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Dentist Shortage: The Kansas Problem

Since the 1930s, the frontier and rural counties of western Kansas have been suffering a steady population decline. According to the 2010 census, some Kansas counties have as little as 1.6 people per square mile. This population scarcity has left Kansas on the verge of a dangerous and frightening dental crisis.

More and more of Kansas’ dentists are basing their practices in the state’s urbanized areas. Many worry that scattered, rural populations won’t be able to support a fully functional dental office. Many are also concerned that a small town practice won’t pay enough to cover the cost of dental school. The result:  13 of Kansas’ 105 counties currently have no practicing dentists. Moreover, 93 counties don’t have enough dentists to serve their populations.

Recently these shortage trends have caught the attention of state policymakers and dental professionals throughout the nation. One proposed solution to the problem was the creation of a new type of dental care worker called a Registered Dental Practitioner (RDP). In theory, RDPs would undergo more advanced training than dental hygienists but less than fully licensed dentists.  They would work under the supervision of a dentist and function essentially as mid-level dental professionals, providing patients with basic dental care such as tooth extraction and restoration. With RDPs taking care of minor procedures, claimed proponents, dental offices would be able to see more individuals and treat more cases.

The RDP solution, however, met considerable opposition from the Kansas Dental Association (KDA) and failed to pass through the state legislature. The KDA claimed that establishing a new level of dental practitioner would lower the quality of dental care offered in the state. They expressed concerns that RDP training would not be adequate for even basic procedures such as filling cavities or removing a tooth.

On February 2^nd of this year, the KDA along with the Delta Dental of Kansas Foundation offered their own solution to the shortage problem. The program is called the Kansas Initiative for New Dentists (KIND). Under KIND, the KDA and Delta Dental will offer two $50,000 grants per year for the next three years. The grants will go to dental school graduates who agree to practice in “dental deserts” for a minimum of three years. Another $50,000 grant will be awarded to an already practicing dentist who wishes to relocate into one of the underserved communities.

The KIND program has its own skeptics, however. It’s being characterized as a quick-fix solution for a far more serious problem. Adding nine more dentists to the Kansas countryside may not fully meet the states’ needs. And when the three years of service end, those dentists that took the grants may move back into the more lucrative city centers.

It’s tempting to shrug off the Kansas debate as an isolated incident affecting only one or two states at most. But with the continual depletion of rural populations and the rising costs of dental school, Kansas’ dental problem may soon become everyone’s dental problem. If KIND succeeds, the program could be replicated in other places. If it fails, however, millions of Americans across the nation could be left without adequate dental care. The burden to solve this problem falls not just on Kansas, but on all of us. 

Kissing Away Cavities

As you smooch your loved one this Valentine’s Day, you are not only strengthening your relationship, but also preventing tooth decay. According to the Academy of General Dentistry, kissing stimulates saliva, which cleanses the mouth and assists in uprooting cavity-causing food particles that collect after eating. Kisses have been called nature’s cleansing process.

Benefits of Kissing and Saliva

Deep kissing boosts saliva flow and keeps the mouth, teeth and gums healthy. Tooth decay can occur if bacteria in plaque mix with sugars and food starches which remains on the teeth. Saliva stops this through:

• neutralizing acids

• re-mineralizing teeth, which prevents tooth erosion

• flushing away food particles and bacteria that can lead to cavities

• fights bacteria, viruses and fungi

Dry mouth can also be prevented through kissing. Dry mouth is when you have a sticky, dry feeling in the mouth because of a lack of saliva. It can increase the risk of gingivitis, tooth decay and mouth infections. Many people get dry mouth by taking certain medications that reduce saliva flow. You can help your loved one return their saliva through a nice kiss. Another great benefit of kissing is that a 60 second kiss burns 26 calories. So lock lips with that special someone and burn calories at the same time.

Watch Out Who You Kiss

Even though kissing does help your dental hygiene, it can also transmit a small number of disease-causing bacteria through the mouth, such as:

• Colds

• Mononucleosis

• Herpes, which causes cold sores

• Hepatitis B

• Mouth warts

• Meningitis

But don’t let that stop you from kissing. Most of the bacteria transferred during a kiss won’t cause the disease, and the risk of contracting a serious disease is small. Make sure you know if your loved one has any of these infections before you kiss and practice these tips:

• Avoid kissing when the other person is sick.

• Don’t pucker up if you have an active cold sore around the lips or in the mouth.

• Make sure you have all your immunizations, so you don’t contract and spread infectious diseases.

• Maintain biannually checkups, brush your teeth twice a day and floss daily.

The benefits of kissing outweigh the risks, so don’t be shy this valentines and pucker up. So after your Valentine’s dinner and savoring your box of chocolates, give your loved one the gift of a cavity-fighting, calorie burning kiss.

Anthropology and Braces

A new study coming out of the University of Kent may help explain why almost everyone you know had or will have braces.

According to Dr. Noreen von Cramon-Taubadel, the shape of the human mandible (lower jaw) depends mostly on what sorts of foods it has to chew. Dr. Cramon-Taubadel’s anthropological study looked at 11 globally distributed populations and found that among all of them, food and not genetics, was the primary culprit behind jaw shape.

According to the study, the mandible of a hunter-gather is longer and narrower than that of a person living in an agricultural society. This longer jaw allows more room for new teeth to enter and develop. A shorter jaw, on the other hand, would be more susceptible to overcrowding.

Today our chewing habits more closely resemble the agriculturalists than the hunter-gatherers. Instead of tearing meat off the bone and grinding our teeth against nutshells, we’re more likely to pour ourselves a bowl of cereal or heat up a frozen chicken dinner in the microwave. It’s likely that this “soft diet” could account for the overcrowding in our mouths. The rise of processed foods has made eating easier than ever. Perhaps the reason almost everyone needs braces these days is simply because we aren’t chewing like we used to.

If you think your agricultural “soft diet” may have caused overcrowding in your mandible, call or visit Culebra North Dental Care today. 

Sensitive Teeth

Do you get a tinge of pain when biting down on cold or sweet foods? If so, you’re probably like many Americans who suffer from sensitive teeth.

Sensitive teeth occur when dentin, an underlying tooth layer, becomes exposed due to a receding gum line. When a cold substance comes in contact with the dentin, the stimuli is directed straight to the tooth nerve, resulting in a sharp shock of pain.

Sensitive teeth may be caused by serious oral health issues such as periodontal disease and gingivitis. More often, however, sensitive teeth are due to hard-bristled toothbrushes, tooth grinding, plaque build-up or simply old age. Additionally, regular use of teeth whitening products and mouthwashes has also been known to cause mild tooth sensitivity.

The most important step in preventing tooth sensitivity is maintaining good oral health. Brushing twice daily and flossing regularly will strengthen and preserve gum tissue. In addition, using a soft-bristled toothbrush, avoiding acidic foods and reducing tooth-grinding are all proven methods of maintaining healthy gums.

It’s also a good idea to see your dentist regularly for teeth cleaning. And while in the office, ask for their advice on how best to handle sensitive teeth. To make a teeth cleaning appointment with Culebra North Dental Care, call or visit us today. 

Infection Control at the Dentist

Like any health care facility, the dentist’s office has a number of special procedures to prevent the spread of infectious diseases.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Dental Association require that dental staff treating patients use disposable gloves and when necessary, put on masks and eyewear. Before treating another patient, a staff member must not only replace their gloves, but also wash their hands.

All dentist offices have special equipment used to sterilize dental instruments. Many offices, for instance, use an autoclave which works by subjecting dental tools to extremely hot, pressurized steam. The intense heat within the autoclave incinerates bacteria collected on the tools, making sure that none can spread to the next patient.

Additionally, all dental offices are cleaned and decontaminated regularly. Every surface, countertop, door and shelf handle is thoroughly wiped down and disinfected.

With all of these sterilization techniques in place, the dentist office may actually be cleaner than your own home. Don’t let a fear of unsanitary conditions stop you from getting to the dentist regularly. To make an appointment, call or contact us today.

CSI Dentistry

Dentists aren’t often shown with the CSI experts on TV, but in practice forensic dentists or odontologists are a vital component of many crime analyses.

One of the primary duties of an odontologist is identifying deceased victims. If the victim has an intact skull and up-to-date dental records, this process is rather simple. If the skull is badly damaged or the dental records are outdated, identification becomes more difficult. Sometimes alternative, full face x-rays can be used if no dental x-rays are present.

Odontologists also examine bite marks on both victims and objects found at the crime scene. In the case of bite wounds to a victim, the size and shape of the teeth marks are documented photographically. In the case of food found at the crime scene, odontologists preserve the bitten food with glycerol and formaldehyde. In both cases a suspect is then asked to bite down on another object which is compared to the bite marks from the crime scene. If the marks are identical, the suspect was undoubtedly present during the crime. If they differ, the police might be pursuing the wrong lead.

While dentists don’t make arrests or handcuff criminals, they are still integral pieces of the judicial process. So next time you flip on a crime show remember that behind that talented inspector or detective is probably an equally talented dentist.

Oral Cancer

This year around 36,000 Americans will be diagnosed with oral cancer. Little more than half of those will be alive in five years. Oral cancer usually begins in the tongue or floor of the mouth and spreads to the neck through the lymphatic system.

The disease is particularly deadly because often people don’t recognize the early warnings. Common signs of oral cancer include persistent mouth sores, bleeding in the mouth or pain while swallowing. Another typical symptom is the development of off-color patches within the mouth and around the lips.

Those most at risk for oral cancer include heavy alcohol drinkers, those who use tobacco and those who suffer sun damage to their lips. The best defense against oral cancer is prevention. Not smoking and using lip balm to guard against the sun are two simple ways to significantly reduce the risks of oral cancer.

Patients should also make sure they schedule regular dental checkups. Most dental professionals know the early symptoms of oral cancer and can diagnose the disease before it becomes life threatening. If you have any questions regarding oral cancer or would like to schedule a check-up, contact Culebra North Dental Care today.

Ultrasonic Devices and Cardiac Pacemakers

Ultrasonic scalers and others cleaning instruments are a common sight in the dentist’s office. For patients with artificial pacemakers however, ultrasonic equipment may be cause for concern.

A normal scaler is a handheld instrument with a metal tip used by dentists to scrape away plaque deposits. The metal tip of an ultrasonic scaler vibrates at a frequency which breaks down plaque cell membranes. This allows dentists to easily remove plaque that has hardened onto teeth.

While these vibrations are harmless to most patients, people with pacemakers need to be careful. Pacemakers deliver electrical impulses to the heart muscles regulating a patient’s heartbeat.  Certain types of ultrasonic devices however, are capable of producing electromagnetic interference that could disrupt the operation of a pacemaker. Recent studies have shown that ultrasonic equipment could interfere with pacemakers from as far away as two feet.

It is always important that patients keep their dentist updated about their general health. If you have a pacemaker and haven’t notified your dentist, you should do so immediately. If you have further questions about ultrasonic equipment and its effects on artificial pacemakers, contact Culebra North Dental Care today.

Latex Allergies in the Dentist’s Office

Latex allergy or sensitivity is a widespread problem affecting almost 1% of the U.S. population (or roughly 3 million people). A common substance, latex can be found in a number of products we use every day such as balloons, bandages and pacifiers. Minor symptoms can include dry, itchy skin and redness. More sever reactions; however, can include sneezing, difficulty breathing and even anaphylactic shock.

Dental care workers, in particular, need to be aware of latex allergies. Dental professionals are at high risk for developing allergies since they deal with latex in gloves and dental dams on a daily basis.

Patients, however, need not fear. Minimal contact with latex gloves very rarely develops into an allergy. Moreover, if warned in advance, dental offices are well equipped to handle latex-allergic patients.

If you would like to learn more about latex allergies or need to schedule a latex-free appointment, contact Culebra North Dental Care today.

Caduceus, the Emblem of Dentistry

The caduceus is often recognized as a symbol of medicine in general, but fewer people are familiar with the caduceus of dentistry. The American Dental Association made the official decision in 1965 to adopt the dental caduceus as an emblem of the profession.

Similar to the original caduceus, the dental symbol includes a snake wrapped around a staff. The staff is in front of 32 leaves and 20 berries, which are representative of the temporary and adult teeth. The drawing is surrounded by a delta sign and an omicron, the Greek letters representing dentistry and “odont,” the Greek word associated with “tooth.”

The caduceus is commonly found on dental paraphernalia: diplomas, graduation gowns, and banners, for example. The staff and serpent have been associated with medicine since Ancient Greece. The original caduceus has been recreated several times, including staffs with ribbons replacing the snakes and double-helixes to represent DNA.