O'Fallon Family & Cosmetic Dentist

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.

photo credit: Kel and Val

The cooler weather during this beautiful Labor Day weekend made us all look forward to fall activities and football. Here are a few fun activities occuring in the O’Fallon, Missouri area in September and October.  Please comment if you know of other local activities we should include.

O’Fallon, MO Garage Sale
Saturday, September 11th from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Civic Hall, 305 Civic Park Drive, O’Fallon, MO 63366
Free Admission
Sponsored by O’Fallon’s Parks and Recreation Department
For more information call 636-474-2732.

O’Fallon Family Camping Night
Friday, September 17th 6:00 p.m. to Saturday, September 18th 10 a.m.
Fort Zumwalt Park
Cost is $30/resident family and $35/non-resident family up to families of five. Additional family members cost $5/each.
Great beginning camping experience. You are asked to bring a potluck dish to share and hotdogs will be provided.
For more information, call 636-474-2732.

Memory Walk 2010
September 18, 2010. Registration at 8:00 a.m. Walk begins at 9:00 a.m.
T.R. Hughes Ballpark in O’Fallon, MO
One mile walk to raise awareness and benefit Alzheimer research.
For more information, contact Katie MacLean at 314-801-0419 or katie.maclean@alzstl.org.

St. Charles County Senior Fair
Saturday, October 2nd from 9 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
O’Fallon, MO Municipal Centre at City Hall, 100 Norh Main Street, O’Fallon, MO 63366
This 2nd annual event includes educational seminars, vaccination opportunities, health and senior service vendors, health screenings and a game show.
Admission and parking are free. If insurance does not cover the vaccines, the cost is $25 for a flu vaccine and $45 for a pneumonia vaccine.
For more information, contact Paula Creech at 636-474-8121 or pcreech@ofallon.mo.us.

Festival and Craft Bazaar
Friday, October 8, 5:00 – 10:00 p.m. and Saturday, October 9, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Civic Park, O’Fallon, MO
Friday night Street Dance begins at 7:00 p.m. The fair will include kids’ activities, live music and booths with crafts, decorations, holiday gifts and home and garden items.
Admission and parking are free. For more information, call 636-379-5614

Haunted Park Hunt
Friday, October 22nd, 7:00 – 10:00 p.m.
Dames Park, O’Fallon, MO
Adult (21+) scavenger hunt with prizes awarded to the top three teams. Remember to bring a flashlight and register by October 16th. Registration at the gate is not allowed. The cost is $15/resident and $20/non-resident.
For more information, call 636-474-2732.

         As the average lifespan of our nation’s population is increasing, so too is the need for maintaining proper oral health care.  The goal, of course, is to retain our teeth for all of these extended years.  Though aging can have some negative effects on our teeth, I am encouraged to report that many of my elderly clientele are even more diligent and knowledgeable in the area of oral hygiene than some of their younger cohorts.  While dentures are still available, their prevalence in the dental office is significantly reduced from years in the past.

            It is important for the aging population to pay attention to certain scenarios that may present in the oral environment with age.  The saying, “He’s a bit long in the tooth,” originates from the fact that gum recession over time tends to expose more and more of the root surfaces of one’s teeth.  Often associated with this root exposure is increased sensitivity to cold and hot liquids and air brought in through the mouth.  A simple solution to this problem is to have your dentist bond a desensitizing agent to the tooth or to place a filling on the exposed surface.  These treatments are incredibly effective at eliminating tooth sensitivity both painlessly and immediately.  Patients are thus free to enjoy ice cream, coffee and cold beverages that same day.

            Exposed roots are also more predisposed to cavities, or “root caries” as we call them.  This is because the tooth structure below the gum line consists of a softer mineral than the more resistant enamel on the outer portion of a tooth.  Routine cleanings and check-ups, sometimes with even greater regularity than the typical six-month recall, can serve to head off at the pass any cavities that may otherwise run amuck.

            Decreased salivary flow can result with age as well.  Our saliva contains a buffer against the acids that result when foods breakdown in our mouths.  The absence of this saliva leaves our teeth more susceptible to tooth decay.   Certain medications can interfere with normal salivary production as well.   A dentist may elect to counteract this decreased salivary flow with other medications.  The best defense against the harmful effects of low salivary flow is the same as that for most age-related dental challenges: immaculate oral hygiene and regular visits to the dentist!