Page 6, Portland Observer, October 1, 1987
COMMUNITY
DENTISTRY
BY Dr. Edward Ward
Pain: A Dentist's Arch Enemy
Let us discuss tooth pain, a dentist's arch enemy. Tooth pain prevents
the patient from establishing a nice, cordial relationship with the dentist.
That's because a good percentage of the time when a patient seeks the aid
of a dentist, the patient is already in pain. Therefore, everything the dentist
does, in the patient's eyes, aggravates the patient s already painful condi­
tion.
J im m y B row n, Juvenile C ourt Counselor, reports to the over 150
people w h o m et at King Facility Septem ber 23 on the role o f the
ju stice system in dealing w ith yo uth and youth gangs.
Photo by Richard J. B row n
Youth Gangs Task Force
Holds Community Forum
by Dennis G. Payne
The Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods held the 1st Community
Forum on Youth Gangs Problems in Portland on Wednesday, Septem­
ber 23rd, at the King Neighborhood Facility.
With a large banner stretched across the stage that read, "Gangs are
only as strong as communities allow them to be", City Commissioner Dick
Bogle opened the forum and proclaimed his faith in Portland's ability to
overcome the threat of street gangs and offered a challenge to the citizens
present. "W e have a tradition in this city that we don't tolerate organized
criminal activities and we don't tolerate gangs. And we are sending a
message out tonight to these so-called gangs: We will not tolerate them
in our city."
The community forum drew over 150 people, and they were presented
speakers from the inner-Northeast area: Sharon McCormack, Area Crime
Prevention Coordinator and Task Force Chairwoman; Charles Ford, board
THE
IN PERSON
A M A Z IN G
M A N N IN G
BROTHERS
OF
S E A T T L E , W ASHINGTO N
With Special Guest
The Leggett Brothers
DATE. October 9, 1987
TIME: 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Church of the Living God
6401 N.E. 10th St.
FOR INFORMATION: 287-4430
DONATION: $5.00 at the door
HOST PASTOR: Elder Roy Maxie
member of the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods; Officer Neil Crannell,
a Portland police officer who specializes in gangs; Jimmy Brown, Juvenile
Court Counselor from Multnomah County's Northeast office; Diane Feldt,
Director of North Portland Youth Service Center; Larry Clayton, Diversion
Counselor for Northeast (Urban League) Youth Service Center; Steve
Hollingsworth, Portland Public Schools police officer; and Alcena Boozer,
Director of Student Discipline for Portland Public Schools.
The basic theme repeated over and over at the forum was that without
a unified effort, gang-related drug trafficking and violence will proliferate
in Portland. Ms. Boozer stated in her remarks that, "Combating this pro­
blem brings to mind the analogy of a rope. Individually, the strands are
weak; but when bound together, they are strong."
Portland Public Schools are attempting to get a jump on youth gang
growth by educating staff members, students and parents. Ms. Boozer
states: "W e have been telling our students to say "n o " to drugs. Now,
we're going to work just as hard so they can get an even more resounding
"n o " to the invitation to join gangs."
The attraction for gangs to come to Portland is largely economics,
the forum was told. Officer Crannell said: "They come here primarily to
sell crack (cocaine). In Portland, they can get double or triple the money
they get in L.A., where so much cocaine is available." In Portland, police
have seen a growing increase in gang-related shootings, robberies,
assaults and drug trafficking.
According to Police Bureau statistics, 19 gang-related crimes were re­
ported in the city between May and June of this year. Gangs that have
appeared locally in the past year may be affiliated with L. A.-based groups,
police report.
The task force's main purpose in holding the forum was to bring to the
public the work they have been doing since May and to let the public know
that even though they have not formalized any plans to date to combat
gang development in Portland, they have opened up inter-agency coordina­
tion and cooperation, and that individual agencies are actively working on
programs to better serve the communities which have been impacted by
gangs. Moreover, the task force is approaching the gang problem from a
"city-w ide" focus, identifying gangs from the Asian and White commu­
nities, as well as motorcycle clubs.
"W e have only begun to move towards combating this problem in
Portland,” Ms. McCormack said. But the efforts of the task force have
heightened the level of acknowledgement in Portland that we do have
gangs and that we must be pro active now to stop their spread.
The task force will continue to work on developing strategies for edu­
cating the communities and directing agencies resources towards proven
approaches. Mayor Bud Clark's office has given the task force $10,000 to
come up with a "Portland plan to combat gangs", and the task force's work
for the next several months will be in this direction.
Anyone wishing to volunteer to assist the task force may call the
Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods office at 248-4575.
Patients have come into my office with pain. I have asked, How long
have you had a problem with the tooth?" The patients have replied, The
tooth has been bothering me for several months, but it has been severe for
several weeks.” I don't care how you look at it, several months is a long
time to suffer pain, especially when a visit to a dental office will result in
almost immediate relief.
We dentists are so sensitive about the word pain that we practice
dropping the word completely from our vocabulary. We replace the word
"pain” with words like "discomforting tooth” , "troubled tooth ” , "problem
tooth" and "area of discomfort". Just to mention hurting tooth or
"painful too th " to the patient can result in the patient becoming more
apprehensive about what is going to take place in the dental office.
Some patients go to the dental office with sweaty palms, queasy sto­
machs and other nervous symptoms anticipating that they will receive some
pain.
However, after the appointment, which is usually a quiet, painless and
very social occurrence, sometimes the patients react with joy that every
thing went so well. Sometimes, however, the patients react with depres
sion because none of the presupposed or anticipated fears became a reality.
Today's dentists receive special training in pain and anxiety control
This training is geared towards making patients who have warranted and
unwarranted fears more relaxed in the dental office environment and more
receptive to dental therapy.
There are patients who don't seek relief from dental discomfort be
cause of economic reasons. However, there are patients who have insur­
ance coverage and there are patients with other means to afford dental
therapy who still resist seeking the assistance of a dentist because of fear
Do not wait until dental discomfort forces you to seek dental therapy
Long-term maintenance of good dental health, not dental crisis intervention
(emergencies), is the goal of most dentists. However, sometimes it takes
an emergency visit to get the patient into the office, at which time the den
tist demonstrates concern and compassion for the patient. This may be the
only opportunity the dentist may have to disprove some of the myths about
dental therapy.
I have the greatest respect for man's fears and anxieties. However, let
us put our fears and anxieties in their proper perspective, especially when
they prevent us from seeking to gain better health.
Dr. Ward's office is located in downtown Portland: 610 SW Alder, Suite 1008. Portland OR
THE MOUNT OLIVET BAPTIST CHURCH
N.E. First b Schuyler • 284 1954
John H Jackson, Minister M Ed M.D
9 30A M Church School
1 1 0 0 A M Congregational Worship
5 00 P M Vesper Service
10 00 A M Baptism Fourth Sunday
11 00 Communion Each First Sunday
The American Baptist Convention, American Baptist Churches of
Oregon: Lott Carey Foreign Mission Convention: National, Oregon,
Portland Ecumenical Ministries, American Bible Society, M EtM.
Board.
DENTAL CARE YOUR
FAMILY CAN COUNTON.
Edward E. Ward, DMD
General Dentistry
Dr. Edward E. Ward
Prevention oriented
Friendly professional staff
Insurance gladly accepted
Sedation for sensitive patients
Fees discussed prior to treatment
Visa/Mastercard accepted
Convenient downtown location
New patients welcome
All bus lines/validated parking
ADA member
Phone (503) 228-3009
610 S.W. Alder, Suite 1008
Hours: M F 7AM-7PM SAT. 8AM 5PM
“Convenient, affordable dental care for yo u r family. ”
ALLEN TEM PLE C M E C H U R C H
Corner of 8th and Skidmore
Sunday School 9:15 a.m.
Sunday Worship 1:00 a.m.
(Christian Youth Fellowship 6:00 p.m.
(second and fourth Sundays)
Phillip S. Nelson (Pastor)
YOU ARE WELCOME TO WORSHIP AT
84 N E k illin g s w o r t h • 281 0499
"A warm spirit of fellowship always"
\r k of Safety
o f God in Christ
tk¡? Jídnc 400*-
j H ou ’ peace with
all men f. holiness
without «vbid» no
a ll wc t h v
Lord
Tuesday
7 30pm
Bible Band
Thursday
Chou Rehearsal 7 00 p m
Sunday
• Sunday School 9 15 a m
Morning
11 15a m
Worship
6 30pm
Y P W W
Evangelistic
800pm
Worship
Tuesday Friday Noon Day
Prayer
Friday
,,
The Pastor Speaks
7 X p m.
Saturday
Morning Prayer
9 00 a m
Sh e wn r j * Stanare
mnrrang HMD A M
S w r K AAR KBUAM CM
Wholesale
Pricing
On Groceries
Gone Public
Did you know that for almost 30 years you could have bought some of
your groceries at wholesale prices? The Bee Company, for over 30
years, has offered the public weekly shipments of name-brand
groceries at genuine wholesale prices.
You'll find canned and
packaged goods, pet foods, as well as frozen and close-dated deli
products on the shelves. The best feature is that you do not have to
buy by the case. You buy just what you want to buy, just the amount
you need. Located at 800 N. Killingsworth, just east of 1-5, they are
open Monday through Saturday 9:30 am to 6:00 pm. Isn't it about
time you save on your grocery bill?
Cox Funeral H o m e has a s ta ff d ed icated to the fam ilies in
their hour of need w ith lo w cost funerals, dig n ity and liberal
term s
Shipping • Cremation • Buriel
2736 N.E Rodney • (503)281 4891
Portland, Oregon 97212
PHONE 283-3171
They’ll Tell You «II «bout It
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