With the 2015 Atlantic Hurricane season less than two weeks away, it might seem like an odd time to discuss Dominican Republic tourism. June, after all, is among the island’s wettest months and it’s the time of year where cold-winter beach destinations across North America and Europe are in their glory. But for government organizations, private tourism groups, and a litany of restaurateurs and hoteliers, there’s no such thing as an off season. There’s only preparation for next season. And when it comes to promoting […]
Read moreWhy the Encouraging April Jobs Report is a Giant ‘I told you so’ for Dentists And how to use the data to your hiring advantage
Like a collection of drug-resistant bacteria living in a continent-sized Petri dish, every few months, it seems, the American public needs a booster shot of emotional reassurance that, yes, the economy really is turning a corner. Yet a few weeks ago the winds of doubt were again blowing at gale force strength thanks to a March jobs report that was, frankly, miserable. Politically correct phrases like “missed the mark” or “failed to impress” don’t do the report justice. And a recent downward revision in the […]
Read moreThe Dangers of DIY Dentistry
Late last week I came across an article online that discussed a topic that left my mouth wide open: the growing popularity of do-it-yourself dentistry in the United Kingdom. Published in the UK’s Daily Mirror, the article featured the story of Ian Boynton, a 42-year-old Iraq war veteran, who, due to excruciating toothaches and an inability to find a National Health Service dentist or afford private care, resorted to pulling out 13 of his teeth with pliers in the last two years. With few natural […]
Read moreAutism Awareness in the Dental Office: Finally Something to Smile About
Since the 1970s April in the medical community has meant one thing: Autism awareness. Thanks to the steadfast efforts of advocacy organizations like Autism Speaks and the Autism Society, among others, much has been learned about the disorder. Yet despite that knowledge and a wealth of new treatment methods, the incidence of autism continues to rise. A spectrum disorder impacting a person’s sensory processing capabilities, social skills and sometimes cognitive function, today 1 in 68 children born in the United States are diagnosed with some […]
Read moreDental March Madness: New Study Confirms Tooth Decay Still a Rotten Problem
Sometimes you have to marvel at our species’ collective progress. Almost every day breakthroughs in science and technology are transforming how we live and interact with the world around us. In medicine alone, new theories of disease, new vaccines and new treatment methods promise to vastly extend human life. Last month it was reported again that sometime in the not-too-distant future, many of us could be living to around 120. But just when you think nothing could blunt such horizon-expanding optimism, we receive a dose […]
Read moreAfrican American Oral Health Remains a Black Spot on Dentistry Despite Gains Among Certain Groups
Very often numbers help tell a story. Encouragingly, if you’re an African American living in 2015 many of those numbers paint an improving picture. In 1970 there were only 1,469 black elected officials; today there are over 10,000. In 1966 the Black poverty rate was 41.8%. Today that figure is down by nearly half. In 1964 only 365,000 black Americans held a four year undergraduate degree. A half century later and that number stands at 2.6 million, a 612 percent increase. No doubt, these are […]
Read moreFrom Trade to Profession: How African Americans Helped Transform Dentistry
By most accounts, the history of black and white dentistry crosses in the late 19th century. And appropriately, even at that early juncture there were more similarities than differences –starting with the fact that no matter which race was performing the work, it was an extremely painful (and primitive) experience. In lieu of formal training dentists learned their trade by way of apprenticeship, (like barbers and blacksmiths) and gradually gained enough hands-on skills to open their own practices. But without standardization, without textbooks and without […]
Read moreKeeping Fear Out of the Holiday Cheer
Keeping Fear Out of the Holiday Cheer Avoiding End-of-Year Dental Emergencies Arun K. Garg, DMD Ask any doctor what’s the deadliest time of year and chances are they’ll have the same answer: Thanksgiving to New Years. Theories for the seasonal uptick are as varied as the aliments doctors treat. But whether it’s increased stress, shoveling snow, increased fat and salt intake, alcohol overindulgence, ignoring seemingly benign-but-deadly symptoms like chest pain, or reduced (or fewer senior staff) at national hospitals and trauma centers, the fact of […]
Read moreElderly Patients and the Ongoing Dental Dilemma: A Labor Day Reminder
Elderly Patients and the Ongoing Dental Dilemma: A Labor Day Reminder By: Dr. Arun K. Garg One hundred and twenty years ago this Monday Americans celebrated the first national Labor Day. At the state level, the movement for such a day of appreciation of American workers had been building for years and some 23 states had already enacted legislation to that effect. Thinking about that date, 1894, it occurred to me that some of our oldest citizens were born near that time, or immediately following […]
Read moreToothpaste with Fluoride a Plus for Pediatric Patients
Toothpaste with Fluoride a Plus for Pediatric Patients By: Dr. Arun K. Garg With a new school year already underway in the South and the academic calendar only days away up North, the American Academy of Pediatrics released new recommendations on when young children should begin brushing their teeth with fluoride toothpaste. Like a homework assignment for children’s mouths, fluoride-enhanced brushing should begin as soon as deciduous teeth (baby teeth) come into place. Over-the-counter fluoride treatments, however, are not recommended for children younger than […]
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