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FEBRUARY 2008 • VOL. II, ISSUE 2
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In This Issue...
- From the Doc
- National Children's Dental Health Month
- An Unlikely Crystal Ball
- Give Love, Not Candy
- Recipe for Love
- Love Your Smile
- February's Special Offer
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From the Doc: Do it for the kids. Do it for love.
February is always an exciting month in the world of dentistry. February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. It also brings us Valentine’s Day and President’s Day.
This year, February brings us one more day in the form of Leap Year. Trish, our hygienist, was born on February 29, 1964. That makes her 11 years old this year. Some people just know how to stay young!
In recognition of National Children’s Dental Health Month, we encourage parents to bring in children as young as 18 months to 2 years for their first exam. Our office believes in gentle, positive nurturing for these young people, especially during their first visit. It’s during these formative years that we can truly create a positive experience that will lay the foundation for a lifetime of dental wellness. Most times, young children respond fabulously to our state-of-the-science, less intrusive technology and our warm, comforting chairside manner.
What are you going to get your sweetheart for Valentine’s Day this year? A kiss? A hug? Or how about a nice piece of jewelry? The main thing is to show them and tell them that you love them. If you were considering the traditional box of chocolates, check out our “Give Love” article in this issue for some healthier alternatives. If you decide to skip dinner out for a romantic bit of home cooking, my Recipe for Love is a perfect mix of taste and good eating.
However you spend the Month of Love, do it in good dental health.
Smiling at you –
Doctor Mark
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Are You Doing All You Can for Your Child's Oral Health?
 February is National Children's Dental Health Month. The American Dental Association held the first national observance of Children's Dental Health day on February 8, 1949. By 1955, it was a week-long event. In 1981, it was extended to a month-long celebration.
How does one celebrate children's dental health? Well, it isn't really so much a celebration as it is a recognition of the importance of pediatric oral health, and an opportunity to educate yourself on how to keep your kids' mouths healthy.
One of the most commonly asked questions from parents is, At what age do I take my child to the dentist? The ideal time to take your child to the dentist for a first visit is after the first tooth erupts, and no later than the child's first birthday.
Other parents are concerned about the effects of pacifiers and thumb sucking on teeth. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), no harm occurs if a child sucks his thumb or a pacifier up to four years of age. After that, however, the upper front teeth may not come in properly or the child may develop jaw problems.
How often should a child see the dentist for a checkup? The AAPD recommends visits to the dentist every six months unless there is an oral health issue that requires more frequent visits. Regular visits allow your dentist to clean debris and plaque, apply fluoride, and help educate your child on effective tooth and gum maintenance. They also allow your dental providers to become familiar with your child’s baseline oral health, to better notice and analyze later changes that may occur.
As is true in nearly every other aspect, adolescents require special attention. This is the time of life when orthodontic procedures may be required for optimum oral health. (see our Invisalign feature later in this issue). Regular visits to the dentist will help safeguard your teen's smile in every way, from reiterating healthy brushing and flossing habits to assisting in the choice of mouth guards for sports. Contrary to what they may think, teenagers have not outgrown the chance for tooth decay.
Parental involvement plays a major role in pediatric oral health. The best foundation is the early development of a regular schedule of dental exams, cleaning and care, but children need parents to help them stay on track. The importance of regular brushing and flossing cannot be overemphasized, but there's more to it than that. Children need a proper diet to help their mouths stay healthy and to maintain bright smiles. It isn't enough to say "Brush your teeth." Monitor your child while she brushes, and make sure she's getting those hard-to-reach places. Most children will not do a sufficient job of brushing if left to their own devices.
Your child's oral health is not a privilege. It's a right. If you have any questions regarding your child's teeth, don't hesitate to call our office. We're here to serve your entire family, from the youngest member on up. Most of all, we want to see you smile.
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Want to Predict the Future? Look Deep Into My…Mouth??!!
 Do you ever wonder why Trish and I take our time, looking carefully all over the inside of your mouth during an exam? We make sure we’re thorough, because many times we find things that might surprise you — things you might think have nothing to do with dentistry!
That’s right: Our highly trained staff can detect the presence of seemingly unrelated diseases even before our patient might know they’re being affected. The oral cavity — your mouth — is something of a crystal ball for health professionals who know what to look for. We can find things there that serve as early indicators for problems occurring in other parts of your body.
For example, heavy duty gingival inflammation (swollen gums) accompanied by large amounts of plaque could indicate hypertension (high blood pressure), heart disease—even diabetes. And bad breath? Certain oral malodors could be indicative of improper digestion, liver dysfunction and again, diabetes.
In recent years, we’re seeing more young, otherwise healthy females with oral lesions that are early markers for some forms of white blood cell cancers. Some people may have red, kind of crumbly mouth tissue that can be early indicators of autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s Disease, and many others. We also look for oral cancer, which can be a debilitating disease if not caught early.
The best way to avoid such advanced unpleasantness is to get those full oral exams done semiannually. One short visit every six months will not only keep your smile beautiful, it will also help us detect any potential disease in its early stages, so you can continue to live a productive, healthy and comfortable life.
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Give the Gift of Love, Not Candy
 Traditionally, most people who celebrate Valentine's Day give gifts of chocolate and other sweets to their loved ones. It's no secret that these treats sound the death knell for oral health. Despite the best intentions, we do our favorite people no favors by giving them sugary candies.
Sugar is responsible for the majority of tooth rot, gingivitis, cavities, plaque buildup, and all varieties of nasty mouth-related diseases. This year, why not get creative and surprise your valentine with something out of the ordinary, something guaranteed to put a smile on that face you love?
For elementary-level kids:
• small stuffed animals
• action figures/dolls
• Silly Putty™
• stickers
• art supplies (crayons, markers, chalk, etc)
Small gifts like this are greatly appreciated by children, and are affordable as well as easy to find. Or, if you would rather still give kids tasty treats without the risk of dental problems, granola and dried fruit are great health foods that are still delicious.
For middle-to-high schoolers, there are even more options:
• disposable cameras
• makeup
• sports equipment
• t-shirts/ sunglasses
• movies/ CDs
• gift cards
Again, these items can all be purchased cheaply, make great gifts, and are easy to find. Even better, these items are more specific to the recipient’s taste, and show that you truly care about them.
For adults, nothing says “I love you” more than a personalized gift:
• Flowers or jewelry are excellent choices for women.
• Men are sure to appreciate gadgets or tools.
• Coupons or gift cards for spa visits, massages, time with a personal trainer, or gym passes are both thoughtful and healthy.
• Candles warm the heart as well as the atmosphere.
• Heartfelt Valentine’s Day cards, thoughtfully chosen or homemade, say you really care.
Most importantly, use your imagination to find gifts for the people you love. Be thoughtful and show you care by giving alternatives to candy this Valentine’s Day.
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Recipe For Love
Mahi-Mahi Fish with Cucumber, Tomatoes, and Caper Butter
2 – 8 oz. Mahi-Mahi filets (You may substitute swordfish, tilapia, flounder or salmon)
1 medium cucumber; peeled, de-seeded and medium diced
8 oz container grape tomatoes, each cut in half
Half of a small jar of capers
1 stick butter (Don’t worry, it’s really good!)
Juice of 2 lemons
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. pepper
Garlic powder and onion powder to taste
Season fillets with salt and pepper, garlic powder and onion powder. Dredge in flour and shake off excess. Heat olive oil in frying pan. Lightly brown fillets, approximately 2 minutes each side. Remove from pan and place in oven-proof warming dish. Place in a 275° oven and cook another 5 to 7 minutes.
Wipe cooking pan clean with paper towel. Melt half-stick of butter in pan on medium-high heat. Sauté cucumbers for about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add tomatoes and cook for another 2 minutes.
Add remaining butter, allowing foam to form. When butter foam begins to subside, add capers and lemon juice. Cook for another minute.
Plate fish and spoon cucumber-tomato-caper mixture over fillets. Serve with sautéed asparagus with soy sauce and sesame seeds, and brown-and-wild rice pilaf.
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Give Yourself a Valentine: Love Your Smile With InvisAlign™
Having a confident smile can change everything — just ask someone who’s afraid to smile and reveal crooked teeth.
If you’ve been avoiding needed orthodontic therapy because you just can’t stand the thought of years of uncomfortable metal braces, we’ve got something to make your heart go pitter-pat: Weglos Comprehensive Family Dentistry is a licensed provider of Invisalign, a patented system of straightening teeth almost invisibly, without using traditional braces.
 No-see-ums!
Invisalign uses a series of clear, custom-fabricated aligners designed to gradually and sequentially move teeth to their desired positions. The aligners are completely transparent and difficult for most folks to detect, so you can get a stunning smile without most people even noticing you're going through treatment.
More comfortable
These aligners are made with a unique balance of rigidity needed to coax teeth to where they need to be, and flexibility that makes them so much more comfortable to wear than traditional braces. This helps wearers avoid many of the unpleasant side effects of traditional braces on the gums and supporting tissues. Fixed appliances are also known to cause the roots of teeth to shorten for most patients, which the Invisalign process avoids.
Aligners are changed approximately every two weeks, exerting less force and less pain, while fixed appliances are adjusted approximately every six weeks and so apply greater forces.
Healthier
Best of all, you can remove Invisalign aligners when you eat, so you can clean your teeth thoroughly after eating and avoid the demineralization or tooth decay that occurs in up to 50% of traditional brace patients. Aligners can also be removed to have them checked by your dentist or orthodontist, making regular dental care much easier.
Faster results
Computerized treatment planning is a required part of the Invisalign process. This allows the patient to preview the projected smile results and to have a clear idea of how long the treatment is likely to take, to compare different plans, and to make a sound decision.
Invisalign treatments have proven to be a quicker route to desired results than traditional orthodontics. A recent large-scale study of 408 Indiana patients with traditional appliances showed an average process time of 35.92 months, with a maximum of 96 months, compared to Invisalign, which took between 12-18 months.
So if you’ve been thinking about correcting a less-than-perfect smile, there are lots of reasons to consider getting started with Invisalign now. Give us a call to schedule your initial visit today!
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February Special Offers
 All through February, we’ve got special offers for the whole family!
For the grownups:
Give your Valentine the gift of a brighter, whiter smile. We’ll get you started by taking $100 off the cost of a chairside power bleaching session. Call Patti to schedule today!
For the kids:
With each scheduled and completed checkup and cleaning, $25 discount on the same for a second child, or on that child’s next visit. |
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Phone:
215-860-0738 |
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