No one really likes to go to the dentist, but a sore tooth is one of the worst kinds of pain. And it`s the same for your pets. February is pet dental health month and veterinarians say it`s best to be pro-active about your dog or cat`s smile.
Fourteen-week-old Mocha was in for a checkup today. Her owners say they would do anything for the newest member of their family.
"We would, yep, we would. She`s just part of the family, like one of our boys or one of our girls," said Mocha`s owner Mariah Dodds.
Veterinarians say regular checkups are just as important for pets as they are for humans, so doctors can find problems early on, especially with their teeth. Vets say about 80 percent of adult dogs and cats have periodontal diseases like tartar and gingivitis.
"Left untreated that can lead to bone loss, infection, and discomfort," said veterinarian Hollee Clement of the Bismarck Animal Clinic. "So we`re trying to address these things in a pro-active nature and take care of things that may be uncomfortable for them."
The Bismarck Animal Clinic now has the tools to catch periodontal problems early on. Clement charts each tooth and if she comes across an abnormality, she runs an X-Ray. She says having the animal sedated also helps them do a thorough check.
"We`re finding lots of things that we wouldn`t be able to see without the X-ray there`s a lot going on in the bone that we can`t see above the gum line," said Clement.
Mocha`s owners says she`s a little young for X-rays, but they are making sure to be pro-active with her dental care.
"We do have a tooth brush that we use and we`ll bring her in for that when she`s a little older," said Dodds.
Vets say because cats and dogs can`t tell us how they`re feeling, it`s important for us to speak for them.
Clement says regular dental checkups are also important because diseases are usually advanced before the animal starts showing signs of discomfort like not eating or drooling.
Friday, January 29, 2010
NHS dental places for 15,000 people
In 2009 NHS Cumbria invested over £2.25million to create 37,500 new NHS dental places in both West Cumbria and Kendal. The majority of these places are being delivered in new purpose designed premises operated by Oasis Dental Care, with an existing dental provider in Kendal also taking on additional capacity.
Five new surgeries have since opened in Egremont, Maryport, Whitehaven, Workington and Kendal.
These all began operating by late summer 2009 and patients on NHS Cumbria’s dental database began being allocated to each surgery.
In order for each new patient to be assessed and follow-up appointments booked, allocation to the new dental places is being done in stages. Letters are being sent out to people who’ve been on the database the longest first, 1,000 at a time.
There are now around 19,000 people on the dental database and those wanting to be allocated in West Cumbria or Kendal are expected to have been offered an available place for NHS dental treatment by the end of this year.
Eric Rooney, consultant in dental public health, said: “It’s great news that we’re on track to allocate the new NHS dental places we announced last year within 18 months. It's a big undertaking to contact and offer places to over 35,000 people and I'd like to thank people currently on NHS Cumbria's dental database for their patience and understanding. Everyone will be contacted and offered a NHS dental place in due time.
“I'd like to reassure people that the hard work to deliver NHS dental care to people who need it has not finished. Another 27,500 NHS dental places will also come into operation in the next two years in other locations across Cumbria.”
Anyone who needs emergency dental treatment or advice should contact: 01228 603900 for North Cumbria; 01539 716822 for South Cumbria.
Five new surgeries have since opened in Egremont, Maryport, Whitehaven, Workington and Kendal.
These all began operating by late summer 2009 and patients on NHS Cumbria’s dental database began being allocated to each surgery.
In order for each new patient to be assessed and follow-up appointments booked, allocation to the new dental places is being done in stages. Letters are being sent out to people who’ve been on the database the longest first, 1,000 at a time.
There are now around 19,000 people on the dental database and those wanting to be allocated in West Cumbria or Kendal are expected to have been offered an available place for NHS dental treatment by the end of this year.
Eric Rooney, consultant in dental public health, said: “It’s great news that we’re on track to allocate the new NHS dental places we announced last year within 18 months. It's a big undertaking to contact and offer places to over 35,000 people and I'd like to thank people currently on NHS Cumbria's dental database for their patience and understanding. Everyone will be contacted and offered a NHS dental place in due time.
“I'd like to reassure people that the hard work to deliver NHS dental care to people who need it has not finished. Another 27,500 NHS dental places will also come into operation in the next two years in other locations across Cumbria.”
Anyone who needs emergency dental treatment or advice should contact: 01228 603900 for North Cumbria; 01539 716822 for South Cumbria.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Free dental care event aims to mitigate gaps in insurance coverage
A group of Minnesota dentists announced this month that it will provide free dental care in February to children whose families cannot afford dental insurance.
The Minnesota Dental Association, which represents 81 percent of all dentists in the state, will visit almost 200 locations across the North Star State on February 5 and 6, InsuranceCorner.com reports.
This event will mark the eighth consecutive year that the MDA has provided free care to the state's children.
"We know that government funded programs for families have been dramatically cut. Volunteer dentists are trying to close the gap for the low income children who are not getting the dental care they need and deserve," Dr Robert Templeton, MDA's president, told the news source.
While free dental care offerings can temporarily serve the health needs of families who don't have dental coverage, such events can't always provide the benefits attained through regular dentist visits.
Families who are searching for ways to save money on dental care may want to consider discount dental plans. These plans, an alternative to dental insurance, provide discounts of 10 to 60 percent on most procedures with participating providers.
The Minnesota Dental Association, which represents 81 percent of all dentists in the state, will visit almost 200 locations across the North Star State on February 5 and 6, InsuranceCorner.com reports.This event will mark the eighth consecutive year that the MDA has provided free care to the state's children.
"We know that government funded programs for families have been dramatically cut. Volunteer dentists are trying to close the gap for the low income children who are not getting the dental care they need and deserve," Dr Robert Templeton, MDA's president, told the news source.
While free dental care offerings can temporarily serve the health needs of families who don't have dental coverage, such events can't always provide the benefits attained through regular dentist visits.
Families who are searching for ways to save money on dental care may want to consider discount dental plans. These plans, an alternative to dental insurance, provide discounts of 10 to 60 percent on most procedures with participating providers.
Practitioners prepare for National Children's Dental Health Month
In recognition of National Children's Dental Health Month, one California orthodontist is preparing to spend February educating patients and parents about the importance of proper oral hygiene.
Dr Atoosa Nikaeen said she will focus on the role of nutrition in dental care, asserting that a diet that is low in nutrients can result in a mouth less resistant to harmful infections as well as a greater susceptibility to tooth decay and periodontal disease.
National Children's Dental Health Month is sponsored by the American Dental Association.
The National Institutes of Health recommend that dental care begin during a child's infancy and advise that parents use a soft cloth to clean teeth and check them regularly for spots and stains.
By raising awareness about the importance of sound dental health, the ADA has underscored the shortage of dentists and insufficient dental insurance coverage in many areas of the country.
According to a recent report by W.K. Kellogg Foundation, a charitable organization that lends its services to children and families, about 48 million Americans do not have access to routine oral healthcare, and millions more can get to a dentist but cannot afford to pay for their services.
Dr Atoosa Nikaeen said she will focus on the role of nutrition in dental care, asserting that a diet that is low in nutrients can result in a mouth less resistant to harmful infections as well as a greater susceptibility to tooth decay and periodontal disease.National Children's Dental Health Month is sponsored by the American Dental Association.
The National Institutes of Health recommend that dental care begin during a child's infancy and advise that parents use a soft cloth to clean teeth and check them regularly for spots and stains.
By raising awareness about the importance of sound dental health, the ADA has underscored the shortage of dentists and insufficient dental insurance coverage in many areas of the country.
According to a recent report by W.K. Kellogg Foundation, a charitable organization that lends its services to children and families, about 48 million Americans do not have access to routine oral healthcare, and millions more can get to a dentist but cannot afford to pay for their services.
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