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A Tale of Two Children

A Tale of Two Children

“We’re too busy.”

“We can’t afford a visit.”

“If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”

“Nothing hurts so I don’t need an appointment.”

Have you used any of these excuses to not make a dentist appointment for you or your child? It’s understandable. Life can get busy, and because of this, we often try to cut corners to save time and money. However, taking the easy way out with your child’s oral health can lead to some painful and expensive consequences. To demonstrate this, let’s follow little Jack and Jill through four important life stages of dental care.

Life Stage 1: First Years

Believe it or not, preventative dental care begins pretty early. Both Jack and Jill’s parents wipe their baby’s gums after every spit up and feeding. However, when it’s time for them to visit the dentist at the age of 2 or 3, Jill’s parents invest in a Membership Savings Plan which allows children under 5 years old 2 ½ years of FREE preventative care with a participating adult membership. This early preventative care will help educate Jill and her parents about good oral health practices, such as preventing baby bottle tooth decay, as well as catching oral health issues before they get worse.

Alternatively, Jack’s parents are worried about the cost of a dental appointment and decide to avoid the dentist. Besides, Jack only has one tooth that is barely erupted from the gums. He can’t get cavities yet, right? Not quite. Jack’s parents allow him to sleep with a bottle of milk every night, causing sugary liquid to pool in the mouth and form a cavity on his new baby tooth.

Life Stage 2: Elementary Years

It’s time for Jack and Jill to start elementary school, which means it’s also time to start flossing and brushing with a pea-sized amount of toothpaste! Jill knows that she must thoroughly brush twice a day in order to wash away food particles and reduce the chances of getting a cavity. Jill and her parents brush together and make sure to floss correctly and rinse. When it’s time for Jill’s next dentist appointment, she is cavity-free!

Jack, however, does not brush consistently. Jack sometimes brushes in the morning, but on most days, he doesn’t brush at all. At this point in time, Jack has already had a couple of fillings and one tooth extracted. That’s between $75 and $600 for extractions (depending on anesthesia and type of procedure), and between $50 – $4,500 for fillings (depending on materials used).

Life Stage 3: Teen Years

Teen years are pretty busy for Jack and Jill, as they are focused on school activities, socializing, and college preparations. Busy sometimes means sugary on-the-go snack foods become the go-to for a quick meal. This is an easy way to sabotage good oral health. While Jill certainly loves her sweet snacks, her parents encourage her to choose tooth-healthy options like apples and string cheese. It’s no surprise that Jill has another cavity-free appointment during her dental visit!

By Jack’s teen years, he is already missing a few of his teeth. Added to this, Jack also enjoys an energy drink or two during the day, which causes acid to eat away at his tooth enamel leading to dental erosion and tooth sensitivity. Jack now finds it hard to eat a lot of different foods and is at risk for malnourishment.

Life Stage 4: Adult Years

Both Jack and Jill are now graduated from high school and navigating the adult world. This is also a time when their parents have stopped making choices for them. Jill already has good dental habits ingrained into her daily routine and makes smart, healthy choices while enjoying an occasional sweet. Jill is pain-free, healthy, confident, and ready to take on the world!

Jack, on the other hand, is diagnosed with severe periodontal disease, or infections around the gum, ligament, and alveolar bone. Jack may need to postpone starting college or job hunting until he is out of pain and able to be productive. Jack is also self-conscious about his mouth, which affects his socializing and performance in job interviews. Jack wishes there was more he could have done as a kid to prevent his oral health issues.

Neglecting to establish preventative care into your child’s life can carry on into adulthood and lead to issues that can affect other areas of life besides oral health and physical wellness. Start your child off right by making an appointment with us today! If you are concerned about dental costs and insurance, a Membership Savings Plan might be a great choice for your family’s oral health needs. Click here for more about our plans.

From MYDDSOFFICE.com – Keep Smiling!

Dr. Laura Lan

Dr. Laura will be in our office over the next couple of months. Dr. Laura Lan grew up in Los Angeles, California. She obtained her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of California, Davis. Dr. Laura made her way out to the Midwest to attend The Ohio State University College of Dentistry, where she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree.

In her free time, Dr. Laura enjoys spending time with family and friends, hiking, and practicing yoga.

FUN FACT… Laura was a classmate of Dr. Rachel’s at Ohio State, and while Fara is a year ahead of Laura and Rachel, she is a close friend of Fara’s from dental school.

Steve M. Jones, D.D.S

Dr. Steven M. Jones is a graduate of Shawnee High School. He attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio where he received his B.A. in Microbiology in 1986. Four years later he received his Doctor of Dental Surgery Degree (D.D.S.) from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry. Dr. Jones entered private practice in 1990 in Columbus, Ohio. Dr. Jones also practiced in one of the first after hours dental emergency clinics in the country. After several years of private practice, he returned to his hometown of Lima, Ohio. Dr. Jones served as a clinical instructor at the Lima Technical College Dental Hygiene School and began planning a new general practice in the Lima area. In 2002 Dr. Jones opened the newly constructed Northwest Dental Center. Dr. Jones is a member of the Ohio Dental Association, American Dental Association, Northwestern Ohio Dental Society & Academy of Contemporary Dentistry in Columbus Ohio.

Dr. Rachel Salen, D.D.S.

Dr. Rachel Salen grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania until her family moved to Quincy, Illinois where she graduated from Quincy Notre Dame high school.

She then crossed the Mississippi River to study at Saint Louis University where she earned her Bachelor of Science in Biology and Bachelor of Arts in Classical Humanities. Her family then moved to her father’s hometown of Warren, Ohio, leading her to choose The Ohio State University College of Dentistry for her post-graduate education where she would go on to earn her Doctorate of Dental Surgery.

Dr. Salen is very excited to begin her career serving the great people of West Central Ohio.

Dr. Salen will make a great addition to our patient-centered team by providing comprehensive care for patients of all ages, including operative, prosthodontic, endodontic, and surgical treatments.

In addition to delivering great dental care, Rachel enjoys taking too many pictures of her cat, traveling across the Midwest and Northeast to visit her family and friends, and reading a good book!

Fara Hurt, D.D.S.

Dr. Fara Hurt grew up in Lima, Ohio. She is a graduate of Elida High school.

Dr. Hurt earned a Bachelor of Science in Dental Hygiene and Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the Ohio State University College of Dentistry. Fara worked for several years in the Columbus area, helping patients with their oral health needs and supporting patients with their periodontal care.

As a dentist, Dr. Hurt will make a great addition to our patient-centered team by providing comprehensive care for patients of all ages, including operative, prosthodontic and endodontic treatments In addition to delivering great care, Fara enjoys spending time with family and friends. She also enjoys hiking, traveling, and attending football games.

Mary Wiechart, D.M.D

Dr. Mary Wiechart is a Lima native. She is a graduate of Lima Central Catholic High School. Dr. Wiechart earned a Bachelor of Science in Nature Sciences from Xavier University. She earned a Doctorate of Medicine from the University of Kentucky College of Dentistry.

Her practice includes operative, prosthodontic, endodontic and surgical treatments. In addition to delivering great care, Mary enjoys spending time with family, friends and her dog, Bella. She also enjoys baking, golfing, traveling and listening to music.

Jill A. Miller, D.D.S

Dr. Jill A Miller is an Elida native and Elida High School graduate.

She is a graduate of Ohio Northern University and earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from The Ohio State University in 2009.

Dr. Miller provides comprehensive care to patients of all ages and strives to make patients feel comfortable. Her goal is to make going to the dentist a pleasant experience for children and adults.

Dr. Miller has served as externship site host for Ohio Northern University and has partnered with the University of Northwestern Ohio to provide emergency dental care to student athletes.

Dr. Miller is a member of the Ohio Dental Association, American Dental Association, Northwestern Ohio Dental Society, and the Ohio State University Dental alumni society.

In her spare time, Dr. Miller volunteers in the children ministry at her church, enjoys running and spending time with her husband, Zac, and their 3 children.