Local Doctor Initiates Program to Transform His Community by Creating a Caries Free Zone
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) October 04, 2013 -- According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), dental caries (cavities) is an epidemic in the United States; and although it is largely preventable, it remains the most common chronic disease of children aged 5 to 17 years -- 4 times more common than asthma. Dr. Engel of Los Angeles decided it was time to offer his patients something different. Instead of offering the tired 'brush and floss' advice, his patients can look forward to a program built on a new model of health: the Caries Free Zone.
"It is time for something new," says Dr. Engel. "We have been telling the same story of cavities for years, and it is obviously not working. Here at Southern California Dental Health Associates, we have decided to elevate the conversation with our patients. Patients are smart and there is no reason to oversimplify this complex biofilm disease any longer." With the launching of a Caries Free Zone in office, Dr. Engel will not only change the content of the conversation about dental decay, but also change the approach they take with patients. The process now includes a comprehensive risk assessment where the patient is a mutual expert during the caries risk conversation. Engel states, "It is not always diet or hygiene related, and we need to start discussing other risk factors like medication, saliva flow, presence of oral appliances, and current bacterial challenge." Dianne Williams RDH says, "When a patient knows how and why they are experiencing decay we can form a true partnership and plan how we are going to reduce their risk."
Engel explains, "The ultimate goal is to bring each and every patient into a low to moderate risk category and keep them there long term. If we can do that, we can start to create a truly cavity free patient base. All of our patients that follow through with our new program will be initiated into our Caries Free Zone and represent the future of oral health in our practice and community. This disease is absolutely preventable, and it is time for us to take the lead in reframing how we co-manage the treatment and ultimately, prevention of dental caries."
For more information on the CariFree system, go to http://www.carifree.com. To call now and make your appointment with Dr. Engel and his team, call 323-934-3341.
About Jonathan Engel, DDS:
A native of Southern California, Dr. Engel graduated from the University of the Pacific School of Dentistry in San Francisco in 1982. He has also completed a mini residency in Esthetic Dentistry from Esthetic Professionals as well as many other areas of dentistry. Besides being a member of the American Dental Association, the California Dental Association and the Los Angeles Dental Society, Dr. Engel is a proud member of the World Congress of Minimally Invasive Dentistry, an organization that promotes a style of dentistry that respects the health, function and aesthetics of oral tissue by preventing disease from occurring or intercepting its progress with minimal tissue loss.
Dr. Engel, Southern California Dental Health Associates, http://www.socaldentalhealth.com/dental-health-protectors.html, 323-934-3341, [email protected]
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