Header - CDG 
Children's Dentistry Group, LLC Newsletter December 2011
Greetings!

 
The team at Children's Dentristry Group would like you wish you and your loved ones a safe, happy and healthy holiday season!   As the winter season approaches, we bring you another edition of our newsletter...
Utilizing Your 2011 Insurance Benefits

 

Don't loose your hard-earned dollars!

 

It will not be long before 2011 comes to a close. As the days pass by, so do your chances to use your remaining dental insurance benefits. You should be getting the most from your dental carrier. You pay for your insurance benefits and are entitled to use the full amount allocated to you each year. If you do not use the full amount by 12/31/2011, any unused dollars are lost forever. In today's' difficult economic climate, every dollar counts.

 

 

Preventive care is important in maintaining your child's dental health. Little things like a small cavity, chipped tooth or a broken crown or filling can develop into expensive, complicated and PAINFUL problems if left untreated. In most cases, these inexpensive dental procedures can be taken care of right away without pain.

 

Remember, in this tough economy, no one can afford to waste his or her hard-earned money by not using a benefit that has already been paid for. Scheduling your child's end of the year appointment, is one very easy way to make every dollar count and ensure your child's continued dental health. For procedures your child might need that are not fully covered by your insurance, we offer several financing options through ChaseHealthAdvance, CareCredit or we can assist in setting up regular credit card auto-payments. 

 

With children having time off school during the holiday season, appointments can fill up quickly. If you have any questions regarding benefits, financing options and/or would like to make an appointment, please contact our office.
Oral Hygiene for Othodontic Patients
ortho 

We discussed proper oral hygiene for our orthodontic patients in a previous newsletter, but we would like to take the time again to reiterate the importance of it. We know it is important for our orthodontic patients to visit the orthodontist regularly, but it is just as important to visit the dentist on a regular basis as well. We want to ensure your child receives the optimal outcome from their orthodontic experience. We have exceptional instruments and tools that are used to clean around braces. Our air-powder polishing system is proven to remove up to 100% of bacteria, along with stains, plaque and other deposits on the teeth. It also aids in the healing of swollen gums due to poor oral hygiene. If your child is brought into our office on a regular schedule, we can keep an eye on any arising concerns and catch any problems before they get too far out of control. We also educate our patients on proper oral hygiene techniques and diet to make sure the braces and your child's overall oral health stays in the best possible shape.

 

Our orthodontic patients should be brushing and flossing the same as any of our other patients, just with a few tweaks added to the routine. Brushing should be done on a twice a day basis. At our office, we recommend using fluoridated toothpaste like Crest Pro-Health. To ensure the healthiest mouth, children should be brushing not only twice a day, but also after meals as well. We want to cut down on the amount of time food lingers in the mouth. Braces collect food very easily, which aids in plaque formation. If brushing after every meal is not possible, the mouth should at least be rinsed with water, removing some of the food trapped between brackets. It is also very important to use a soft-bristle toothbrush and brush for at least two minutes each time.

 

Flossing is another vital part of proper oral hygiene. There is a special floss made for orthodontic patients call 'Superfloss'. This easily threads through and underneath brackets, removing food particles stuck in between. The superfloss also greatly helps keep gums healthy. As children grow into their teenage years and older, the chances increase for getting gum disease and other gum infections. Flossing is a must to prevent this.

 

Drs. Herer and Patenio may also recommend your child uses a fluoride rinse to protect and strengthen the teeth while in braces. This can be discussed at your child's next dental visit. Diet restrictions are the same for our patients in braces and those who are not. Sticky, gooey foods, very hard candy, pop and all other foods/beverages that would fall into this category can not only devastate the teeth, but can also break braces as well. A well-balanced diet and proper oral hygiene are essential for a healthy mouth and positive orthodontic outcome.

Snacking and Tooth Decay
 

Snacking is a major contributor to tooth decay, especially if it is done on a constant basis. Even if the snacks are not considered 'unhealthy', the constant exposure to different foods or drinks is what increases the chance of getting cavities. The focus is not necessarily on the amount of junk food a child eats, but more so how often they eat them. We understand children are going to have sweet foods or drinks at some point, but the main concern is limiting the frequency of consumption.

 

Some healthy snacks we recommend consuming are fiber-rich fruits and vegetables and dairy products like cheese, milk and plain yogurt. All of these foods increase saliva flow, which acts as a defense against cavities and gum disease. Certain products in dairy foods, for example the calcium in cheese and phosphates in milk, help re-mineralize the teeth. Snacks such as pretzels, chips, goldfish crackers and gummy bears are no good for the teeth. Starches like crackers and pretzels actually turn into sugars when combined with saliva in the mouth. This is why we do not want to eat these types of food products too often. Starchy foods actually get stuck in the mouth and linger for an extended period of time. This highly increases the chance of getting tooth decay. Candy and any other sticky treats are a more obvious no-no for children to consume. These types of products should be provided to children on a very minimal basis to lower the chance of developing tooth decay.

 

What children drink can also greatly affect their oral health. Juice, chocolate milk and pop are some of the main culprits of tooth decay. The ingredients in these products can rot away the tooth enamel if consumed too often. The key is limiting the frequency of drinking these products and promoting the consumption of water. If your child is going to drink juice for example, it should be diluted with water. Pop, and other beverages like it, should be very limited and saved for special occasions only.

Around the Office...
David and Dr P 
 
We would like to make an announcement that Dr. Melissa Patenio has passed her board exams and is now a DIPLOMATE of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry.  Congratulations, Dr. P, we are very proud of you!

 

 

 

 
CDG is hosting a FOOD DRIVE for the Northern Illinois Food Bank this winter!  Throughout the winter you can drop off non-perishable food items during our regular business hours.  During these difficult economic times the Food Bank can use all the donations they can get. Please consider helping out with a food donation or two!  We will let you know how things are going throughout the season. How much can we collect?  Help us find out!
 
 
As an up-date to a previous event - we hosted a Candy Buy Back Program after Halloween.  We suceeded in collecting over 280 pounds of candy to send to Operation Gratitude.  This organization creates care packages for our military troops.  The candy will be included with an assortment treats and neccessities.  A case of toothbrushes was included to help our men and women in uniform keep cavitiy free!  Thank you to all that lended a helping hand!
Please Don't Be Bashful!
 

If you have any questions regarding pediatric dental health, please feel free to contact us by phone:

847-726-0300 or by email: [email protected]. If you have a family member or friend with a child, please feel free to forward this newsletter to them. Thank you.

 

We wish everyone a wonderful winter season!

 

Drs. Paul Herer, Melissa Patenio and the CDG Team

 

Dr. Paul D. Herer, Dr. Melissa J. Patenio and the CDG Team
Children's Dentistry Group, LLC
In This Issue
Utilizing your 2011 Insurance Benefits
Oral Hygiene for the Orthodontic Patient
Snacking and Tooth Decay
Around the Office
Join Our Mailing List
Quick Links

Like us on Facebook

Find us on Yelp

View our videos on YouTube