The Future of Dentistry Is Wide Open
Preventive Dentistry With Laser Cavity Detection
From the way missing teeth are replaced to your standard routine dental cleaning appointments, the world of dentistry is becoming more advanced. You likely remember your dentist examining X-rays, hunting for cavities and areas of potential or early signs of tooth decay. Sometimes, they even used the probing method to locate “sticky” areas with a sharp tool. However, as dentistry evolves, those tools have been replaced with lasers!
Small, pen-shaped devices called diode lasers have been used for years for gingivitis treatments, teeth whitening, and gum reshaping procedures. However, they now help dentists detect areas of tooth decay well before a tooth experiences structural damage and requires a filling. Using diode lasers, dental professionals emit a beam into each tooth in a patient’s mouth and measure the density with transillumination. Some light will pass through each tooth, while some is reflected back at the instrument and registered with a sensor. If the beam of light shines through the tooth, there’s decay. A tooth without any decay will absorb all of the light, taking on a translucent effect. Laser cavity detection is noninvasive and painless and does not risk radiation exposure because only light energy is used to capture dental diagnostics. And because laser cavity detection is so precise, it affords dentists the opportunity to catch decay early and stop it in its tracks before the tooth’s structure is compromised. This saves patients money, dental anxiety over drilling and fillings, and pain. As technology continues to shape the world around us, it also makes visiting the dentist more enjoyable, cost-effective, and efficient while improving your beautiful smile! Stay tuned for what is yet to come!
LEAVE ONLY FOOTPRINTS AND TAKE ONLY PICTURES
With the Every Kid Outdoors Program
What if your child could hike through the Redwoods in California, chase waterfalls in Yosemite, get up close and personal with bison in Yellowstone, and go whale watching in Olympic National Park — all for free ? In 2019, President Trump signed the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management and Recreation Act into law, which supplied funding for the Every Kid Outdoors program (formerly known as Every Kid in a Park) for the following seven years. With one special pass, all fourth graders in the U.S. can explore spectacular areas in our nation while creating unforgettable experiences and lifelong connections to nature. The Every Kid Outdoors program is a collaborative effort between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of the Interior, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. It ensures every child, along with their siblings and up to three adults (or a car full of people who want to tag along), has the opportunity to explore some of America’s most beautiful landscapes and wildlife. To sign up and get traveling, all a fourth grader needs to do is complete an adventure diary at EveryKidOutdoors.gov and download a voucher. A teacher may also get passes for their entire class. A pass is good for multiple uses in different national parks around the U.S. for an entire year and must be printed and presented in person, as electronic copies are not accepted.
The pass expires on Aug. 31, 2023, but you can sign up for the 2023-2024 pass starting Sept. 1, 2023!
Not only does nature make a fantastic classroom, but exploring and gaining an appreciation for our national parks is also fascinating. Kindle your fourth grader’s love for nature and help them get out and explore today with an Every Kid Outdoors voucher. Geysers, canyons, waterfalls, forests, and deserts await!
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