Is it Exam Time for School Children Already?

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While you enjoy the final days of summer, remember that it's also exam time here for your school-age children. Of course, the exams referred to are given in a doctor's and/or dentist's office instead of the traditional classroom, and should take place before or shortly after the start of the new school year. These exams include a routine doctor's exam to confirm that all immunizations are up-to-date, a dental exam and a vision exam.

Vision Exams:
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Bright Futures, 3rd Edition, school age children should be evaluated for visual difficulties at their annual visit and formally screened according to the AAP's recommended schedule.

In addition, the American Public Health Association (APHA) recently reported that one-in-four children in kindergarten through sixth grade has a vision problem. Some studies indicate that 80 percent of learning in children occurs visually; therefore, getting regular routine eye exams should be a major part of the back to school preparation. Undiagnosed vision problems can lead to difficulty with schoolwork, resulting in poor performance.

According to the American Optometric Association's (AOA) 2009 American Eye-Q(R) survey, 60 percent of children identified as "problem learners" actually suffer from undetected vision problems and in some cases have been inaccurately diagnosed with attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

"Having healthy eyes and clear vision can make all the difference in how a child learns and/or performs in class," said Dr. Meyer. "Poor vision can result in lower grades and ultimately lower self esteem."

Dental Exams:
Interestingly, many parents do make sure their child is current on their immunizations and vision exams; but, a visit to the dentist is oftentimes an afterthought. However, when children and teens get routine dental exams, many problems or issues can be caught early and possibly corrected.

The American Dental Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) suggest parents take their child to a pediatric dentist as soon as the first tooth appears, or at least by his or her first birthday. And then start the regular routine of visiting the dentist every six months for a dental exam and cleaning going forward.

According to the CDC, more than 51 million school hours are lost each year nationwide because of dental-related illness, and more than half of children aged five to nine have had at least one cavity or filling, with 78 percent of 17-year-olds having experienced tooth decay.

Anthem provides coverage for most vaccines and exams. However, policyholders should confirm their specific benefits by calling the toll-free number listed on their insurance card.

"We encourage our members to make sure their children start the school year off on the right foot health-wise by getting the recommended immunizations, and having their eyes and teeth examined," said Dr. Meyer. "These simple exams are essential for keeping children and teens healthy, letting them focus on other events and activities during the school year."

Dental & Vision Coverage
If your child(s) is one of the millions of school age children in America without either dental or vision coverage, you could learn more about how dental discount cards type-coverage makes paying for dental/vision exams and follow-up care more affordable, visit Dental Discount Cards.

Texting While At The Dentist... Why?

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DENTAL NEWS: The Chicago Dental Society just released a survey and found that 80% of dentists have patients that both send and receive text with while receiving dental care. And of these dentists with texting patients, 46% say that this had her hampers their ability to provide care especially if when it comes to communicating with the patient about their recommendations.

The survey was hardly scientific, though, as it was conducted between July 16th and July 25th via email and among dentists in the Chicago Dental Society's Facebook Fan Page.

Niles, Illinois dentist Dr. Alice Boghosian said that there is a time and place for most things but texting or talking in the dental chair is a breach of etiquette. "When patients insist on answering their phone or sending a text message, it does interrupt dental care," she said.

DENTAL VIEWS: Seriously, is it so important to stay in touch with your friends that you practice texting while in a dentist's chair? Does it not bother you that dentists use sharp metal tools that can seriously injure you if they get to too distracted. So stop texting and let the dental professionals do their job.

Top 5 Dental Secrets You May Find Hard To Swallow

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Your dentist always tells you to brush and floss your teeth, but there are tips that the doctor could be leaving out that might improve your oral hygiene. The problem is, the reason he/she may leave them now is because they're not easy to follow every day.

Here are the top five secrets, which your dentist may or may not tell you, according to Dr. Nancy Rosen, a leading cosmetic and restorative dentist in New York City, as told to Good Morning America.

1. If you eat lunch or have a cup of coffee before heading to the dental chair, your dentist doesn’t really notice. But if you smoke, they will notice. Not only can they smell it, but the gum tissue is dry, there is staining and there are white patches in the mouth that can turn into Oral Cancer. So if you are lying to your dentist, you may want to reconsider.
   
   
2. Moms can pass on the bacteria from cavities or gum disease to their child. So if you are testing your child’s food and then using the same spoon to feed them, bacteria is being transferred.
   
   
3. Do you think you are brushing long enough? Most people only brush their teeth for around 30 seconds. You should be brushing two to three minutes and flossing one to two minutes. Don’t neglect your back teeth while doing either activity. A lot of people just brush their front teeth because that is all people see and can neglect those back teeth. Try one of those automatic tooth brushes that you can find at a drug store, CVS or etc. They are a little more expensive than a regular old tooth brush, but far less than a high velocity toothbrush like Sonicare. If you have a hard time reaching back teeth, try the floss pics.
   
   
4. Tooth whitening over the counter products are good. If you have sensitivity, use a fluoride rinse before and after. Don’t get frustrated and follow the directions on the box. You should only use these products every six months. Dentists can see translucency at the edge of the tooth if the products are used to often and this is irreversible. Try Crest white strips or even Rembrant, to cut costs.
   
   
5. You don’t always need a deep cleaning. You can get away with just a regular cleaning if the doctor says that your pocket depth is 3 or less; if it's higher --between 4 and 8-- you do need a deep cleaning.

Soundwaves May Detect Early Dental Decay

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ABC news is reporting that sound waves could soon be used to identify the early stages of tooth decay, a process that often relies on the use of painful and damaging probes according to Australian PhD researcher, David Hsiao-Chuan Wang from the University of Sydney in Australia. Dr. Wang and his colleagues reported their findings in the most recent issue of the Journal Optics Express.

Tooth decay begins by acid-forming bacteria eating away at the enamel, causing minerals to leach from it, softening and weakening the tooth. Dentists sometimes identify this demineralisation by seeing a change in the colour of the tooth, or by looking at x-rays while other times, they use sharp probes that test the hardness of the enamel and find where the rot has set in. Unfortunately these probes can be painful and cause unnecessary damage to the teeth.

Despite Bad Economy, Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait

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1-800-DENTIST®, a free resource for consumers in search of a dentist, announced this week to the general public its participation in the “Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait” campaign, which is designed to raise awareness to the general public of the potential risks of postponing dental appointments and neglecting oral health.

“Seeing a dentist regularly is not just a key to preventing dental problems,” said Fred Joyal, CEO and Co-Founder of 1-800-DENTIST®. “Recent studies have also revealed a significant link between dental health and overall heath. The Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait campaign is a unified message from the entire dental industry to go to your dentist every six months, and if you don’t have a dentist, to find one who can help you get back on a path to wellness.”

The Oral Healthcare Can’t Wait campaign, which was developed pro-bono by the leading dental industry advertising agency, Lanmark Group, emphasizes the following risks of postponing a dental visit:

* Tooth decay is a progressive disease. Postponing treatment can lead to more complex, more expensive treatment, such as root canals or extractions.

* Tooth decay is a communicable disease. Your untreated cavities can spread to your loved ones.

* Recent studies have linked undiagnosed and untreated periodontal disease with a negative impact on patients with heart disease, diabetes and other systemic health conditions.

* Chronic bad breath is usually due to conditions that may be easily prevented by regular oral hygiene appointments and consultation.

According to the Chicago Dental Society, more than half of dentists in a recent survey said their patients were putting off dental work and more than 40 percent said that preventive visits were down. And a recent article in the Wall Street Journal reported that a little more than half of dentists surveyed in July by the American Dental Association said that un-booked appointment times have increased from the first quarter. But the fact is that postponing dental procedures can lead to serious health risks and can also lead to higher dental costs in the future.

So You Think Your Dental Bill Was Big

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DENTAL NEWS: A 28-year-old South Carolina woman who claimed the Sexton Dental Clinic in Florence, SC extracted 13 of her upper teeth by mistake has won a $2 million jury verdict. Elizabeth Smith had gone to the Sexton Dental Clinic to get 3 teeth pulled and a partial denture made to fix a chipped tooth. Robert Scott D.D.S. instead pulled all 16 of Smiths upper teeth and evidence at the trial showed that the clinic also tried to cover up the mistake by entering false information into Smith’s record.

DENTAL VIEWS: And now the punchline... it will cost approximately $80,000 to fix the clinic's mistake with dental implants. The $80,000 does not include the price for x-rays.

Oral Health & Wellness Portal Launched

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DENTAL NEWS: Dental Dental has just opened a new, 400-article dental health information portal titled Oral Health and Wellness. To make browsing easier, the articles are grouped into four main categories: Pediatric Oral Health, Adult Oral Health, Oral Cancer and Harvard Health. Each category is divided into subsections such as 'Oral Safety', 'Medical Conditions and Oral Health', 'Diagnosis of Oral Cancer', 'Alternative Therapies for Dental Anxiety', and 'Nutrition and Oral Health'.


DENTAL VIEWS: My first impression when checking out this portal was that it was not just another lame excuse for a web site; it actually has several very interesting and informative articles worth reading, including " Invisalign: A Clear Alternative, but Does It Work?" as well as " Tooth Pain Linked to Lyme Disease" two topics I've long wished I read more about other then the press releases companies put out about their products.

Dental Care On The Cheap

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Most people avoid paying higher dental bills by simply not going to the dentist, no matter how much they might need to. But dodging the dentist may be penny wise right now but over time it will be pound-foolish.

"Our research tells us that many people in California have been avoiding routine care that might have cost about $100 for a checkup and cleaning, and then find themselves in the emergency room, where they get only an antibiotic, a bill that can average over $600 and instructions to see a dentist," says Len Finocchio, a senior program officer at the California Healthcare Foundation, a health advocacy group.

According to a 2007 Harris Interactive poll found that 30% of Californians have not seen a dentist in more than a year; 10% have never seen a dentist or have not seen one in more than five years.

Thankfully many California cities, most notably San Jose, are modernizing their city's water system so it contains fluoride. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), adding fluoride to community water supplies is an relatively inexpensive for community to support dental health because this mineral helps prevent cavities, meaning less Americans have to get fillings.

But Californians aren't the only ones finding it tough to afford quality dental care. In fact, one New Jersey resident may have started a trend by bartering his skills for a checkup. Robert Josefs of Hillsborough, NJ chose to trade his services for the dental work he couldn't afford. Instead of writing a check, he paid his dentist back in web design work, making up for his bill that was reportedly around $1,000. While the concept seems a bit dated, at least it means some like Josefs are actually visiting the dentist.

I suppose the ultimate form of "dental care on the cheap" would be if you didn't have to go to the dentist at all. Actually, this may not be so far-fetched as it seems because there's a new product called EvoraPlus which aims to deliver teeth-friendly services in the form of a mint candy. Reportedly, EvoraPlus promotes whiter teeth and good bacteria in the mouth and its website states that this super mint may also help prevent against cavities.

Developed by a Dr. Jeffrey Hillman --a former researcher at the Forsyth Dental Center in Boston-- these probiotic mints introduce beneficial bacteria that helps cut down on lactic acid from carbohydrates and sugars that in turn discourage cavity-causing bacteria from feeding on these substances on the tooth surfaces.

Finally, if you're looking for ways to cut your dental bills look no further than my free special report entitled "Tips For Lower Dental Bills" which several people have e-mailed and told me how much they benefited from reading this report. Maybe it will help you as well.

OJ Worse For Teeth Than Whitening Agents

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DENTAL NEWS: A recent study done at the University of Rochester Medical Center found that the effects of 6% hydrogen peroxide --the common ingredient in professional and over-the-counter teeth whitening products-- are insignificant compared to acidic fruit juices.

Head researcher YanFang Ren, DDS, PhD and his team determined that the acid in orange juice markedly decreased hardness and increased roughness of tooth enamel. "The acid is so strong that the tooth is literally washed away," said Dr. Ren, whose findings were recently published in Journal of Dentistry. "The orange juice decreased enamel hardness by 84 percent." No significant change in hardness or surface enamel was found from (the) whitening agent.

Weakened and eroded enamel may speed up the wear of the tooth and increase the risk for tooth decay to quickly develop and spread. "Most soft drinks, including sodas and fruit juices, are acidic in nature," Dr. Ren said. "Our studies demonstrated that the orange juice, as an example, can potentially cause significant erosion of teeth."

"It's potentially a very serious problem for people who drink sodas and fruit juices daily," said Dr. Ren, who added that dental researchers nationwide are increasingly studying tooth erosion, and are investing significant resources into possible preventions and treatments. "We do not yet have an effective tool to avert the erosive effects, although there are early indications that higher levels of fluoride may help slow down the erosion."

Dr. Ren advises that consumers be aware of the acidic nature of beverages, including sodas, fruit juices, sports and energy drinks. The longer teeth are in contact with the acidic drinks, the more severe the erosion will be. People who sip their drinks slowly over 20 minutes are more likely to have tooth erosion than those who finish a drink quickly.


DENTAL VIEWS: Although it's not mentioned above, drinking acid-laden beverages with a straw also reduces the amount of erosion your teeth will suffer. In addition, my dentist told me to rinse my mouth out with water after every time I drink juice or soda (a.k.a. soda pop).

Dental Appliance Treats Snoring & Sleep Apnea

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Snoring, and its medical cousin sleep apnea, can make sleeping difficult. The typical treatment is a mask which forces air into the mouth while sleeping but this can be both annoying and expensive. However, a dentist from Frederick Maryland by the name of Dr. Richard Rogers, has created a dental appliance that changes the position of the jaw and could make sleep more comfortable as well is giving sufferers of snoring and sleep apnea a new way to treat their condition.

The dental appliance is named Snoreguard and is similar to that of an orthodontic retainer. Dr. Rogers said the device works in about two-thirds of people with sleep apnea, and also works for many who have heavy snoring. The dental appliance costs about $1500 while the price for the machine used by sleep apnea patients -- called a CPAP -- can cost up to $5000.

The dental appliance has actually been around for more than a decade, but Rogers said it's still not well-known. Bruce Zembower of Walkersville Maryland, is a dental patient of Dr. Rogers who mentioned to him that he had sleep apnea and used a CPAP.

"My problem with the machine was the mask would leak and that would wake me up," Zembower said. "I was talking to my dentist and he said, 'Why don't we try it?'" Zembower got his in January. "The insurance company asked for a lot of information, but they paid for it after they asked questions," he said.

Dr. Rogers is a member of the Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine, which promotes the research and treatment of sleep-related breathing disorders and has been prescribing the dental device for 10 years. "It's taken a while to get the medical side to support this," he said. "Initially, I wasn't a believer". If cared for properly, they will last at least 10-15 years. They are stored in a case similar to one that holds a retainer or dentures and should be cleaned regularly.

What Is Fluoride and What Does It Do?

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By Peter Crosta M.A. (Medical News Today)

What is Fluoride
Fluoride is a chemical ion of the element fluorine (from the Latin fluo meaning "to flow"), in that fluoride has one extra electron that gives it a negative charge. Fluoride is found naturally in water, foods, soil, and several minerals such as fluorite and fluorapatite. However, it is also synthesized in laboratories where it may be added to drinking water or used in a variety of chemical products.

Fluoride is most commonly associated with dental hygiene products and tooth protection. Most people are exposed to fluoride through treated drinking water or products such as toothpaste and mouthwash.

What does fluoride do?
Fluoride protects teeth from decay and cavities in two ways. When bacteria in the mouth combine with sugars, acid is produced that can erode tooth enamel and damage teeth. Fluoride can protect teeth from demineralization that is caused by the acid. If teeth have already been damaged by acid, fluoride accumulates in the demineralized areas and begins strengthening the enamel - a process called remineralization. Fluoride is very useful for preventing cavities and strengthening teeth, but its effectiveness is thwarted if a cavity has already formed.

How is fluoride obtained?
Fluoride may be ingested or applied topically. If foods containing fluoride (such as meat, fish, eggs, and tea leaves) are consumed, then fluoride enters the bloodstream and is eventually absorbed by the teeth and bones. Many communities add fluoride to the drinking water to ensure that the recommended levels are obtained.

Fluoride can also be applied directly to teeth by a professional in a dental office. The teeth will readily absorb topical fluoride treatments, and the chemical will remain in the mouth for several hours. Less thorough topical fluoride treatments may also be applied at home using products such as toothpaste, mouthwash or mouth rinse, fluoride gels, or fluoride supplements.

Who needs fluoride?
Many governmental health agencies recommend that both children and adults receive some level of fluoride. Children need fluoride to protect their permanent teeth as they are forming. Adults need fluoride so that they can continue to protect teeth against tooth decay. Several groups of people could benefit especially from fluoride treatments because they have a higher risk of tooth decay. This includes people who have:

• Poor dental hygiene
• A history of cavities or tooth decay
• No or little access to dentists
• A lack of saliva or dry mouth
• Diets with high amounts of sugars
• Snacking habits
• Braces, crowns, bridges, and other teeth restoration procedures

Is fluoride safe?
When used properly, fluoride is usually considered a safe and effective tool to prevent tooth decay. However, high levels of fluoride exposure for extended periods of time may result in harm. For example, dental fluorosis - a discoloration of tooth enamel - may occur if a person is exposed to too much fluoride. In addition, it is possible for a lifetime of exposure to high fluoride levels to lead to bone weakening and skeletal fluorosis (joint stiffness and pain).

More extreme, toxic effects may result if someone consumes too much fluoride. Fluoride overdose is possible, for example, if a small child consumes an entire tube of tooth paste. Symptoms include nausea, vomiting blood, diarrhea, stomach pain, salivation, watery eyes, general weakness, shallow breathing, faintness, tiredness, and convulsions.

Why is fluoride controversial?
Although scientific research has supported the benefits of fluoride treatment in preventing tooth decay, many people question its safety and effectiveness. Several interest groups cite recent increases in dental fluorosis and fluoride levels in water that exceed optimal levels in calling for an end to fluoridated drinking water. They deem fluoride treatments unnecessary and less useful and more dangerous than originally thought.

Texans To Get Free Dental Services

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DENTAL NEWS: Thousands of South Texans are expected to receive free medical and dental services this week during Operation Lone Star. Currently in its eleventh year, Operation Lone Star is a free medical and dental treatment program offered by the military along with state and county officials. The two-week event expanded to include more cities this year after providing health care to more than 11,000 South Texans last year. Laredo, Rio Grande City, Hebbronville and Zapata will host the event this week.

DENTAL VIEWS: Like most free dental care events, it's a good idea to show up early so you won't be shut out from receiving services. Is not uncommon --in fact, it's usually the case-- that there are so many people seeking these services that many are turned away. Forewarned is forearmed.

Sugarless Gum Can Help Prevent Cavities

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By Dr. Murray Feingold

If you chew gum, you are not alone. It has been estimated that more than half of all Americans are gum chewers. But is chewing gum hazardous to your dental health? It depends upon the type of gum you chew.

Chewing gum that contains sugar is reportedly associated with the promotion of caries or dental decay. But chewing sugarless gum with the artificial sweetener Xylitol is not associated with causing dental decay and has even been shown to help prevent decay.

The xylitol in sugarless gum also plays a role in preventing caries. A recent study showed that syrup containing xylitol given orally to children age 9 to 13 months had significantly fewer cavities than the children who did not receive the xylitol syrup.

However, from a social point of view, it is important how a person chews his or her gum. In fact, some people believe that chewing gum in public is not acceptable and it should be done in the privacy of one's home.

Massachusetts-based Dr. Murray Feingold is the physician in chief of the National Birth Defects Center, medical editor of WBZ-TV and WBZ radio, and president of the Genesis Fund (a nonprofit organization that funds the care of children born with birth defects).