Celebrate National Dentist’s Day this Saturday!

Saturday, March 6 is National Dentist’s Day! Celebrated annually, National Dentist’s Day is an opportunity to show appreciation for the dentists and dental specialists who keep our mouths healthy, including general dentists, pediatric dentists, orthodontists, oral surgeons and prosthodontists. As part of our celebration, we’ve combed history to recognize a few of the very first dentists and dental specialists.

First Dentist of Ancient History

The first recorded dentist, Hesy-Ra, lived and worked in Ancient Egypt around 2600 BC. He was known as the “Chief of Dentists” and was a person of high distinction under the pharaoh. According to New World Encyclopedia, the inscription on Hesy-Ra’s tomb reads, “The greatest of those who deal with teeth, and of physicians.”

First Women Dentists 

Did you know that March is Women’s History Month? Women have played a vital role in dentistry. Emeline Roberts Jones was the first woman to practice dentistry in the United States. Since women were not allowed to enter dental school at the time, Jones secretly provided dental services until her husband allowed her to join his dental practice in 1855. Lucy Hobbs Taylor was the first woman to actually graduate from a dental school, earning her degree from the Ohio College of Dental Surgery in 1866.

First Pediatric Dentist

Another noteworthy woman in dental history is M. Evangeline Jordon, the first dentist to specialize in pediatric patients. Jordon began her career as a teacher and worked summers as a dental assistant, but eventually devoted herself to dentistry full-time, limiting her practice entirely to children in 1909. Jordon aimed to find methods for reducing children’s fear of going to the dentist. She also wrote and lectured on the importance of proper oral hygiene habits for kids.

First Orthodontists

While there is evidence that orthodontics has been around since ancient times, two French dentists are credited with progressing the field to where it is today. Pierre Fauchard developed a device called the “blandeau” in 1728, which helped to expand the mouth arch. Later, Louis Bourdet, who was dentist to the King of France, perfected the blandeau and was the first dentist to recommend extracting premolar teeth to ease crowding and to improve jaw growth. A century later, American Edward Hartley Angle developed the first classification system of malocclusion and the first school of orthodontia, establishing orthodontics as a specialty distinct from general dentistry.

First Oral Surgeon

Simon P. Hullihen is regarded as the “father” of oral surgery. Graduating as a medical doctor, he specialized in treating problems of the mouth and head, performing over 1,100 operations using instruments he invented himself.

First Prosthodontist

The practice of prosthodontics goes back to ancient times, when ancient Egyptians used gold wire to stabilize and replace missing teeth. However, the birth of modern implantology is often credited to Italian Manilo Formiggini, who developed a spiral stainless steel implant that allowed bone to grow onto the metal.

This National Dentist’s Day, give thanks to dental specialists for the important work they do to help keep our mouths healthy. If it’s time for your check-up, be sure to contact us.

Celebrate Children’s Dental Health Month!

The American Dental Association (ADA) designates every February as Children’s Dental Health Month. The observance helps to promote children’s oral health for caregivers, teachers, and others who work with kids.

This year’s theme is “Water: Nature’s Drink.” The theme highlights the importance of drinking water over sugary beverages to keep teeth healthy. On their MouthHealthy.org website, the ADA explains that water, particularly water with fluoride, can strengthen teeth and help to prevent tooth decay. In addition, water is a low-calorie drink that keeps your mouth clean and fights dry mouth. The necessity of this year’s theme is evidenced by a study conducted by JAMA Pediatrics, in which 20% of 8,400 children observed reported not drinking any water. Those children typically consumed almost twice as many calories and more sugary beverages like soda and fruit drinks.

Promoting Orthodontic Health in Children

In addition to drinking water to keep teeth healthy, the American Association of Orthodontists also suggests helping your child avoid potentially harmful habits like prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use. Some common orthodontic problems caused by prolonged thumb sucking and/or pacifier use include:

• Protruding front teeth, sometimes referred to as “buck” teeth.
• Open bite, where the front teeth don’t meet when the back teeth are closed.
• Crossbite, where the upper teeth sit inside or behind bottom teeth.

Seeing an orthodontist from a young age can help your child correct any potentially harmful habits early and may help reduce the need for treatment down the road.

Additional Resources

The ADA provides several resources in celebration of National Children’s Dental Health Month, including crossword puzzles, coloring pages and other activities. A printable reference guide is also available with 5 tips for avoiding tooth decay. 

The Early Childhood Learning & Knowledge Center, part of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, provides a number of resources for oral health. These include healthy recipes, oral hygiene tips, and books about oral health.

If you’d like to discuss your child’s orthodontic health, schedule a free consultation today!

What does the COVID-19 vaccine mean for your orthodontic care?

The first phase of the COVID-19 vaccination program is rolling out across the country. As recommended by the CDC Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, phase 1a of the program prioritizes healthcare workers, including dental and orthodontic teams. Vaccine administration is being managed at the state level, creating some variation among states, but it is encouraging to see this important step underway!

How are dental providers being prioritized in the COVID-19 vaccination program? 

The ADA provides a helpful state-by-state map where you can see how dental providers are being prioritized in the vaccine program. In the vast majority of states, dental providers, including orthodontists, are listed as part of phase 1a, while a few states have them in phase 1b, and others have yet to determine their priority level. States also vary on whether or not a dental provider can administer the vaccine to others at this time.

Will American Family Orthodontics providers receive the COVID-19 vaccination?

In accordance with state prioritization guidelines, many of our orthodontists and team members have already received their first COVID-19 vaccination. Not only will vaccinations keep our team members safe, but they will ensure that patients who come into our practices remain safe as well. We’ll continue to provide more information to our patients as we have it. 

Is the COVID-19 vaccine safe?

The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine explains that, while the vaccine was developed at a faster rate than many vaccines in the past, it does not mean that any safety measures were skipped during the process. Both the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines underwent appropriate clinical trials and were closely monitored for side effects. At this time, both vaccines are showing 95% effectiveness in preventing the spread of COVID-19.

Is it safe to visit the orthodontist if I’m not vaccinated?

As each of us awaits our turn to be vaccinated, you can rest assured that your orthodontist’s office is as safe as ever. We will continue to implement extra safety measures — as recommended by the American Dental Association, American Association of Orthodontists and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention — in addition to the infection control procedures we have always followed. Our highest priority is the well-being of each person that walks through our doors. If you have any questions or concerns about our safety protocols, feel free to give us a call. We’d love to hear from you!