On the Lighter Side
compliments and personal attention . A Facebook page , I love Mary @ McDonalds / Chandler , was even created for her that now has hundreds of members . Better than a free Happy Meal and fried pie any day . Just as I was reading this , I heard Margaret , a previously anxious patient , tell Rita that she loved coming to the office . At about the same time , Sister Barbara finished reading my April column about attitude and gratitude and said it was like “ a meditation and a half .” These are the real awards . After months of planning , consultation and preparation , we finally definitively treated Rita ’ s ( third mention ) smile . As you all know , Rita is a beautiful person with a great personality and smile , albeit with a couple crowns and rotated laterals that we have bonded over the years . Ortho was considered and rejected . Crowns and veneers were placed with due consideration for perio , esthetics and function . She now says , “ I love my smile !” and shows everyone . Actually , today when she smiled for Lynn , a stylish , esthetically-oriented patient , Lynn said her smile was beautiful and asked which teeth were done ? The award was given and reward received .
Kids , it just doesn ’ t get any better than that . Keep the shiny side up .
( Editor ’ s note : On deadline day my trash was picked up , but not the recycling . Where do I send the citation ?)
Observations
By Dr . Alex J . McKechnie
A recent newspaper article authored by Monica R . Costlow and Rachel L . Garfield with the Pennsylvania Medicaid Policy Center concerning “ making access to dental dare available for low-income ” brought forth the following highlights :
• Oral health is often an overlooked component of physical health .
• The Surgeon General has reported that tooth decay can produce illness and difficulty with daily activities .
• Poor oral health among children might lead to serious medical problems or even death .
• These problems are particularly acute among low-income children .
• In fiscal 2009 , the Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare reported that Medical Assistance covered more than one million children or 35.5 percent of all children in the state .
• In 2008 , the proportion of Medical Assistance children ages 2 to 20 that received regular dental care was below 45 percent . Two important factors are the number of dentists that accept Medicaid patients and the other is the willingness of parents to take their children to the dentist .
• There are 3,785 dentists in Pennsylvania participating in medical assistance out of about 10,000 dentists in the state as if 2008 .
• Many rural counties have only one medical assistance dentist .
• One barrier to participation by Pennsylvania dentists is the “ low ” reimbursement rates . The state should make the necessary adjustments to ensure fair compensation .
• The state of Pennsylvania should address the needs of Medicaid assistance to children .
This is a true story . What looked like white moustaches on the workers digging in to the mountainous piles of rubble after the recent devastating earthquake in Haiti was toothpaste . The workers found that an application of the dentifrice on the upper lip limited the awful smell of decaying corpses as they cleared material looking for survivors .
Everyone believes they know the most common symptoms of a heart attack . But , add the awareness of intense pain in the jaw . The discomfort mimics indigestion and wakes you from a sound sleep . Recent advice recommends that you keep an antacid or 325 mg . aspirin tablets at bedside . Swallow or chew an antacid , chew the aspirin and even dissolve some under the tongue .
40 May / June 2010 • Pennsylvania Dental Journal