“Cha-may weeya ”
Medicine Talk
Siletz
Community
Health
Clinic
Tooth Talk
by Linda Kreutzer, RDH
What Happens When Baby Teeth Get Cavities?
Sonny Ryan, Cathy Rasmussen, Miranda Strong, and Chuck Staggs attend the
Oregon Diabetes Coalition Annual meeting in May at the Wilsonville (Ore.)
Conference Center Holiday Inn. Frank Vinicor, MD, MPH from the Division of
Diabetes Translation at the Centers for Disease Control was the keynote
speaker, (photo by Darcy Trego)
Siletz Tribal Members
Enrollment Open for Diabetes
Exercise Program
Program info: Participants previ
ously admitted to the program
and meeting their attendance and docu
mentation requirements do not need to
submit a new application to continue
with this program.
Applications will be accepted for
the slots that remain or become open.
Please note that a limited number of slots
are available and that submitting an ap
plication does not guarantee acceptance
into the program. It’s to your advantage
to complete your application fully. Please
see application materials for program
details and our priority populations.
completed applications to Alissa Lane,
Siletz Clinic, P.O. Box 320, Siletz, OR
97380.
Area Offices: Application packets
will be available from July 1 to July 16
at the Portland, Salem, and Eugene area
offices through Community Health staff.
Please hand-deliver or mail
completed applications to Cathy
Rasmussen, RN, CTSI Eugene Area
Office, 1140 Willagillespie Road, Suite
18, Eugene, OR 97401.
If mailing, please try to mail by
July 13 to ensure timely delivery of
your application.
What To Do
Whom To Contact
Siletz: Application packets will be
available from front desk staff at the
Siletz Clinic from July 1 to July 16. The
clinic is open M/W/Th/F from 8 a.m.
to 5 p.m., and on Tuesdays from 8 a.m.
to 1 p.m.
Please note that any questions
regarding your application or the
exercise program should be addressed
to Alissa Lane or Darcy Trego; front
desk staff will be unable to assist you.
Please hand-deliver or mail
For any questions or concerns,
please call Alissa Lane at 541 -444-9671
or 1-800-648-0449, ext. 671, for
the Siletz area or Cathy Rasmussen
at 541-484-4234 for the Portland,
Salem, and Eugene areas.
Remember, Alissa or Cathy must
receive applications by July 16 to be
considered for August. Applicants are
responsible for confirming that their
application has been received by one
of these program staff.
Timeline
Begin accepting applications
Last day to receive completed application, contract, and
“My Starting Point” documents
Acceptance and denial letters mailed
First day of exercise
—-
18 „ CL Siletz News. □ July 2004.
»
——
7/1
7/16
7/26
8/2
............. ..................—■———
Decay of baby teeth is a problem.
If left untreated, it causes pain and
infection for the child, as well as the
possibility of developing speech
problems, poor eating habits, and
crooked or damaged adult teeth.
If decay is discovered in the early
stages at a dental checkup, the dentist
most likely can repair it easily. He/she
may suggest that your child visit a
children’s dental specialist, called a
pediatric dentist. In the medical world,
a children's doctor is called a pediatri
cian, a doctor who just sees children.
A pediatric dentist is specially
trained to provide dental care for very
young children or children who are
extremely apprehensive. Sometimes, a
special “kiddy-cocktail” will be given
to the child to help him/her relax for
the dental appointment. Routine care can
be provided in the pedodontist’s office.
In cases where decay has gone on
too long, causing the need for extensive
dental care, the child may need to be
put “under’” in a hospital setting. An
anesthesiologist will carefully monitor
the child to allow the pedodontist an
opportunity to restore the child’s teeth.
This is done for the child’s protection
and always in the child’s best interest.
It’s not possible to do dental work on
a very young child who is crying,
moving, or struggling.
The cost for this specialized dental
treatment can run from $3,000 to $4,000
per child. It’s very important that parents
of these children return to the dental
clinic for regular checkups with their
dentist after receiving this treatment to
make sure the decay is not returning.
What causes decay to return? Sugar
in any form, especially in the form of
sweetened juice, pop, or even milk given
at bedtime. This is what usually decayed
the teeth in the first place.
Baby teeth can decay again, quite
easily, even after being treated by a
specialist. In some cases, the child needs
to see the pediatric dentist for extensive
treatment more than once during child
hood. This is completely avoidable.
Any parent does not want to be told
that their child needs to go to the hospital
to get his/her baby teeth fixed. The best
way to avoid this is to prevent decay.
As soon as a baby gets teeth, gently
clean them every day with a soft damp
baby toothbrush. Don’t use adult tooth
paste because this can be too “hot” for
a child’s sensitive mouth. Check the
baby’s teeth for cavities. Lift the baby’s
lip and look at the teeth. If you see
brown spots or chalky white spots, call
your dentist.
Even if you don’t see anything
unusual, it’s best to take your child to
the dentist before age 1, just to make
sure the teeth are healthy. Early dental
visits help familiarize the child with the
dental office, lessening uneasiness and
fear later on in life.
—
Moms and Babies Breastfeeding Circle
2nd Tuesday of each month
6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Housing Department
Conference Room
You’re invited to come eat,
visit, and learn about
the many benefits of
breastfeeding.
Sponsored by Siletz Tribal Diabetes Grant