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Watching the clock tick down the final seconds until midnight, many of us- Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry included- feel nostalgic about the passing year and hopeful about the new one to come. New Year’s Eve is one of the most widely celebrated holidays in the world, with over-the-top celebrations taking place in dozens of countries. The Gregorian calendar, which is widely used in Western nations and around the world, was implemented in 1582. Since that time, December 31st has marked the final day of the year, with midnight heralding the beginning of a brand new year. In the United States, New Year’s Day is a public holiday; government offices, schools, public organizations, and many businesses are closed for the day. Ponder the following fun facts as you think about your plans for the holiday:

• Approximately one billion people watch the New Year’s Eve ball drop in Times Square, New York City. This televised event is one of the most iconic New Year’s celebrations in the world. For many years, watching the ball drop meant tuning in to Dick Clark’s Rockin’ New Year’s Eve, an iconic television special dear to the hearts of many viewers.
• The idea for the New Year’s Eve ball came about because of a citywide ban on fireworks. Before 1907, when fireworks became illegal in New York City, celebrations included an elaborate fireworks show. The large, glittering, illuminated ball was developed as an alternative. Although the first ball was heavy at 700 pounds, the modern New Year’s Eve ball is made of Waterford crystal and tips the scale at six tons!
• The top five New Year’s resolutions are: to lose weight, quit smoking, get a new job, return to school, or increase personal savings. However, approximately 88% of New Year’s resolutions fail. But don’t let that discourage you! Resolutions are most likely to succeed when they are clear, achievable goals. Setting out a concrete plan to achieve your resolution also boosts your chances of success.
• Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is said to bring good fortune in the new year. Collard greens, cabbage, and ham hocks are also considered lucky foods to enjoy. Just steer clear of the chicken or turkey dinners; eating poultry is a bad omen for the year to come.

Whether you plan to stay in Simsbury, CT, or head out into the crowds to watch the ball drop in Times Square, New Year’s Eve is a time to enjoy friends and family. Send your loved ones well wishes for the New Year, and look for that special someone to share a midnight kiss with for good luck!

Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our staff rely on digital X-rays to help us diagnose oral conditions and process images at incredibly high speeds. You can also view digital X-rays in real time while we examine your mouth with an intraoral camera and upload the images to a software program. A chairside computer monitor lets you see these images as we refine areas of concern to ensure an accurate diagnosis.

But are dental X-rays safe?

Yes! They emit 80 percent less radiation than exposure-type X-rays and provide detailed images to improve diagnosis and treatment. We can now detect dental problems in their earliest stages without subjecting you to unnecessary radiation. The amount of radiation released by digital X-rays is “negligible,” which means the amount is so small, that it can be safely disregarded.

Safe enough for children and pregnant women, digital X-rays detect microscopic pitting in tooth enamel and other abnormalities in the oral tissues that might have remained undetected with traditional X-rays. When Dr. Maryam Azadpur and our staff discover dental caries in their earliest stages, we can initiate treatment measures that will effectively prevent cavity development, tooth decay, and potential tooth loss.

Patient appointment lengths are shortened with digital X-rays as well, because images are immediately viewable and do not require the exposure time associated with old-style X-rays.

How Digital X-Rays Differ from Traditional X-Rays

Instead of using cardboard-contained film, we insert a small sensing device about the size of a pen in your mouth and engage the digital X-ray machine by manually manipulating control buttons. Within seconds, images appear on the monitor that can later be stored in your file or sent to another doctor for further examination.

The increased resolution afforded by digital X-rays means that patients are able to understand the seriousness of their dental issues better, and are more inclined to follow through with procedures recommended by Dr. Maryam Azadpur.

Safer, Better and Faster

For detection of cancerous tumors in their early states, digital X-ray technology offers vast improvements over film X-rays because of its cutting-edge image processing capability. Early detection of oral cancer and dental caries is the best way to prevent any type of oral health problem from exceeding the treatable stage.

As a parent, you want the best for your children, and that includes doing their best in school. You can support them by taking an interest in their activities, being enthusiastic about attendance, and helping them with homework. There may also be one more way you can help your children succeed at school. Surprisingly, research suggests that children with better oral health are likely to do better in school.

What the Research Says

One study in North Carolina looked at risk factors for poor school performance among school-aged children. As expected, the study found poor school performance linked to low socioeconomic status, low levels of parental education, and poor overall health. However, it also found a strong link between poor oral health and poor school performance, with children classified as having poor oral health 40 percent more likely struggle in school.

These findings are generalizable to the rest of the country. For example, attendance is an important factor in academic achievement, but dental conditions are responsible for a loss 51 million school hours among schoolchildren each year. Dental pain and infection are linked to poorer performance.

School-Based Programs to Promote Oral Health

In light of the apparent benefits of good oral health for school performance, some schools are taking steps to promote better oral care and health. In Maine, for instance, schools in need can apply for grants through School Oral Health Program (SOHP). The SOHP consists of four components:

1. Oral health education for all children to support healthy behaviors
2. A weekly fluoride mouth rinse to strengthen teeth
3. Dental screenings to identify children who may need dental care
4. Dental sealants, or plastic coatings, on back teeth to guard against decay

The State of Maine also supports an “Annual Sugar Out Day” to raise awareness of the effects of sugar on dental health and to help students choose low-sugar alternatives.

Oral Health Habits to Adopt

You can help your child improve oral health and do better in school by encouraging good oral hygiene. This includes brushing at least twice a day with a fluoride-containing toothpaste, and reminding your child to drink water after eating. Also, regular trips to our Simsbury, CT office can help prevent serious tooth problems.

Happy December from all of us at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry! As 2020 draws to a close we pause to look back over the year to celebrate our accomplishments, learn from challenges, and also set our sights for the year ahead.

We know that we weren’t alone in navigating the difficult moments of 2020. We missed our patients while we were closed and, now that our team is covered in PPE, we truly miss being able to share smiles with our little patients. With our new safety protocols in place, we are doing all that we can to reduce any fears patients and their families may have. We strive to make coming to the dentist a fun time for all! We want to thank our patients and families for all of their compliance with new protocols in the office. It is not easy for anyone and we are proud of our community for showing how much they care about one another!

Social distancing and working remotely was another major setback of 2020. Shari, our marketing director, learned that she does not favor working from home. Most of us crave human contact and this pandemic has made it very hard to see one another. Thankfully, Zoom has its good points but there is nothing like hugging your family and friends.

Our team’s biggest accomplishment was successfully reopening our practice. We had to rework our entire schedule, call hundreds of patients, and develop new and safer protocols in the office for both our team and our patients. Forms were created and/or redesigned to better reflect current practices. Another success we’ve had this year is reaching our monthly New Patient goal three times since reopening on June 1st. Also, in 2021, we will be celebrating our 20th year in this location! We are not sure what the celebration will look like though, but it will be special and safe.

The holidays are right around the corner! We are looking forward to celebrating the holidays in whatever way we can: virtually or safely in person. It’s unfortunate that this year many plans need to be curtailed or modified due to the pandemic. Shari normally hosts a Chanukah party for family and friends with fresh latkes and lots of menorahs. December is also Shari’s birthday month! She usually celebrates with a movie and Chinese food for dinner. Our office manager, Pat, enjoys preparing 7 different kinds of fish for her Christmas Eve dinner. Some team members exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, others wait until Christmas morning, and some usually gather with extended family. Please note that the office will be closed on Dec. 23, 24, and 25. Our team eagerly awaits the time off.

The start of the new year is all about setting goals for the months ahead. Our goals include continuing to spread the word about safe practices like mask wearing and hand washing.

We are wrapping up our 4th quarter promotion where we are giving away a Nintendo Switch to 2 lucky families. Want a chance to win? Write a review and get one entry, refer a friend and get two entries! Drawing will be held right after New Year Day.

We created 2 new videos: one for oral hygiene to take the place of in-person visits to area preschools and daycares, and one safety video that demonstrates what to expect when you visit the office. Here is the link to the safety video: https://youtu.be/nUqNCcAd8DQ. The oral hygiene video link will be sent in February for Children’s Dental Health Month to the schools that request it.

We hope everyone has a safe and joyous holiday season!