TTC_01_23_19_Vol.15-No.13.p1-12

January 3 - 9, 019 www.TheTownCommon.com Page 9
Health & Wellness
BY J. PETER ST. CLAIR, DMD
The word is out – taking care of
your oral health is better for your
whole body, including your mind.
However, statistics still indicate
only about half of the population
goes on a regular basis. For those
that do go, most patients usually
stay with a dentist unless there is
some kind of personality conflict
or philosophical discrepancy in
the perceived need for treatment.
How do you know if another
opinion is right for you?
When it comes to larger
purchases, such as a car, a house
or even home improvements, it’s
not uncommon to get a second or
third opinion/quote. We use the
information we gather to make
a more informed decision about
where and what we are going to
spend our money on.
When it comes to our health,
it usually depends on the nature
of the issue. More complex issues
in medicine, such as a diagnosis
of cancer, an unknown diagnosis,
or other major medical issues in
which we have to make decisions
about significant treatment, tend
to stimulate people to get more
than one opinion.
Routine dental care is generally
not that complicated. However,
there are many different ways to
After being told for years that doing
daily crossword puzzles or other types
of brain stretchers would help maintain
our cognitive abilities, researchers now
say it isn’t so.
Specifically, researchers at the
University of Aberdeen in Scotland
wanted to look at whether “intellectual
engagement” can help to offset agerelated
cognitive decline.
Their conclusion was that late-life
ability was based on early life ability
Brighter Smiles...
do the simplest things in dentistry.
The method is a function of the
dentist’s beliefs and training. It is
relatively uncommon for a patient
to get a second opinion for this
type of maintenance dental
care. Although there is some
subjectivity as to what different
dentists might deem as “needing”
to be done, patients usually base
their decision on their perceived
need. Often times, this perception
of need comes from the dentist’s
ability to communicate the
reasons for treatment.
The patient’s trust in their
provider is a big factor. If a patient
trusts and genuinely likes their
dentist, they may not necessarily
do or want to do what the dentist
wants them to, but they are
comfortable enough with the
relationship to make the decision
without the need for another
opinion. It is when there is a lack
of trust, a personality conflict,
or the inability of the dentist to
properly communicate with the
patient effectively, that often
stimulates the desire for another
opinion.
Another important factor, which
falls in the communication area, is
that the patient is given choices.
Patients always have the right to
choose what treatment they feel
is right for themselves. If choices
are given and the treatment is
effectively communicated to the
patient, they have a better ability to
decide on the direction to proceed
that is right for them. If a dentist
presents treatment options and
and engagement along the way. In
other words, the more intellectual
ability we start with, the more likely
we are to engage in mental activities
throughout our lives, so we have a
higher “starting point.” However,
intellectual engagement doesn’t help
maintain cognitive ability later in life,
it just lets mental decline start later.
Assuming they’re wrong in their
conclusions (after all, there were only
some 500 study participants), there are
any number of ways to maintain our
cognitive abilities. Here are two ideas:
-- Take a daily newspaper. While the
cost of a paper has gone up over the
years, you can often get an electronic
version for only one-third the price.
With a tablet or iPad, you can sign on
Two-Way Street
Senior Scene
Puzzles, Games Don’t Boost Brain
the patient decides to do nothing,
that is the patient’s choice. It is
when treatment presented aligns
with the patient’s perception of
need or desire, that the patient
moves forward with treatment.
Fees tend to be a less common
reason for patients to seek another
opinion. Fees for treatment can
definitely vary between dental
offices. The problem with seeking
treatment based on fees is that the
same treatment in two different
offices with different fees can also
vary in the level of expertise and
precision in which it is done. As
a consumer, you have very little
control in your ability to evaluate
this.
You do have the ability to know
whether you feel comfortable
to make an informed decision.
Regardless of the situation, if you
need more information to make
the best decision for yourself,
get more information. If you feel
pressured to make a decision,
don’t make it until you feel
comfortable.
The doctor-patient relationship
should be an open two-way
conversation.
Dr. St. Clair maintains a private
dental practice in Rowley and
Newburyport dedicated to healthcentered
family dentistry. If there
are certain topics you would like to
see written about or questions you
have please email them to him at
jpstclair@stclairdmd.com. You can
view all previously written columns
at www.jpeterstclairdentistry.com/
blog.
every day, and best of all, with a swipe
of the fingers you can increase the size
of the text.
-- Consider buying one of those
page-per-day calendars that can sit
right on the kitchen table. Over
breakfast you peel off the new date
and have a fresh puzzle to work on
while you eat. Check Amazon for a
wide variety of puzzle types and put
“puzzle calendar 2019” in the search
box. Click on each one for a sample.
Choose from brain games, crossword,
Sudoku, Wheel of Fortune and more.
If you have a bookstore near you, it
will likely have these too.
I think we can prove those
researchers wrong.
(c) 2019 King Features Synd., Inc.
Dr. Laura anne Potvin, P.C.
oPtoMetriStS
EYE CARE
FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY!
Dr. nYLa LaMBert
Dr. KatHLeen Horn
Dr. CatHLeen DouCette
NOw LOCATED AT
939 SALEM ST., GROvELAND
978-374-8991
Good health
isn’t acciDENTAL
With continually emerging evidence that a
healthy mouth makes a healthier body, you owe it to
yourself and your body to receive exceptional dental care.
All Phases of Dental Care Including:
• Grinding/Clenching/TMJ Therapy
• Sleep Apnea/Snoring Treatment
Learn More: www.stclairdmd.com
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