Shifting gears; the unexpected, the uninvited and the inevitable

I have a birthday looming. When I’m sixty-four isn’t that much farther. Eliot’s suggestion that I grow old, I grow old, I shall wear the cuffs of my trousers rolled is beckoning, and the Simonesque image of sitting on a park bench like bookends is forthcoming. Friends are missing by design and default, family members … Read more

There is a god; we made the New York Times Sunday Review

IT’S become commonplace to criticize the “Occupy” movement for failing to offer an alternative vision. But the thousands of activists in the streets of New York and London aren’t the only ones lacking perspective: economists, to whom we might expect to turn for such vision, have long since given up thinking in terms of economic … Read more

Oral-systemic health and your dental team

From RDH – by Karen Davis – karen@karendavis.net Front office administrators, dental assistants, dentists, and dental hygienists have one thing in common: Patients will approach any of them to ask about something they just read or heard on TV regarding how the oral cavity impacts the rest of the body. They don’t discriminate. We’re all … Read more

Dirty Mouths Lead to Broken Hearts

From Science Daily – May 5, 2011 Nurses who care for patients with dementia now have a tailored approach to dental hygiene for their charges, thanks to a pilot study by a team of nurses. “Poor oral health can lead to pneumonia and cardiovascular disease as well as periodontal disease,” said Rita A. Jablonski, even … Read more

The Hidden Cause of Sinusitis in Seniors

From Worldental.org Dental Health Magazine Chronic sinusitis is a condition currently affecting approximately 13% of the Americans. On a yearly basis, there are $6 billion spent and 13 million visits made to the doctor because of this complaint. Some patients get relief from treatment with antibiotics, while others simply have to accept it as a way … Read more

Dental campaign targets seniors

from the MontrealGazette.com The Quebec Order of Dentists is launching a publicity campaign aimed at persuading the province’s elderly to take better care of their teeth. Dr. Diane Legault, president of the Order, said the dental health of all Quebecers has improved substantially in the past 50 years. But she expressed concern that seniors aren’t … Read more

Almost 15 Million Americans Now Caring for Loved One With Alzheimer’s

By Madonna BehenHealthDay Reporter – Tue Mar 15,11:48 pm ET TUESDAY,March 15 (HealthDay News) — Nearly 15 million Americans are caring for someone with Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, and the number is rising, according to a report released Tuesday. “People with Alzheimer’s who are otherwise healthy may live as long as 20 or 25 years,” said William H. Thies, … Read more

Guidelines Issued for Antibiotic Prophylaxis With Implanted Heart Devices

Laird Harrison February 17, 2011 — Dental patients should not take prophylactic antibiotics simply because they have pacemakers or implanted defibrillators, according to a new statement from the American Heart Association (AHA). Although 2007 guidelines already exclude these patients from the list of those who need prophylactic antibiotics to prevent endocarditis,the AHA wanted to emphasize … Read more

For some reason I can’t remember the title of this blog entry

It is common knowledge that as the average life span becomes longer, dementia becomes more common.  Swedish scientist Laura Fratiglioni has shown that everyone can minimize his or her risk of being affected. Factors from blood pressure and weight to the degree of physical and mental activity can influence cognitive functioning as one gets older. The … Read more

Older patients’ oral health critical prior to surgery

July 23, 2010 By: Erin Archer, R.N. from DrBicuspid.com Elderly patients presenting for surgery may be harboring undetected oral infections that could lead to expensive and life-threatening complications, according to a study in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society (June 1, 2010). The entire medical team — including oral care providers — needs to be aware of these … Read more