Let’s Talk About Aerosols!

Dr. Avani Gandhi

Pine Smiles Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics

Chino Hills, CA

With the COVID pandemic on all of our minds, there has been a lot of talk of aerosols so I thought it would be a good idea to dig a little deeper with you and what that may mean for dentistry.

Did you know that there are scientists who study aerosols? An aerosol is any suspension of solid particles or liquid droplets in the air. There are all different kinds of aerosols and some are natural and others are not. Examples of aerosols that we would run across in nature are mist, fog, clouds, dusts that are blown by the wind, salt from the ocean, ash released from volcano eruptions, and smoke from a forest fire. Then there are aerosols from humans like air pollutants from factories and cars and mists from aerosol spray cans (does AquaNet ring a bell?). We also produce aerosols by just living! Have you ever fogged up a window on a cold day to write “Hi”?

Not all aerosols are bad. They are particularly important in our atmosphere where they scatter sunlight and radiation and affect our climate. When you see a beautiful sunset, the colors are from the aerosols reflecting light in the atmosphere. They can seed clouds and cause rain, which removes them from the atmosphere and naturally cleanses our air and our Earth.

Aerosol particles can also be different sizes,and in this case, size matters a lot! The smaller the particle size (droplet) is, the longer it hangs around in the air. Large particle sizes from a sneeze fall rapidly 3-6 feet away from the source of the sneeze. This is why the CDC recommends social distancing of at least 6 feet. The smaller droplets in the sneeze remain suspended and in the matter of a few seconds to a few minutes travel the dimension of a room and land 20-26 feet away!

Our body naturally tries to diminish our exposure to aerosols. Did you ever wonder why you had hair growing in your nose? Or what purpose eyelashes really serve? But when these particles are very, very small, as they are in viruses like SARS-COV2 or the flu, our bodies natural defenses are just not enough. This is why exercising proper hand hygiene and precautions are very important.

The next time you come to visit the dentist, we probably aren’t going to take off our mask, and will have on goggles or a face shield and a surgical cap. We are also doing what we can to reduce the number of aerosols in the office by continuing to focus on our stringent infection control protocols and sanitizing surfaces after every patient. Sadly, we have had to remove the toys from our waiting room and ask that families limit the number ofpeople in the office. We are doing what we can to flatten the curve and keep everyone safe AND keep those pearly whites bright! And I want you to know, even though you won’t be able to see it, we are smiling underneath those masks because we have missed you all so much!

If you have any questions, please call us! (909) 393-4800

June 2020 Tooth Brushing Chart // Chino Hills Pediatric Dentist

Keep your summer smiles healthy by brushing for two minutes, twice a day! Download our tooth brushing chart to help remind your littles.

Click here to download

Let's Talk Going Off to College

Let’s Talk Going to College!

Dr. Avani Gandhi Pine Smiles Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics

Chino Hills, CA

Let’s Talk Going to College!

We know, we can’t believe it either! It seems like just yesterday they were off to kindergarten and now they are packing for college! Here are some things you can do in advance to ensure a healthy first year!

-Schedule a cleaning with our office! Getting on a Summer Break/Winter Break schedule is a great way to keep your student smiling.

-Visit the doctor for a physical exam before they go off to school to make sure nothing needs to be addressed.

-Make sure your student has any prescription medications they might need for the semester filled or set up mail delivery to their new address.

-Now is a good age to start an annual dermatology appointment! Get that skin checked after a summer in the sun.

-Pack a first aid kit that includes the following; aspirin, antacids, vitamins, anti-diarrheal medicine, Adhesive bandages, antibiotic ointment, cough drops.

-When you move your student into their new home, walk around and find the fire and emergency exits. If they live in a dorm, introduce yourselves to the Resident Advisors! It’s always nice to know where to go if a potential problem arises.

-Visit the campus medical office with your student to make sure they know where it’s located in case they need to visit. It can be tough to find a building when you’re not feeling good!

-Walk around the campus and find their class locations to avoid getting lost on their first days of school. It can lessen anxieties and help students feel confident in where they are going.

-Find the on-campus counseling resources office! Explain that it’s normal to have a lot of feelings, positive and negative, about moving away from home and starting school. Sometimes it’s nice to have someone to talk to.

-Find the on-campus tutoring center. Those college classes can be tough and many campuses have free help from experienced students. -Visit the nearest grocery store and 24 hour pharmacy so that they know where to go when the time comes for food and toiletries.

Let's Talk About Women in Dentistry

International Women’s Day is March 8th and we thought it would be fun to highlight just some of the incredible women in dentistry who have broken down barriers and fought for equality!

Emeline Roberts Jones was the first woman to practice dentistry in the United States. She was married to a dentist who didn’t think it was acceptable for women to practice dentistry. Emeline studied and extracted teeth secretly. When she shared her secret with her husband, he agreed to let her practice with him. She even took over the practice completely when he died. 

Vada Somerville was a civil rights activist and the second African American woman to receive a Doctor of Dental Surgery degree in California. After attending the University of Southern California, Vada married a Dentist she’d met in school. After the United States entered World War I, Vada decided to become a Doctor of Dental Surgery because she was worried that if her husband was drafted, he would lose his patients. When she entered dental school, she was the only woman and only African American in her class. Upon graduating, she was the first African American woman to be licensed to practice dentistry in California!  

Jeanne Sinkford grew up in Washington DC and began studying at Howard University when she was 16! She then attended dental school and ultimately became the first female dean of a US dental school. In 2015, Sinkford received the Distinguished Service Award from the American Dental Association, and is still a dean and professor emeritus at Howard University. 

Lucy Hobbs  Taylor  is the first woman to graduate from dental school in the world! After being denied admittance to two dental schools in Ohio, she created her own education in dentistry by being tutored by dental school graduates. She decided to move to Iowa where it would be legal for her to open her own practice without a degree from a dental school. When the Ohio College of Dentistry decided to waive their policy prohibiting women from attending the school, Lucy enrolled as a senior because of all of the years of studying with tutors she’d accumulated. Upon graduating, she was the first woman to receive a doctorate of dentistry in the world. 

Evangeline Jordan was an american dentist and the FIRST to specialize in Pediatric Dentistry. While attending school at the University of California, she ran a dental health clinic at an orphanage in San Francisco. After graduating, she opened a general dentistry practice in Los Angeles and eventually limited her patients to children. In 1916, she gave an important presentation linking dental health to child development and recommended less sweets, more milk, eggs, and vegetables in children’s diets. In 1925 she wrote the first Pediatric Dentistry textbook! 

American women dentists were eager to serve in the military, but military policy only accepted women as nurses. Despite repeated requests during both World Wars, women dentists were denied the opportunity to use their expertise and experience to serve their country.

Sara Krout was one of those women! An immigrant from Latvia, in 1944 she became the first woman dentist in the US Navy. She had dental degrees from both her native country of Latvia, and the University of Illinois.  Dr. Krout was prevented from enlisting directly as a female dentist due to military restrictions. In order to serve, she joined the U.S. Navy’s Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Services (WAVES). She was on active duty at the Great Lakes Naval Training Station from 1944 to 1946 and stayed in the Naval Reserve until she retired in 1961. 

Ida Gray Nelson was the first African-American woman to become a dentist in the United States. She became interested in dentistry through working for Jonathan Taft, an early advocate of women in dentistry.  After working her way through high school as a seamstress, she enrolled in the University of Michigan School of Dentistry. She then opened a practice that served both black and white patients from 1890-1928. She was known for her gentleness with children and remains an inspirational figure!

Leonie Von Meusebach was born in Texas and was a pioneer dentist dedicated to serving those who didn’t normally have access to dental care. During the Great Depression, Meusebach–Zesch provided dental care to enrollees and officers with the Civilian Conservation Corps, and later to inmates at the California Institute for Women. For four years, she practiced in her home state of Texas,Three years of her dental career were spent in Arizona, where her patients included people from the Hopi and Navajo populations. To accommodate patients who could not travel to her practice, she hooked her equipment to the back of her car and held mobile dental clinics around the state. For fifteen years, Meusebach–Zesch practiced in the Territory of Alaska. To serve remote villages, she traveled by airplane to islands and even survived a plane crash. Throughout Alaska's interior, she traveled by dog sled to hold mobile dental clinics for patients. 

What's New in Pediatric Dentistry? // San Bernardino Orthodontist

Since it’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, we wanted to share updates from the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, our industry’s governing body. Just a reminder, if it has been more than six months since your child’s last appointment, it’s time to make an appointment! 

Although the prevalence of tooth decay has decreased, nearly one in five children under the age of 5 has experienced dental decay. The BEST way to prevent decay is to start visiting our office by your child’s first birthday. 

The 15 million children in the U.S. with special health care needs face acute unmet needs for dental care. As a reminder, Pediatric Dentists are specially trained to treat special needs from childhood into adulthood. 

Tooth decay compromises the health, development, and quality of life of children. It affects almost every aspect of health, including mental health and self esteem! When children visit our office regularly, we can detect issues as soon as they start. Early dental visits, along with prevention, make dental care safer, more comfortable and more affordable. Treatment of severe tooth decay can cost $10,000 per child and up to $25,000 in severe cases. 

The number of practicing dentists and pediatric dentists is projected to continue to increase through 2030, outpacing the projected growth of the child population.

Caries compromises the health, development, and quality of life of children both in the short run and over the long term. Caries make children more vulnerable to various infections in other parts of their body, such as the ears, sinuses and the brain, and could have a harmful long-term impact not only on their oral health, but also on their overall health.

Pediatric dentists limit their practices to treating children and are prepared to allay children’s fears, treat special needs children, and create a kid-friendly environment.9 The specialty is becoming even more important as advances in medicine and dentistry increase the life expectancy of children with chronic diseases and congenital problems.

Silver Diamine Fluoride continues to grow in popularity as a less invasive way to treat cavities.  Silver diamine fluoride can stop current decay, harden the soft areas of the tooth, desensitize the tooth, and help prevent further decay.

As always, call our office with any questions you may have! 

Let's Talk About Respiratory Health // Chino Hills Orthodontist

Respiratory viruses abound in the winter months. Usually the virus that people worry about the most is the influenza virus. This year we are also concerned about the Wuhan coronavirus (2019-nCov) outbreak. Since our goal is to keep our children and yours healthy and safe, we thought it would be a good idea to go over some tips for minimizing the risk of acquiring a respiratory virus.

Plan ahead. It’s a good idea to make contingency plans for what you and your family will do to minimize exposure to a highly infectious respiratory virus. 

• Acquire masks, gloves, hand sanitizers, and extra food so that you don’t have to head out into public. 

• Clean door handles and surfaces. 

• Don’t shake hands. 

• If you need to cough, do so in your elbow. 

• Limit your travel. 

• If you are exposed, it is very important to seek medical help.

So what do we know about 2019-nCov? These are the facts. 

Coronaviruses are common in many animals. It’s rare for them to infect and spread from animals to people. The 2019-nCov is a betacoronavirus, like MERS and SARS, and has its origin in bats. The recent outbreak of this virus is most likely from an animal resource. 

They symptoms of the 2019-nCov include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Not every person infected with the virus will be symptomatic. It ranges from little to no symptoms to people being severely ill and dying. At this time, the CDC believes that symptoms can appear in as little as 2 days to up to 14 days after exposure. 

Those most at risk are infants, the elderly, pregnant women, and those who are immunocompromised. 

Because we still don’t know that much about 2019-nCov, it’s important to be very careful and use preventative actions. These include washing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or using a hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands. If people are sick, try to stay at least 6 feet away and avoid contact. If you are sick, please stay home. Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, dispose of the tissue, then wash your hands. Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.

Please be careful! We have cases of the 2019-nCov in the US now. Make sure to stay updated on the latest. The CDC 2019 Novel Coronavirus page is the best source of the latest up-to-date information.

Let's Talk About the Dangers of Vaping // San Bernardino Pediatric Dentist

One of the newest and most distressing epidemics among children and adolescents is vaping. So what are electronic cigarettes? Why are e-cigarettes so popular? Why should we as dentists and parents care?

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) released a health advisory on August 30, 2019 to urge people to avoid e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are a public health crisis. In 2019, 27.5% of high school students used e-cigarettes in the past month and nearly 1 million youth report daily use. They are the most popular tobacco product used by adolescents, and 72% of them use flavored e-cigarette products. There are several different kinds that include e-cigs, vape pens, vapes, e-cigars, e-hookahs, tanks, mods, personal vaporizers, “juice” and JUULs.

Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) are battery powered devices that have a heating element. This element vaporizes a solution that is inhaled. They were first developed and created in China. They have been marketed as a less harmful alternative or substitute to cigarettes. Some have claimed it will even help people stop the use of tobacco products. 

Vaping nicotine is addictive from the prenatal period through adolescence. Nicotine is also damaging to the developing brain. Many young people start using vaping products in middle and high school to try to seem cool and fit in. It is not considered smoking, so when asked, many people will say that they do not smoke. Vaping has grown in popularity because they can be used indoors, as a substitute for traditional cigarette smoking. Exhaled vapors are a concern because several toxic and potentially cancer-causing compounds have been found. Easy access is cause for concern for the user and for those exposed to the secondhand vapor.

There is a lack of regulation in e-cigarette marketing and manufacturing, unlike traditional cigarette or tobacco products. E-cigarette solutions are available in a variety of flavors and colors that are appealing such as chocolate, fruit, candy, bubblegum, peppermint, and piña colada. These flavors have been banned in cigarettes containing tobacco as they appeal to children, adolescents, and new users. In addition to all of this, many producers of e-cigarettes give out free samples to those under age. Although it is illegal to sell to those who are under 18, they can be ordered online. 

Because the electronic cigarettes are not regulated by state or federal laws, manufacturers are not required to disclose ingredients or substances that are inhaled or exhaled by the user. So we don’t know what is actually in the vaping solutions. The base of the solutions contains propylene glycol which is an irritant to eyes, throats, and airways, and can cause asthma with long term exposure in children. Some vials of e-cigarette solutions can have very high concentrations of nicotine, even in excess of lethal doses for children and adults. Symptoms of nicotine poisoning include sweating, dizziness, vomiting, and high heartrate. Nickel, lead and tin have also been found in vapors. Acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, isoprene, and toluene are also in the pods.

Currently, the most popular vaping pod system among youth is JUUL. They look like a flash drive. A JUUL pod contains higher levels of nicotine than traditional cigarettes and 63% of JUUL users do not know that the pods ALWAYS contain nicotine and its concentration is twice that of other e-cig devices. The FTC is investigating JUULs marketing practices. It is also owned by Phillip Morris.

Vaping devices have blown up and injured people. From 2015-2017, there were 2,035 explosion and burn injuries seen in US emergency rooms. There have also been over 8,000 nicotine poisonings in children less than 6 from 2012-2017. There are substantial risks with even trying an e-cigarette. As of December 17, 2019, more than 2,500 hospitalizations from all 50 states and 54 deaths have been confirmed in 27 states from e-cigarette usage. 

To learn more about e-cigarettes and vaping, please feel free to use the following resources:

AAPD Policy on Electronic Cigarettes

AAP Vaping, JUUL and E-Cigarettes Presentation Toolkit

Healthychildren.org Facts For Parents About E-Cigarettes and Vaping

Let's Talk About the Resources for Parents from the American Dental Association // Chino Hills Orthodontist

The American Dental Association, or ADA, is an organization of dentists with over 163,000 members and has been around for over 160 years. While this organization exists to help dentists and advocate for public health, it also has many benefits that are free for the public and we wanted to highlight a few of these resources!

The first thing that comes to mind is the Find-a-Dentist tool. Just follow the link, put in your ZIP Code and you’ll see the list of dentists near you that are ADA members. You can also refine your search by specialty. By clicking on the dentist of your choice, you’ll get the contact information for the dentist’s office and the credentials of that dentist.

Another great resource is Mouth Healthy. You can learn about dental care through different life stages, from pregnancy through adulthood. You can also learn about the ADA Seal of Acceptance. You can search by category or by company. The ADA Seal of Acceptance is the Gold Standard for evaluating the safety and efficacy of dental products. Mouth Healthy also has an index of A-Z Topics that you can search. 

Nutrition is also a big part of Mouth Healthy. You can find out what foods are good for your teeth, nutrition guides for different stages of your life, and holiday recipes and advice. There are also pages with Dental Visit FAQs to help you prepare for your next dental visit. Another part of Mouth Healthy is a Resources page where you can find activity sheets for children and lesson plans to help your little ones learn more about their teeth. 

The AAPD is the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. It consists of over 10,000 members that provide primary care and comprehensive specialty treatments for infants, children, adolescents, and those with special health care needs. They have a page of Oral Health Resources that include dental and medical organizations, parenting sites, federal health sites, general health sites, and health publications. They also have the Oral Health Policies & Recommendations (The Reference Manual of Pediatric Dentistry) that is free and available to the public.

The ABPD is the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry. It is the certifying board for the specialty of pediatric dentistry. There is a blog with relevant topics pertaining to pediatric dentistry. There is also a page where you can search for a Certified Pediatric Dentist. This is important because those dentists that are board certified have demonstrated pursuit of continued proficiency and excellence. The title of Diplomate of the American Board of Pediatric Dentistry is an honor.

We hope that this list of resources will help you in your search for more dental knowledge. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to call our office.