Robinson Dental - October 2021

Robinson Dental - October 2021

Dental Digest WAYLAND •899 Reno Drive •Wayland, MI •49348 •269-509-4155

COOPERSVILLE •502 W. Randall St. •Coopersville, MI •49404•616-384-4129

OCTOBER 2021

MEET CIARA, DENTAL HYGIENIST EXTRAORDINAIRE The Moment I Knew Oral Health Was Important

Hi, everyone! I’m Ciara, a dental hygienist at Robinson Dental, and I’m thrilled to introduce myself to everyone in this newsletter. Hygienists do a lot with patients, so you’re probably already familiar with what I do. Whether I am taking X-rays, cleaning teeth, giving anesthetic, or helping with sterilization, there’s a good chance you’ve seen me do one of these tasks at our Coopersville location. Even though I didn’t have any fears about going to the dentist, I don’t think I would’ve imagined myself doing these things when I was younger. As a kid, I actually liked getting my teeth cleaned, but I honestly never realized how important oral health was until I started a dental hygiene program.

Luckily, daily toothbrushing and flossing can prevent or even

reverse early stages of gum disease known as gingivitis. However, if you don’t take care of your teeth, you could get periodontitis, which is a permanent gum disease that could lead to multiple other health risks.

“I was most fascinated by just how integral oral health is to our bodily health. It’s hard to say whether you’re a healthy person without a healthy mouth — in truth, cavities or gum disease could be causing infections all throughout your body.”

Although the science behind it is fascinating, the most rewarding aspect of my work is definitely making connections

with patients, which first started with Robinson Dental! After graduating, I discovered Robinson based on a friend’s recommendation. She was already working there at the Wayland location and knew about an opening. I applied, and it turned out to be a really good fit! Since then, I love meeting with my regular patients and getting to know about all the new things in their lives. They often even remember things about me. Robinson Dental has been a perfect conduit for those types of connections in more ways than one. As a patient-focused dental practice, everyone here is genuinely friendly and truly some of my best friends. We spend our entire workweek together but still hang out on weekends and for after-work gatherings. We love spending time together, and I truly can’t imagine working anywhere else! Outside of my job, I love spending time with family and friends or traveling. Being outdoors is always a priority, and, when I’m not in the gym, I like to go somewhere on the weekends with the people who matter most to me. Thanks so much for taking the time to learn a little more about me! Say hi if you ever catch me at Coopersville.

I’ll be honest with you: I applied to the program because, as a high schooler, I researched different fields and loved the flexibility and stability of dentistry the most. But when I got there, I was fascinated by the field and never changed my mind. I was most fascinated by just how integral oral health is to our bodily health. It’s hard to say whether you’re a healthy person without a healthy mouth — in truth, cavities or gum disease could be causing infections all throughout your body. Patients can often discover that their uncontrolled diabetes is linked to their oral health, and, once their oral health is back on track, suddenly their diabetes is, too. We’ve also had patients undergo treatments to discover that they have high blood pressure, prompting them to see their primary care doctor afterward. From risks of dementia to heart disease, there are so many ways harmful bacteria in your mouth can wreck your whole body.

–Ciara Sundermann

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616-384-4129

IS FALL 5 Corn Maze Safe

FUN FOR ALL TH

ty Tips

Wear proper footwear. Ensure that you and your family all have proper footwear, preferably closed- toed shoes, while exploring the maze. You never know what kind of critters or potentially harmful hazards may appear in your path. Eat beforehand and stay hydrated. Be sure to eat before setting out into the maze and don’t bring any glass bottles with you, as it can be dangerous if broken. Furthermore, do not consume alcohol before or while enjoying your time at the corn maze. Be prepared. Accidents can happen, usually at the most unexpected times! It is important to always have a first-aid kit handy. Be sure to call 911 in an emergency and let staff know what is going on.

Fall brings apple cider, pumpkin patches, fun seasonal outfits, and corn mazes. Unless you are visiting a “haunted” corn maze, you and your family probably won’t be chased by a chainsaw-wielding serial killer while you try to navigate through. However, safety risks are still present. Here are five safety tips to keep the fun coming during your next corn maze experience. Follow the rules. At the entrance to each corn maze, there should be a sign stating the rules for visitors. For the safety of yourself, your children, and others, be sure to read each rule and follow along. Always accompany your kids in the corn maze — it is a maze, after all! Watch for tripping and fire hazards. Keep your eyes peeled for any obstacles on the path, including holes, bumps, ruts, and corn stalks. While navigating a maze, it can be easy to forget to look down while searching for the exit. To prevent fires, you should also avoid smoking and never use matches or lighters.

As long as safety is the top priority this fall, fun will be had by all!

WHY DENTAL SEALANTS REALLY WORK Prevent Cavities Before They Happen!

Can anyone get dental sealants? Yes, anyone can get them. It is most common for children to get them, especially when premolars erupt. They can be reapplied when the permanent molars come in around ages 11–13. How long do they last? Dental sealants can last up to 10 years! To maximize their lifespan, you should avoid biting down on ice, hard candy, and unpopped popcorn kernels because these can wear down the sealant especially fast. It is also a good idea to limit the amount of chewy/sticky candy you consume, as these may pull the sealant out over time. While none of those are strictly off limits, we recommend limiting them to help your dental sealants last longer. It is important to note that dental sealants are not a substitute for brushing and flossing your teeth. Regardless of whether or not you have them, it is incredibly important to keep up your dental hygiene. With no recovery time after getting your dental sealants, there’s lots of reasons why kids and adults alike benefit from them! Just give our office a call so we can help protect you from cavities and tooth decay.

Brushing your teeth, using a fluoride mouthwash, and flossing regularly are great habits to keep up your dental hygiene. You may even be limiting the amount of sugary/acidic drinks and snacks you consume to save your enamel.

Despite all your effort, are you still getting cavities? You may want to look into dental sealants.

What are dental sealants? They are a transparent resin that is painted onto the molars after they are cleaned and dried off. Sealants add an extra layer of protection that can dramatically reduce the likelihood of developing cavities. According to the CDC, 9 out of 10 cavities occur in the back teeth, and dental sealants can protect against up to 80% of cavities for the first two years after application and remain up to 50% effective for up to four years after that. This happens because food particles get stuck in places that are harder to reach with a toothbrush or floss, so bacteria grows more easily, causing cavities. However, dental sealants fill in those places, making it harder for bacteria to grow and damage teeth.

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WORD SEARCH

It might surprise you that teledentistry — a form of “telehealth” or virtual health care offered via interactive video, audio, or text — is gaining popularity post-lockdowns in 2021. Having therapy sessions over the phone seems like one thing, but why is teledentistry taking off when most procedures can’t be done over FaceTime or Zoom? Forms of Teledentistry To understand why remote dentistry is becoming more mainstream, let’s talk about the different ways that teledentistry exists today. First, there’s synchronous teledentistry, which is live, two-way interactions between a patient and a provider with audiovisual telecommunication technology (such as Zoom). There’s also asynchronous teledentistry, which includes the transmission of recorded health information (such as X-rays or digital impressions) sent through a secure electronic communication system to a practitioner, who uses that information to evaluate a patient’s condition or even offer a service outside of a live interaction. There’s also remote patient monitoring (RPM), where a patient’s personal health and medical >Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

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