Growing Smiles

2011 Annual Candy Buyback

2011-10-17T07:41:00.000-07:00

Thursday, November 3^rd

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.
1425 Wakarusa Drive, Suite D
Lawrence, KS

For each pound of candy you donate, you are entered for a chance to win a great prize. One ticket for each pound of candy!

All candy will be sent overseas to military personnel. We are encouraging kids to write a letter to a soldier to be included with the care package. Other donations to our military will be accepted. Please feel free to wear your costume!

There will be lots of great prizes like video games, bowling passes, gift cards, etc. you can put your tickets in a drawing to win!

Bring your Halloween Candy to Growing Smiles!

All shipping and packing costs are generously provided by the UPS Store - 865-0004.

Free Fun at the 2nd Annual Growing Smiles Summer Bash - July 23rd from 9 - 12!

2011-07-18T09:26:00.000-07:00

Attention all Growing Smiles Patients and Parents: Don't forget to come out this Saturday, July 23rd to the 2nd Annual Growing Smiles Summer Bash!

Free for all Growing Smiles Patients and Parents as a BIG thank you! (Bring a friend and an adult!)

Free food, games, prizes. And don't forget to have your picture taken with the KU Mascot!

It will be at the North LR Dad Perry Park (On Harvard between Monterey Way and Kasold).

Run time from Nine to Noon. Come for a little while or the whole time!

Here is the flyer for the 2nd Annual Growing Smiles Summer Bash:

Free Kids' Bike Race July 3rd on Mass Street during Tour of Lawrence

2011-06-16T10:53:00.000-07:00

For more information, visit the Tour of Lawrence website.

Kids’ Bike Race will be organized and staffed by the Lawrence Bicycle Club. Age appropriated distances of 50, 100 meters or 1 mile will be offered. Bring your child and their Bike, Trike, Scooter or Big Wheel to race down Mass Street. Streets will be closed to automobiles creating a safe environment. Helmets Required. Medals to the first 250 racers. Everyone is a winner. Bib numbers will be given out and every participant is registered for a chance to win a free $100 gift certificate to Lawrence Cycle Works and a coupon for a free ColdStone Creamery ice cream and one for a free Chipotle taco redeemable at Chipotle’s two Lawrence locations. *Race requires a release form to be filled out for each kid.

Calendar Contest to Benefit Tiny-K

2011-06-15T14:39:00.000-07:00

Draw a Picture to be Included in the 2012 Growing Smiles Calendar!

Instructions:

1. Have your little one draw a picture on 8.5 x 11 paper – landscape view. No limit to how many times you can enter!

2. The theme of the picture should be based on a month of the year. For example, for October, you could draw a picture of Halloween or Fall.

3. Make sure they sign their first name and age on the picture. Put your contact information on the back.

4. Drop it off at Growing Smiles by August 1, 2011. 12 – 24 pictures will be chosen and go on sale starting September 2011. All proceeds benefit Tiny-K.

Thanks to Printing Solutions for helping defer part of the printing costs. Any questions, call us at 785-856-5600!

Announcing the iPad Winner

2011-03-29T14:26:00.000-07:00

Congratulations to The Graves family of Lawrence, KS for winning the Facebook/Twitter iPad2 drawing. After it was (finally) delivered they came by the office today to pick it up. A picture of the happy winners is above!

The family has been coming to Growing Smiles since 2008 and they plan to let everyone in the family (not just the kids!) use the iPad2. They plan to use it to write stories, play games and use all of those cool apps. When told they won, their first reaction was "Is this real?" Their favorite part about coming to Growing Smiles is the "prizes, movies and televisions at each chair and the games" in the waiting room.

Thanks again to all who participated and made this such a fun experience!

Growing Smiles Team Participating in Bowl for Kids' Sake

2011-03-08T07:04:00.001-08:00

The Growing Smiles Team will be participating in the Douglas County Bowl for Kids' Sake fundraiser benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of Douglas County on April 8th. The event is BBBS largest fundraiser in Kansas and benefits kids in need. If you would be interested in sponsoring the Growing Smiles Team, visit the website or give us a call at 785-856-5600.

Growing Smiles Presented to 1245 Kids During February!

2011-03-03T07:03:00.000-08:00

We are proud to announce that we have completed our presentations for National Children's Dental Health Month. In February, we presented to 1245 kiddos about the importance of taking care of their teeth and gums. If you would like us to present at your child's school next year (generally pre-school or elementary kids get the most out of it) call us at 785-856-5600. Thanks especially to all of the teachers who shared there time with us!

Here is a list of the schools we attended in 2011:

One of a Kind

Kids First

New York

Woodlawn

Sunflower

Green Pastures

Googols of Learning

Pinckney

Prairie Park

Stepping Stones

Quail Run

Langston Hughes

Hillcrest

Princeton

Deerfield

Sneak Peak at the New Junior Jayhawks Logo!

2011-02-23T07:07:00.001-08:00

You guys are the first to see the new Junior Jayhawks Logo!

Sipping, Snacking and Tooth Decay

2011-02-21T07:11:00.000-08:00

Now more than ever, kids are faced with a bewildering array of food choices -- from fresh produce to sugar-laden processed convenience meals and snack foods. What children eat and when they eat it may affect not only their general health but also their oral health.

Americans are consuming foods and drinks high in sugar and starches more often and in larger portions than ever before. It’s clear that ―junk foods and drinks gradually have replaced nutritious beverages and foods for many people. For example, the average teenage boy in the U.S. consumes 81 gallons of soft drinks each year! Alarmingly, a steady diet of sugary foods and drinks can ruin teeth, especially among those who snack throughout the day. Common activities may contribute to the tendency toward tooth decay. These include grazing habitually on foods with minimal nutritional value, and frequently sipping on sugary drinks.

When sugar is consumed over and over again in large, often hidden amounts, the harmful effect on teeth can be dramatic. Sugar on teeth provides food for bacteria, which produce acid. The acid in turn can eat away the enamel on teeth.

Almost all foods have some type of sugar that cannot and should not be eliminated from our diets. Many of these foods contain important nutrients and add enjoyment to eating. But there is a risk for tooth decay from a diet high in sugars and starches. Starches can be found in everything from bread to pretzels to salad dressing, so read labels and plan carefully for a balanced, nutritious diet for you and your kids.

Reduce your children’s risk of tooth decay:

- Sugary foods and drinks should be consumed with meals. Saliva production increases during meals and helps neutralize acid production and rinse food particles from the mouth.

- Limit between-meal snacks. If kids crave a snack, offer them nutritious foods.

- If your kids chew gum, make it sugarless – Chewing sugarless gum after eating can increase saliva flow and help wash out food and decay-producing acid.

- Monitor beverage consumption – Instead of soft drinks all day, children should also choose water and low-fat milk.

- Help your children develop good brushing and flossing habits.

- Schedule regular dental visits.

The Link Between Your Smile and Overall Health

2011-02-11T10:26:00.000-08:00

According to a recent study, dental experts have found a correlation between oral health and some serious diseases.

The ADA has noted that only 10% of the US population flosses everyday. Failure to properly floss can lead to swelling and inflamation of the gums which is called gingivitis. About 70 percent of adults have some form of gingivitis.

According to a recent article:

“When there’s chronic gum inflammation, bacteria byproducts start accruing around the roots of the teeth,” Dr. Levine describes. “If the wall of the gum tissue gets too inflamed, it can thin to a point where it’s permeable. There are these micro-cuts in the gum lining, almost like tiny cuts on your finger. With the gum opened, there’s a pathway — a portal of entry for bacteria to get into the bloodstream.”

The current thinking is that when these bacterial byproducts enter the bloodstream, they end up nicking the walls of the arteries. As the immune system dispatches its cellular soldiers to heal the nicks, there’s a cascade of inflammation that eventually leads to clot formations and plaque buildup in the arteries.

“There have been studies showing that the plaque from periodontal disease is the same plaque that builds up on the carotid artery,” says Dr. Levine. “So now you’re at risk for cardiovascular disease, or CVD. And if the plaque gets dislodged, you’re looking at the potential for a stroke.”

Good oral health habits start early! Make sure your kids brush and floss regularly so that they can avoid these serious health problems later in life. Most studies suggest that kids who brush and floss early in life and regularly visit the dentist will carry these good habits into adulthood. If you need any suggestions with how to help you kids with brushing and flossing, check out Teeth 101 on the Growing Smiles website!

Celebrating National Children's Dental Health Month

2011-02-07T08:18:00.000-08:00

Every February, the American Dental Association (ADA) sponsors National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Growing Smiles is participating again this year by visiting local Douglas County elementary schools and presenting on the importance of developing good habits at an early age. Staff members use age appropriate puppets and talk with the kids about why teeth are important, how to keep teeth clean, what foods are healthy snacks and what to expect at their dental visit. Scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums! For more information on National Children's Dental Health Month, visit the ADA National Children's Dental Health Month Website. If you would like your child's class to be included in one of our presentations, please contact us at 785-856-5600.

What's in a Smile?

2011-01-25T07:05:00.000-08:00

Interesting article in the New York Times about when and how we interpret smiles. A short excerpt from the article:

people recognize smiles by mimicking them. When a smiling person locks eyes with another person, the viewer unknowingly mimics a smile as well. In their new paper, Dr. Niedenthal and her colleagues point to a number of studies indicating that this imitation activates many of the same regions of the brain that are active in the smiler.

A happy smile, for example, is accompanied by activity in the brain’s reward circuits, and looking at a happy smile can excite those circuits as well. Mimicking a friendly smile produces a different pattern of brain activity. It activates a region of the brain called the orbitofrontal cortex, which distinguishes feelings for people with whom we have a close relationship from others. The orbitofrontal cortex becomes active when parents see their own babies smile, for example, but not other babies.

So, smiling at each other does lead to positive feelings. Growing Smiles recommends plenty of them! To read more from the article, follow the link here.

The Importance of Early Dental Health

2011-01-19T08:13:00.000-08:00

As an effective way to begin a lifelong program of preventive dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that dental visits begin with the appearance of a child's first tooth, typically around six months but no later than one year.

During the first visit, Dr. Kelli Henderson and her staff check for proper oral and facial development to determine whether teeth are growing in properly and to detect early tooth decay. It also gives the Growing Smiles team a chance to walk parents through a home dental care program for their children.

Early preventive care also is a sound health and economic investment. Studies show that the dental costs for children who have their first dental visit before age one are 40 percent lower in the first five years than for those who do not see a dentist prior to their first birthday. In addition, without preventive care, the impact of tooth decay on child development can be striking. Numerous studies have linked childhood cavities with lower than ideal body weight. Even more disturbing is evidence that the effects of poor oral health may be felt for a lifetime: emerging research suggests that improper oral hygiene may increase a child's risk of eventually having low-birth-weight babies, developing heart disease or suffering a stroke as an adult.

In addition to regular dental visits, Dr. Kelli Henderson recommends that parents take the following precautions to help prevent tooth decay in children:

• Brush your child's gums twice a day with a soft cloth or baby toothbrush and water even before the first tooth appears.

• Talk to Dr. Henderson about your child's fluoride needs.

• If you must put your child to sleep with a bottle, use nothing but water - other beverages can damage teeth, leading to cavities.

• Never dip a pacifier into honey or anything sweet before giving it to a baby.

• The best times for your child to brush are after breakfast and before bed.

• Limit frequency of snacking, which can increase a child's risk of developing cavities.

• Take good care of your own teeth. Studies show that babies and small children can catch cavity-causing bacteria from their parents.

Happy Holidays from the Growing Smiles Team!

2010-12-21T11:03:00.000-08:00

Just a short note to wish everyone a safe and happy holiday. Hope that you are enjoying family and friends and spending quality time with everyone. We are taking a short break at the office but will re-open December 27th. If you need to reach us, please visit the website or call us at 785-856-5600.

Great Video For Growing Smiles

2010-12-01T07:45:00.001-08:00

For all you kids (and parents) who want to know about teeth cleaning, watch the video below!

Growing Smiles Featured on the News!

2010-11-23T07:22:00.000-08:00

Just a quick update to the candy buyback program. We were featured on Channel 49 in Topeka. If you would like to view the video, click here to see it. You can also click here to read the story. Thanks again to everyone who participated! We sent it out to the troops and they should be receiving it shortly.

Toys-For-Tots Drop-Off

2010-11-16T09:14:00.000-08:00

For the Fourth Year in a row, Growing Smiles is a drop-off location for Douglas County Toys-for-Tots.

Please bring a new, unopened toy to Growing Smiles at 1425 Wakarusa, Suite D. The last day we will be accepting toys for the program is December 20, 2010. All toys and money donations go to children in and around Douglas County.

We are looking forward to helping this great program. Please call us at 785-856-5600 if you have any questions.

Over 500 Pounds of Candy Donated By Growing Smiles Patients!

2010-11-11T07:17:00.000-08:00

On November 3, 2010, over 200 families showed up to Growing Smiles to donate candy to our military personnel overseas during the Candy Buyback Program! We collected over 500 pounds of candy (and probably eliminated a whole bunch of cavities too!)

Here is a picture of just part of the candy we received:

The kids had a great time getting a ticket for each pound of candy they donated. Then they entered it in a raffle to win a cool prize, like an XBox 360, a Nintendo DS and lots of other cool prizes.

Thanks again to all of those who participated and to the winners of all the neat prizes for making this such a fun event. We also collected several letters from kids to our service men and women that we will include with the care package. If you missed the event, we will be doing it again in 2011!

Growing Smiles Candy Buy Back - November 3, 2010!

2010-10-26T08:58:00.000-07:00

Growing Smiles Candy Buyback!

Wednesday, November 3^rd

4 p.m. – 6 p.m.

1425 Wakarusa Drive, Suite D

Lawrence, KS

For each pound of candy you donate, you are entered for a chance to win a great prize. One ticket for each pound of candy!

Prizes Include:

- Xbox 360 courtesy of CD Tradepost

- Nintendo DS Handheld Game!

- Video games, movies and more!

- Hundreds of Silly Bandz!

- Lots of other great prizes!

Bring your Halloween Candy to Growing Smiles!

Toys-For-Tots Drop-Off at Growing Smiles

2009-11-10T09:56:00.000-08:00

For the third straight year, Growing Smiles is proud to announce we will be a drop-off location for Toys 4 Tots of Douglas County.

Toys 4 Tots is a national toy drive run by the United States Marine Corps to help collect gifts for children who would otherwise not receive gifts this holiday season. The Douglas County Toys for Tots Program began in 1990 by a group of local volunteers. Since there is no Marine Corps Reserve Unit in Lawrence, the Douglas County program continues to rely on volunteers, is sanctioned by the Toys for Tots Foundation and follows all the guidelines of the National Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots. Douglas County Toys for Tots has no official office or paid staff, all administrative costs are self funded. All donations made directly to the local group remain in our community and all money collected is used solely to purchase toys.

In 2008 Douglas County Toys for Tots distributed approximately 7600 toys to 1903 children and teens in our community. We collected 4560 toys, received toys from the national foundation, and spent and additional $21,500.00 on toys.

Please bring a new, unused toy to Growing Smiles at 1425 Wakarusa Drive, Suite D.

To find other locations around Douglas County, click here.

To make a donation online, click here.

FDA Reaffirms the Safety of Amalgam Fillings

2009-08-19T06:33:00.000-07:00

Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reaffirmed the safety and effectiveness of amalgam fillings.

George Washington's Teeth: He didn't need any fillings!

According to the American Dental Academy, the FDA ruling "issued today categorizes encapsulated dental amalgam as a class II medical device, placing it in the same class as gold and tooth-colored composite fillings. "

"Dental amalgam is a cavity-filling material made by combining mercury with other metals such as silver, copper and tin. Numerous scientific studies conducted over the past several decades, including two large clinical trials published in the April 2006 Journal of the American Medical Association, indicate dental amalgam is a safe, effective cavity-filling material for children and others. And, in its 2009 review of the scientific literature on amalgam safety, the ADA's Council on Scientific Affairs reaffirmed that the scientific evidence continues to support amalgam as a valuable, viable and safe choice for dental patients." Read the entire ADA statement here.

Amalgam fillings or "silver fillings" are a valuable tool in the appropriate situation. Growing Smiles also uses composite or "white fillings" in the appropriate situation or when the parent prefers them for aesthetic reasons. Feel free to discuss any concerns or preferences you may have with me or with my team members regarding any issues you may have with your child's dental treatment at Growing Smiles.

Read the full FDA release by clicking here.

Click here to read the full statement by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry.

Kids and Snacks

2009-07-13T07:59:00.000-07:00

Here is an interesting article published in The Washington Post. Dentists weighed in about what kids should and should not eat. These foods don't have to be totally eliminated from the diet - just limit them and brush/floss!

Brush. Floss. Repeat for Years.

I asked four dentists with extensive experience what they would banish from kids' diets:

- Soda and Gatorade. "Pure sugar-delivery systems," is how Dana Greenwald described them. "Get your child to become a water drinker," says Brian Brumbaugh.

- Raisins, or anything that sticks to the pits and grooves of the teeth.

- Anything that the child eats after his or her teeth are brushed at night, especially milk in a bottle. This is a major cause of early-onset tooth decay.

All four dentists said that two minutes of tooth-brushing is ideal for children. All four also allowed how difficult it can be to get a child to brush for anywhere near that long.

Flossing is even more of a challenge, mostly because children don't have the fine motor skills to do it. Try flossers, brightly colored plastic wands with a length of floss at the end. "Just because you're not flossing the traditional way doesn't mean it's bad," Samaddar says. "If you do it some way or another and it's marginally effective, it's still more effective than not doing it at all. Ideally you want to do it seven days a week, but if you're doing it four days a week, that's pretty darn good."

Click here to read the full story.

New Study Confirms the Effectiveness of Xylitol on Tooth Decay

2009-07-07T08:25:00.000-07:00

As many of you know, I am a strong supporter of getting kids to the dentist by age 1 so that we can head off tooth decay. Early Childhood Caries (ECC) is a significant health problem today affecting a large population of kids.

One "tool in my belt" against ECC is the use of Xylitol products. Xylitol is a natural substance found in fibrous vegetables and fruit, as well as in corn cobs and various hardwood trees like birch. To read more about Xylitol and its use in the dental field, click here.

A multitude of studies have suggested that Xylitol is an effective treatment that prevents tooth decay. We sell many of these products in the office and you can also find them online and even in stores.

A new study has now re-confirmed the effectiveness of Xylitol in younger kids. As reported in the July issue of Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Medpage Today reports as follows:

"These results provide evidence for the first time . . . that xylitol is effective for the prevention of decay in primary teeth of toddlers," the researchers said.

Some children -- especially those in poor socioeconomic situations -- are susceptible to severe tooth decay early in life -- a condition known as early childhood caries (ECC).

The disease has been linked to several species of bacteria, particularly mutans streptococci, with its ability to colonize tooth surfaces and produce lactic acid that demineralizes tooth enamel.

Xylitol has been shown effective in preventing tooth decay through its selective antibacterial action against mutans streptococci, the researchers said.

***

"Our results suggest that exposure to xylitol in a twice-daily topical oral syrup during primary tooth eruption could prevent up to 70% of decayed teeth," the researchers said.

However, the researchers cautioned that use of Xylitol is only one means to fight tooth decay and that brushing, flossing and regular visits to the dentist are imperative:

The researchers said their findings support the position of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and of an NIH consensus statement that "xylitol is an important tool for the prevention of dental caries."

They added that more work is needed to develop strategies for the public health application of xylitol.

In an accompanying editorial, Burton L. Edelstein, DDS, MPH, of Columbia, added that the report highlights the need for more work in refining and standardizing risk assessment, creating interventions, and developing prevention and management tools.

He added that the findings are "encouraging" and "hold strong promise to significantly dampen ECC occurrence." They also "suggest the addition of this approach to pharmacologic management in public health and individual care settings."

While xylitol "will likely become a routine element of ECC control," Dr. Edelstein said, the high prevalence of tooth decay (24 to 41%) even among treated children "reminds us that no single silver bullet is going to solve the problem of ECC."

Read the full article here.

Tiny-K Board Membership

2009-07-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

I was asked recently to join the Douglas County tiny-k Early Intervention Board of Directors here in Lawrence, KS. I was honored to accept the invitation and explore more about what this great organization does for our community. We had our first meeting this week and I will continue to update you.

In their own words:

tiny-k Early Intervention is the agency in Douglas County, Kansas, that provides support and services to children, ages birth to three who have special needs, and their families.

tiny-k works with parents and child care providers to help them learn strategies and carry out interventions with their child throughout the day.

tiny-k provides support in the child’s natural environments using already existing routines and activities.

tiny-k staff use Evidence-Based Practices in their interaction with families and children.

tiny-k services are provided at no-cost to the family. tiny-k provides free developmental screenings to all children, birth to three years old, in Douglas County.

Front Page Article in LJ World Regarding Budget Cuts for Dental Program

2009-06-23T07:37:00.000-07:00

A recent article in the Lawrence Journal World outlined recent administrative budget cuts for a state program that provided dental care to low income pregnant women in Kansas:

A program that was meant to provide dental care for low-income pregnant women in Kansas has never gotten off the ground because of a lack of funding to administer it, officials say.

Lawmakers had appropriated $500,000 to pay for the dental care, but have slashed administrative expenses at the Kansas Health Policy Authority to the extent that the agency hasn’t been able to implement the initiative, according to KHPA officials.

Click here to read the full article.

As discussed in my previous post regarding the new American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry Perinatal and Infant Oral Health Guidelines, dental care during preganancy is crucial for the health of the child and the mom. More quotes from the release:

[The new guidelines] call for all pregnant women to receive counseling and oral healthcare during pregnancy, and also that infants receive an oral health risk assessment and oral care by their first birthday. These steps will contribute to optimal oral health for both mom and baby.

“There is evidence associating periodontal disease and increased risk of preterm birth and low birth weight,” said AAPD’s Immediate Past-President Dr. Beverly Largent. A recently published study found significant differences between women treated for periodontal disease and those who were not treated. The findings suggest that incorporating periodontal care may result in improved pregnancy outcomes.

More to come on this issue . . .

AAPD Releases New Perinatal and Infant Oral Health Guidelines

2009-06-22T06:51:00.000-07:00

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) announced new oral health guidelines for expectant mothers and infants following its 62nd Annual Session in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Some highlights that you and your little one may find helpful:

Recent studies suggest that incorporating periodontal care during pregnancy may result in improved pregnancy outcomes. This finding suggests that taking care of your dental needs while you are pregnant can help prevent preterm and low birth-weight babies.

Proggie, http://www.flickr.com/photos/tym/191534942

Mothers with poor oral health may be at greater risk of infecting their children with the bacteria that causes cavities, increasing their children’s caries risk at an early age. What this means for moms and moms-to-be: visit your dentist both while you are pregnant and after the baby is born to have a complete professional examination and cleaning.

The updated guidelines also address proper oral care for infants and toddlers, the age group most susceptible to early childhood caries (ECC), which is an infectious but preventable disease that causes tooth decay and potentially more serious health issues. When left untreated, ECC can affect speech and communication, eating and dietary nutrition, sleeping, learning, playing, and quality of life – even into adulthood. The guidelines outline how simple changes in a mother’s oral hygiene, diet, use of topical fluoride and sharing of eating utensils can significantly reduce a child’s risk for ECC.

Click here to link to the full release.

3 Great Big Surprises Are Coming!

2009-06-15T09:58:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!

Sorry for the extremely long delay between postings. It has been very busy. But I promise to update this blog more often.

Just wanted to let everyone know that there are 3 BIG SURPRISES in the works!

I'll let you in on the first one: Growing Smiles is getting a new website!

The website will be totally redesigned with new features and some great information on kids and oral health. Ultimately, it will be a significant resource to help you and your little one. Look for it to be up by mid-summer.

For existing patients, it will allow you to login and:

1. See your account statement.

2. Determine when your next appointment is. This feature will also allow you to sign up to receive text messages and email reminders for your next appointment.

3. Make a payment online.

We are very excited and hope that it will allow our patients to easily interact with Growing Smiles and myself.

About the other 2 SURPRISES . . . you will have to check back soon! I can give you two hints: one involves me and the other involves a great partnership that Growing Smiles has entered into.

Have a great week!

National Children's Dental Health Month

2008-01-29T14:50:00.000-08:00

Gear up kids and parents too: February is National Children's Dental Health Month (NCDHM)!

NCDHM is sponsored by the American Dental Association. According to the ADA.org website:

Each February, the American Dental Association sponsors National Children’s Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health.

Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

I could not agree more with the last part. The key to establishing lifetime oral health for your child is to: (1) get your children into the habit of brushing and flossing their teeth daily; and (2) start to schedule regular dental visits at the age of 1.

According to an article published in USA Today:

Preschoolers today are more likely to have cavities than children did in the early 1990s, possibly because they are drinking more soda and juice drinks and less milk and water with fluoride, according to the most comprehensive government report on oral health in 25 years.

The percentage of children ages 2 to 5 who have had at least one cavity in their baby teeth was 28% in 1999-2004, up from 24% in 1988-1994.

The latest data are from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, which is considered the gold standard because thousands of participants were interviewed and examined by dentists.

Tooth decay in adults and children had been decreasing since the 1960s, says the report's lead author, Bruce Dye, a dentist and epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Center for Health Statistics. "This is the first time we're seeing a rise, and it's in the baby teeth of young children.

"Baby teeth are just as important as adult teeth," Dye says. "We know from population studies that kids who have cavities in their baby teeth are more likely to have cavities in their adult teeth. And premature loss of baby teeth will more likely create crowding problems for adult teeth."

A similar article was also published by the New York Times.

I would be glad to see your child at Growing Smiles. Please call one of our team members at 785-856-5600 anytime to schedule a visit.

Happy New Year & Your Child's First Visit!

2007-12-27T11:45:00.000-08:00

Just wanted to say Happy Holidays & New Years to all of my patients and readers!

I wanted to wish you all the best for 2008 and beyond!

But hey, it wouldn't be a new year if I didn't offer a few dental related tidbits.

One question that I commonly get is: "What exactly will you do at my child's first examination?"

First, and most importantly, we will familiarize your child with the office, with being in the dental chair and with having someone examine their teeth.

Second, we will take your child's picture in the "butterfly chair." We find that the kids are very excited to have their picture taken and this makes going to the dentist more enjoyable. After the kids get their picture taken in the butterfly chair, we also "take pictures" of the kids teeth (i.e., x-rays) ;)

Third, we will do a comprehensive oral examination and evaluation, a professional dental cleaning and the application of fluoride (more on fluoride is coming up!). In addition, we take x-rays, do an oral cancer screening, check for cavities and evaluate periodontal health (gums). We also make specific suggestions for home care, and give your child any aids they may need (such as an age appropriate toothbrush, floss and toothpaste). At each visit, we also review your child's dental and medical history to ensure that all information is up to date.

Finally, your child gets a fun new toy and a balloon to take home!

Sealants: All You Ever Wanted to Know . . . And More

2007-11-13T13:01:00.000-08:00

Okay, maybe not everything you wanted to know, but I will try and explain sealants and there application to pediatric dentistry.

Stated simply, a sealant is a protective plastic coating that is applied to the biting surfaces of the back teeth (molars and pre-molars). Sealants are generally only applied on permanent or adult teeth. The sealant forms a hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay.

Below is a photo of the "grooves" in a permanent tooth.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) states the following:

According to national estimates, by 17 years of age, 78% of children in the United States have experienced caries (ie, cavities). As much as 90% of all caries in school-aged children occurs in pits and fissures.

You may be now asking yourself what is a pit or a fissure? A pit or a fissure are the "dips and grooves" in the tooth which may predispose stagnation of food and microbes. Stagnation of food occurs during eating or drinking when the substance fails to dislodge or to be physically removed through brushing and flossing of the teeth.

Click here for a cool animation of how sealants are applied.

Sealants are totally pain free, and the teeth do not feel any different afterwards. Sealants generally last for many years, but we will want to check them regularly to make sure that the "seal" is still intact. Sealants can wear over time, and sometimes it may be necessary to add or replace some sealant to be sure that no decay can start underneath them.

The teeth at highest risk by far are permanent first and second molars. Sealants are often applied as soon as the permanent teeth start to come through. This is usually between 6 and 7 years of age. The rest are usually sealed as soon as they appear which can be any time between 11 and 14 years of age.

Most insurance companies provide coverage for sealants on permanent molars. If you would like to know if your child is a candidate for sealants, please feel free to schedule an examination at Growing Smiles. You can reach a team member at 785.856.5600.

When Do I Bring My Little One To The Dentist?

2007-11-12T09:12:00.000-08:00

This is probably the most common question that I am asked. Everyone wants to know when they should bring their child in to see the dentist.

According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, a child should see a dentist by age one or when the first tooth appears. For more information, visit the AAPD website.

It is important to understand the reason why I want to see kids in the office so early. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "caries (or what is commonly referred to as cavities) is perhaps the most prevalent of infectious diseases in our nation’s children. More than 40% of children have caries by the time they reach kindergarten."

Caries (ie, cavities) are largely preventable. Proper oral health habits, such as brushing and flossing the correct way, are imperative to preventing caries. In addition to oral hygiene, proper diet and using a fluoridated toothpaste are also important for good dental health. Finally, establishing a dental home for infants by 12 months of age is the final step in the prevention of childhood caries. See this clinical guideline published by the AAPD for more information.

We would love to make Growing Smiles your child's dental home. For more information or to schedule an appointment, contact one of our team members at 785.856.5600.

Pictures of the Office

2007-11-12T09:03:00.000-08:00

Okay, folks, I am new to the blogging world, but I am getting the hang of the new digital camera. I wanted to show everyone a picture of the front of the office.

As you can tell, we have pumpkins still out from Halloween!

We are located in the Oread West business park on the northwest corner of Bob Billings Parkway (or 15th Street) and Wakarusa Drive.

We are on the lower level of the building near the infinity fountain.

Remember, if you have any questions please email me at info@WeGrowSmiles.com!

Welcome to Growing Smiles!

2007-11-09T08:02:00.001-08:00

Thank you for reading the first post ever for Growing Smiles!

First, I would like to take a second to introduce myself. My name is Kelli Henderson, and I am a solo-practice pediatric dentist here in Lawrence, KS.

I created Growing Smiles to serve the dental needs of the children of Kansas. My goal is to provide each patient with comprehensive dental treatment in a safe, caring and calm environment. I also want to ensure that each child has excellent oral health skills for life.

I opened Growing Smiles this year with these goals in mind. To learn more about my practice, you can visit http://www.WeGrowSmiles.com/. Please note that the website is currently under construction; however, please check back soon for updates!

And now, a little bit about me: I attended dental school at OU (no, KU Fans, I am not a Sooner Fan-Go Hawks!). After dental school, I completed a one year general practice residency at the Children's Hospital at the OU Medical Center. My husband and I then moved to Michigan, where I completed a two year residency in pediatric dentistry at the Children's Hospital of Michigan in Detroit.

Feel free to visit this blog frequently for updates and insights into pediatric dentistry! If you have any questions, email me at info@WeGrowSmiles.com.

Thanks!

Dr. Kelli Henderson.