“Summer Holiday? Check Up Time!”

Posted by drgracesun on June 6, 2009 under Healthy Smile, Information, Smart Smile | Be the First to Comment

It is almost summer time, and typical family vacations are being planned in many families! Whether you are planning on taking a family road trip or are trekking across the globe, remember to get a dental checkup before your trip – dental care abroad isn’t always convenient, and can in fact be risky business.

Especially when traveling to remote destinations or developing regions of the world, it can be difficult to find adequate or specialized dental care depending on what needs you may have, or what dental emergencies may arise during your trip. In the most extreme places, dental treatment can be both painful and dangerous, depending on the tools and medicines available to the dentists on staff – dental qualification standards are also frequently much lower abroad than those in the western world.

Many Americans wishing to avoid expensive dental care by voyaging outside the borders of the United States travel to Mexico or Eastern Europe every year, and while this may be a way to save money, it is important to be aware that all American dentists hold a Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from an accredited dental school, and hold practicing licenses which are issued only after rigorous examination periods which must be renewed every year. These strict practicing guidelines do not always exist abroad. Guidelines for strict sanitation and hygiene in dental offices are regulated by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), another safety precaution which developing nations often are lacking.

If you choose to go abroad to a remote or developing location to seek dental treatment, be sure to check with that country’s health ministry to inquire about health and safety standards for practicing dentists. Call local health offices and get a feel of what you can expect. If possible, research and find a specific doctor you will visit, and check up on his or her qualifications and practicing history. Once you arrive, your eyes will be your best tool to determine the state of his or her practice! Make sure hands are being washed, instruments are coming from sterilized packaging, and “get a feel” of the place. If you are suspicious, do not proceed!

The Organization for Safety and Asepsis Procedures (OSAP) has published a Traveler’s Guide to Safe Dental Care, which should be read by any and all persons traveling abroad to receive dental treatment – www.osap.org. Finally, dental referrals may be available from the consolate of the country you are a citizen of! Be sure to call the embassy once arriving in your destination country and get all available information. Make sure to be healthy, be prepared, and have a fun and safe trip.

“The Right Dentist?”

Posted by drgracesun on May 27, 2009 under Information | Be the First to Comment

Whether you have been going to the same dentist for 20 years or you haven’t seen a dentist at all for the longest time, it is important to find the right match – that is, finding the right dental professional for you. The relationship you have with your dentist is as important and personal as your relationship with your physician and hairdresser – you must trust and feel comfortable putting yourself in his or her well-trained hands.

I recently came across a person who had this to say about her dental experience: “I haven’t been to a dentist since 1992. Perhaps what I really need is a few years on a psychiatrist’s couch to reconcile my childhood and once again return to the dentist’s chair; otherwise, just knock me out, do what needs to be done, and wake me up when it’s all over.” This negative experience as a child is quite common of many patients I see, and of many adults who don’t go to the dentist, because of traumatizing childhood experiences.

If you are looking for a new dentist, ask for referrals from friends and family first. Is this dentist well experienced? Is this dentist known for pain-free treatment? Is this dentist well established in your community? Is this dentist interested in continuing education? These are questions that will help you establish a solid footing for beginning your match making! Even if you have a low budget, you can still find quality dental professionals who can take care of your smile in a manner befitting even the most unnerved patients. It is important to keep in mind that whether you believe your teeth are in good condition or not, a hygienist can clean deep-seated tartar and other mineral buildup on your teeth that you cannot clean with simply a brush and floss! Also, dental screenings are necessary to make sure no new problems have arisen in your mouth and that your teeth and gum are in good shape, even screening for oral cancer. Catching problems early on is always the least painful procedure – physically and financially!