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Show Page The Ogden Valley news Volume XV Issue II January 1, 200 Tooth Bytes - The origin of Dental Caries? Dental Caries is an infectious bacterial infection that is transmissible. When you were born you didn’t have any bacteria in your mouth. Between birth, and one or two years of age, you acquired the full spectrum of bacteria in your mouth. Where did they all come from? With a reported 95% of the nation’s population experiencing dental decay, you have a high probability of having what is called a Dental Biofilm, which could be a bad or “Cariogenic Biofilm.” Scientists using DNA analysis and Serology have discovered that it is primarily the caregiver that transmits this to young children. It has then been observed to spread through the family. Experts in preventive dentistry have stated repeatedly that we need to “go back to the mothers.” Can a mother be a carrier of “Cariogenic Biofilm” and not have cavities? Why do some children in a family have cavities and some do not?” A world recognized expert, John D.B. Featherstone, MSC, PHD has given the answer. He has called this a “balance” between “pathological” and “protective” factors. A person can theoretically have enough of the pathological factors to result in having a potential “cariogenic biofilm,” but it is the number and power of the protective factors on the other side of this teeter-totter sketch that will determine whether a person experiences cavities or no cavities in his teeth. One of these protective factors can be a powerful natural immunity from the inherited DNA, but don’t count on it, as this is a delicate balance and can be more influenced by other “protective factors” which are in the control of the patient being coached by a knowledgeable preventive coach. Dr. Featherstone has suggested that the “First Step” is an “assessment” of the level of “Risk” for having Cariogenic Biofilm. A dental preventive therapist can use at least three methods of determining a person’s “risk” for Caries 1. Gathering information on a one-page form called the “Caries Risk Assessment Form.” This is available for children zero to five years of age, or a specific form for children six years of age to adults. Completing this form should only take five to seven minutes. 2. Fortunately, technological advances have given us a very accurate instrument for the measurement of “Caries Risk” called the “ATP Bioluminescence Meter” which is also called the “Cariscreen” meter. It requires a cotton swab of two teeth then placed into the meter and within 15 seconds, the meter will very accurately give a reading indicating this individual’s “caries risk.” The “risk” can be low, medium, high, or extreme, when coordinated with the findings of the one page Caries Risk assessment form. 3. Another test can be had by culturing a sample of a person’s “biofilm” taken from his lower anterior teeth and incubated for 24 hours. The level of “Risk” will then determine the need for therapeutic intervention. Treatment ranges from simple maintenance, a one-month intervention, or possibly high level intervention involving several months of treatment. Patients need to be warned that the usual, and customary, approach to dental caries is to wait too long and then discover the damage to the teeth during the “regular checkups.” This can be very expensive due to the costs of the repair procedures that are then needed. Experts have stated that 50% of restorations placed in teeth are in teeth that had already been restored. They have been calling this “recurrent decay,” but this is very misleading. Scientists today describe this scenario as dental decay occurring because the disease Carries was never cured in the first place. The CAMBRA (Caries Management by Risk Assessment) is the “New Standard” of dental health, which concentrates on discovering the “risks” for having cavities, hopefully long before any damage even starts to appear on the surfaces of the teeth. Fortunately, if the risk levels require one or multiple cycles of Caries treatment, each cycle is often only about the cost of one filling with “maintenance” being the most cost-effective of any other alternative. How often should this “Risk Assessment” be taken? Many patients who haven’t had frank cavities for a few years settle into what has been called a “false positive,” self-assessment of their oral health status. Even a small change in their previously powerful Protective factors could put them into a dangerous imbalance. Since change in “risk factors” can occur without a patient’s knowledge, a risk factor “assessment” is highly recommended every three months, six months, or possibly a minimum of twelve month intervals. Dental Caries is not child’s play and constant vigilance is highly recommended. For example, there are more than of 3,000 medications, which can result in a “hyposalivation”. “Dry mouth syndrome” can occur with its devastating dental decay within a very short period of time. This is “blindsiding” many middle aged and seniors with rapid and rampant dental decay but also has been experienced by children, teens and young adults who begin taking certain medications, long or short term. What is the cost of regular Risk Assessment? This depends on each individual office, but with the full-page risk assessment and the Cariscreen screening it may be about $20. More and more dental insurances are paying a percentage or possibly all of this cost. Today is the most economical day of your life to cure Dental Caries. Tomorrow will be more expensive. As long as present supplies last, mothers, and expectant mothers will be offered a Cariscreen screening and a Caries Risk Assessment analysis without charge. Those interested can call Dr. Cliff Sorensen for a home visit at 745-2301, or for the locations of the group screening sessions. For all others, a complimentary consultation is available by telephone or personal visit. A Healthy New Year’s Resolution for Your Eyes— January is Glaucoma Awareness Month Each year as the New Year approaches, people around the world resolve to make changes that will result in longer, happier, and healthier lives. Often people are determined to lose weight while others are committed to kicking unhealthy habits such as smoking. This year EyeCare America would like to add “Get a Glaucoma Eye Exam!” to the list of healthy resolutions, and January’s Glaucoma Awareness Month is the perfect time to do it. Vision loss from Glaucoma can be devastating, and can drastically change the life of a once active adult. In fact, nearly three million people have glaucoma, but half do not realize it because there are often no warning symptoms. In a healthy eye, fluid is constantly being made and drained through a microscopic, drainage canal. When something blocks or prevents this natural drainage, the pressure inside the eye goes up. Glaucoma is often caused by increased pressure that can develop when the fluids in the eye are not draining properly. This condition eventually damages the nerve that connects the eye to the brain (the optic nerve) and leads to loss of vision. In honor of Glaucoma Awareness Month (January), EyeCare America, the public service foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, encourages those without insurance to take advantage of its national Glaucoma EyeCare Program. The program offers glaucoma eye exams for those at increased risk of glaucoma. To see if you, a loved one, or a friend is eligible to receive a referral for an eye exam and care. You can call 1- 00-391-EYES (3937), 24 hours a day, every day, year round. All eligible callers receive a referral to one of EyeCare America’s 7,100 volunteer ophthalmologists. If deemed necessary, those eligible for a referral through the glaucoma program receive a glaucoma eye exam and the initiation of treatment. Uninsured patients receive the above care at no charge. Symptoms of Glaucoma While, occasionally, the condition may come on suddenly; most cases progress so slowly there are often no warning signs before damage inside the eye has already occurred. In many cases, a person’s side vision (peripheral vision) is affected. Who is at risk? While the causes for glaucoma are not completely known, we do know that risk factors for its development include family history, race and older age. Glaucoma may affect people of any age from newborns to the elderly but is more common in adults as they approach their senior years. African-Americans, Hispanics, and people with diabetes are also at higher risk of getting the disease. How is glaucoma treated? Glaucoma can be treated with any of the following: • Eye drops that lower eye pressure • Laser therapy that allows for better drainage of fluids inside the eye • Eye surgery to create a new drainage canal If not treated, glaucoma can and does lead to total blindness. Glaucoma is easily detected with a medical eye examination. Ophthalmologists (medical eye doctors) can measure the pressure inside the eye with a quick and painless office test. Glaucoma doesn’t have to interfere with leading a happy, sighted, and fulfilling life. Detecting the disease early can save your sight! The Glaucoma EyeCare Program promotes early detection and treatment of glaucoma. It raises awareness of glaucoma risk factors, provides free glaucoma educational materials, and facilitates access to a glaucoma eye examination. The Glaucoma EyeCare Program is designed for people who: •Are US citizens or legal residents •Have not had an eye exam in 12 months or more • Are deemed to be at increased risk for glaucoma (as determined by family history, race, age) People may call the toll-free help line at 1- 00-391-EYES (3937) anytime, for themselves and/or family members and friends, to see if they qualify for a glaucoma eye exam or to request free eye care information. Facts About Glaucoma • Approximately 120,000 are blind from glaucoma, accounting for 9% to 12% of all cases of blindness in the U.S. • Glaucoma is the leading cause of blindness among African-Americans. • Hispanics have a 5% incidence of glaucoma, which is more than double that of the general population. • Glaucoma is 4 times more common in AfricanAmericans than Caucasians. • The most common form, Open Angle Glaucoma, accounts for 19% of all blindness among AfricanAmericans compared to 6% in Caucasians. • Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the U.S. and the first leading cause of preventable blindness. Founded in 1985, EyeCare America is a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, is committed to the preservation of sight, accomplishing its mission through public service and education. EyeCare America’s public service programs provide eye care services to the medically underserved and for those at increased risk for eye disease through its corps of 7,100 volunteer ophthalmologists dedicated to serving their communities. More than 90 percent of the care made available is provided with no out-of-pocket cost to the patients. Public service includes programs for seniors, glaucoma, diabetes and children, and is the largest program of its kind in American medicine. EyeCare America is a non-profit organization whose success is made possible through charitable contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations. More information can be found at <www.eyecareamerica.org> Peak Handyman Services Residential & Commercial Licensed & Insured 01-621-5575 P O Box 135 Eden, UT 4310 01-920-4796 801-745-4000 All Offers COnsidered! 2555 WOLF CREEK DR. 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