as if we cut off the oral cavity from the rest of the body,” she said. “If a senior citizen falls and breaks their arm, their health care needs are taken care of with medical benefits. Not so with oral health issues. And going to emergency rooms will not solve the problem of an abscessed tooth.”

People who can’t get regular dental care often wait until the problem becomes unbearable, then head to the emergency room. Because the ER is the only recourse many of them are familiar with, it has become the “go to” site for everything from serious tooth decay to a lost filling.

In 2007, 60,000 emergency visits for non-traumatic dental problems or other oral health matters occurred in Georgia, at a cost of $23 million, according to the Pew Center on the States.

The Georgia Dental Association’s Mission of Mercy has helped many patients in dire need of oral care at their clinics. One was held this year, and the next is planned for 2015.

In addition, there are clinics such as Mercy Care. It provides some help for underserved patients in the Atlanta metropolitan area, based on a sliding scale to help cover costs.

Mercy Care Clinic’s manager, Denise Leon-York, said, “Older patients we get typically forgo dental work, because it’s not covered by Medicare.” When such people don’t get care promptly, the situation gets much worse, and they finally have to seek help.

The organization offers preventive, surgical, restorative and prosthetic services to people with low incomes, the homeless and HIV-positive clients.

“The older patients we see are at risk of a number of problems,” said Luis Limeres, a Mercy Care board member. The organization offers preventive, surgical, restorative, and prosthetic services.

“The problems from these patients can range from dry mouth caused by reduced saliva flow as a result of medications or cancer treatments to root decay caused by acids.”

Limeres continued, “Some patients have gum disease from plaque, poor diets, poorly fit dentures, and certain diseases like anemia and diabetes.” Some of the problems have been left untreated for extended periods of time.

“It is very hard for these patients to decide whether to replace a 20-year-old denture or take care of bills they have,” Limeres said.

Most retired Americans have no dental insurance.

A controversial proposal


CDC data show major disparities exist among dental care for residents of long-term care facilities, home-bound patients, and non-institutionalized adults.

To increase access to dental care in Georgia, an upcoming legislative proposal would allow dental hygienists in safety net clinics to provide care under the supervision of a dentist without the dentist being physically present.

Currently there are two notable exceptions where a dental hygienist does not need a Georgia dentist to be present — a Department of Public Health program and in a Department of Corrections facility, the Georgia Council on Aging says.

According to the council, Georgia is one of only five states in the country that require direct supervision of a dental hygienist by a dentist. The effort to give more latitude to dental hygienists has been a touchy political issue in Georgia.

The dental association’s Greene, asked about the proposed legislation, said, “The Georgia Dental Association believes a team approach is best for patients.”

“Dentists have the most education and training and are the oral health professional [and they] can examine and diagnose signs of oral cancer, gum disease or other health issues,” she said.

Judi Kanne, a registered nurse and freelance writer, combines her nursing and journalism backgrounds to write about public health. She lives in Atlanta.


See more at: 
http://www.georgiahealthnews.com/2013/11/dental-care-seniors-largely-unfilled/?ref=ft#sthash.lLhJJ132.dpuf

Oral care in elderly 'deserves significant attention,' study finds

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Advancements in dentistry make it more likely that older adults will keep their teeth longer, which means ongoing oral health care is essential, a new study says. Unfortunately, it's not unusual for the frail and elderly to have poor oral hygiene.

"Although during recent years increasing attention has been given to improving oral health care for frail old people, there is ample evidence showing that the oral health of elderly people, in particular of care home residents, is (still) poor," researchers wrote in the journal European Geriatric Medicine.

Dr. Gert-Jan van der Putten and colleagues reviewed the consequences of poor oral health and its impact on the general health of frail, elderly people. Van der Putten is with the Flemish-Netherlands Geriatric Oral Research Group in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. He was not available for an interview.

"Advances in oral health care and treatment in the past few decades have resulted in a reduced number of (toothless) individuals and the proportion of adults who retain their natural teeth until late in life has increased substantially," the authors said in the article.

But when elderly people ignore their dental hygiene or are unable to keep their mouths clean, health problems can ensue. Plus, reduced saliva production and certain medications increase the risk of oral problems, the researchers said.

The main dental consequences of poor oral care include cavities, gum disease and problems with implanted teeth.

Oral health also has an impact on health in general. Mouth problems have been tied to a higher risk of diabetes, lung conditions and heart disease.

Many frail, elderly people are not able to clean their mouths and need to rely on help from caregivers. This is especially problematic in long-term care facilities where the care must be provided by nurses and nurse assistants who may not grasp its importance, van der Putten and colleagues wrote.

They concluded that if improvements in oral healthcare aren't made, oral disease and related health issues will become a major problem for people who are frail and elderly, on par with falls, lack of mobility, incontinence and thinking and memory problems.

Thus, the researchers said, oral health "deserves significant attention of national and international politicians, policymakers, scientists and health care providers."

This is not a new problem, according to Dr. Anthony Iacopino.

Iacopino is a spokesperson for the American Dental Association and dean of the Faculty of Dentistry at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg in Canada. He wasn't involved in the study.

"The things that are talked about in this article have been known for years," he told Reuters.

It's important for caregivers and adult children and grandchildren to know that elderly folks should be brushing and flossing every day, Iacopino said. If they're not able to brush and floss properly on their own, someone else needs to take care of their mouth for them.

He said the American Dental Association and state groups are working on programs to make sure dentists are available in nursing homes. Daily oral health care should also be provided to elderly people in long-term care centers.

"If you have any doubts about whether that's being done, perhaps spend the day there and watch the care that's been provided to be sure that mouth care is part of it. If you feel they're not getting that care, bring it to the attention of supervisors or administrators of the facility," Iacopino said.

Copyright 2013 Thomson Reuters.


Source: NBC News

What are the Stages of Gum Disease?

What is Gum Disease?

Gum disease is an inflammation of the gums that can progress to affect the bone that surrounds and supports your teeth. It is caused by the bacteria in plaque, a sticky, colorless film that constantly forms on your teeth. If not removed through daily brushing and flossing, plaque can build up and the bacteria infect not only your gums and teeth, but eventually the gum tissue and bone that support the teeth. This can cause them to become loose, fall out or have to be removed by a dentist.

There are three stages of gum disease:

Gingivitis: this is the earliest stage of gum disease, an inflammation of the gums caused by plaque buildup at the gumline. If daily brushing and flossing do not remove the plaque, it produces toxins (poisons) that can irritate the gum tissue, causing gingivitis. You may notice some bleeding during brushing and flossing. At this early stage in gum disease, damage can be reversed, since the bone and connective tissue that hold the teeth in place are not yet affected.

Periodontitis: at this stage, the supporting bone and fibers that hold your teeth in place are irreversibly damaged. Your gums may begin to form a pocket below the gumline, which traps food and plaque. Proper dental treatment and improved home care can usually help prevent further damage.

Advanced Periodontitis: in this final stage of gum disease, the fibers and bone supporting your teeth are destroyed, which can cause your teeth to shift or loosen. This can affect your bite and, if aggressive treatment can't save them, teeth may need to be removed.

How do I Know if I Have Gum Disease?

Gum disease can occur at any age, but it is most common among adults. If detected in its early stages, gum disease can be reversed so see your dentist if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• Gums that are red, puffy or swollen, or tender
• Gums that bleed during brushing or flossing
• Teeth that look longer because your gums have receded
• Gums that have separated, or pulled away, from your teeth, creating a pocket
• Changes in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
• Pus coming from between your teeth and gums
• Constant bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth

How is Gum Disease Treated?

The early stages of gum disease can often be reversed with proper brushing and flossing. Good oral health will help keep plaque from building up.

A professional cleaning by your dentist or hygienist is the only way to remove plaque that has built up and hardened into tartar. Your dentist or hygienist will clean or "scale" your teeth to remove the tartar above and below the gumline. If your condition is more severe, a root planing procedure may be performed. Root planing helps to smooth irregularities on the roots of the teeth making it more difficult for plaque to deposit there.

By scheduling regular checkups, early stage gum disease can be treated before it leads to a much more serious condition. If your condition is more advanced, treatment in the dental office will be required.


Source: Colgate.com

A smile’s link to good health: 5 tips from celebrity dentist Dr. Karent Sierra

Dentist to the stars Karent Sierra knows what it takes to look camera-ready – after all, she counts Pitbull among the many celebrity clients that head regularly to her dental practice in Miami.  It turns out,  though, that looking like your fave stars is easier than you might think – expensive wardrobe notwithstanding – says Dr. Sierra, and it begins with the simplest of habits.

Celebrity dentist Karent Sierra. (Photo/Getty Images)

“Having a nice, bright smile is not only a sign of youth, but it’s a sign of health as well,” says Dr. Sierra, who has owned her own successful practice in Miami for the last eight years. “And that’s what I try to instill in people. Having a beautiful smile isn't important just for beauty’s sake – it’s key to overall health.”

In fact, explains Dr. Sierra, there’s a distinct link between oral health and diabetes. “People don’t realize that the risk of a diabetes diagnosis is 66 percent higher among Hispanics as opposed to non-Hispanics – and that people with diabetes are two times more prone to getting gum disease.”

According to the American Diabetes Association, there’s a two-way association between gum disease and diabetes. Not only is there an increased risk factor for those with diabetes to get gum disease, but gum disease can also cause the levels of blood sugar to rise, making diabetes harder to manage. But there are ways for Latinos to prevent severe dental problems associated with diabetes – and they’re all much easier than you might think, says Dr. Sierra.

1. Visit the dentist at least twice a year. Visit the dentist at least twice a year— don’t wait until you have a toothache or suspect a cavity. “Unfortunately, in the Latino community we tend to procrastinate visits to medical professionals until it’s nearly too late,” says Dr. Sierra, who recently teamed up with Colgate Total as a spokeswoman for the brand. And don’t forget to take young children on regular visits too, advises the former “Real Housewives of Miami” cast member. “It’s important to instill good oral hygiene habits early.”

2. Brush your teeth at least twice daily. The key to maintaining a healthy smile is as easy as brushing your teeth thoroughly twice a day with a regular toothbrush, no “fancy electric toothbrush required,” notes Dr. Sierra. Replace tooth brushes regularly and opt for brushes with soft bristles, as hard bristles can quickly wear down the tooth’s natural enamel. Remember to brush at a 45 degree angle and “help younger children brush until they’re of age to do responsibly by themselves, usually at the age of 7 or 8,” says Dr. Sierra.

3. Brush your tongue. One of the biggest mistakes people make is that they neglect to brush their tongue, says Dr. Sierra. “Your mouth is full of bacteria and if you’re brushing your tongue when you brush your teeth, you’ve basically only done half the job,” explains Dr. Sierra. And buildup of that bacteria can often result in both bad breath and/or infections, making “brushing your tongue an important part of your daily routine.”

4. Be wary of whitening products.  It’s important to do your research when it comes to trying out various whitening products – and more so when it comes to trying out home remedies, advises Dr. Sierra. “People think that brushing with baking soda or hydrogen peroxide can whiten teeth quickly, but it can often burn the tongue,” says Dr. Sierra. She advises that patients ask their dentist about the best way to whiten and if all else fails, opt for Dr. Sierra’s favorite, budget-friendly whitening product: strawberries. That’s right – strawberries contain malic acid, a natural astringent which can help whiten teeth. “Rub your teeth with cut up strawberry every day for two weeks,” advises Dr. Sierra, and smile a little wider knowing you opted for a healthy – and inexpensive – whitening product.

5.  Floss regularly. A large percentage of Americans still haven’t made flossing a regular part of their routine, but flossing is integral to preventing gum disease and tooth decay. It’s the only way to remove food debris and plaque between the teeth, says Dr. Sierra. And don’t even think about coming up with any excuses to opt out of flossing, says Dr. Sierra. She recommends placing a container of floss in the shower, adding “if you’re staring at it in the shower, you’re more likely to use it then when it’s hidden away in a drawer.”

Source: NBC Latino

Survey: Poor Oral Health Among Olympians

Olympic athletes train long and hard to achieve peak performance.  But a new study indicates training should include regular dental check-ups. More than 300 athletes at the 2012 London Olympics took part in a survey on oral health. They represented 25 sports, with most competing in track and field.

    Listen to De Capua report on Olympians and oral health


Ian Needleman, who led the research, said, “We put together a hypothesis that since oral health can affect quality of life it could have an impact on their training and performance. And that's really what led to this research.”

Needleman is professor of restorative dentistry and evidence-based health care at the University College London Eastman Dental Institute.

“What we did for the day to day research was to carry out a detailed examination of the oral health of athletes. And these were athletes participating in the games that came along to the dental clinic. And the dental clinic is part of a major medical facility that’s always available in the Olympic village to games’ participants,” he said.

Athletes underwent examinations of their mouths, teeth and gums.

“We found a lot of tooth decay, which was surprising. More than half of athletes had tooth decay. And for a lot of them it wasn’t just one tooth. It was many teeth. But apart from that, lots of other issues – gum disease, which was really present in a lot of the athletes. Dental erosion, which is teeth wearing away due to acidic food and drinks.  And trauma – damage which you might expect from some sports, which involve contact or risk of trauma,” he said.

Needleman said that  the oral problems are surprising, given the fact that many athletes are only in their teens and 20’s.

“They’re a young group. They are otherwise very well supported medically – very health aware and training aware. But for some reason oral health doesn’t seem to have got onto the radar.”

Researchers also collected a lot of anecdotal evidence about how poor oral health affected competitors.

“It might have been pain preventing them training. And then one young guy telling us that he really hadn’t been able to train properly for a year, which is an extraordinary condition to be in. And clearly, if his training was affected then performance would be. We know very well that oral health problems can affected people’s confidence. People, for instance, who have frequently bleeding gums, often feel a bit embarrassed about that – less confident about being with others. And sport performance is to a great extent related to confidence,” he said.

Problems were found even among U.S. athletes, despite the wide availability of dental care in the country.

Needleman said there’s also growing evidence that infection or inflammation in the mouth can adversely affect the rest of the body. For example, inflammation may increase risk of injury and the ability to heal.

He added that the survey results for elite athletes may shed light on the oral health of the general populations of their home countries.

“What it suggests is that some of the challenges to oral health [experienced by] these athletes will exist in the general population. And not surprisingly there is also a very strong effect of social and economic status. So, these things are not equally distributed in populations.”

More research will be conducted to develop better ways to prevent oral problems in athletes. It’s known that frequent carbohydrate intake, possibly from sports drinks, may contribute to the problems. Also, intense training could weaken immune system response to infection.

Needleman said many teams have contacted him about the research.



Source: Voice of America

How does the Affordable Care Act affect dental care?

A dentist and his assistant attend to a patient. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, file)
Newsworks.com

Today's question

How does the Affordable Care Act affect dental care?

The short answer

It depends whether you're an adult or a kid. For adults who buy health coverage on their own or as part of a small group, dental coverage is not a mandated benefit and does not have to be included in health plans. Options may be available, but will vary from state to state and region to region. Subsidies which people may be eligible for to buy health coverage through the new marketplaces won't pertain to stand-alone dental plans, but people also won't be penalized for not having dental coverage.

What about for kids?

The Affordable Care Act expands the availability of dental coverage for people 18 and younger. So for families who may be trying to figure out whether it's cheaper to pay for that dental visit out of pocket or buy a plan, there are now more options.

In the federal marketplaces, which includes Pennsylvania, Delaware and New Jersey, pediatric dental coverage has to be available, whether that's part of a general health plan or as a free-standing dental plan. Options will vary depending on where you live.

In Delaware, for example, 13 of the 21 plans offered on the marketplace will include pediatric dental coverage, according to James Grant, the state's marketplace coordinator. "Delaware's Marketplace also offers 12 certified stand-alone dental plans, all of which must include coverage of the pediatric dental benefit."

So, are families required to buy this coverage?

Through the federal health care marketplaces, pediatric dental coverage has to be available, but people don't have to buy the coverage if it's offered as a separate plan. Families will likely have the option of purchasing a general health plan which includes pediatric dental coverage. Again, options will depend on where a person lives.

Will stand-alone dental plans be expensive?

One study has found premiums for pediatric stand-alone policies may range anywhere from $25 a month on the low end in Pennsylvania to $40 on the high end in New Jersey. The cost may also depend on what's covered by the plan. According to Colin Reusch, an analyst with the Children's Dental Health Project, the cost attributed to dental coverage offered as part of a general health plan will likely be a lot less, accounting for a few dollars a month in that overall premium.

One thing to keep in mind is that the pediatric dental coverage itself will actually change. Prior to the ACA, the dental coverage was considered a limited benefit for kids. The ACA, for example, removes an annual cap on coverage.

What about people who have coverage through their work?

For the most part, coverage won't change. As a requirement, all coverage must include a dental needs assessments for kids and doctor referrals to dentists.

Source: Newsworks.com / http://www.newsworks.org/index.php/homepage-feature/item/60899-how-does-the-affordable-care-act-affect-dental-care