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Archive for the ‘Patient Education’ Category

Someone Stole My Face

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Like just about every other American chick, Ashlie Southard made Facebook and MySpace her second home. So when she discovered a stranger was impersonating her online, it was as invasive — and terrifying — -as a break-in.

Until recently, Ashlie Southard, 19, logged on to MySpace and Facebook as casually as she brushed her teeth or went to class. Like millions of people around the world, she had that mildly addictive habit of signing on several times a day to share news and pics with her friends-never really stopping to think that what she posted might, quite literally, take on a life of its own.

But this past January, Ashlie’s easy relationship with the Internet came to a halt, replaced by a disturbing paranoia. She received a bizarre e-mail from a girlfriend asking her why she had two accounts on MySpace and Facebook. Ashlie thought her friend was confused until she clicked the links to the profiles. She couldn’t believe what she saw-it was her name and her face staring back at her on the screen. “Both profile pictures were photos I had taken on New Year’s Eve and posted on my accounts,” she recalls.

The idea that someone could assume her identity so easily, and so plausibly, made her feel almost sick. “I felt violated,” she says. “It’s like they’re playing a head game, and it’s scary not to know who’s behind it.”

Ashlie’s not alone. Although MySpace and Facebook declined to release information on how many users report fake profiles, Ashlie’s situation appears to be increasingly common as social-networking sites gain popularity, according to Jayne Hitchcock, president of Working to Halt Online Abuse, an organization that fights online harassment. This year, Facebook added its 200 millionth user-that’s almost 25 times the population of New York City -and MySpace has 130 million users. And like in any big community, the more people there are, the more likely it is that you’ll encounter individuals with shady intentions.

“And yet,” says Hitchcock, “people feel safe behind their computer. They let their guard down, even though they wouldn’t dream of trusting a stranger if they were walking around a big city.”

People who create fake profiles prey on the openness of the sites’ members. The perpetrators often fall into two categories: people who are dissatisfied with their lives and use the Web to “try on” the personas of others and socially awkward people who use the anonymity to act out.

“Both types crave power and control-things they don’t have in the real world,” says psychologist Eric Shaw, PhD, a former intelligence officer who specializes in psychological profiling using computer content. “Social-networking sites are perfect for them because they can create and delete the account as they see fit, take time to mull over their actions, or turn off the computer if it’s not going their way.”

In hindsight, Ashlie says she wishes she’d been more cautious when adding friends online. In fact, one of her girlfriends had previously had a run-in with an online imposter, which Ashlie admits should have put her on guard.

What creeps out Ashlie the most, though, is not knowing who’s doing this and, more disturbing, why. “It’s invasive, and it could be anyone, even someone I know,” Ashlie says. “It makes me never want to talk to anybody on those sites.”

And that may be exactly the imposters’ goal, Shaw says. “They want their target to feel anxious and alienated,” he says. “They get a power trip from knowing that they’re making her worry.”

The one-sided anonymity can make the situation not just annoying but also potentially dangerous. The imposters have the advantage-they know who Ashlie is, where she lives, who her friends are-and she knows nothing about them (or even if it’s only one person).

“The victims have no way of knowing if this person is creating fake profiles for fun or if they’re dealing with someone who may take it to the next level,” says Hitchcock. “Most fake profiles aren’t a crime, but they need to be dealt with quickly.”

Soon after Ashlie learned of the imposters, she contacted MySpace and requested that the profile on their site be removed. She says she didn’t report the fake on Facebook because she didn’t know how, which Hitchcock says is common on both networks. Ashlie’s friends messaged the imposters, letting them know that they were onto them and asking them to delete their profiles. About a month later, the profiles on both MySpace and Facebook were gone, but Ashlie says she’s not sure if they were deleted by the sites or the imposters themselves.

That wasn’t the end of it though. Recently, another fake profile of Ashlie popped up on MySpace, except this one uses just her picture and not her name. “Whoever is behind it periodically changes the profile picture to be different people,” she says. And creepily, the picture up as of press time is just of Ashlie’s torso (she can see her tattoo and recognizes the photo).

Although Ashlie hasn’t deleted her online accounts, she says she’s more cautious now. “I rarely post pictures, and if I do, I put the settings on private so only the people I want seeing them have access,” she says.

Hitchcock says there are other ways you can protect yourself. “Make your profile as generic as possible- switch your picture to one that doesn’t have you in it, like a scenic shot,” she says. You also can use your initials or middle name so your identity is less obvious. The next step is to delete anyone you don’t know from your friend list.

“Now I tell all my friends to be careful about who they’re adding,” Ashlie says. “I don’t want this to happen to them.”

How to Take Down a Fake

If someone’s impersonating you online, you’ll want to get rid of that imposter-pronto. But it’s not so easy to figure out how. Here are step-by-step instructions.

ON MYSPACE

1 Scroll to the bottom of the homepage, and click on FAQ.

2 Choose the Contact MySpace tab, and fill in your e-mail address.

3 Select Imposter Profile/Account as the category.

4 In your message, explain that someone is posing as you, and include the URL to the fake profile.

5 Attach a photo salute to verify your identity. Here’s how: Write your MySpace URL or Friend ID clearly on a piece of paper. Take a picture of yourself holding it in front of you. Then upload it to your computer, and attach it to the form. Hit send, and you’ll receive a confirmation number.

ON FACEBOOK

1 Scroll to the bottom of the homepage, and click on Help.

2 In the search box, type report.

3 Select “I need to report an imposter profile” (the third option underneath Privacy: Report Abuse).

4 Fill in all the required info on the form. No salute is necessary.

5 After Facebook receives your message, they will evaluate the fake and delete it if it’s obviously an imposter. If they need more verification, they will ask you to fax or e-mail them a copy of government-issued ID.

University of Otago, Faculty of Dentistry release new data on dentistry

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Trajectories of dental anxiety in a birth cohort,’ is now available (see also <http://www.newsrx.com/library/topics/Dentistry.html> Dentistry). “To examine predictors of dental anxiety trajectories in a longitudinal study of New Zealanders. Prospective study of a complete birth cohort born in 1972/73 in Dunedin, New Zealand, with dental anxiety scale (DAS) scores and dental utilization determined at ages 15, 18, 26 and 32 years,” scientists in Dunedin, New Zealand report.

“Personality traits were assessed at a superfactor and (more fine-grained) subscale level via the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire at age 18 years. Group-based trajectory analysis was used to identify dental anxiety trajectories. DAS scores from at least three assessments were available for 828 participants. Six dental anxiety trajectories were observed: stable nonanxious low (39.6%); stable nonanxious medium (37.9%); recovery (1.6%); adult-onset anxious (7.7%); stable anxious (7.2%) and adolescent-onset anxious (5.9%). Multivariate analysis showed that males and those with higher DMFS at age 15 years were more likely to be in the stable nonanxious low trajectory group. Membership of the stable nonanxious medium group was predicted by the dental caries experience at age 15 years. Participants who had lost one or more teeth between ages 26 and 32 years had almost twice the relative risk for membership of the adult-onset anxious group. Personality traits predicted group membership. Specifically, high scorers (via median split) on the ’stress reaction’ subscale had over twice the risk of being in the stable anxious group; low scorers on the traditionalism subscale were more likely to be members of the recovery trajectory group; and high scorers on the ’social closeness’ subscale had half the risk of being in the stable anxious group. Dental caries experience at age 5 years was also a predictor for the stable anxious group. Membership of the late-adolescent-onset anxious group was predicted by higher dental caries experience by age 15 years, but none of the other predictors was significant. Six discrete trajectories of dental anxiety have been observed. Some trajectories (totalling more than 90% of the cohort) had clear associations with external influences, but others were more strongly associated with characteristics such as personality traits,” wrote W.M. Thomson and colleagues, University of Otago, Faculty of Dentistry.

The researchers concluded: “A mix of both influences was observed with only the stable anxious dental anxiety trajectory.”

Thomson and colleagues published their study in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (Trajectories of dental anxiety in a birth cohort. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 2009;37(3):209-19).

For additional information, contact W.M. Thomson, University of Otago, Dept. of Oral Sciences, Sir John Walsh Research Institute, Faculty of Dentistry, Dunedin, New Zealand.

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Tooth Loss : Dentalplans coupon Service

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

Data detailed in ‘Racial/ethnic variations in associations between socioeconomic factors and tooth loss’ have been presented (see also <http://www.newsrx.com/library/topics/Tooth-Loss.html> Tooth Loss). In this recently published study, investigators in the United States conducted a study “To compare the associations between socioeconomic factors and tooth loss among White, Black, and Mexican-American people. Analyses were conducted on 16,821 adults, using data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey-III.”

“Age-and multivariate-adjusted negative binomial regressions were used to explore the relation of socioeconomic factors, region of residence, gender, and foreign birth with the number of missing teeth. Effect modification by race/ethnicity was assessed by the inclusion of interaction terms. In multivariate-adjusted analyses, non-Hispanic White people with 9-12 years of education exhibited 71% higher mean number of missing teeth than those with >12 years of education [incidence rate ratio (IRR)=1.71, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.52-1.92]. Education was unrelated to the number of teeth among non-Hispanic Black people (IRR=1.16; 95% CI: 1.00-1.35) or Mexican-Americans (IRR=1.10, 95% CI: 0.93-1.31). The poorest White people exhibited 39% more missing teeth, on average, than the most affluent White people, but no association between poverty and number of teeth was observed among Black or Mexican-American people. The associations between socioeconomic factors and tooth loss vary across race/ethnicity,” wrote M. Jimenez and colleagues, Harvard University.

The researchers concluded: “This suggests that the health benefits associated with high socioeconomic status are not equally shared across racial/ethnic groups.”

Jimenez and colleagues published their study in Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology (Racial/ethnic variations in associations between socioeconomic factors and tooth loss. Community Dentistry and Oral Epidemiology, 2009;37(3):267-75)
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DentalPlans To Fight Oral Cancer

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

New research, ‘HuR is exported to the cytoplasm in oral cancer cells in a different manner from that of normal cells,’ is the subject of a report (see also <http://www.newsrx.com/library/topics/Oral-Cancer.html> Oral Cancer). According to recent research published in the British Journal of Cancer, “HuR, a ubiquitously expressed member of the Hu protein family that binds and stabilizes an AU-rich element (ARE)-containing mRNAs, is known to shuttle between the nucleus and the cytoplasm via several export pathways. When normal cells were treated with heat shock, HuR was exported to the cytoplasm in a chromosome maintenance region 1 (CRM1)-dependent manner.”

“However, in this study, we demonstrate that HuR is exported to the cytoplasm in oral cancer cells even if the cells were treated with the inhibitor of the CRM1-independent export pathway. Immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses showed that HuR existed in both the cytoplasm and the nucleus in oral cancer cells, such as HSC-3 and Ca9.22, but existed entirely inside the nucleus in normal cells. AU-rich element-mRNAs were also exported to the cytoplasm and stabilised in the oral cancer cells, which were inhibited by HuR knockdown. This export of HuR was not affected by at least 7 h of treatment of leptomycin B (LMB), which is an inhibitor of the CRM1-dependent export pathway,” wrote H. Hasegawa and colleagues, Hokkaido University.

The researchers concluded: “These findings suggest that HuR is exported to the cytoplasm in oral carcinoma cells in a different manner from that of normal cells, and is likely to occur through the perturbation of a normal export pathway.”

Hasegawa and colleagues published their study in British Journal of Cancer (HuR is exported to the cytoplasm in oral cancer cells in a different manner from that of normal cells. British Journal of Cancer, 2009;100(12):1943-8).

For additional information, contact H. Hasegawa, Hokkaido University Graduate School of Dental Medicine, Dept. of Oral Pathology and Biology, North 13 West 7, Kita-ku, Sapporo 060-8586, Japan.

The publisher’s contact information for the British Journal of Cancer is: Nature Publishing Group, 345 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10010-1707, USA.

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Dentalplans East State Dental Care

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

New methods and technologies have changed nearly everything about going to the dentist. But the connection between the patient and dentist is still what matters most. That’s what makes East State Dental Care unique. Dr. Angela Coleman offers her patients the latest in comprehensive dental care, while building a professional relationship with her patients. Armed with an array of the latest innovations, she and her team of  dentalplans professionals treat patients of all ages. With high standards and integrity, her skilled team is dedicated to ensuring their patients’ dental experiences exceed their expectations.

“Dentistry is advancing rapidly,” Coleman says. “My team and I are committed to staying up-to-date on the latest advancements in dental technique and technology so we can give our patients the best care available.”

Coleman sees dental care as an important part of treating her patients’ overall health.

“We offer a complete exam because dentalplans problems in and around the mouth can cause or indicate other concerns,” she says. “For example, periodontal disease has been linked as a possible contributing factor to heart attack, stroke and diabetes. If the gums are inflamed, it means the body is always under attack and that needs attention. We also look at the neck and thyroid for problems using an oral cancer screening. Our patients develop an understanding about the connection between dental health and overall health.”

Digital radiography is now used at East State Dental Care to help detect cavities and other abnormalities. This technology is far more precise than traditional x-rays and provides approximately half the radiation in less time. Some of the other advancements include FDA-approved ViziLite Plus. ViziLite Plus is an oral cancer screening that identifies abnormal oral lesions at their earliest stage of development, even cells on the path to cancer not viewable by the naked eye. This screening consists of a combination of mouth rinse and a glow stick that illuminates irregular cells.

“We use ViziLite Plus because it is a pain-free screening that takes only five minutes, and it has been proven to save lives,” Coleman says.

The latest cosmetic procedures dentalplans and whitening treatments are offered at East State Dental Care, too, including veneers, Lumineers and Zoom! in-office whitening. Another recent advancement in dentistry is Invisalign, invisible clear braces. With Invisalign, teeth can be straightened without traditional wires and brackets by using clear, removable aligners instead.

Some people approach dental appointments with anxiety. At East State Dental Care, these worries are addressed with several options for anesthetics or medication, such as sedation dentistry. Even children can put their fears aside.

“We have TVs in the patient rooms and kids can wear headphones and focus on cartoons or their favorite show instead of the dental procedure,” Coleman says. “It’s a great experience for them and they want to come here. Even the adults enjoy the TVs in the rooms. If children enjoy going to the dentist, they will be more likely to continue to go regularly as adults.”

Coleman sees good dental care as improving the lives of her patients. She wants people to understand the value of what she calls “Lifetime Care” – a philosophy centered on preventative care throughout the patient’s lifetime.

“After their appointment, our patients have an understanding of the importance of dental health, and they appreciate being treated like family,” Coleman says.

East State Dental Care

A proud Member of the Heartland Dental Care Family

Address: 2828 East State Boulevard, Suite A Fort Wayne, Indiana 46805

Telephone: (260) 484-9248

Dentist: Angela M. Coleman DDS, general dentist

Website: www.EastStateDentalCare.com

Number of employees: 8

Years in business: 9

Products & Services: General Dentistry, Gum Disease Treatment, Digital X-Ray, Invisalign Invisible Braces, Oral Cancer Screening, Cosmetic Dentistry and more.

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DentalPlans Benefits Contribute to Oral and Overall Health

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

DALLAS, July 30 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Dental benefits are important to overcoming cost concerns that keep Americans from visiting the dentist, a critical step in maintaining oral health, according to a white paper released today by the National Association of Dental Plans (NADP).

Based on its Consumer Survey of more than 6,000 individuals, NADP discovered lack of insurance is the most common reason for not visiting the dentist — seven times more common than fear. In addition people covered by dental benefits have a more positive perception of their oral and overall health.

The Consumer Survey also revealed that individuals with dental benefits are more likely to receive restorative care to maintain their oral health. They are:

– 52 percent more likely to have had a root canal

– 32 percent more likely to have had crowns

– 18 percent more likely to have cavities filled

As well consumers with dental benefits maintain more of their teeth as they are 30 percent less likely to have a tooth extraction

Conversely, respondents without dental coverage are 16 percent more likely to report receiving no basic or major procedures in the last two years.

Based on findings from the Consumer Survey plus a body of industry research and studies, NADP is releasing a white paper Dental Benefits: A Wise Investment in Your Family’s Health. The white paper explores the prevalence of dental disease in children and adults and the role of dental benefits coverage in maintaining oral health. The paper also provides general information about the cost of dental benefits, reasons to have dental coverage and where to find it.

For a copy of the white paper, visit NADP’s consumer Web site, ineeddentalbenefits.com.

About NADP

The National Association of Dental Plans is a non-profit trade association representing the entire dental benefits industry, including dental HMOs, dental PPOs, discount dental plans and dental indemnity products. NADP’s member dental plans provide dental benefits to approximately 140 million of the 170 million Americans with dental benefits. NADP’s members include major commercial carriers, regional and single-state companies.

SOURCE National Association of Dental Plans

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Dental Practice Accounting 101

Thursday, July 2nd, 2009

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At a recent convention, a dentist walked into a QuickBooks® workshop and asked why he should use QuickBooks instead of Quicken®. I’m always surprised at the number of times I am asked this question. Let’s discuss the important differences to clear up the confusion.

A number of accounting software systems are available for your practice, and it can be bewildering to know which one to use. Accounting software is a compliment to automated practices that use dental practice-management software. The patient’s financial information, completed and planned treatment, payments, and insurance is managed within the dental practice software (accounts receivable). Thus, the accounting software is used for general financial management and to pay vendors and staff (accounts payable) with perhaps only 10 percent of the actual accounting software’s capability utilized.

Intuit has provided a variety of accounting software internationally for a multitude of industries. Quicken is a personal finance accounting software and QuickBooks is a business accounting software. Quicken does have a “Home & Business” version, but it is still limited in its business-style reports. The key is the word “Home.”

Like most consultants and accountants, I encourage dentists to keep a six-lane highway between business and personal finances, even if you are a sole proprietor. If you use the Home & Business version, both your personal and business finances are combined. Why the six-lane highway? If you (or your heirs) need to sell your practice suddenly, if your business ever raised any IRS flags, or if you needed to acquire a practice loan, you can show the profitability of the practice and answer any questions regarding your business without your personal finances ever being involved.

Features are similar between the two, but with very distinct differences. QuickBooks reporting is geared specifically toward organized businesses. Quicken uses income and expense accounts. QuickBooks uses a full chart of accounts with assets, liabilities, and equity accounts in addition to the income and expense accounts. The reports are all built on these available accounts and can be exported into Microsoft Excel® spreadsheet software for further analysis.

Payroll is another reason to use QuickBooks over Quicken. Though Quicken does have a payroll solution called QuickPayroll®, it is additional software to Quicken. QuickBooks comes with its payroll built in and is easy to set up and use.

Designed for small businesses, QuickBooks displays the practice’s tasks in a visual “icon” format. No accounting knowledge is needed – no need to understand debits and credits! The QuickBooks Navigator breaks accounting activities into “click-on” pictures with arrows to show logical processes.

Budgets are easy to create in QuickBooks. Based on the Chart of Accounts, your budget can be as detailed or simple as needed. Budget vs. Actual Reports can then be produced to determine how on-target you are with your practice goals.

QuickBooks Report Finder creates reports to determine whether you are making or losing money. By assigning various accounts when writing checks, these reports make it easier to evaluate expenses and the costs of materials used in your practice.

How do you know exactly what was ordered for inventory – or whether it was enough – without digging out the invoices? Tracking inventory is an important component for practice budgeting. QuickBooks has an inventory solution available that Quicken does not provide.

Another tool in QuickBooks, not in Quicken, is the Accountant’s Review. This handy tool allows you to make an Accountants Copy for your accountant, who can then make adjustments to your finances, entries for tax purposes, etc. Most accountants need your information for a few weeks. In Quicken, this stops all accounts payable activity. With QuickBooks, you can continue to write checks, create payroll, and run reports without any time delays or having to reenter any information.

How do you get started? I recommend two different versions – QuickBooks Basic and QuickBooks Pro. Here is how to determine what you need. If multiple people will be using QuickBooks at the same time, if integrating with Microsoft Word® or exporting reports to Microsoft Excel, or if you need to import information from your practice software, then you need QuickBooks Pro. QuickBooks Premier is for advanced users, such as your accountant, and QuickBooks Healthcare Edition is no longer available for retail purchase.

So, how easy is it to convert to QuickBooks from Quicken? Because they are both from the same parent company, the conversion is easy. During the Easy Step Interview Step By Step Instructions, there is a button, “Convert Quicken Data.” The subsequent steps will walk you through the conversion process. I strongly suggest that if you are unsure whether a payee name is a “Vendor” or “Other,” choose “Other” because this choice can be changed later if you wish.

How often should you upgrade your QuickBooks to a new version? QuickBooks is faithful to produce a new version annually, but you only need to upgrade your version every couple of years. Depending upon the amount of information needing to be updated and the changes within the software itself, it could present data compatibility conflicts if you become further behind. QuickBooks does require version upgrading annually if you use assisted or complete payroll services.

I have taught and used both and, ultimately, have found QuickBooks to be the best solution for dental practices. First, most dentists do not want to be accountants, but they do need to be business owners. Second, all need an easy-to-manage accounting program, which is why the majority of dental software companies recommend QuickBooks. Experience has shown that if the accounting software is visually easy to use and to enter information, the practice’s financial picture is accurate and accomplished in a timely manner.

Remember – a dental practice is a business. All businesses need to know how they make money and where the money is spent. Successful businesses know exactly where it goes and to whom for cost-effective evaluations.

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Anesthetic For Dental Procedure : Dental Plan

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

What are other names for this medicine?

Type of medicine: anesthetic; nerve block

Generic and brand names: articaine/epinephrine, injection; Septocaine

What is this medicine used for?

This medicine is given by injection to cause loss of feeling before and during surgery, dental procedures (including dental surgery), or labor and delivery.

What should my healthcare provider know before I take this medicine?

Before taking this medicine, tell your healthcare provider if you have ever had:

  • an allergic reaction to any medicine
  • asthma
  • heart disease or blood vessel disease
  • high or low blood pressure
  • kidney or liver disease
  • myasthenia gravis
  • seizures
  • thyroid problems

Females of childbearing age: Tell your healthcare provider if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. It is not known whether this medicine will harm an unborn baby. Do not breast-feed while taking this medicine without your healthcare provider’s approval.

How do I use it?

This medicine is given by a healthcare provider or dentist trained in the use of local anesthesia.

What should I watch out for?

This medicine may cause lightheadedness, dizziness, drowsiness, or numbness. Do not drive or operate machinery unless you are fully alert.

Since this medicine stops all feeling on your skin, be careful not to injure your skin by scratching, rubbing, or exposing it to extreme hot or cold temperatures. If you have received an injection in your mouth, do not chew gum or food while your mouth feels numb. The numbing effect of the medicine goes away after a few hours.

What are the possible side effects?

Along with its needed effects, your medicine may cause some unwanted side effects. Some side effects may be very serious. Some side effects may go away as your body adjusts to the medicine. Tell your healthcare provider if you have any side effects that continue or get worse.

Life-threatening (Report these to your healthcare provider right away. If you cannot reach your healthcare provider right away, get emergency medical care or call 911 for help): Allergic reaction (hives; itching; rash; trouble breathing; tightness in your chest; swelling of your lips, tongue, and throat), seizures.

Serious (report these to your healthcare provider right away): Irregular or rapid heartbeat; shallow breathing; seizures; unusual weakness or tiredness; nausea; vomiting; ringing in the ears; slurred speech; sudden change in vision; sudden change in behavior; tremors.

Other: Constipation, diarrhea, shivering, tingling, blurred vision, dizziness, headache, restlessness.

What products might interact with this medicine?

When you take this medicine with other medicines, it can change the way this or any of the other medicines work. Nonprescription medicines, vitamins, natural remedies, and certain foods may also interact. Using these products together might cause harmful side effects. Talk to your healthcare provider if you are taking:

  • barbiturates such as phenobarbital (Solfoton), butabarbital (Butisol), pentobarbital (Nembutal), and secobarbital (Seconal)
  • haloperidol (Haldol)
  • hyaluronidase (Amphadase, Vitrase)
  • MAO inhibitor antidepressants such as isocarboxazid (Marplan), phenelzine (Nardil), and tranylcypromine (Parnate) (Do not take an MAO inhibitor and this medicine within 14 days of each other)
  • other anesthetics such as lidocaine (Lidoderm Patch)
  • phenothiazines such as chlorpromazine (Thorazine), fluphenazine (Prolixin), prochlorperazine (Compazine), and thioridazine
  • St. John’s wort
  • sleeping pills such as triazolam (Halcion), zolpidem (Ambien), and temazepam (Restoril)
  • tranquilizers such as diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide (Librium), lorazepam (Ativan), and alprazolam (Xanax)
  • tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline, nortriptyline (Aventyl, Pamelor), imipramine (Tofranil), and doxepin (Sinequan)

Keep a list of all your medicines with you. List all the prescription medicines, nonprescription medicines, supplements, natural remedies, and vitamins that you take. Be sure that you tell all healthcare providers who treat you about all the products you are taking.

____________________________________________________

This advisory includes selected information only and may not include all side effects of this medicine or interactions with other medicines. Ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for more information or if you have any questions.

Ask your pharmacist for the best way to dispose of outdated medicine or medicine you have not used. Do not throw medicine in the trash.

Keep all medicines out of the reach of children.

Do not share medicines with other people.
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Prevention of Bacterial Endocarditis Using Antibiotics

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

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What is bacterial endocarditis?

Bacterial endocarditis is an infection of the lining inside of the heart muscle and valves. Bacteria attach themselves to the lining, usually on the heart valves. They grow there and can damage the valves. Children with heart defects or heart diseases (such as rheumatic fever) are more likely to get this infection. This can usually be prevented by taking one dose of antibiotics before medical or dental procedures.

When should my child take antibiotics?

Dental Procedures:

Your child should take a dose of antibiotics before a dental procedure when bleeding is expected, such as:

  • cleaning teeth
  • cutting tissue
  • probing the gums
  • reimplanting a tooth
  • placing orthodontic bands.

Your child does not need to take the medicine if there will be no bleeding. Dental work that usually does not cause bleeding includes:

  • filling cavities
  • getting a shot to numb the mouth
  • adjusting braces that are already in place
  • getting fluoride treatments.

Antibiotics are not needed when your child loses baby teeth.

Medical Procedures:

Your child should take antibiotics before surgeries and procedures that involve:

  • The respiratory system. This includes the nose, mouth, and upper part of the airway (such as removing tonsils or having a rigid bronchoscopy).
  • The stomach and intestines. This includes the esophagus (the swallowing tube), bile ducts, and colon.
  • The genitals or urinary system. This includes the bladder and the urethra (the tube that urine goes through).

Your child does not need antibiotics for procedures such as:

  • putting in ear tubes
  • circumcision.

Your healthcare provider is the only one who can decide if your child needs antibiotics. Always talk to your provider if you have any questions about the need for antibiotics.

Be sure to tell your provider if your child has any allergies to any medicines.

Card For Patient to Carry

+-Cut-here-----------------------------+Cut-here
  Date _______________________________
  Name _______________________________
  should be treated before certain
  dental and medical procedures for

  prevention of bacterial endocarditis

  because of the following heart
  condition: _________________________
  Prescribed by: _____________________

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Plans in Visiting the Dentist: Resource List :

Wednesday, July 1st, 2009

Books for Children
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* A Day in the Life of a Dentist; by Health Adamson, Capstone Press, 2004
* Behold, No Cavities: A Visit to the Dentist; by Sarah Willson; Simon Spolight/Nickelodeon, 2007
* Caillou at the Dentist; by Johanne Mercier; Chouette, 2004
* Danny Goes to the Dentist; by Robert Robinson; illustrated by Nicola Smee; McGraw-Hill, 2002
* Dental Office; by Lola Schaefer; Heinemann Library, 2000
* Does a Lion Brush? by Fred Ehrlich; Blue Apple Books, 2008
* Elmo Visits the Dentist; by Dalmatian Press, 2007
* First Visit to the Dentist; by Monica Hughes; Raintree, 2004
* Going to the Dentist; DK Publishing, 2007
* Going to the Dentist; by Melinda Radabaugh, Hinemann Library, 2004
* My Dentist; by Harlow Rockwell; Econo-Clad Books, 1999
* Open Wide!; by Tom Barber and Lynne Chapman, Chrysalis Children’s Books/Publishers Group West, 2004
* Open Wide!: A Visit to the Dentist; by Cecile Schoberle; Simon, 2000
* Show Me Your Smile! A Visit to the Dentist; by Christine Ricci; Simon Spotlight/ Nick Jr., 2005
* Taking Care of Your Teeth; by Sylvia Goulding; Rourke Publishing, 2005
* What Does a Dentist Do?; by Heather Miller, Enslow Publishing, 2005
* Where do Baby Teeth Go?; by Denise Jenkins; First Page, 2004
* What to Expect When You Go to the Dentist; by Heidi Murkoff; illustrated by Laura Rader; Harper Festival, 2002

Other Resources

American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry
211 East Chicago Avenue #700
Chicago, IL 60611
312-337-2169
Web site: http://www.aapd.org
Information available by telephone or by mail regarding oral health of infants, children and adolescents.
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