Early Oral Health Care Is Important To A Child's Development

Good oral health is a key component of good overall health in children, which is why an early visit to the dentist is very important, says Temple University pediatric dentist Mark Helpin.

"A child should be first seen by a dentist by 12 months of age or within six months of the time that the first tooth emerges into the mouth," said Helpin, acting chair of pediatric dentistry in Temple's Maurice H. Kornberg School of Dentistry.

Helpin says that at such at early age, the dentist's focus will be more on prevention than treatment, including oral hygiene instructions such as how to clean the whole mouth, diet, fluoride, non-nutritional habits such as thumb sucking and injury prevention.

"We're trying to follow the medical model of care for children by preventing disease from occurring before it begins," he said. "What we want is to establish a 'dental home' for the child, as well as their parents, where they can go to get comprehensive and continuous oral health care."

Helpin says during the initial visit the dentist should thoroughly exam the child's teeth and gums, the roof and floor of the mouth and the shape of the developing jaws. He should also discuss proper diet and nutrition and show the parent/guardian how to brush at home. The dentist may also clean the child's teeth - although for younger children, there aren't many to clean.

Helpin says that although some might think that preventive care is less important for primary or baby teeth which eventually fall out, keeping a young child's teeth and mouth clean is imperative in order to control cavity-causing bacteria.

"Cavities are an infectious disease and are the most common, chronic disease during childhood," he said. "It is five times more prevalent in children than asthma. And it is entirely preventable if we begin a program of oral health care early on."

Left untreated, Helpin says cavities can cause an infection that can make a child ill. Left untreated, cavities can also impact the development of the permanent teeth, which are important for aesthetics, chewing and biting, and speech development.

"The permanent tooth is sitting under the primary tooth and if it is exposed to this infection, it can become malformed," he said. "In addition, the baby teeth guide the permanent teeth to where they should go in the mouth."

If a primary tooth needs to be extracted due to infection, the permanent tooth may need assistance from a dentist in finding its proper location in the mouth, says Helpin.

"It's best to keep babies, infants, toddlers and children healthy, and that includes good oral health that starts with an early visit to the dentist," he said.

Source:
Temple University
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Article URL: http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/215041.php

A Thankful Thanksgiving

by Jim Rohn

You may be wondering why I would call this article a Thankful Thanksgiving. Aren't all Thanksgivings Thankful? Unfortunately, no. As a person who has experienced over 70 Thanksgivings, I recognize that being thankful is something that we have to work at, even on Thanksgiving.

If your home is like most, your Thanksgiving Day will be very busy, with either traveling to where you want to go or preparing your home to have others over for the day. Either way, that can be very hectic and emotionally trying, which doesn't lend itself to preparing your heart to be reflective and thankful. In fact, Thanksgiving weekend is the most traveled weekend in America. Airports are full and not always providing much room for contemplation of your good fortune.

This means all the more that if we want to be the kind of people who are characterized by thankfulness, then we must make sure that we focus on it, and not just on Thanksgiving Day, but at all times during the year.

Here are a few key words as well as some thoughts that are simple and practical to apply; something you can use right away in your quest for becoming more thankful:

Time. Set aside time regularly to be quiet, to reflect. We live in the fastest paced time ever. From the moment we awake to the moment we collapse into bed, we have the opportunity to go at full speed and never slow down. If we schedule time every day in which we can be quiet and reflect, we will free our hearts and minds up from the tyranny of the urgent and rushed.

Thought. Give thought to the many blessings that you have. Living in a consumer culture, most of us are fully aware of what we do not have and how we absolutely must have "it". But how often do we reflect upon that which we already have? Take some time each day and think of one or two things that you have that you may typically take for granted and then take a moment and give thanks for those. In fact, I make it a part of my reflection time to review a list of things that I'm thankful for.

Generosity. Be generous toward those with less and not envious of those with more. We tend to look at others who may be wealthier than ourselves and think, "I sure wish I had what he does." That kind of thinking breeds envy and jealousy rather than contentment. What can we do to break that cycle? I would suggest being generous to those who are less fortunate than yourself. Go to work at a food bank. And not just during the holidays - everybody works there then - but on a regular basis during the year. That will remind you of how good you really have it.

Ask. Ask a friend what they are thankful for. The next time you are at lunch with a friend, ask him or her what they are most thankful for. You will be amazed at the answers you receive and you will create a meaningful bond with your friends as you focus on this powerful question.

Acknowledge. Lastly, tell those you love how thankful you are for having them in your life. So many times we neglect to take the time to craft the words to express to those closest to us what their presence in our lives means to us. Take the opportunity of Thanksgiving Day to write them a note or sometime during the day put your hand on their shoulder, look them in the eyes and tell them. Let them know what they mean to you, and in return you'll begin to create the possibility of deeper, richer, more fulfilling relationships with those you love.

Of course we should do what we can to make the most of the day we call Thanksgiving, but wouldn't it be a shame if the only time we reflected on our blessings was that one Thursday in November? And the answer is, of course! So let's do our best to be aware of the many great gifts that we have each and every day of the year. As we do so we will see our hearts soar and our minds will experience more and more at peace as we regularly remember and remain aware of our good fortune.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Vail Valley Partnership announces Success Award finalists

Daily Staff Report
Newsroom@vaildaily.com
Vail, CO, Colorado

The Vail Valley Partnership this week announced the finalists for the Eighth Annual Success Awards, which help recognize outstanding Vail Valley businesses as nominated by their peers in the business community.

“The nominating committee had their work cut out for them, with over 40 nominees throughout the six award categories,” Vail Valley Partnership Executive Director Chris Romer said. “All nominees should be thrilled to have been recognized by their peers and on behalf of the nominating committee and the Partnership, we extend our congratulations to all the finalists.”

The finalists are:

Non-profit of the Year:
• The Youth Foundation.
• Vail Valley Charitable Fund.
• Walking Mountains (Gore Range) Natural Science School.

Business of the Year:
• Kelly Liken Restaurant,
• Resort Technology Partners.
• Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa.

Small Business of the Year:
• Crazy Mountain Brewery.
• Human Resources Plus.
• Vail Valley Dental Care.

Entrepreneur of the Year:
• Kelly Liken, Kelly Liken Restaurant.
• Kevin Selvy, Crazy Mountain Brewery.
• Lauren Merrill, Alpine Arts Center.

Green Business of the Year:
• Eagle Valley Alliance for Sustainability.
• Organic Housekeepers.
• Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa.

Corporate Citizenship Award:
• Evans Chaffee Construction.
• United Way.
• Vail Valley Medical Center.

The non-profit of the year will be announced in early December. )ther award categories are announced at the Annual Gala and Vail Valley Success Awards. The Vail Marriott Mountain Resort & Spa will host the 8th Annual Gala and Vail Valley Success Awards Feb. 4.

http://www.vaildaily.com/article/20101118/BIZ/101119822&parentprofile=search

Got Benefits?

Employers and other plan's sponsors offer dental benefits for a variety of reasons, including promotion of oral health, attraction, and retention of employees.

Regardless of why the plan is offered, its intent is the same: to help individuals by paying for a portion of the cost of their dental care.

Tips on Getting the Most from Your Dental Benefits
1.  Read your dental benefits booklet.
2.  Know your options. Be familiar with limitations and exclusions set by the employer's policy. Remember, you and your dentist need to decide the treatment that is best for you no matter what insurance covers.
3.  Communicate with your dentist, employer and insurance company. Your benefits office needs to know how your plan is working.
4.  Practice good oral hygiene. Good dental health is your responsibility.
5.  Use your benefits! Some plans even have improved coverage if you maintain regular visits for observation and care.

Did you know that you could actually save hundreds of dollars by using your dental benefits before the end of the year?

 
While some dental insurance plans run on a fiscal year, most run on a calendar year. If your dental insurance plan is on a calendar year.
The yearly maximum is the most money that the dental insurance plan will pay for your dental work within one full year. This amount varies by insurance company, but the average is around $1,000 per year, per person. The yearly maximum usually renews every year (on January 1 if your plan is on a calendar year). If you have unused benefits, these will not rollover.

Valley Valley Dental Care is a Preferred Provider for:

Vail Resorts

Vail Valley Medical Center



Guardian Dental Plans



Chilean mine disaster prompts experts to promote the importance of good oral hygiene

For the first 17 days of their enslavement, the 33 Chilean miners were unable to conduct basic dental care, which has resulted in some developing gum disease.This has prompted dental experts to promote the importance of good oral hygiene.

According to some oral experts, many factors contributed to the miners' poor dental health, which included nutrition, stress and cigarettes. Therefore, one of the first priorities that the men faced was to receive a full oral exam that removed plaque in their mouths, in hopes that it would restore the health of their gums and further prevent the progress of gum disease.

The experts also encouraged many people to take their own oral health precautions and look for the symptoms of gum disease. Sore, bleeding or swollen gums are all warning signs of this problem. Receding gums, also a sign of gum disease, may even cause teeth to become loose or fall out.

Approximately 12 percent of adults in the U.S. may suffer from gum disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Fortunately, there are low-cost, affordable ways in which individuals can seek dental care to improve their oral hygiene.

Chilean mine disaster prompts experts to promote the importance of good oral hygiene

Happy Birthday X-rays

Google celebrates the 115th anniversary of x-rays

We've come a long way in 115 years.  Digital x-rays make things easier, faster, safer, and more comfortable for the patient.  From WebMD:

There's a newer dental X-ray technique that your dentist already may be using or may soon be using. It's called digital imaging. Instead of developing X-ray film in a dark room, the X-rays are sent directly to a computer and can be viewed on screen, stored, or printed out. There are several nice benefits of using this new technology including:

• The technique uses less radiation than the typical X-ray and there is no wait time for the X-rays to develop -- the images are available on screen a few seconds after being taken.
• The image taken, of a tooth for example, can be enhanced and enlarged many times it's actual size on the computer screen, making it easier for your dentist to show you where and what the problem is. 
• If necessary, images can be electronically sent to another dentist or specialist -- for instance, for a second opinion on a dental problem -- to determine if a specialist is needed, or to a new dentist (if you move).

 

 

Dentist Saved Hilary Duff’s Wedding Day

Singer Hilary Duff broke some tooth-related news on a recent episode of The Ellen Degeneres Show. The 23-year-old pop star described how she bit into a bagel on the morning of her wedding day and lost a tooth.

The day was saved by her wedding planner’s sister’s husband, a dentist.

Now that is a cosmetic dentistry disaster artfully averted!

It's also somewhat funny that the sweetheart pop star would be the one to lose a tooth (well, presumably Duff meant she lost a dental crown) on that special day, when the groom is a hockey player, of all things.

Access Hollywood Report