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John Flucke, DDS, is in private practice in Lee’s Summit, Mo. He also serves as chief clinical editor and technology editor for 

® and keeps an active blog filled with thoughts and tidbits on the world of technology at blog.denticle.com.

Videos

Riva Cem Automix features SDI’s revolutionary ionglass technology. This unique blend of different sized reactive glass particles harnesses ion-release to cross-link polycarboxylic acid chains. [4 minutes]

Video Test Drive: Riva Cem Automix from SDI

Stan Goff is a Managing Editor with MJH Life Sciences, which includes Dental Products Report, Dental Practice Management, Dental Lab Products, Modern Hygienist, and Dentist's Money Digest. He has covered the dental industry since 1999 and can be reached at sgoff@mjhlifesciences.com.  

Articles

A look at the evolution of minimally invasive dentistry, and the products, technologies, and techniques behind it.

The Modern State of Minimal Dentistry

With 2025 approaching, the cloud-based dental practice management solutions company celebrates significant achievements and key milestones.

Product Innovation, Partnerships, and Increased Revenue Power Planet DDS to a Strong 2024

Josh DeVries is the CEO and co-founder of Intiveo, patient engagement software designed to empower dental practices to enhance patient experiences. He is also the co-host for The Patient Blueprint Experience podcast. For 15 years, he’s worked with healthcare professionals to improve processes and drive efficiency. Through his experience, Josh recognized there were a lot of patient communication services on the market, however none of them focused on healthcare specialists where patient communication is the most critical to their treatment's success.

CEO and co-founder of Intiveo shares his thoughts on what the dental industry can expect in the new year.

5 Trends Your Dental Practice Needs to Know in 2025

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Clinical

Join the Sanders sisters and Dr Chris Manasseh as they discuss chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and how this disease might present and affect dental patients.




Chris Manasseh is the Associate Chief Medical Officer of Inpatient Operations at Boston Medical Center and a Clinical Associate Professor of Family Medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine. He joined the department of Family Medicine in 2001 and is currently the Vice Chair for Inpatient and Hospital Services. He developed a series of lectures appropriate to the care of hospitalized patients, designing and implementing the inpatient medicine curriculum for the family medicine residency at Boston University Medical Center. He did this by creating teaching templates, presentations for the top 20 most common inpatient diagnoses and initiating the ongoing weekly teaching conferences. Chris was the first medical director for the expanded 28 bed observation unit at the hospital which has an interdisciplinary team managing all patients on the unit. Chris developed the inpatient flow Medical Director Program at Boston Medical Center that is helping with patient throughput and positively impacting length of stay. He also helped launch the hospital at home program at Boston Medical Center, where patients receive 24/7 inpatient care by a multidisciplinary team in the comfort of their home. Chris and his wife of nearly 30 years Priya have 5 kids and live in Boston’s metrowest area.

Floss and Flip-Flops with the Sanders sisters features hosts dental hygienist and speaker Katrina M. Sanders, RDH, and podiatrist Dr Elizabeth Sanders, DPM. Together, the sisters discuss the oral-systemic link and its impact—from your teeth down to your toes. The podcast is produced monthly by Dental Products Report® and Modern Hygienist®, in partnership with The Sanders sisters.

For additional content for dental professionals visit DPR and MH at 

.

Katrina Sanders, RDH, can be reached at:

Join the Sanders sisters and Dr Chris Manasseh as they discuss chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and how this disease might present and affect dental patients. 

Floss & Flip Flops – Episode 35 – COPD Awareness Month with Dr Chris Manasseh

Join the Sanders sisters and expert Anne O Rice, RDH, as they discuss this debilitating and life-changing disease, and how to approach these patients and their needs with care.




Anne has been a clinical dental hygienist for 35 years, is a speaker, writer, and consultant. She created Oral Systemic Seminars in 2017 and now devotes much of her time, focus and study to dementia prevention. Anne received her preceptor for the Bale/Doneen method, is a Certified Dementia Practitioner and in 2020 became certified as a Longevity Specialist with the Alzheimer’s Research and Prevention Foundation, where she has also developed curriculum. She is a Fellow with The American Academy of Oral Systemic Health and on their advisory board. In 2024 she was added to Cloud Dentistry’s Empowering Women in Dentistry board and has a column for RDH magazine focusing on oral systemic health and is also on their 2024 editorial advisory board. She was chosen in 2024 as a recipient of Sunstar’s Award of Distinction and is looking forward to finishing her certification in the Buteyko Beathing Method. In 2021 Anne published her manuscript 

Alzheimer’s Disease and Oral-Systemic Health Bidirectional Care Integration Improving Outcomes

 She was included in an International Consortium of a diverse network of brain researchers, clinicians and institutions who support Alzheimer’s prevention. Her consulting has brought her to Weill Cornell Medical Center’s Alzheimer’s Prevention Clinic, Florida Atlantic College Center for Brain Health, and the Atria Institute.



Join the Sanders sisters and expert Anne O Rice, RDH, as they discuss this debilitating and life-changing disease, and how to approach patients and their needs with care.

Floss & Flip Flops – Episode 33 – World Alzheimer's Month with Anne O Rice, RDH

Join the Sanders sisters and immunization expert Lancette VanGuilder, BS, RDH, PHEDH, CEAS, as they discuss immunizations in dental practices and how to navigate potentially tricky conversations.




Lancette VanGuilder, BS, RDH, PHEDH, CEAS, graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1995 and has spent the last two decades actively involved in the dental industry as a leader, speaker, clinician, and public health advocate.
Lancette is the current Vice-President of the American Dental Hygienists Association. She is a past president of the Nevada Dental Hygienists Association, is a past recipient of the Nevada Dental Hygienist of the Year and received the Innovative Career Vision Award for her work in all 7 professional roles of the dental hygienist. In 2018 she received the ADHA Irene Newman Professional Achievement award, recognizing her for her contributions to advancing the art and science of the dental hygiene profession over the last 15 years. She was selected as one to the Top 6 Dental Hygienists to know in 2021, by the national publication Dimensions in Dental Hygiene for being a mover and shaker in dentistry. In 2022, she received global recognition, receiving the Denobi “All-Star” award for her public health, mobile dentistry, advocacy, speaking and vaccine accomplishments. Most recently, she received one of the highest honors given by the American Dental Hygienists Association by being recognized with the 2022 ADHA Award of Excellence. This award has only been given to a small number of select individuals over the last 100 years.

Lancette has received advanced education for complete health dentistry, including sleep related disordered breathing disorders and brain health. She received her Certificate in Alzheimer’s Prevention and Reversal, ReCODE, from Apollo Health and her training in airway health from Institute for Craniofacial Sleep Medicine.

Lancette is an internationally recognized continuing education speaker and is recognized as a key leader and mentor in the dental industry. She serves as the clinical director for Sierra Sleep, Airway and Wellness Center in Reno, Nevada. In addition, she works as a clinician in private practice, owns a mobile dentistry business, a national AGD PACE continuing education company and provides ergonomic coaching. Amidst the pandemic, she became a proud COVID vaccinator with Battle Born Medical Corp and has traveled across the globe advocating for vaccine administration by dental hygienists. She co-founded The RISE Experience and Abundant life. RISE retreats provide education and support for women in healthcare who want to make an impact in the world and pursue entrepreneurship in dentistry. Abundant life is a wellness hub for dental professionals to have access to resources to support the 8 pillars of health.

Lancette is most proud of her work transforming healthcare, increasing access to care and bridging the medical-dental divide.



Join the Sanders sisters and immunization expert Lancette VanGuilder, BS, RDH, PHEDH, CEAS, as they discuss immunizations in dental practices and how to navigate potentially tricky conversations.

Floss & Flip Flops – Episode 32 – National Immunization Awareness Month with Lancette VanGuilder, BS, RDH, PHEDH, CEAS

Join the Sanders sisters and Erin Elliott, DDS as they discuss the importance of airway consideration in dentistry.




Dr Erin Elliott grew up in Southern California but went away to a small NAIA school in Western New York where she played collegiate soccer and graduated summa cum laude from Houghton College. After graduating Creighton Dental School in the top 5 in 2003, she settled in North Idaho to begin her general dentistry career. She has a special interest in Dental Sleep Medicine and technology. She has lectured extensively on this topic and loves to help general dentists extend this life-saving service to their patients. She is an active member of her local American Dental Association, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, and the American Academy of Dental Sleep Medicine. She teaches a 2-day Sleep Apnea Implementation Course with 3D-Dentists and Dr Tarun Agarwal.



Use Dr Elliott's sleep apnea evaluator here to discover if your practice is ready to implement this kind of care

Join the Sanders sisters and Erin Elliott, DDS as they discuss the importance of airway consideration in dentistry. 

Floss & Flip Flops – Episode 31 – World Airway Disorders Day with Erin Elliott, DDS

Join the Sanders sisters and Dog Dad/VetMed Expert Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, as they discuss all things dental health for our beloved furry (and scaly/feathery/fuzzy) friends.




Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, is the chief veterinary officer for dvm360®—an MJH Life Sciences Company™—who oversees content strategy and development and is the brand voice and personality for dvm360®’s multimedia channels. As a charismatic leader, he brings wit, humor, and authenticity to animal health care as the host of dvm360 Live!™ talkshow, The Vet Blast Podcast and many media channels.

Christman has also been in small animal private practice and shelter medicine for 18 years prior to transitioning his role into continuing education and media. He currently serves on the New Jersey Veterinary Medical Association. He received his DVM degree from Iowa State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and his MBA from Aspen University.

Christman is an international thought leader, speaker and author on practice management, social media, and rehabilitation, and co-authored, 

Honey, Have You Squeezed the Dachshund? A Pet Owner’s Guide for Owners Who Are Terrified of IVDD

—a book on dogs with disabilities. He was recently awarded the 2023 VMX Speaker of the Year on Practice Management, the 2023 Bright Minds Veterinary Influencer of the Year and the 2023 Iowa State University’s Switzer Alumni Award.

He has been featured in multiple publications as well as on TV, radio and internet shows throughout the country sharing his expertise and passion on all things veterinary medicine.

As an avid social media influencer for animal health care, with over 2 million followers on social media, Dr Christman believes in power of laughing and learning together. He loves to engage with fellow pet parents and veterinary professionals across social media. Christman is an advocate of Pride VMC. He is also the proud dog dad to 4 dachshunds and believes no one should be deprived of the beautiful human-animal bond.

Join the Sanders sisters and Dog Dad/VetMed Expert Adam Christman, DVM, MBA, as they discuss all things dental health for our beloved furry (and scaly/feathery/fuzzy) friends.

Floss & Flip Flops – Episode 30 – Vet Health & National Puppy Party Day with Dr Adam Christman

Join the Sanders sisters and trauma and acute care specialist Dr Sabrina Sanchez as they discuss putting the patient at the forefront, and the connection between trauma care and oral health.

Dr Sabrina E. Sanchez is a trauma and acute care surgeon and surgical intensivist at Boston Medical Center and an associate professor of surgery at Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine. Her professional and academic interests revolve around patient-centered care and shared decision-making in trauma, acute care surgery, and critical illness, geriatric and palliative care in surgical patients, justice and equity in surgical care, and diversity and inclusion in the surgical workforce.

Her Website – sociallyresponsiblesurgery.org

Join the Sanders sisters and trauma and acute care specialist Dr Sabrina Sanchez as they discuss putting the patient at the forefront, and the connection between trauma care and oral health. 

Floss & Flip Flops – Episode 29 – Trauma Awareness Month with Dr Sabrina Sanchez

Join the Sanders sisters and Oral Cancer expert Susan Cotten, BSDH, RDH, OMT, as they dive deep on screening and the hygienist’s role in vital early detection.


About Susan – Susan Cotten, BSDH, RDH, OMT, is the founder and CEO of Oral Cancer Consulting, she developed the “Cotten Method”, a comprehensive oral cancer screening method and dental office system. She is an international speaker on oral cancer screening and holds hands-on oral cancer screening workshops for dental professionals who want to have more confidence in screening, reduce the risk of liability, and increase early detection. In her career, Susan has performed over 60 thousand oral cancer screenings and organized countless free screening events including the Denver Broncos Health and Wellness Expo. She is the Dental Lead for the Alliance for HPV Free Colorado, a director with Dental Codeology Consortium, Instructor at National Network for Healthcare Hygienists, and RDH Advisory Board member at The Oral Cancer Foundation. Susan is a 2018 recipient of the Sunstar RDH Award of Distinction, recipient of the Colorado Dental Hygienists’ Association Ethyl Covington Award, and Outstanding Contribution Award. Susan founded MAD(Make A Difference) for Healthy Smiles as a 2010-2011 member of Donny Osmond’s Make a Difference program. On a personal note, Susan loves walking the beaches of Hawaii, is a former country dance competitor, and loves watching college football.

Instagram - 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-cotten-rdh-bsdh-omt-b18b8716b/

Join the Sanders sisters and Oral Cancer expert Susan Cotten, BSDH, RDH, OMT, as they dive deep on screening and the hygienist’s role in vital early detection. 

Floss & Flip Flops – Episode 28 – Oral Cancer Awareness Month with Susan Cotten

Join the Sanders sisters and "OSHA Lady" Karen Daw as they dive deep on all things patient safety, honoring Patient Safety Awareness Week in March.



About Karen: Karen Daw is an award-winning national speaker, author, and Authorized OSHA Trainer. She earned her BA from the Ohio State University and her MBA with concentrations in Healthcare Administration and Business Management. Karen was recruited from the Emergency Department to the OSU College of Dentistry as the Safety Director. The federal government, OSAP and dental manufacturers have benefited from Karen’s expertise. She now coaches practices across the country live and via Zoom with a “This is going to be so much fun!” approach to OSHA compliance. Interesting fact - Karen recently earned her certificates in the following: Clinical Hypnotherapy, Time Techniques, EFT, Reiki, FIRES Technique, Neurolinguistic Programming (NLP) and Life and Success Coaching through a trauma-sensitive/informed lens. Something people don’t know about me – I am a sucker for underdogs, the voiceless, and have a (MASSIVE and inordinate) sense for justice and fairness

Join the Sanders sisters and "OSHA Lady" Karen Daw as they dive deep on all things patient safety, honoring Patient Safety Awareness Week in March.


Floss & Flip Flops – Episode 27 – Patient Safety Awareness with "OSHA Lady" Karen Daw

Join the Sanders sisters and Dr Ellie Campbell as they discuss the human heart, and just how interconnected it is with full body and oral health.

Dr Campbell has been Board certified in Family Medicine for over 30 years, and is also certified by the American Board of Integrative Medicine. Trained at the Medical College of Georgia, in the Bale Doneen Method, and through the Cardiometabolic Program at the Institute for Functional Medicine, she is an expert in Cardiovascular Risk Reduction. A solo physician for 18 years, she has specialty interests in interdisciplinary collaboration, reversing chronic disease, natural treatments for high blood pressure, and the oral-systemic connections. She has been an advisory board member to The International College of Integrative Medicine and the American Academy for Oral & Systemic Health. She is an author, mentor, and international speaker who enjoys live theater, gardening, healthy cooking, hiking, travel, and playtime with her husband, three adult daughters and 2 100-lb dogs.


https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61550068367157

https://www.facebook.com/campbellfamilymed

Dr Campbell’s book available on Amazon: 

The Blood Pressure Blueprint: THE holistic guide to defeating hypertension

Floss and Flip-Flops with the Sanders sisters features hosts dental hygienist and speaker Katrina M. Sanders, RDH, and podiatrist Dr Elizabeth Sanders, DPM. Together, the sisters discuss the oral-systemic link and its impact—from your teeth down to your toes. The podcast is produced monthly by Dental Products Report® and Modern Hygienist®, in partnership with The Sanders sisters.

For additional content for dental professionals visit DPR and MH at 

Floss & Flip Flops – Episode 26 – Heart Health Month with Dr Ellie Campbell

Join the Sanders sisters and Dr Andrew Merrill as they discuss all things thyroid, including what to watch out for for both dental and medical professionals with this tricky part of the human body.

Andrea Merrill, MD is an Assistant Professor of Surgery at the Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine and a Surgical Oncologist at Boston Medical Center. She is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery in General Surgery. She has particular interests and advanced training in the care of patients with breast cancer and endocrine diseases and cancer. Dr Merrill earned her undergraduate and medical degrees at Tufts University. She completed residency training in general surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. While there, she performed research on breast cancer outcomes and completed an editorial fellowship at the New England Journal of Medicine. She then completed an advanced clinical fellowship in Complex Surgical Oncology at The Ohio State University. Dr Merrill has published research in numerous journals and presented her findings at nationally recognized conferences. 

Her research interests include breast cancer, gender bias in medicine, and surgical ergonomics. She is the faculty advisor for the BU association of women surgeons medical student chapter and enjoys mentoring and advising aspiring women surgeons. Dr Merrill also enjoys narrative writing and has published several narrative essays in JAMA, Annals of Surgery, and Annals of Internal Medicine. She believes we need to appreciate our creative sides outside of the OR and started a website called Scrubbed Out which highlights surgeons and their creative hobbies and passions. Outside of the OR, Dr Merrill enjoys food, wine, travel, reading, and photography.

You can find Dr Merrill on Instagram @anjlm (personal) and @scrubbedoutsurgeon or on her website –  

The study mentioned by Katrina:
Wallis, C. J., Ravi, B., Coburn, N., Nam, R. K., Detsky, A. S., & Satkunasivam, R. (2017). Comparison of postoperative outcomes among patients treated by male and female surgeons: a population based matched cohort study. 

.

Floss and Flip-Flops with the Sanders sisters features hosts dental hygienist and speaker Katrina M. Sanders, RDH, and podiatrist Dr Elizabeth Sanders, DPM. Together, the sisters discuss the oral-systemic link and its impact—from your teeth down to your toes. The podcast is produced monthly by Dental Products Report® and Modern Hygienist®, in partnership with The Sanders sisters.

For additional content for dental professionals visit DPR and MH at 

Join the Sanders sisters and Dr Andrea Merrill as they discuss all things thyroid, including what to watch out for for both dental and medical professionals with this tricky part of the human body. 

Floss & Flip Flops – Episode 25 – Thyroid Awareness Month with Dr Andrea Merrill

At HLTH 2024, CareQuest, Colgate-Palmolive, Henry Schein, and PDS Health launched an Oral Health Pavilion to showcase how integrating oral and general health can improve patient outcomes and reduce costs.

Oral Health Pavilion at HLTH 2024 Highlighted Links Between Dental and General Health

This week the American Academy of Periodontology convenes in San Diego, so it’s a great time to reflect on the importance of fighting periodontal disease.

A Look at Key Periodontics Content as AAP Conference Arrives

This smartphone tool harnesses the power of artificial intelligence to analyze user-taken photos and provide valuable and actionable dental insights. 

Dentistry.One Launches SmileScan Artificial Intelligence Smartphone Tool

Originally posted on Infection Control Today. Hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP) is a significant infection prevention concern, leading to high patient mortality, increased health care costs, and ICU usage. Oral hygiene is an effective preventive measure.

Maximizing Value: The Hidden Benefits of Preventing Hospital-Acquired Pneumonia Through Oral Hygiene

Dr Chan's journey into animal-assisted therapy began when she and her Golden Retrievers joined a pioneering program at UCLA Medical Center, where they helped lower patients' stress levels. Now integrated into her dental practice, these therapy dogs provide calming support to patients.

Better Than Benzodiazepines

Join Mastermind host Lisa Newburger, LISW-S, as she and guests discuss proactive dentistry.

Mastermind – Episode 34: Proactive Dentistry, Diagnostics, and Early Detection

Join Mastermind host Lisa Newburger, LISW-S, as she and Chad Duplantis, DDS, John Flucke, DDS, Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH, Rick Adelstein, DDS, and Melanie Adelstein, DMD, as they discuss a shift in thinking when it comes to dentistry.

Join Mastermind host Lisa Newburger, LISW-S, as she and Chad Duplantis, DDS, John Flucke, DDS, Kelly Tanner, PhD, RDH, Rick Adelstein, DDS, and Melanie Adelstein, DMD, as they discuss a shift in thinking when it comes to dentistry. [33 minutes]

Ashley Herman, DDS, founder of Firstgrin, is working to educate and provide resources to parents and pediatricians to enhance early childhood dental health.

Addressing Unmet Needs in Early Childhood Oral Care

 Hello, I'm Noah Levine Editorial Director with Dental Products Report. Today I'm joined by Dr. Ashley Lerman. She's the founder of Firstgrin and a pediatric dentist. Dr. Lerman. Thanks so much for joining us.

Thanks so much for having me. I'm excited to talk to you about my story. A little bit of background tell everyone about first grand. Wonderful.

Well, to start right off, can you tell us a little bit about yourself? What led you to becoming a dentist?

Absolutely. So I'm currently a board certified pediatric dentist. Both of my parents are in the dental field. My dad is a general dentist, my mom's a periodontist. So, grew up being around the office helping out. I remember being a kid and my dad blowing up the gloves and playing with a balloon in the back while he was working. So I've been around the field for a very long time.

Wonderful. And can you tell us a little bit about your everyday practice? So what do you do day in day out as a pediatric dentist?

Absolutely. So after residency, I was working in a really, really busy practice I was seeing between 60 and 80 patients a day, very high need, low access to care location. That's what bred the idea of Firstgrin, because I just kept hearing the pain point of parents not knowing what to do, how to do it, and when for their children's teeth, and basically going to the dentist once a problem arose. So I wanted to mitigate that and create a solution early on. But in terms of clinical care, I'm still seeing patients a few times a week still in a lower access to care location to make sure I'm still solving the pain point that I set out to.

You mentioned, you are seeing lots of problems with the patients coming into this clinic. And are you feeling that people just are not getting the right start to oral health as children, and so that sets them up for problems down the line.

I think we're not talking about it early enough. Between ages 0 and 12 months is a really, really important time for anticipatory guidance, or basically setting the stage for parents for what to do and what to expect in terms of oral and dental care. For a long time, the guidelines were for kids to go to the dentist around age three for the first visit, though those were changed and the first visit is recommended actually, within 6 months of the first tooth erupting or by age 1. So we really want to set out to educate and prevent disease rather than fix it, because dentistry is very reactive as a field.

Currently, do you think new parents are aware of these guidelines? Are they getting good information about how to take care of the oral health of their newborns and their kids as they're growing?

You know, I think it's a really good question. As a new parent myself of a 10-month old, there are so many things we're preoccupied with, like sleep, nutrition that I often find oral and dental health falls to the wayside. And my goal isn't to overwhelm parents in any way. It's to just invite dentistry to the conversation because it's often left out until there's a problem established. And I see day in and day out with parents how stressful, you know, emotionally and financially dentistry can be so I want a solution that's tangible for them.

You know, for early childhood care, lots of people are at their pediatrician all the time. They're able to get advice and general things but are pediatricians providing any advice these days on oral care? Are they informed of the recommendations and what their patients should be doing?

You know, I think it was runs a wide gamut. I've spoken to a lot of colleagues who are pediatricians that admittedly say they aren't trained in oral and dental health. They will discuss fluoride drops in terms of supplementation brushing teeth, I'm not sure how in depth it goes. And also I feel for them because they have a lot of things to cover. Again, weight, sleep, nutrition milestones, developmental. So oral health may fall to the wayside, and there are pediatric dentist specialists. However, I do think the conversation between dentistry and medicine is long overdue. There needs to be an interconnection early on so we can prevent disease because cavities are kids' number one1chronic disease.

Tell me a little bit about Firstgrin. You mentioned it before, what is Firstgrin and why did you start it?

So Firstgrin is a company I started. It's a preventive oral health tech company. My goal is to send out intro oral care kits to new and expecting parents with what to use how to use it. And we basically send out little tools like a new toothbrush, a gum brush or wipes, a teether, some flossers, as well as a little info card on when to use each thing. The goal is to overcome any friction that going to a dentist may introduce as well as equip parents with the tools and information of how to take care of their children's teeth confidently.

Dentists unfortunately don't always have the best reputation in the public mind. You know, going to the dentist is often the thing people compared to a bad experience. So does the work you're doing with first grin and Setting up both parents and young children to think about their oral health. Do you think that can help kind of turn some of that around and make those experiences less of an ordeal for children?

Definitely. And I hear you about the reputation. I hear about the drill, fill, bill model, and I really want to fight against that. There are dentists and oral care providers who care. My goal is to give parents this information early. So they feel empowered to take care of their kids teeth to set that early foundation into adulthood, and desensitize them even for their first dental visit, because a lot of us as adults have had poor dental experiences, and we may unintentionally and unknowingly project that on our children. So it's really working with the parent and adult, I'm sorry, the parent and the child.

In terms of, you know, you mentioned earlier, that it would be good to get history and, you know, major medical talking to each other. Are there ways that, you know, pediatric practices can be helping their patients and the parents of these children better? Or should they be connecting with the pediatric dental practice? Should they have sort of, you know, an idea of warning signs to look out for for things that they might see that parents wouldn't know about? And, you know, basically, you would need a dental professional to take care of, definitely.

So we created a free Firstgrin oral care digital app that we recommend to all pediatricians, and anyone who are working with children—even for parents—to use as a digital trauma guide, as well as FAQs and pictures of what to look out for. If a provider or even parent were to look in the mouth and see super white staining, brown spots, yellow spots, dark spots, then I probably recommend seeing a professional. But again, rather than being so reactive, we want to get in early. So even, like I said, 6 months within that first tooth coming in setting that early, healthy stage to prevent rather than fix is the goal.

And in terms of some of that prevention, what are some of the things that parents should be doing and, pediatric healthcare professionals like yourself and the pediatricians should be advising patients or parents to do to take care of their their children before that first tooth eruption before they hit the one year milestone when they should be seeing a dentist.

So I think it's really important to desensitize the mouth, so even as early as 10 to 12 weeks, you can introduce a teether, start using a gum brush to have the babies are getting used to the feeling of being clean. This makes it easier for them to tolerate tooth brushing once they get older. We find that once parents if they try to introduce tooth brushing with a toddler, it can be a meltdown. toddlers can be a challenging, you know mental and emotional stage to begin with, and changing up the routine that is really hard. So starting early on, within that first year to brush the teeth is really important. So once that first tooth comes in, you want to introduce a rice or smear size amount of fluoride toothpaste. Don't be concerned about the swallowing. The toxicity level for fluoride is very, very, very high, it won't be a problem at that stage. And then especially once we introduce foods and other liquids other than water or milk, want to make sure nothing sits on the teeth for too long, basically. So even if we're going to bed at night, not sleeping with a bottle is really important not having sugar for a long period of time on the teeth. Those things like that are important.

An interview with Ashley Lerman, DDS, pediatric dentist and founder of Firstgrin, a company working to educate and provide resources to parents and pediatricians to enhance early childhood dental health.

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