By Dr. David M. Blende
Click here to read part two or go to part one.
Prevention is Key
Regular, professional examinations and cleanings are the most cost-effective, oral healthcare you can receive. Restorative work is costly, and emergencies are painful. So see a dentist regularly. The standards for dental care are:
- Dental cleaning every one to six months. Some people may need this every 3 months. In some areas, this can be performed at home by a registered dental hygienist in alternative practice (RDHAP).
- Yearly dental exam with X-rays. In some areas, this can be performed at home by a dentist.
- Treatment, as needed. People who are have disabilities, are combative, uncooperative, or medically compromised may require sedation.
Mandy Robbins: A Case Study
At the time of her treatment in 2004, Mandy Robbins was 21 years old. Mandy has profound autism and a history of seizures. As a small child, she had relatively few problems with her teeth. However, as she matured and her permanent teeth came in, her parents and dentist discovered she had Amelogenesis Imperfecta, an inherited disorder that affected the formation of the enamel on her teeth, leaving them soft and brittle. She also had a severe overbite that prevented her teeth from closing properly, leaving her without adequate chewing surfaces.
Mandy was referred to the Blende Dental Group by a dentist in her hometown, Dr. Ray Lyons, who was the past president of the Special Care Dentistry Association. She flew from Albuquerque, NM with her parents to be treated using the group’s One-Sleep-Visit™ Total Dentistry Method. An assembled team of specialists completed Mandy’s extensive full mouth restoration in less than one week.
Tuesday Mandy returned home to New Mexico with her case complete Mandy’s dental work continues to be maintained as planned, and she is doing great. Ruthie Robbins, Mandy’s mom, wrote an article for her local Autism Society’s newsletter about the experience. Here is an excerpt: “Dr. Blende [was] able to save Mandy’s teeth, correct her overbite as well as make her chewing teeth meet in the back. However, not only had he given her a functional mouth, but he also gave her beautiful white teeth, as he was able to place metal only on her chewing surfaces. We, as parents, would not advocate this extreme type of dentistry in all cases. We decided it was right for Mandy on the basis that her mouth was going to deconstruct if we did not do something. Moreover, due to the difficulty she poses as a patient, this “extreme makeover” was by far the simplest method for her and for the professionals involved. The mouth she has now will last her a minimum of 40 years but probably more.“
Now, nearly 6 years have passed since we treated Mandy. She regularly visits a dentist in her hometown to have her regular cleanings, and she has needed no additional dental work. Her family remains thrilled with the care she received at the Blende Dental Group.
In her mother’s words…
“I don’t know anyone who looks forward to a trip to the dentist, but for our daughter Mandy, who has autism, it is extremely traumatic. Fortunately we have been blessed through the years to have wonderful dentists such as Dr. John McReynolds, Dr. Stan Hess, and now Dr. Ray Lyons. All of these patient men have done their best to take care of Mandy’s teeth with as little trauma as possible, but it has still been very difficult for her…
From our team…
“As a nurse, when I first came to work for the Blende Dental Group, I was interested in the mission of the practice and excited about the new opportunity. However, I had previously worked in Cardiac Intensive Care, where I had been responsible for changing peoples’ lives.I wasn’t sure that I was going to get a similar sense of fulfillment working for a dental practice.But shortly after I began working at the BDG, I met Mandy.Mandy’s story is available on our website – her mother shares how the BDG changed Mandy’s life. But Mandy changed my life too…”
Dr. David Blende is a San Francisco dentist who has practiced special needs dentistry for more than 20 years. Patients have traveled to the Blende Dental Group from over 18 countries and 30 states, where his team performs more definitive, full mouth rehabilitation under general anesthesia than any other practice in the country. For more information, please call 1-800-575-3375 or visit www.drblende.com.
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