Last month, Roseman University held its monthly free educational series – Neighborhood Health Series. The topic for February was Dental Health Month Double Header. Those in attendance enjoyed back-to-back sessions focused on dental health for adults, dogs, and children with specialized healthcare needs.
Part 1: The Benefits for Good Oral Health for Humans & Our Beloved Canine Companions
What do we know about the intersection of human and animal dental health? How can we maintain health and extend the life of our furry family members, through regular preventative dental health? Meet Dr. Thacker, Director of Roseman’s Dental Clinics, Program Director of Roseman’s AEGD program, and Associate Professor. Dr. Thacker’s military background, dental training, and love for animals come together with a compassionate and holistic overview of human and canine Dental Health. Meet Dr. Thacker’s dogs and learn more about how to care for your pet’s teeth.
Presented by: Dr. Matthew Thacker & his canine companions
Part 2: Mission Alignment: Cure 4 The Kids and Roseman Dental & Orthodontics: Treating Medically Compromised Patients with Specialized Care
Dr. Alice Chen, Pediatric Dentist and Associate Professor partners with Dr. Joseph Lasky, Oncologist and Medical Director at Cure 4 The Kids (C4K) to talk about how the Roseman & C4K missions align to provide coordinated, empathic, patient-focused dental care to children with cancer or other critical diseases. How is their care different and how do the two organizations work together to maintain health, prevent complications, and support the patient’s journey to health and recovery?
Presented by: Dr. Joseph Lasky and Dr. Alice Chen
We enjoy sharing innovative, collaborative, and useful information with you! To view a full list of upcoming events or to register, visit speakers.roseman.edu.
Your teeth are important for everything from eating and nutrition to proper speech, so an injury to your teeth can have much larger implications than just affecting your beautiful smile. When engaging in certain kinds of physical activity, your mouth is potentially at risk for injury causing knocked-out teeth and injuries to the gums, lips, tongue, and surrounding tissues. Make sure you are always careful and take preventative measures to ensure you teeth and mouth stay healthy and injury-free.
Situations Where Tooth and Mouth Injuries Are Common
Most of your daily activities won’t put you at risk for tooth injury, but in the following situations you will want to have a mouth guard or take other precautions to prevent injury.
Babies and toddlers who are learning to walk will stumble and fall a lot. It is important to keep an eye on them to make sure they are careful, and if they are in this early stumbling phase, don’t let them practice on a hard surface like concrete or asphalt.
Sports injuries are a common reason for a visit to a dentist. Anyone who plays contact sports, such as boxing, football, basketball, soccer, or lacrosse needs to always wear a mouth guard. Even heavy physical exertion offers an opportunity to fall down and chip a tooth, so while it may not require a mouth guard, be sure to take care and watch your step!
Some people experience tooth pain when they wake up after sleeping for the night. If you are one of these, you may be grinding your teeth in your sleep. A visit to a doctor or dentist will reveal if your tooth damage is the result of grinding and your dentist can help you decide if wearing a mouth guard when you sleep is the best option.
You don’t have to avoid risky situations to avoid mouth injury. Just make sure to take the appropriate precautions before you go at it.
With school almost out and great weather ahead, summer is a time when most kids get out and play—whether it’s in the water, on a bicycle, or out on a sports field. Unfortunately, with many summer activities, there is a higher risk of facial injury. Many dentists see an increase in facial trauma that leads to tooth loss or other damage, simply due to the increase in outdoor and sports activities.
Here are a few of the most common summer activities that could put your teeth at risk, and suggestions for ways you can prevent injury this season.
Playing Contact Sports
Whether you prefer to take the field for a game of soccer, hit the courts for a quick game of basketball, or play baseball, softball, or football this season, contact sports can be dangerous. This is especially true in sports like baseball, softball, and soccer, where mouth guards and facemasks are not mandatory, or in pick-up games that you’re just playing for fun with friends, since you often don’t wear the same protective gear as you would when you’re playing in an official game or league.
The Academy of General Dentistry estimates that about 1 in 3 facial injuries are sports-related, but mouth guards prevent more than 200,000 injuries every year, so they should be a critical part of your sports uniform, even for casual games. This is especially true if you have braces or other orthodontic work, which can cause mouth cuts, jaw injuries, and other damage to your teeth.
You can buy stock mouth guards “off the shelf” that are standard sizes, although they provide limited protection because they are not customized specifically for you. A better option is the mouth-formed guards that you boil and bite to fit to your mouth, or a custom mouth protector that you get from your dentist. The latter is the best option because it is made specifically for your mouth, but it is also the most expensive option. In some cases, a custom-fit mouth guard from your dentist may be covered by dental insurance, so check with your provider to find out.
Activities on Wheels
There are plenty of fun ways to get out on a set of wheels during the summer—including skateboards, roller skates, rollerblades, bicycles, motorcycle, dirt bikes, and more. Unfortunately these activities also pose a risk for injuries that range from head trauma to broken bones, cuts and scrapes, and facial trauma, including broken or damaged teeth, missing teeth, and mouth cuts, to name a few.
If you’re planning an activity on wheels, use caution to avoid crashing. Try to stay away from busy roads or highways, always wear a helmet and other protective gear (including mouth guards), and for particularly dangerous activities such as motorcycles, BMX/bike stunts, mountain biking on technical trails, or dirt bikes, consider a helmet that includes a face guard.
Summer is a great time to be outside, and if you take proper precautions to protect your face, jaw, mouth, and teeth, you can have a lot of fun without the pain and suffering from facial trauma. Talk to your dentist today to find out the best way to protect yourself during your favorite summer activities.
We are back from taking a break during the busy holiday season and are excited to be with you in 2023! In this February issue of Dental 360°, you’ll learn about what to expect at your child’s first dental visit. You’ll also read about National Children’s Dental Health Month as well as the impact we are having in our local community here in Utah through our Give Kids a Smile® event. We are excited to continue to share about our dental offer that started February 6 that’s making all our patients smile!
Roseman Dental’s Dental 360° is a monthly e-newsletter. Each month you’ll receive a panoramic view of dental health. Dental health is key to your overall health and here at Roseman Dental, we are dedicated to improving not only your mouth, but your whole self. At our clinic we have an excellent team of licensed dentists, dental residents and students, and dental assistants and hygienists all focused on you and your family’s oral health. We offer comprehensive care, are a one-stop shop for all your dental needs and offer dental care at a cost up to 50% lower than what you would find at a traditional dental office. Roseman Dental has been serving its community since 2011 and we look forward to continuing to serve you and your family.
We hope you find Dental 360° helpful and informative. We look forward to connecting with you each month.
Roseman Dental & Orthodontics’ Dental 360° is a monthly e-newsletter. Each month you’ll receive a panoramic view of dental health. Dental health is key to your overall health and here at Roseman Dental & Orthodontics, we are dedicated to improving not only your mouth, but your whole self. At our clinic we have an excellent team of licensed dentists, orthodontists, orthodontic residents – 30 to be exact, and dental residents all focused on you and your family’s oral health. Roseman Dental & Orthodontics has been serving its community since 2009 and is a comprehensive, one-stop shop for all your dental needs including dental, pediatric, orthodontic and craniofacial cleft lip & palate treatment.
We hope you find Dental 360° helpful and informative. We look forward to connecting with you each month.
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month (NCDHM), a month dedicated to promoting the importance of dental health in children.
According to the American Dental Association (ADA), NCDHM began as a one-day event in Cleveland, Ohio, on February 3, 1941. The ADA held the first national observance of Children’s Dental Health Day on February 8, 1949. The single day observance became a week-long event in 1955. In 1981, the program was extended to a month-long observance known today as National Children’s Dental Health Month. Since 1941, the observance has grown from a two-city event into a nationwide program. NCDHM messages reach thousands of people in communities across the country and at numerous armed services bases.
The theme for this year’s NCDHM is “Brush, Floss, Smile.” It is so important to develop good habits at an early age. Taking your children to the dentist every six months assists children in getting a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. To get started on teaching your children good oral hygiene habits, take a look at the below “Healthy Smile Tips.” For ways to prepare for your very first dental visit with your child, click here.
Brush your teeth 2x/day with fluoride toothpaste.
Clean between your teeth daily.
Eat healthy foods and limit sugary beverages.
See your dentist at least twice a year.
Dental health in children is key to their overall health and success in school and in life. We are dedicated to helping your children learn the importance of oral health and to make it fun. In honor of this month, below you will find some activities you can do at home with your children that are focused on teaching about dental health.
For more information, or for reduced-cost, compassionate dental care for the entire family, schedule an appointment by calling 801-878-1200 (UT) or 702-968-5222 (NV).
James M. Broadbent, DDS, MS Associate Professor of Dental Medicine
Dr. James M. Broadbent joined Roseman University of Health Sciences in 2009 (the first year of orthodontic residency training) as a full-time faculty member in the Advanced Education in Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics/MBA (AEODO/MBA) Residency Program. At Roseman, he is course director of several modules of learning. He serves on University faculty senate and several committees. His professional and research interests include phase I orthopedic growth modification, functional jaw orthopedics, accelerated orthodontics, facial esthetics, and air way and temporomandibular joint disorders.
Dr. Broadbent graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Zoology. Dr. Broadbent received his Doctor of Dental Surgery (DDS) degree from the Northwestern University Dental School in Chicago. He completed a dental specialties internship at the Chandler Medical Center, University of Kentucky. He then served as an Assistant Professor of Crown and Bridge at Northwestern University Dental School and practiced general dentistry prior to dental specialty training. Dr Broadbent received his Master of Science (MS) degree and Certificate in Orthodontics from Northwestern University.
Dr. Broadbent practiced orthodontics many years in Provo, Utah, and served as adjunct faculty at Utah Technical College (now Utah Valley University), American Institute of Medical Dental Technology, and Provo College. Dr. Broadbent made a significant contribution to the art and science of orthodontics in teaching numerous continuing education courses, seminars, and presentations at local, state, and national and international dental meetings, and university graduate training programs. Along the way, he was awarded the Joseph E. Johnson Outstanding Table Clinic, American Association of Orthodontists, and twice the (AAFO) J. Robert Bronson Clinician of the Year award.
Dr. Broadbent completed board certification in orthodontics, achieving the status of Diplomate, American Board of Orthodontics. His interest and training in temporomandibular joint disorders and oral facial pain lead to achieving status of Diplomate, American Academy of Pain Management.
Dr. Broadbent has published many articles in several professional journals. He served as president of the Provo District Dental Society, Utah Dental Association annual program, and president of the Utah Association of Orthodontists.
Dr. Broadbent demonstrates vision and leadership in community organizations and service. He is recognized as a Kentucky Colonel, Commonwealth of Kentucky; member President’s Club, Brigham Young University; Boy Scouts of America distinguished Silver Beaver; and James E. West Fellow. For more than 20 years he served the Boy Scouts of America; Utah National Parks Council (one of the largest National BSA Councils), as Council Jamboree Chairman; National Boy Scout Jamboree, A.P. Hill Virginia (1985, 1989, 1993); and Chair of highly successful Council Events (1996, 2000) and as Utah National Parks Council Commissioner (1987-2000) and UNPC Vice President Program (2000-2003). He earned the distinguished Eagle Scout and Silver Explorer awards.
Dr. Broadbent is a member of the American Dental Association, Utah Dental Association, American Association of Orthodontists, Rocky Mountain Society of Orthodontists, Utah Association of Orthodontists, American Association for Functional Orthodontics, International Association for Orthodontics, and the American Dental Educators Association.
Before joining Roseman University of Health Sciences, he served as attending dentist and adjunct faculty instructor of several courses of education at Salt Lake Community College, Dental Hygiene Program (South Jordan Utah Campus).
Dr. Broadbent is licensed to practice dentistry in California, Nevada, and Utah.
Personal activities include fly fishing, off-road rock crawling motor sports, over landing motor sports, and white water river running.
Prashanti Bollu, MBA, MS, DMD Program Director, Associate Professor of Dental Medicine, AEODO/MBA Program
Dr. Prashanti Bollu received dental school training from Boston University School of Dental Medicine. She holds a Master’s degree in Health Care Administration as well as a Master’s in Business Administration. Part of the inaugural class, Dr. Bollu received her orthodontic training from the Roseman University of Health Sciences.
Dr. Bollu has received several awards for outstanding academic achievements during her undergraduate and graduate training. Her interest in research was sparked early in dental school and strengthened further during her employment at Boston University during which time she worked with many prominent researchers. She has been involved in several research projects and presented multiple posters at national conferences. Dr. Bollu has been recognized by DENTSPLY and Sigma Xi, The Scientific Research Society, for outstanding research.
Besides serving as a clinical and teaching faculty, Dr. Bollu was actively involved in growing the research component of the Advanced Education in Orthodontics & Dentofacial Orthopedics (AEODO) /MBA Residency Program. As Director of Dental Research for College of Dental Medicine (Henderson Campus), she facilitated all resident and faculty research endeavors. Her research interests include Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT), practice management issues, orthodontic insurance coverage gaps and access to orthodontic care.
Currently, Dr. Prashanti Bollu serves as the Interim Program Director for the AEODO/MBA residency program. She also practices in a few private orthodontic offices in the Las Vegas area. Dr. Bollu is a Board Certified Orthodontist and has active professional affiliations with multiple national and regional dental/orthodontic associations including American Association of Orthodontics, Pacific Coast Society of Orthodontists, and Southern Nevada Dental Society. She has also been a member of the International Association of Dental Research as well as the American Association of Dental Research.
