We are close.
Researchers at UCLA and other institutions around the world are focusing
their attention solely on finding the cause of, and the solution to, this
devastating disease of childhood. As
pediatric dentists, we see the devastation in our offices each day. I don’t speak of devastation on the level of
a typhoon that recently hit Philippines.
But cavities leave scars, both physical and emotional.
Personally, my
greatest reward is seeing my patients come and go with smiling faces. It is disturbing to me personally that some
children will come with smiles and leave with tears because our services
include numbing their mouths and drilling tiny holes in their heads. I don’t believe that any child enjoys dental
work when a “drill” is involved. Some
may be pretty good at ignoring the discomfort of noise and vibration, but at
some level they all hurt at least a little. Children of five and under haven’t learned to
ignore the discomfort and usually let us know loudly and clearly. There can be no mistake…a child of four or
five crying and resisting during dental treatment is crying for help.
What can we do? With
moms and dads on board, we can make a difference today. We can test for a child’s risk for developing
cavities. We can use minerals directly
applied to tooth surfaces at home to reduce the progression of decay. We can alter eating habits by replacing
acidic foods with foods that will reduce the activity of decay-causing bacteria
in the mouth and reduce acidity. Where
there is no acid, there is no decay. It
works, we have seen it work. We just
have to get past the notion that cavities are inevitable and not preventable
and to the knowledge that cavities can, and should, be eliminated.
Robert R. Smith, DDS
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