Patch Blog: Making Dentistry Fun

Making Dentistry Fun

So when you hang a sign out in the “patient lounge” that says you’re gonna make dentistry fun, some pretty cool things can happen.

And wouldn’t you rather “lounge” around than just wait to see the dentist?

But there’s no accounting for the way some folks view the world and a few of my patients are actually bruin football fans (even though we do have a stuffed baby blue and gold little bear hanging upside down from the ceiling.) The success starved sad sacks know we love ‘em; as a healthcare provider it’s natural showing compassion for those who have long suffered big-time.

My patient Tim has never liked my alma mater. Last time in, Tim threatened to bite me just because I said “Fifty to nuthin.”

Tim’s son attended Berkeley on a baseball scholarship but he’ll root for the Bears, the Ducks, and probably the Republic of China when they’re playing the Trojans.

Years ago, when Cal got lucky and beat USC, Tim left a message on my answering machine reminding me that my Dad, a major Cal fan, was surely looking down from heaven and smiling. When the Trojans lose to the Oregon Ducks (ridiculous), Tim just leaves an emphatic “Quack!”

A few years ago, the football Trojans lost five conference games (an outrage). And a few weeks after the end of the season, an envelope arrived. The unsealed envelope proved to contain little cut-outs of a beaver, a duck, a wildcat, a husky, and a cardinal (it had feathers) accounting for all five losses. At least there were no little bears included.

Last week, I got more mail from Tim. This time Tim clipped out a “Health Smart Advice from The Doctors” piece from USA Weekend. The title was “3 Surprising Ways to protect your Heart.” Two ways were drinking less sugar and checking your vitamin D levels. The number one surprising factor was “Get your teeth cleaned.”

Turns out, people who see their dentist regularly for teeth cleaning have a 24% less risk of heart attack and a 13% less risk of stroke.

I’ll add research also shows folks who use floss to help prevent or manage periodontal disease live an average seven years longer than those who don’t.

Half of the U.S. doesn’t visit a dentist on a regular basis and up to 80% of that population can predictably be diagnosed with some level of periodontal disease.

Periodontal disease has been found to be linked to heart disease, lung disease, diabetes, and low weight premature births. The disease is chronic and episodic, much like hypertension and diabetes. The good news is the disease can be measured, monitored, and managed…but not without a trip to the dentist.

Tim’s note went: “Jack, put this in your newsletter if you haven’t already. Tim. “Go Bruins!”

And I think what Tim was trying to say was, “Bruins, go to the dentist; it would be great to still have your teeth and your health if and when we ever win a football game against the Trojans.” Right Tim?