O'Fallon Family & Cosmetic Dentist

photo credit: mukais

According to Arm & Hammer, today is “Brush Your Teeth at Work Day.”  Admittedly, as the producers of toothpaste, Arm & Hammer has a vested interest in promoting this day, but it does bring up a good reminder of the importance of dental care throughout your day.  Keeping a toothbrush and toothpaste handy at work allows you to brush away the smell of onions from your lunchtime sandwich or the spinach stuck between your teeth.

However, a more important need is to remove food particles, particularly from sticky carbohydrates like bread, which can sit on your teeth for hours creating cavity-causing bacteria.  If you don’t have a toothbrush handy, try to swish water around in your mouth to loosen up these food particles after lunch.  Chewing sugarless gum may help to remove these particles as well.

Do you have a toothbrush at work?  Do you wish your coworkers did?

What Should I Expect at My Child’s First Dental Appointment?

The answer to this question greatly depends on the age of your child.  Most dentists recommend a child begin seeing a dentist for regular check-ups around the age of two.  At this age there is very little dental practitioners can do.  The appointment will mainly consist of the child, parent and dental practitioner (dentist, dental hygienist and/or dental assistant) getting to know each other.  The child will usually get to sit in the dental chair while the practitioner shows the child how to properly brush his/her teeth.  Also, depending on how well the child is cooperating, we may show him/her some of the equipment that will be used in the future such as the x-ray machine, overhead light, reclining dental chair and other instruments used while performing a cleaning or exam. 

The practitioner will give the parent information about how diet and home care can affect the long term dental health of their child.  If the patient is willing, the dentist may perform a very short intraoral exam.  This will consist of counting the teeth and visually examining the teeth for decay or heavy plaque.  Then, your child will receive a new toothbrush and/or a toy for being such a good sport. 

The whole point of this introductory dental visit is to make sure the parent is aware of what needs to be done to ensure optimal dental health for the child.  It’s also a good time for the parent to make sure they feel comfortable with the dentist they have chosen.  Hopefully, the visit is fun for the child so that with each subsequent visit, the practitioners are able to perform more treatment.   These preventative treatments will eventually include x-rays, cleaning, exam, fluoride and sealant placements. 

Many parents fear their child’s first trip to the dentist, but going to the dentist is fun for most children when they start going early enough to only need preventative treatment.  Not only does this treatment prevent more serious needs in the future, it also instills good dental hygiene from an early age.

We always appreciate it when our patients have nice things to share with others about our O’Fallon dental office.  In this video, David recounts his positive experience while visiting our office to catch up on dental work that had been put on hold while his children grew up.  Thanks for your kind words, David.  It’s always a pleasure to work with you.

Edward M. Logan, DDS

9016 Phoenix Pkwy

O’Fallon, MO 63368

636-561-5445

Kyle has been a patient of Dr. Edward Logan’s for eight years, first in his University City office, and now in his O’Fallon, MO dental office located in WingHaven.  In this video, Kyle recounts being able to receive same day emergency dental care for a cracked tooth.  Kyle highlights the peaceful environment and Dr. Logan’s ability to set the staff and patients at ease.

One of our patients was kind enough to record her review of the positive experience she has had in our dental office.  Sarah came to our office for a second opinion after the kind referral of another patient.  We were able to painlessly save Sarah’s tooth.  Even though we are out of network providers for her dental insurance, Sarah chooses to bring her family to our office.  Sarah is kind enough to refer other patients to our office and has guided some of her dental phobic friends to become new patients.  Sarah commented on our friendly front desk manager, Joy, who goes out of her way to greet patients warmly.

We’ve been looking for holiday events to enjoy in the St. Charles County area this year. I put together a list of several activities you might want to check out.  Please feel free to comment with any other holiday events in the St. Louis and St. Charles area.

ST. CHARLES, MO HOLIDAY EVENTS

New Town Christmas Tree Lighting & Children’s Christmas Party

December 4, 2010 from 3:00 – 5:00 P.M., with tree lighting beginning at dusk.

St. Charles’ Christmas Traditions Festival

11/26/10 – 12/26/10 – Along South Main Street. Stores are open until 9:00 P.M. on Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays with activities including carolers from 6:30 – 9:00. There is a Santa Parade every Saturday and Sunday at 1:30. 

Holiday Skating Rink 

 Frontier Park in St. Charles.   Admission is $7 for adults, and $6 for children under 12.  You can bring your own skates, or pay $6 for skate rental. 

Journey to Bethlehem

Harvester Christian Church – 12/09/10 – 12/12/10.  Thursday and Friday 6:30 – 9:00, Saturday and Sunday 5:30 – 9:00. Free live re-enactment of the very first Christmas.

O’FALLON, MO HOLIDAY EVENTS

Tree Lighting Ceremony

Wednesday, November 17, 2010 from 6:00 – 8:00 P.M. at O’Fallon City Hall.  Ceremony will include tree lighting, holiday games, Santa and live holiday music.  Please bring canned goods and personal care items to donate to local food pantries.

O’Fallon MO Celebration of Lights

11/26/10 – 12/30/10, closed Dec. 24 & 25.  Fort Zumwalt Park

Over 1 million lights and a mile of holiday scenes. Sunday, Tuesday – Thursday, from 6:30 – 9:00, Friday and Saturday from 6:30 – 10:00. Closed to vehicle traffic on Mondays.  Cost is $9/car or $15/van.

Josh Wilson Concert at Morningstar Church

December 3, 2010 at 7:00 P.M.  Cost is only $5/ticket.  Morningstar Church is located at 1600 Feise Road, O’Fallon, MO 63368.

Old Fashioned Holiday Stroll

Tuesday, December 14, 2010 from 6:00 – 9:00 P.M. in Fort Zumwalt Park.  Admission is $2/person.  More information can be found at www.ofallon.mo.us or by calling 636-379-5614.  This event will include fireworks, local vendors, Santa, holiday caroling and a petting zoo.

ST. PETERS, MO HOLIDAY EVENTS

Santa Visits Old Town Log Cabin 

Saturday, December 4, 2010, 1 – 3 p.m. Cabin is located at Gatty Road & Park Street.  Old fashioned holiday fun with horse-drawn carriage rides through Old Town.

FORISTELL, MO

14^th Annual Holiday Night Lights 

Rotary Park in Foristell, MO – 11/26/10 – 12/30/10 from 6:00 – 10:00 p.m.  Open Thursday – Sunday from 11/26 – 12/15 and nightly from 12/16 – 12/30. Closed Christmas Day.

CHESTERFIELD, MO HOLIDAY EVENTS

Winter Holiday Candlelight Walk

Friday and Saturday, December 3^rd and 4^th from 5 – 9 p.m. Located in Faust Park.   Craftspeople will be offering homemade crafts for sale.  There is a children’s craft station to make a holiday item as well.  Re-enactors will provide tours and demonstrate traditional holiday experiences.  Cost is $10/car.

Candy Cane Hunt at the Carousel at Faust Park 

Saturday, December 4th at 10:00 a.m.  Candy canes are hidden in the area around the carousel.  Some of the candy canes will have special prizes attached to them. You must purchase tickets ahead of time for $5 at the St. Louis Carousel Gift Shop.

Please comment if you know of other great holiday activities or places for viewing holiday lights in the area.

We had a great time at our first annual Halloween Candy Buy Back Event on November 2nd.  Several area news stations had highlighted the efforts of the national organization and where to find information about local participating dentists. This allowed us to see many new people who came to donate candy, along with many of our current patients. Children brought in big bags full of candy and decorated cards to be sent along with the candy to United States’ military personnel serving overseas.

Not surprisingly, many of the participants had family members who were currently serving in the United States’ military.  We heard stories of a brother returning from active duty this week and an uncle who is leaving later this month to begin serving in another country.  Everyone recounted that letters from home and care packages really serve as great encouragement to those members of the military who are serving overseas.  A couple of the children demonstrated an extra dose of care by deciding to donate their candy instead of take the monetary reward.

If you would like more information about the wonderful organization who will be receiving all of the candy we purchased, you can visit Operation Gratitude’s website.

Dental Insurance

Most dental insurance benefit plans operate on a calendar year.  If you do not use your benefits during a particular year, they do not carry over to the next year.   To take advantage of your 2010 dental insurance benefits, call today to schedule a dental appointment.  As the year draws to a close, most schedules begin to fill up so take care of your dental and overall health before the holiday rush begins.

FSA Plans

If your employer provides a Flexible Spending Account (FSA), you may only have until the end of the year to take advantage of the funds you have contributed to your account.  Most FSA plans have a “use it or lose it” policy, meaning that the funds you have not used by the end of the year (or whatever date your employer has set up) will no longer be available to you.  These unused funds are forfeited to the company when not used by the contributing employee.  If you have money still available in your FSA account, take the opportunity to use those funds before you lose them by scheduling any necessary dental or medical appointments now. 

Care Credit

Care Credit is the leading third party financing option for medical, veterinary and dental needs.  Care Credit provides zero interest and low interest plans to pay for health care needs.  Care Credit has no pre-payment or up-front fees.  Our O’Fallon dental office is a Care Credit provider.  Ask us about Care Credit to help finance your dental health needs.

HALLOWEEN CANDY BUY BACK EVENT

When: Tuesday, November 2nd from

3:00 – 5:00 p.m.

Where: Dr. Edward Logan’s Dental Office

9016 Phoenix Pkwy

O’Fallon, MO 63368

What: $1 per pound of new, unopened candy

Limit of five pounds per child and child must be present to collect.

Why: In an effort to support our troops and protect children from tooth decay, we are buying back extra Halloween candy.  Children can enjoy their favorite treats and choose some items to keep.  Then, on November 2nd, they can trade in their extra candy for money and giveaways.  Children will have a chance to decorate a card to be sent along with their candy.  The candy will be donated, along with toothbrushes, to Operation Gratitude, an organization that provides care packages to United States’ military personnel.

We will also be collecting new or gently used coats, gloves and scarves to be donated to local charities.  For more information, call 636-561-5445.

This video by O’Fallon dentist, Dr. Edward Logan, highlights steps you can take to save a tooth that has been chipped or knocked out.