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Show Quality Health Quality Caring Quality You Magna Times and West Vailey News, Sept 21, 2000 7 University helps alleviate Our aging parents According children ys fear of dentist U rr Heres a fact pediatric dentists would like to drill in. Visits to the dentist's office can now be virtually painless. Whether its the sound of the drill or die prick of the needle, many people have an unreasonable phobia of the dentist. This fear of the dentist develops at an early age and can stay with you for a lifetime. Today, advanced technology is making routine procedures, such as cavity fillings, a breeze. The Tufts University School of Dental Medicines of Department Pediatric Dentistry has proven techniques to help minimize pain in children. The tools used in pediatric' dentistry are improving all the time, so procedures are becoming easier and less painful fa the child, said Dr. George White, chairperson and professor of the Department of Pediatric Dentistry at Tufts. In the past, procedures; were painful because Of the rudi-- i mentary tools that were used.'. Now new-tooare being devels-- ; oped to improve old procedures. ls y Some of these technologies include: Air abrasion: a technique replacing the traditional bur for small surface cavities. The old procedure required drilling, but air abrasion gives a steady stream of aluminum oxide dust particles that brushes cavities from the tooths surface without making a hole. The child only feels puffs cf air. Soft tissue laser a laser used instead of the traditional scapel for gum removal. Hard tissue laser a laser for small cavities, like the air abrasion system. Digital Radiography (X-raa low radiation device that to be scanned'onto allows a computer for enhancement It helps in early diagnosis of . decay, bone loss from gum disease. as well as face and jaw alignment By identifying a problem early, dentists can manage the problem with little pain before she problem worsens. 'Mechanical'- technology" allows for more precision, less ys time in th? dental chair and more time with the patient. Dental schools are teaching students interpersonal relationship techniques in hopes of decreasing the childs fear factor, said Dr. White. By getting to know our young patients and making them feel more comfortable, we build trust and when there is trust, there is less anxiety and fear. Getting children into good oral habits early will help minimize the chance of developing serious tooth decay. To keep childrens teeth healthier. Watch your childrens diet Avoid feeding children foods with carbohydrates and sugars. They produce lactic acid and erode tooth enamel and cause tooth decay. Snacking promotes acid production. Limit food and utensil shar- ing. Tooth decay is a infectious disease. For more information about reducing dental visit anxiety for children and caring for primary teeth, refer to the AAPD website at www.aapd.org. low-gra- i. T I 1 t ( I i de Bureau to the U.S. of the Census, there are more than million 34 Americans age 65 and over. By the year 2010, that figure will rise to more than 39 million. To help take care of aging parents who need some extra help while recovering from an illness or for a longer period of time, many are turning to home care providers. One of the nations largest home care providers. Interim Healthcare, reports that it new employs over 77,000 home health workers each year, caring for approximately 20,000 patients on any given day. The company provides a wide range of services, all with the objective of allowing people to remain at home. More information about home health care providers is available by visiting www.inter-imhealt- h care.com. Nurses, companions and aides can extend the ability of many people to live in their own homes. Children and poison can be a deadly combination " . . Did you know that over the counter diet pills, mouthwash or certain types of houseplants can be lethal if swallowed by your child? Thousands of children are accidentally poisoned every year. 11 -- If your child is poisoned immediately call your local poi son control center at will need your childs age and weight, when and how the poisoning occurred and how much was ingested. Save your childs life - know' the number. Just a reminder from your friends at Tooele Valley - Medical Center. |