Halloween Safety Tips

It's about that time for our little princesses, pirates, goblins and gremlins to strut their stuff for treats this week! Here are a few safety tips for our trick-or-treaters to help make the best of their night out!

• Make sure your child is wearing a glow stick, reflective tape or has a flashlight when headed out to make them easily visible to other people and drivers!
• Instruct children to only visit houses in familiar neighborhoods that are decorated for Halloween. These houses are usually kid friendly and prepared for the trick-or-treaters.
• Make sure your children know to never enter someone's home or vehicle unless accompanied by a familiar adult.
• If you have an older child going out alone, make sure they are going out in a group and have a planned route so you know where they are at all times.
• Instruct your child to not eat any treats until they are examined by an adult.

And most importantly...Have Fun!!

You can find more helpful tips for Halloween at www.halloween-safety.com.

Wishing you all a safe and Happy Halloween!!

What are Mini Implants?

I've had many people ask me this question and it was always a difficult one for me to try to explain, probably because I didn't have a clear understanding of it myself! While surfing the web this morning, I found a site that explains this procedure perfectly! A Mini Dental Implant is a process by which small posts are installed in the jawbone in order to stabilize dentures or other dental prosthetics. People who have problems wearing their dentures or whose bone structure has deteriorated over a long period of time due to the wearing of dentures are generally good candidates for mini implants.The procedure is less time consuming and less expensive than traditional implants. Many times it can be done in one day!
If you wear dentures and are having difficulty securing them or if eating has become difficult and it is affecting your health, check with your dentist to see if mini implants would benefit you! Here is a link to an exceptional article (with illustrations) that explains the mini implant procedure.

Keep Smiling!

Cash for candy!

More and more dentist are now encouraging their patients to bring in their Halloween candy for money. I know my son's Orthodontics office does it every year. They pay so much per pound.
With all the different types of candy out there it is like a nightmare for dentist and especially the kids in Orthodontic treatment. So check with your local dentist and see if they offer the cash for candy. (:

Halloween Activity Sheets

Limiting exposure to decay-enhancing sweets is a good step to preventing cavities. PDA has created some fun, Halloween-themed activity sheets to help preserve your smile. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these files. Good luck!

Click here to view activities!

Top 15 Halloween Candies Your Dentist Wishes You Won't Eat!

With Halloween just around the corner, every year dentist offices across the country encounter a rush of patients experiencing Halloween candy related dental emergencies!! No joke!! It's very common for patients to present themselves to the dental staff with crowns or bridges that have been pulled off, fillings that have been pulled out, teeth that have been chipped or cracked all by these innocent sweeties we consume every year!! I've compiled a list of the most common offenders that can be found in your candy bowl!

Top 5 Worst Culprits

(these are known to extricate crowns, bridges and fillings with ease)

1. Sugar Daddy


2. Milk Duds


3. Dots


4. Bit-O-Honey


5. Good n' Plenty

Top 10 Accomplices

1. Jolly Rancher


2. Laffy Taffy


3. Caramel


4. Gummy Bears


5. Toffee


6. Tootsie Rolls


7. Sugar Babies


8. Now & Laters


9. Super Bubble Gum/ Dubble Bubble Gum


10. Slowpokes

There ya have it! For those of you who have any type of dental work done, watch out for these sneaky little candies...or you may find yourself in the dental chair bashfully blaming your missing filling on one of these sweet little criminals!

Have a Happy and Safe Halloween!

Dental Charities-A Great Way To Give

With the current state of the economy, more and more people are in need of financial assistance for dental expenses. Dental prices are among the highest in the medical field, and are rising. It is unfortunate that dental care gets shoved to the bottom of the priority list out of necessity.... and struggling families with children are the ones who need help the most. There are some great charities out there for people in need of dental care! I did some research and compiled a small list. If you are among the many who need help, I hope this list will help. If you are among the few who are in a position to donate, please contact one of these charities! Dental health is linked to physical health, and children are most affected. Please give!

• American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry Charitable Foundation
• Oral Health America
• Healthy Smiles Healthy Children
• National Foundation of Dentistry for the Handicapped

For anyone in need of assistance for dental care, you can contact the American Associaton for Community Dental Programs, and they can advise you where to go in your community. Click here for the link.

Keep Smiling!

Holiday Shopping? Think Savon!

October is finally here and people are now starting to think about shopping around for the holidays. When I look for a gift for someone, I try to make sure it is something that they can use, something that is of value to them, and something that will help make their lives easier.
A Savon Dental Plan membership will do just that. Show your loved ones that you care about them and are willing to help them save money on their dental care by purchasing a membership in America's Dental Plan, Savon Dental Plan. For as little as $89.00 per year, they can have their dental work done at 50% OFF!
Visit our website at www.savondentalplan.com or call us at 1-800-809-3494 today and see how you can get a great gift for the one you love!

Do not delay...Savon your Dental Work Today!