AUGUST 2017
CARL F. ERN, DDS VINCENT M. CAFARELLI, DMD GIANNA FERRANTI, DDS JEANNINE HOLZ, DDS
smile, conversation, meal, and kiss! For your EVERY
PUTNAM DENTAL MISSIONS Why We Started and How You Can Help
In June 2015, Putnam Dental Missions was founded with a mission to provide education and no- cost dental services, both locally and abroad, to people
Although dentistry is my job, and it’s easy for many people here to receive dental care, infections are prevalent in less fortunate communities. The skills that my co-workers and I possess save the lives of people living in underserved areas, and it is our responsibility to use our knowledge to help others. Another great aspect of working with Putnam Dental Missions is the sense of camaraderie we feel toward each other while we serve others. My favorite part about working with Putnam Dental Missions is meeting the people I have the honor of serving. These individuals come from places where they don’t always have access to running water or electricity, but their hearts are filled with joy. They can never thank us enough, and frankly, it grounds me. I like to say that we experience paradise in poverty while we volunteer. These individuals never reflect their environment or circumstances. The biggest goal that Putnam Dental Missions is striving for is expansion. We are committed to the Dominican Republic at the moment, but we would love to expand locally as well as throughout the world, wherever we are called. We would love to see more individuals familiar with dentistry get involved with Putnam Dental Missions, but we welcome volunteers from all backgrounds. If you would like to get involved with Putnam Dental Missions, you can volunteer with Dentistry From The Heart, give money for the purchase of equipment, donate to the scholarship fund, or buy our Tooth Fairy bracelets. Please feel free to call us at 845-279-3720 to learn more about Putnam Dental Missions, and refer our programs to your friends in the dental field! Thank you, Dr. Ern, for your willingness to commit to Putnam Dental Missions and your endless support of our philanthropic efforts. I am so excited to see what we accomplish in the coming years. Toni Viau
without access to dental health benefits.
Dr. Ern and I founded Putnam Dental Missions together.
2014 MISSION TEAM
For the past 20 years, I have been serving young adults in need on mission trips with my church to South Africa and Mexico. When I was a child, my family instilled in me the importance of serving others, and we often went on mission trips. I have always been passionate about serving others, so when I saw an opportunity to combine my profession with philanthropy, I jumped at the chance. I wear two hats at Putnam Dental Associates. I am a dental hygienist, but I am also the vice president of Putnam Dental Missions. I clean teeth, but I also recruit volunteers, coordinate fundraising, and spread the word about Putnam Dental Missions. Though I had personally volunteered abroad, I have not had the opportunity to travel overseas to provide dental care to those in need. My time in South Africa was spent at an orphanage, and in Mexico I was at a vacation Bible school. I have also volunteered at soup kitchens in cities like Philadelphia. I would love to see Putnam Dental Missions make it to each of these places someday. A great thing about working with Putnam Dental Missions is that I am able to use my gift of dentistry to change other people’s lives.
Inside This Issue:
Here’s What’s Happening at Putnam Dental
Page 4 View of a Lifetime
Page 2 Know Your Enemy
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KNOW YOUR ENEMY DNA TESTS PINPOINT PERIODONTAL BACTERIA
Treating gum disease can be a tricky process. While prevention and deep cleaning are often effective ways to avoid extreme cases of periodontal disease, things get more complicated once tartar begins to work its way into the deep structures of the gums. But new technologies enable periodontists to pinpoint the cause of gum disease and eliminate it at the source. Periodontal disease arises as swarms of bacteria begin to eat away at the gums. Over 350 discrete species of bacteria participate in the deterioration of human gums, and each of them is utterly unique. Each of these microscopic species carries its own distinct genetic blueprint embedded within its DNA. If you’ve ever seen a picture of DNA, you know that it is composed of two separate, twisting strands, connected by a series of “ladder rungs.” These rungs are made up of two separate nitrogen bases, bonded together at the center. Each base only connects
to a specific other base — adenine pairs with thymine, and cytosine pairs with guanine. Though the way in which these bases bond is particular, the order in which each pair appears as you move down the “ladder” has an infinite number of permutations. When we investigate this arrangement within the cells of a particular organism, we learn its unique genetic blueprint. Periodontists are now able to extract a sample of the bacteria afflicting your gums with a cotton swab of saliva. Then, the sample is sent to a lab and run through a DNA analysis. The results of the test detail the specific strains of bacteria that are present in the gums, giving the periodontist a much clearer picture of the problem. The first step in combatting the enemy under our gums is to know what we’re up against, and DNA testing enables us to do just that.
DR. CAFARELLI’S 15-YEAR ANNIVERSARY!
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All the News That’s Fit to Print
HERE’S WHAT’S HAPPENING AT PUTNAM DENTAL THE ENTIRE TEAM AT PUTNAM DENTAL ASSOCIATES HAD AN AMAZING EVENT AT THE NEWSPINS BOWL IN CARMEL. A GREAT TIMEWAS HAD BY ALL!
2017 SMILE CELEBRATION ATTENDEESWERE CORNELIUS, DEBBIE MCCARTHY, PAT, CATHERINE ALAGNA, PATSY, AND MARIE MORETTI
PATIENT APPRECIATION RAFFLE WINNER! Donna Maloney DONNAWON A FIRE PIT AND OUTDOOR ENTERTAINMENT PACKAGE! Q3 PRIZE IS A SAMSONITE LUGGAGE SET AND $200 IN TRAVEL VOUCHERS For every online review you complete (Yelp, Google, Facebook, etc.), you will have a chance to win this quarter’s prize!
MEET OUR NEW HYGIENE CONTINUING CARE SPECIALIST
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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411
Connect with us! @ PutnamDental
Carl F. Ern, DDS 2435 Route 6, Middlebranch Office Brewster, NY 10509
SEDATION DENTISTRY COSMETIC DENTISTRY IMPLANT DENTISTRY
INVISALIGN PREFERRED PROVIDER RESTORATIVE DENTISTRY SAME-DAY CROWNS
PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY FAMILY DENTISTRY TEETH TOMORROW
Hours
Mon/Tues – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Wed – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thurs – 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Fri – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sat – 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Contact Us :
Tel: 855-347-7476 Fax: 845-279-8144 putnamdental@comcast.net www.putnamdental.com
View of a Lifetime Where to Watch the Great American Eclipse
Sandhills, North Platte, Nebraska In the heartlands, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more perfect viewing location than the Sandhills of western Nebraska. The August weather in this area has a reputation for ideal conditions for watching the eclipse, so there’s less of a chance cloudy skies will block your view. With wide-open skies, low rolling hills, and no towering buildings to get in the way, the Sandhills are sure to be a popular viewing spot. The Museum of Idaho, Idaho Falls, Idaho Why not view the eclipse from an official NASA broadcast station? The Museum of Idaho has been designated an Official NASA Observation Site, and the museum is hosting four days of events to celebrate. Enjoy live presentations, technology demonstrations, and special exhibits as you prepare to watch the total eclipse with NASA scientists. A total solar eclipse is an event like nothing you’ve ever witnessed before. Be sure to visit the official website of the Great American Eclipse at greatamericaneclipse.com for everything you need to know about this once-in-a-lifetime sight!
On August 21, 2017, the greatest show of the summer will take place in the United States: a total solar eclipse! In the last 100 years, only 14 solar eclipses were visible from the U.S., and none have occurred in the new millennium. This eclipse will be visible across North America, but the path of totality — the area where the moon completely covers the sun — will only fall in the continental U.S., leading this cosmic event to be called the Great American Eclipse. If you’re already in the United States, a day’s road trip is all you need to grab a front row seat for this rare astronomical occurrence. Columbia, South Carolina Need a place to watch the eclipse in the southern U.S.? Then get yourself to South Carolina! The state capital of Columbia is almost right in the middle of the path of totality, with the duration of totality lasting a full 2 1/2 minutes. Plenty of hotels make Columbia a great viewing location for those who don’t want to camp out, and the vibrant city life means you’ll have a lot to do even when the eclipse is over.
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