February is here and along with it’s arrival comes National Dental Health Month.  It’s a month when attention is specifically focused on the dental health of our nation.  It primarily targets children, yet as we all know, good dental health is important for a lifetime. 

Everyone wants to look and feel their best as they head out to face the world, be it school, the workplace or socially.  Studies show that one of the first things people notice about someone is their smile and that a good smile helps create a positive self-image.  Any time of the year is a good time to start keeping up with your dental health, but if you haven’t been stellar at promoting your own “cause”, Dental Health Month is a good time to start.  The sooner you make it a priority, the sooner you or your child will benefit. 

One of the highlights of National Dental Health Month is Give Kids A Smile® (GKAS). It is a national initiative by the American Dental Association to focus attention on the epidemic of untreated oral disease among disadvantaged children. Each February, GKAS provides free oral health education, screening and treatment services to children from low-income families across the country. In 2006, nearly 40,000 dental professionals and volunteers will provide free educational, preventive and restorative dental services to children from low income families at 2,000 locations across the country.  Several of our local dentists in Huntsville provided these services during 2005. 

As I mentioned earlier, dental health is important at any age.  I have found over the years that many patients know they have a lot of dental concerns but don't really know what to do.  Too many times because of fear, embarrassment or just not knowing where to start they continue to do nothing and the problems progress.  My suggestion is to talk with your dentist or find a dentist you can communicate your needs and values too.  A dentist should take into consideration your needs, wants, desires and values to design the one, best treatment plan that will fulfill your specific needs and goals.  Patients can suffer many dental problems because of inadequately planned or misunderstood treatment.  Communication is a critical step to obtaining and maintaining excellent oral health.  It's never to late to have the health and beauty of a vibrant smile.

Have a question about dentistry?  If so, I’ll be happy to give you my thoughts.  Feel free to visit my website at www.drscottlogan.com.  Go to the “Contact Us” link and click “Contact Dr. Logan” to send me an e-mail.  Give me a few days to get back with you, but you will hear from me soon.  Who knows, your question might be the topic for one of my next articles!