April 2008 Newsletter
What´s New at Savon
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In every newsletter you will find a secret word or phrase. When you locate the word or phrase, copy the entire paragraph and paste it into an email along with your Savon membership ID number and your name.
Send the email to customerservice@savondentalplan.com. The emails will be printed, and the winning entry will be drawn on the 15th of the following month. All entries must be received by the 10th of the month (i.e.July 10th for June's newsletter, etc.). The winning entry will receive a check from Savon for $25.00. Only one entry per family is allowed, and you may only win once per 12 months. The secret phrase for April is "difference in the diagnosis"
Quote of the month: "A bank is a place where they lend you an umbrella in fair weather and ask for it back when it begins to rain. " - Robert Frost (1874 - 1963)
Cohen’s Corner – Straight talk from the Doctor:
Traumatically Induced Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Syndrome
A whiplash injury can result in problems such as chronic headache, ear ringing, dizziness, eye problems, and clicking and/or jaw pain. Whiplash injuries in the past have been thought to be a minor and limited type of injury which was not thought to be connected with any related serious and/or permanent type side effects.
In the last ten plus years it have been found that following a whiplash injury (or other type of neck trauma), seemingly unrelated symptoms can develop, sometimes even months after the initial trauma. These symptoms are now known to be in some instances associated with, and related to the whiplash injury. Some of the many symptoms that have been directly related to a whiplash type injury are listed below.
- Chronic headache
- Dizziness or lightheadedness
- Ringing and/or feeling like there is fluid in the ears
- Facial pain
- Difficulty in swallowing
- Pain around the eye and other visual problems
- Pain and clicking in the jaw joint
- Difficulty chewing
- Pain in the scalp area
- Unusual fatigue and/or lack of energy
These symptoms more often then not cause the patient to seek health care. Sometimes after extensive testing and medications, the patient is told that there is nothing more that can be done and that it is now time to consult a psychologist or psychiatrist in order to see if the source of the problem is psychosomatic in origin. Although many health care providers know that these same symptoms can be an indicator of a Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction; a few don‘t know where to send the patient for an evaluation of the Temporomandibular Joint.
If you have had a traumatic injury to the neck and have had every medical test done that has shown no real cause for the suffering you are experiencing; then I suggest you talk to your dentist about the situation. I am not saying that this will always help diagnose and treat your problem; but for those who suffer needlessly with pain, it always helps to see if there is a causative agent.
We at Savon Dental Plan wish you the best April ever and we aren‘t foolin‘!
Please keep your dental questions coming, and if I don‘t get to them immediately then feel free to call the office at 602-841-3494 or 800-809-3494 and we will get your questions answered promptly. Dr. B. Cohen
Bruce
Congratulations to J. Graft of Gilbert, AZ Winner of our March $50.00 Visa® gift card drawing
Mr. Graft was the winner of March's Visa® gift card drawing. A gift card in the amount of $50.00 was mailed to him.
Again, thank you to everyone that entered the drawing.
Congratulations to A. Dale of Orem, Ut. Winner of our March Secret Word Contest
Ms. Dale's correct answer was drawn and a check for $25.00 was sent to her.
Make sure that you look for the secret word this month, it could be worth $25.00 to you!!
To your health:
Soda Pop and It‘s Effects on Our Youth
Soda consumption has become a major factor in oral disease today. Studies have shown that at least 20% of school-age children consume about four soda pops in a day. Some teens drink as much as 12 cans a day. What does this mean? It means an alarming increase in demineralization of tooth enamel, erosion of the teeth, and dental caries in our young adults.
Let‘s face it. Kids today are drinking more and more soda because it‘s sweet, it tastes good, and it‘s easily accessible. By drinking more and more soda, they are drinking less and less of the nutritional beverages such as milk or fruit juice. What they are doing, in turn, is robbing their bodies of essential nutrients and vitamins they need to have healthy teeth and bones.
How do we know that soda is the actual problem? While there are many other factors that could cause dental caries and demineralization, soda is quickly becoming a more popular cause. What most people don‘t realize is that most soda pop contains ingredients that, once fermented by bacteria, produce acid or acid by-products. The acid is produced when bacteria colonizes on the surface of the tooth (known as plaque), and metabolizes carbohydrates (sucrose and fructose). This lowers the pH of the saliva, which causes the demineralization of the tooth enamel. Soda also contains other ingredients (aside from the acid or by-products) that have been directly related to demineralization.
Why is this happening? This is happening for multiple reasons. For one, soda has become more popular in American culture. It‘s everywhere. It‘s on TV, strategically placed in supermarkets, and it‘s branded into our minds. When you think of soda pop, what sticks out in your mind? It‘s Coke or Pepsi, right? And people are buying in to the convenience factor. Now, the 12-pak boxes are designed so the can rolls right into your hand versus reaching to the back of the box. And it‘s more convenient to grab a can than to actually poor a glass of milk. Not to mention the marketing strategies offering consumers rewards for purchasing their product. This makes parents more inclined to buy soda because it‘s something their kids like, and they get something out of it, too. Secondly, teens and young children have easy access to it. Soda can usually be found in the fountains of the school cafeteria, (which usually do not dispense milk or juice).
It can be found in vending machines across campus, usually offering a plethora of different brands for a small fee. But juice and milk is generally only available during breakfast or lunch, and in most cases can only be purchased from one station in the cafeteria. It‘s personal preference and convenience over health and nutrition for both adults and children.
What can we do about it? Although the convenience and availability factor will never go away, we CAN be more conscious about what we put into our children‘s bodies as well as our own. It is up to us, the consumers, to moderate our consumption and educate ourselves as well as our youth on the importance of good oral hygiene and the effects of what we eat and drink can have on our bodies. Remind yourself as well as your children that just because it tastes good, doesn‘t mean its good for you.
The above health material is provided as an information service. It should not be used for diagnostic purposes nor is it intended to take the place of the important relationship between you and your doctor.
A question from a member:
Question;
I went to my dentist and got a quote. I went for a second opinion and the quote I got there was a lot different. Why?
Savon's Answer:
It is a common misconception that every dentist is going to charge the exact same price for what you need done. What most people don‘t realize is that every dentist is going to have a different opinion of what they think you need to have done. One dentist may say you need a filling. Another might think you actually need a crown. If they both think you need the exact kind of crown, then the prices should be exactly the same (lab fees will vary). The prices listed on the fee schedule are fixed and our Network Preferred Providers are contractually bound to it. It‘s the difference in the diagnosis that causes the fees to vary.
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