Spring Cleanings

This weekend in Northern California brought some beautiful weather, mid-seventies and tons of sunshine. Spectacular! There were even some cherry trees starting to blossom-- a sign of the first glimpse of Spring and the warmer weather to come. As I worked in my yard and around my patio enjoying the sun and the warm breeze, I began to mentally make a list of all my "spring cleaning" items. There is just something about the newness and the freshness of the season that inspires me to regroup, reorganize, and prepare myself for the next things that life will bring.

Of course by the end of my brainstorming session the list always ends up consisting of far more than just a few chores that need to be done. It sort of evolves into a list of personal things I need to accomplish as well, including things such as appointments that I've been meaning to get scheduled. As much as I try to stay on track with my own family's medical and dental appointments, they sometimes get delayed during life's daily craziness.

So this year for my spring cleaning, I've organized my whole family for "Spring Cleanings" with our dental office. The timing is perfect ( after the hectic holiday months and before our busy summer schedule) and it will put us all off to a great, healthy start for the new season. Best part is that in 6 months when it's time for our next visit, it will be in the fall, before life gets too crazy again!

I encourage you all to organize your "spring cleanings", too. And then smile, because warm weather and a healthier you are just around the corner.

The ABC's of Elementary School Dental Exams

Spring is here and now is the time for Kindergarten and Elementary School registration. California State Law requires children entering the elementary school system to have a dental exam performed prior to May 31 of the child's first grade year. Your school registration packet should contain the necessary forms that will be required by the school, and these forms need to be completed by a licensed dental practitioner. Most schools and dental offices refer to this paperwork as "the Kindergarten Dental Exam", and many parents choose to complete the exam prior to the entrance of kindergarten.

Dental care is sometimes overlooked by families who feel that "baby teeth" do not need regular dental care. By requiring parents to complete this exam for their children, it helps to promote the importance of dental care for children and also identifies dental disease that may have otherwise gone undetected.

Check with your school if you have questions about how to obtain the proper paperwork, and note that some families who receive state assistance may be exempt from this examination process. And for a happy, healthy start to their school careers, make sure your children visit the dentist!

Not getting a good night's sleep? Your dentist may be able to help!

Good sleeping habits are essential to good health. For many people though, achieving quality sleep can be difficult. If you or your sleeping partner is affected by snoring your health may actually be suffering. Although the sound of snoring can be irritating and make it difficult for you or your partner to sleep, snoring is actually a result of airway passage narrowing. Snoring is caused by the vibration of the hard and soft tissue of the palate, which creates a "flapping" sound when air moves through narrowed airways.

As we age and/or gain weight, this airway narrowing can worsen, causing obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). OSA is linked to the increased risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, congestive heart failure, impotence, behavior and cognitive problems, and even death.

Snoring and OSA can be treated with dental appliances that help to open the airway allowing proper flow and resulting in better sleep. The Academy of Sleep Medicine affirms that that the treatment of OSA with dental devices is scientifically sound. Diagnosis for OSA and Snore Appliances should only be done by dentists who have had proper training in this area.

For more information on how to have an OSA/ Snoring assessment done, visit www.dentalmakeovers.com

A Healthy Mouth in an Ailing Economy

Concerned about the recession and the rising cost of your health related care? If so, don't make the mistake of putting off routine dental visits. Keeping up with your regular exams, dental x-rays, and dental cleanings can go a long way toward preventing bigger and more expensive problems in the future.

Many people who have dental insurance make the mistake of not coming in for routine visits. Don't allow yourself to be one of these patients! These simple, routine office visits allow your dental clinicians an opportunity to identify areas of concern early on. In most cases, problems that are detected early are more easily treated. This means means less time in the dental chair, and less cost to the patient.

When dental issues are neglected they don't disappear, they only worsen, leading to more time spent in the dental office (and away from work) and greater cost to the patient. Routine exams, x-rays and cleanings are usually covered at a high percentage rate (often 80-100%) by many dental plans, meaning that these preventative visits may cost a patient little to nothing out-of-pocket. Simple restorative procedures such as fillings are considered a "Basic" service by dental insurance plans and are usually covered at a higher percentage rate than more involved dental work. So identifying dental problems early and treating them right away can actually SAVE YOU MONEY! Another thing to keep in mind: patients who have dental insurance that goes unused will lose those insurance dollars at the end of their "insurance year". This is essentially throwing your hard-earned money away. So, when thinking in terms of your dental benefits, it's a "Use It or Lose It" situation--and no one wants to be a "loser".

For patients who don't have the benefit of a dental insurance program, it still make the best sense to come for regular visits and treat problems early. Many employers will allow employees to put away money in a Flex-Spending account to help ease the burden of health expenses, so check with your employer about specific benefits that you may be able to utilize. In addition, financing options do exist (sometimes even interest-free), and special courtesies may be extended such as a reduced rate for senior citizens.

So, if you've been putting off your dental visit due to fear of unknown costs, at least make sure you're taking advantage of benefits you may already have. And, be sure to take care of those preventative appointments as soon as you can. Smile, and be healthy!

Health Care Reform Must Include Dental Care

Health Care Reform Must Include Dental Care

April 23, 2009, 11:34 A.M.
By Charles N. Bertolami, Special to Roll Call

Last month, President Barack Obama took the first step toward reforming the American health care system by convening a White House summit that brought together many of the top stakeholders in the health care community. An excellent start, to be sure, but there was a conspicuous absence at the summit -- out of the 80 organizations present, not one represented dentistry.

The entire article may be viewed at http://www.rollcall.com/news/34231-1.html

(c) Copyright 2008 Roll Call Inc. All rights reserved.

Make the "Smart Play" with Custom Sports Mouthguards

What are Sports Mouthguards and why are they important?

Sports (athletic) mouthguards are plastic dental appliances which can provide protection for both the mouth's soft tissues (lips, cheeks, gums, tongue) and hard tissues (teeth and jaw bones). Wearing a sports mouthguard can help prevent tooth fracture, tooth dislocation, and bone (jaw) fracture, and help reduce the risk of concussion. Any athlete involved in contact sports should always wear a mouthguard.

Direct blows to the mouth and teeth (created by baseballs, footballs, elbows, the ground, etc...) can be cushioned by the presence of a mouthguard. The resilience of a guard will absorb a portion of a forces, while the stiffness of a guard distributes forces over a greater surface area. Both of these actions can help to prevent damage to an athlete's teeth and jaw bones.

Any object striking a person's face has the potential to force the soft tissues of the mouth up against the teeth or between them, thus resulting in bruising or laceration. . The rounded contours of a mouthguard can help to protect lips, cheeks, and the tongue from injury.

Some studies have suggested that wearing a mouthguard can help to reduce the incidence or severity of concussions. Forces delivered to the jaw bones will be transmitted on to the skull bones that surround a person's brain, producing the potential for concussion. A mouthguard will help to absorb and disperse these forces, reducing the intensity and limiting the possibility of concussion.

There are three basic types of mouthguards: Stock Mouthpieces , "Boil and Bite" mouthguards, and Custom Guards.

Stock Mouthpieces are ready-to-use and are the cheapest guards available. They provide minimal protection and come in limited sizes. They do not always cover back teeth, and are hard to keep in place.

The “Boil & Bite” Mouthguard is self-customized and is made of a thermoplastic material that is heat activated for sizing. They provide limited to moderate protection. Many athletes complain of a bulky, uneven fit due to uneven dispersion of the plastic after boiling.

The Custom Mouthguard is fabricated by a dentist and made for the individual athlete. This type of guard provides the highest level of protection. The customized guard has an excellent fit and most athletes report that they are comfortable and unobtrusive, and easy to keep in place. These types of guards also produce less interference with breathing and speech than other guards. Although more expensive than other guards, this should be considered money well spent since the level of protection and comfort is greatly increased with this type of guard.

Dental Care Can Help Save Your Life!

Attention Diabetics! Spanish researchers did a study with 20 adults with gum disease (half were diabetic patients, half were not). All candidates had puffy, red, swollen gums--a signature of gum disease. All were treated with a dental treatment called Scaling & Root Planing.

After treatment, the diabetics' blood sugar dropped by as much as 20 percent and remained down for a least 3 months. This type of change reduces the risk of complications from diabetes such as stroke, heart disease, and kidney failure.

To keep a healthy mouth and help maintain better control of your diabetes, brush and floss daily, and see your dentist regularly. Contact your dentist if your gums turn red, swell, or bleed.