This week,
Dr. Mark Doherty discussed the DentaQuest Institute’s Safety net Solutions
program, we’re reminded that good oral health practices begin in infancy and we
sum up the 2014 Yankee Dental Congress. Have thoughts on today’s news? Join the
conversation on Twitter using #FridayDentalDL.
DentaQuest’s
Safety Net Solutions (SNS) Executive Director Dr. Mark Doherty was interviewed
by DrBicuspid on DentaQuest Institute’s SNS program. Dr. Doherty sums up the program well saying,
"The health centers that we work with are these one-stop shopping places,
where patients and parents can have social interaction, healthcare, dental
care, recreation, get food, get their pharmacy needs taken care of, and
more." You can read more about the SNS program here.
This article reiterates the fact that dental hygiene is a
vital part of overall health, and cites the Surgeon General’s Report,Oral Health in America,which found that
oral diseases and disorders affect health and wellbeing throughout one’s life.
The article goes on to explain that studies have linked periodontal (gum)
disease to a heightened risk of heart attack and stroke, and poor dental health
to Alzheimer’s disease. Because cavities can happen as early as nine months of
age, it’s important for parents make sure their children are brushing, flossing
and visiting a dentist regularly, starting in infancy.
The
American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry’s recently released State
of Little Teeth report was another hot topic this week. DrBicuspid’s article calls out the fact
that early childhood caries (ECC) is a growing epidemic in America, and that
ECC is the most common childhood disease. The article explains that poor
children between ages 2 and 9 are twice as likely to have dental caries than those
in higher economic groups, possibly caused by poor diet and lack of education.
Check out DentaQuest Institute’s Early
Childhood Caries collaborative, which aims to lower the
rates of ECC in today’s children through education and preventive care.
The 39th annual Yankee Dental Congress in Boston came
to a close this week, and what a success it was! Over 450 exhibitors offered
products and services at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center and more
than 300 continuing education courses were offered, some of which were taught
by members of the DentaQuest team. You can read more about Dr. Brian Novy, Dr.
Mark Doherty and Dori Bingham’s sessions here.
The FDA launched a new anti-smoking campaign this week
targeting teenagers by focusing on how smoking affects teenagers' appearance by
ruining their skin and teeth. One graphic TV ad shows a teenager buying a pack
of cigarettes at a convenience store and literally pulling out a tooth with a
set of pliers to pay for them, while a narrator says "What's a pack of
smokes cost? Your teeth.” Watch all the commercials here.