Combining Blogs--Addl. Credit Project

I am working with Prof. Kami Hanson on fulfilling 4 extra elective credits. I will be blogging about both clinic and this project here.

My main topic of interest is ... Are dental professions maximizing the preventative effects of RX strentgh fluoride?

-Do dental professions believe that acid is produced daily and that fluoride can help remineralize?
-Why wait till demineralization is visible clinically or radiographically?
--Who do they write rx toothpaste for?
-Why not recom it to patients who have newly errupted teeth, restorations (esp. sub-gingival crowns and bridges), active carries, reccurent decay, pregnancy, cancer patients, ortho patients, etc...
--Why not have everyone on rx toothpaste who can use and store it responcibly?
-Why not give this away for free or sell at a reduced price in low income programs. (WIC, The Health Department)? My mom is a nurse at Logan Region and guesses they see an average of 15 Medicade children a week!! They are getting pulpotomies and SS crown on every tooth!! Thats general anesthesia, a few nurses, assistants, and half of a Specialists day. How much is that costing the government?
--Why not have a school district hygienist applying a varnish and doing screenings? Even if they only get seen once a year! This could not replace regular office visits but where there is smoke, there is fire! An Eight year old has way too many permanant teeth to be destroyed by dental neglect! Even good parents don't always get their children into the dentist regualarly! I just think this may be one more way to bring down the cost of healthcare. Prevention and catching early is far better tx and much less expensive!

--Are cancer instutions explaing the hit that their teeth may take with their chemo and radiation treatments? If those doctors can perscribe any medication, why not some rx toothpaste and possibly at home varnish. I know varnish is professional use only, but why? It is not that hard to apply yourself. Patients store and use lots of medications responcibly. Why could they not do the same with varnish? I would want my loved ones who were undergoing chemo and ratiation to have all the defences availible to them.

I just don't see rx fluoride toothpaste being recommended in the offices that I have worked at until incipient carries is visible or a patient has LOTS of cavities! I think that the public is catching onto prevention! It would be a great service and they would appreciate being educated and offered this extra tool that may increase the life of their restoration and may help prevent new decay.