They always have an excuse or good reason for not seeing a dentist for regular hygiene visits and they will not make or keep appointments unless they are in pain.
I am sure we all know at least one of these types of people and we may be one ourselves. However, have you ever thought about the real reason why a visit to the dentist is so difficult? Many of you may have memories of visiting the dentist and felt you were not being treated kindly. The sound of the drill was annoying - The "shot" hurt - You were told to "stop being a baby," etc. These negative memories have stayed with you and it seems like they all come back the minute you have to make a dental appointment. We often hear these comments when people who need emergency care call. Today, thanks to modern technology, we can eliminate most of these negative aspects.
The invention and adaptation of lasers into the dental office has made great strides in helping us reduce some of the areas that most of us dislike. There are many different types of lasers and they are routinely used in our office to address different types of problems.
Until recently the only periodontal therapy available was "deep cleanings," and in more advanced cases, surgery. More recently, antibiotics were added to kill the bacteria. This helped the problem, but the periodontal disease often returned. It was often likened to diabetes where it was felt that the best we could do was to keep the disease under control, but a person would have it for the rest of their life. The treatment was often uncomfortable and if the patient did not follow up with continuous hygiene visits and dedicated home care, they would soon find themselves facing more surgery. Many people would give up and find themselves losing teeth and getting dentures. Think of your grandparents and parents. How many of them had their teeth when they turned 70 or 80?
Today, we know that teeth were made to last our entire lifetime if they received the proper care. We believe this and want to help all of our patients to have healthy teeth. Research now states that the health of your gums and teeth affect your overall health. It is our goal to help every guest who comes into the office to attain the best possible oral health so that he/she is not susceptible to the diseases that periodontal disease relates to such as stroke, diabetes, heart disease, low birth weight babies, etc. By working together, we can make a difference.
We use another type of laser to diagnose cavities. Until recently, the only method of detecting cavities was thru x-rays, dental instruments and what the dentist could see. These worked well except for the pits and grooves in the back teeth which were too small. Lasers use light energy which penetrate to the bottom of the groove and detect decay. It has been found that sealants have been put on top of decay causing the tooth to decay from the inside out. Thus a tooth would look healthy often until it began to hurt. Today, there is no reason for decay to go undetected.
A third laser that Dr. Jim uses is to prepare a tooth for a restoration. People do not like to leave the dental office with a fat, numb lip. We feel that we are talking strange and our face looks funny. It is difficult to drink anything much less eat. With this laser, up to 80% of our patients to do not need anesthetic. This will vary with each person but most of our guests can have restorations placed without any shots. This is particularly good for children as they can leave without being watched and warned about biting their cheek or tongue and they can eat and drink without any problems. Children as well as adults do not like to receive injections so this is a win-win situation. An added bonus is that lasers do not emit the annoying whining sound that a drill makes. You only notice a soft clicking sound which is so much more pleasing.
Another laser is used is a "cold" laser or "healing" laser. It can desensitize teeth and promotes healing after surgery or extractions. There is less or no need for pain killers. It has been shown to help with many health problems outside the dental field.
It has been noted that lasers definitely make a tremendous difference in the practice of dentistry. With the advances in technology, dentistry has become more patient friendly and we are finally laying aside the old stereotypes of dentistry. If you have any questions or would like additional information, please call the office at (231) 744-6661 and we will be happy to help you.
The Center was the first on the lakeshore to perform stereotactic breast biopsies and has been performing this procedure for more than 10 years. In addition, the center was chosen to participate in a national study for the accuracy of sentinel node biopsies in breast cancer.
The best person to evaluate the need for a biopsy is your MSA general surgeon. By performing a physical exam and reviewing your x-rays, mammograms and ultra sound, your surgeon will determine the most non-invasive course of action.
Because Muskegon Surgical Associates' Breast Care Center offers the latest state of the art diagnostic equipment, the surgeons have several biopsy options available that are all located within the Breast Care Center facility. Some biopsies can even be performed during the patient's initial visit.
The goal of the outstanding medical staff at The Breast Care Center at Muskegon Surgical Associates is to give you answers that are not only accurate but delivered in the shortest possible time frame so that you can move on to enjoy your life to the fullest.
If you are faced with questions concerning your breast health, your MSA general surgeon will guide you through the necessary steps from beginning to end, to get the answers you need.
Dental assistants are very much in demand. Some learn their skills during on-the-job training while others attend programs in trade schools, community colleges, technical institutes, or even in the Armed Services. These programs consist of one year of training, often with an internship.
Assistants need to have good manual dexterity, be reliable, and work well with all types of people.
The job outlook for dental assistants is excellent. Employment in this field is expected to grow much faster than the average of all occupations through 2016. The Bureau of Labor predicts that dental assisting will be the third fastest growing occupation for which a degree isn't required.
Dental hygienists are licensed professionals who receive their training at community colleges, dental schools, and universities. Most community college programs take two years to complete with some graduates receiving certificates and associate degrees. University based hygiene programs offer baccalaureate and master's degrees which usually mean four or more years of schooling.
A minimum of an associate degree is required for practice in a private dental office. The bachelor and master degree programs are required for research, teaching, and clinical practice in public or school health programs.
The job outlook is excellent with dental hygiene ranking among the fastest growing occupations. It is predicted that employment of hygienists will grow 30% through 2016, much faster than the average for all occupations.
Dentists are also going to be in higher demand as the baby boomers hit middle age and beyond. The prediction for dentists is a 9% increase in demand through 2016.
The requirements for a career in dentistry are to have completed course work in biology, physics, general chemistry, and organic chemistry. Most students applying to dental school have a bachelor's degree with a science major.
Students applying to dental schools also need to take the Dental Admissions Test and have a good GPA, along with letters of recommendation. The numbers of graduates from dental schools have decreased in recent years so it is predicted that dental graduates will be in high demand.
Aside from the clinical setting, there is a bright future for those in dental research. Stem cell research, gene therapy, and links between oral and systemic health will reshape dental practice in the 21st century. Dental researchers will be leading these trends. For those students who have a passion for science but may not want the hands-on treatment of patients, this may be a career option.
There are many options for a career in dentistry. For further information, contact the American Dental Association at www.ada.org.