Download October 2011 Quarterly Newsletter

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October 2011 Quarterly Newsletter
October Quarterly Team Spotlight!
Celebrating Birthdays This Quarter:
Debbie, November 7th
Dr. Barlow, November 24th
Javonna, November 26th
Donette, December 3rd
Celebrating Anniversaries This Quarter:
Jill, on October 7th, will be with Dr. Barlow for 15 years
Tracy, on October 7th, will be with Dr. Barlow for 1 year
Karen, on November 10th, will be with Dr. Barlow for 3 years
Lisa, on December 13th, will be with Dr. Barlow for 4 years
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Peggy, on December 15th, will be with Dr. Barlow for 8 years
Fun Facts about those with Birthdays:
Debbie, works as a part time assistant for Dr. Barlow. Her favorite restaurant
is Carrabbas, while she loves to snack on popcorn. Debbie’s hobbies are camping and
gardening. Debbie loves spending time with family and friends, especially her
granddaughter Amelia who turns 1 in November. She loves listening to all music,
especially the 60’s.
Dr. Barlow enjoys spending his free time with his wife and two children. He
enjoys playing tennis and golf. Dr. Barlow enjoys spending weekend getaways in the
Keys. He enjoys watching college basketball. Dr. Barlow’s favorite restaurant is
Chili’s (now that he has two children) and he loves anything chocolate.
Javonna, is one of Dr. Barlow’s scheduling coordinators. She enjoys spending
any free time she gets with her husband and two children. She enjoys watching sports,
especially football, both college and pro, MMA, basketball and golf. Javonna’s hobbies
include reading and playing sports with her kids and husband.
Donette, is one of Dr. Barlow’s assistants. She likes to listen to all types of
music. Donette’s hobby is shopping. She enjoys spending her free time with her family
and shopping. Her favorite snacks are Honey Buns and her favorite color is turquoise.
Meet the newest member of our team:
Chelsea, is our new sterilization tech. She is a native Floridian. She is a
2008 graduate from Cocoa High School. She enjoys spending time with her family and
friends, as well as golfing and four-wheeling. Chelsea’s favorite colors are pink and
lime green. Her favorite restaurant is Gaskins’ Family Diner.
UPCOMING CONTESTS:
October: Guess which ceph is Dr. Barlow’s to be entered for a chance to win a prize!
November: Guess the combined weight of two pumpkins to be entered for a chance to
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win a prize!
December: Guess the length of floss used to create St. Barlow’s Beard to be entered
for a chance to win a prize!
WE ARE PROUD TO ANNOUNCE THE LAUNCH OF OUR NEW
WEBSITE!!!! PLEASE TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO CHECK IT OUT!
www.barlowortho.com
How Safe Are Dental X-Rays?
When X-rays are passed through your mouth, more X-rays are
absorbed by the denser parts of your mouth, such as teeth and
bone, than by soft tissues. The X-rays strike the film that is behind
your tooth, and this creates an image on the film. Tooth decay,
infections, gum disease and other signs of dental change in your
mouth appear darker because of more X-ray penetration.
Dentists consider X-rays one of the most useful tools in helping patients maintain good
oral health. X-rays help dentists diagnose relatively common disorders such as
cavities, periodontal disease and infections, and some of the more uncommon
problems, such as cysts, abscesses and tumors.
X-rays can also allow your dentist to determine whether a child's permanent teeth are
erupting properly and with correct spacing. In general, children need X-rays more
often than adults because their mouths grow and change rapidly, and they are more
susceptible to tooth decay than adults.
In today's digital age, dentistry is making great advances in lowering the radiation dose
administered during a dental X-ray. In the 1930s and 1940s, the cone used for x-rays
covered most of the head and neck. Today, the cone is very small, so radiation is only
pointed at the small spot where the X-ray film is located.
Many of the critical organs that might show radiation effects are not in the path of
radiation, and the use of lead-lined, full-body aprons protects your body from stray
radiation. While your dentist takes this precaution to protect you, stray radiation is
almost nonexistent with the modern dental X-ray machines. (By law all X-ray
machines in the U.S. are checked for accuracy and safety at least every two years, in
some states, more often.) Also, advancements in X-ray film mean that the film
requires less radiation to develop the same quality picture.
An even newer advance is digital X-rays using sensors that feed the images to a
computer. The digital X-ray system is more sensitive than dental X-ray film systems,
so exposure to X-rays is cut by as much as 90 percent.
You are exposed to many sources of radiation every day, from the sun, minerals in the
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soil, your home appliances. Radiation can damage the body’s tissues and cells and can
lead to the development of cancer, but fortunately, the radiation to which you are
exposed during the taking of dental X-rays is extremely small.
Without the ability to see inside a tooth and beneath the gums, more disease would go
unchecked and more teeth would be lost because proper treatment wasn't started in
time. If dental problems are found and treated early, dental care is more comfortable
and affordable. Dental x-rays are not without risk, but the risk is minuscule compared
with the huge diagnostic benefit of keeping your natural teeth healthy and disease
free.
Orthodontic Tips for Trick-Or-Treaters
The haunting hours of Halloween can mean big trouble for trickor-treaters who wear braces. The American Association of
Orthodontists (AAO) reminds patients to follow special guidelines
for keeping braces intact and keeping themselves safe.
October marks National Orthodontic Health Month. As part of its
commitment to oral health education, the AAO is providing
braces-friendly recipes and tips to patients and parents.
Information for trick-or-treaters also can be found at
http://www.braces.org.
WHAT TO AVOID AND WHAT TO LOOK FOR:
“If it’s sticky, chewy, hard or crunchy, it’s a food that anyone wearing braces or
retainers should avoid,” says Donald R. Joondeph, D.D.S., M.S., an orthodontist and
president of the AAO.
The AAO urges patients to steer clear of the following Halloween treats, or recipes
with these ingredients:
All hard candies
All chewy candies
Caramel
Nuts
Licorice
Taffy
Jelly beans
Hard pretzels
Bubblegum
Popcorn (including unpopped kernels)
Taco chips
Ice
“By following their orthodontist’s guidance on dental hygiene and avoiding certain
foods while wearing braces, patients will be on track to a lifetime of healthy teeth and
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a beautiful smile,” says Dr. Joondeph.
Of course, Halloween does not have to be completely treat-less. Braces-friendly
Halloween treats can help orthodontic patients enjoy the “spook-ta-cular” holiday. For
example, plain chocolate candy is okay, provided the orthodontic patient remembers
to brush and floss afterwards. Bobbing for apples as well as caramel apples are not
recommended for orthodontic patients. However, patients can enjoy thinly sliced
apples, dipped in yogurt or creamy chocolate sauce.
Orthodontists suggest looking for foods that are soft, such as soft chocolate that can
melt in one’s mouth or peanut butter cups. Overall, candies that aren’t sticky, chewy,
hard or crunchy are generally acceptable.
“We want patients to have fun while in orthodontic treatment,” says Dr. Joondeph.
“Cooperation is always key, and exercising caution at Halloween could keep patients
on the right track to great results!”
WHAT TO DO IF FOOD DAMAGES A PATIENT'S BRACES:
If an orthodontic patient chews the wrong type of treat and damage occurs, it is
recommended that the patient calls his/her orthodontist the next business day so that
arrangements can be made to correct the problem.
“Small problems can often be solved over the phone. Loose brackets or poking wires
can often be held in place with orthodontic wax until the patient can come into the
office,” says Dr. Joondeph. Some problem-solving tips can also be found on the AAO
Web site at http://www.braces.org/knowmore/breaks/.
HALLOWEEN SAFETY TIPS:
In addition to orthodontic safety, AAO members advise parents and children to follow
trick-or-treating safety guidelines:
Young children should always be accompanied by an adult
Carry a flashlight
Wear a light-colored or reflective costume
Choose face paint over masks for young ghosts and goblins
Have an adult inspect all treats before the children dig in
HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT IS
NECESSARY?
Be aware of early signs or habits that may indicate the need for an examination by an
orthodontist. These signs or habits may include:
Early or late loss of baby teeth
Difficulty in chewing or biting
Mouth breathing
Thumb sucking
Finger sucking
Crowding, misplaced or blocked out teeth
Jaws that shift or make sounds
Biting the cheek
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Lower front teeth biting into the roof of the mouth
Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face
A crossbite (one jaw does not fit properly with the opposing jaw due to
differences in size)
WHO IS AN ORTHODONTIST?
An orthodontist specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and
facial irregularities. Orthodontists receive an additional two to three years of
specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and
straighten teeth.
STRAIGHT FACTS ABOUT BRACES:
About 95 percent of all educationally eligible orthodontic specialists are
members of the AAO.
Members of the AAO currently treat 5.75 million patients in the U.S. and
Canada. This number has steadily increased since 1982.
Approximately 4.4 million orthodontic patients through age 17 in the United
States and Canada are being treated by AAO members.
Orthodontic treatment is a growing trend. Since 1982 (the first year the AAO
tracked the number of patients), the number of patients who seek orthodontic
treatment has increased by 135 percent.
While healthy teeth can be moved at almost any age, the majority of patients
begin treatment between the ages of 9 and 14.
The length of treatment time varies from person to person, based upon each
person’s unique circumstances. However, most orthodontic treatment lasts from
12 to 36 months, with 24 months being the average.
There are about 9,350 practicing orthodontists in the United States and Canada
who are members of the AAO.
The AAO has 15,000 members in the U.S., Canada and abroad.
ABOUT THE AAO:
The AAO comprises 15,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad.
Founded in 1900, the AAO supports research and education leading to quality patient
care and promotes increased public awareness of the need for and benefits of
orthodontic treatment. Orthodontists are uniquely qualified to correct improperly
aligned teeth and jaws. They are specialists in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment
of dental and facial irregularities. Orthodontists receive an additional two to three
years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align
and straighten teeth.
For more information about orthodontics or for the names of orthodontists in your
area, visit www.braces.org or call 1-800-STRAIGHT (1-800-787-24448). Your dentist
also can provide recommendations on orthodontists near you.
Halloween Safety Tips For Kids
Anytime a child has an accident, it's tragic. The last thing that
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you want to happen is for your child to be hurt on a holiday, it
would forever live in the minds of the child and the family.
There are many ways to keep your child safe at Halloween, when
they are more prone to accidents and injuries. The excitement of
children and adults at this time of year sometimes makes them
forget to be careful. Simple common sense can do a lot to stop any
tragedies from happening.
Help your child pick out or make a costume that will be safe. Make it fire proof,
the eye holes should be large enough for good peripheral vision.
If you set jack-o-lanterns on your porch with candles in them, make sure that
they are far enough out of the way so that kids costumes won't accidentally be
set on fire. Better still use PumpkinLights.com to light pumpkins. They make a
light that looks like a flickering candle flame!
Make sure that if your child is carrying a prop, such as a scythe, butcher knife
or a pitchfork, that the tips are smooth and flexible enough to not cause injury if
fallen on.
Kids always want to help with the pumpkin carving. Small children shouldn't be
allowed to use a sharp knife to cut the top or the face. There are many kits
available that come with tiny saws that work better than knives and are safer,
although you can be cut by them as well. It's best to let the kids clean out the
pumpkin and draw a face on it, which you can carve for them.
Treating your kids to a spooky Halloween dinner will make them less likely to
eat the candy they collect before you have a chance to check it for them.
Teaching your kids basic everyday safety such as not getting into cars or talking
to strangers, watching both ways before crossing streets and crossing when the
lights tell you to, will help make them safer when they are out Trick or Treating.
Make Halloween a fun, safe and happy time for your kids and they'll carry on the
tradition that you taught them to their own families some day!
For more on Halloween safety, see www.halloween-safety.com.
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