By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD FAGD, Columnist, The Times

Last week as I was traveling home from the annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Dental Association, I started thinking about why I have been a member since my first days as a dentist. I joined the American Student Dental Association as a dental student nearly 30 years ago and have been a member ever since. I asked myself is membership so important that I would give up a beautiful early spring weekend?

What is the ADA? The American Dental Association (ADA) is the oldest and largest national dental society in the world. Founded in 1859 the ADA has grown to become the major source of unbiased oral health related information for dentists and their patients.  ADA member dentists are bound by a strict code of ethics.  The Journal of the American Dental Association (JADA) is the leading publication in the field.  Member dentists support numerous charitable programs including Give Kids a Smile.

My dues to the American Dental Association help support patient information resources such as http://www.mouthhealthy.org/     A few months ago I wrote about the ADA seal program.  Each consumer of oral health products can check and see if that product has earned the seal of acceptance. The ADA foundation, the philanthropic arm of the American Dental Association provides grants for access to care and has recently provided disaster relief to hundreds of practices that have been devastated by hurricane Sandy.

With few exceptions, dentists across America are small business owners.  We each practice in our own location in our own style. Membership in the American Dental Association (parent organization to the Pennsylvania Dental Association and our local chapter) connects these individual, in some case isolated, practitioners and gives them a network of other dentists and staff to provide support and guidance to encourage the individual member dentist to grow with the profession.

Why should a dentist belong?  In a perfect world individual dentist would want to be part of their professional organization.  They would gladly agree to the code of the ethics and wouldn’t hesitate to contribute money to advance the access of dental care throughout the country.  They would participate in community outreach.  Yet, many dentists do not belong.  The question of why so many choose not join is one that was discussed at the meeting at great length. The simple answer as members, we don’t know.

Membership matters today more than ever.  Because of numerous federal regulations, dentists as individual practitioners are often barred from discussing details of their practices with one another.  In an era of massive legislative changes to healthcare, abundance of contracts with third party payers, new rules for reimbursements, and numerous regulatory agency requirements on each practice, it’s easy to see how an organizational partner can work with these issues to accurately guide dentist members.  Each time a new law or regulation is adopted, I look to the ADA to decipher it and advise me on how it will affect my practice and my patients.

I belong for my patients.  Patients deserve a dentist that is bound by the ADA code of ethics. A dentist that is willing to learn and advance their clinical training. Patients benefit when a dental practice is current with laws and regulations and incorporates them appropriately.  Most patients prefer that their dentist is part of a larger organization that provides professional support and public outreach.   In the era of so much change in healthcare, it’s important to ask the dentist if he or she belongs.

Dr. Stephanie McGann is a resident of the Unionville area and along with her partner, Dr. Marie Scott, operates The Brandywine Smile Center, a family-friendly dental practice in Concordville. She is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.

La Comunidad Hispana (LCH) has been awarded $123,320 by the United Way of Southern Chester County for 2013 and 2014, the agency announced Wednesday.

“I want to commend your agency on the fine work it does throughout the year in addressing the human service and health needs of our southern Chester County community,” the United Way awards letter stated.

The allocation designated $85,000 for LCH community services and $38,320 for the organization’s health center.

La Comunidad Hispana was established in 1973 as a community-based nonprofit organization to empower immigrants and low-income residents in Chester County to stay healthy, build strong families and lead productive, fulfilling lives. For more information, go to www.lacomunidadhispana.org or call 610-444-7550, ext. 242.

The 5^th Annual Hear We Go 5K Fun Run/Walk will be held Saturday on the grounds of Nemours Mansion & Gardens in Wilmington.

Refreshments, entertainment, and an education fair will follow outside the Nemours/Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children. Proceeds benefit programs related to hearing loss and hearing conservation in children.

This event has raised close to $70,000 since its inception in 2009, funding initiatives such as iPads for auditory verbal therapy, a hearing aid loaner bank, and equipment upgrades, organizers said.

Registration the day of the event will begin at noon on the hospital. The race starts at 1 p.m. For more information, call 302-651-6839 or visit www.nemours.org/hearwego. Nemours Mansion & Gardens, which boasts one of the largest formal French gardens in North America, is located at 850 Alapocas Drive, Wilmington, De., 19803.

The Moorhead Environmental Complex at the Stroud Water Research Center in Avondale has received the nation’s highest ranking for green building. Photo courtesy of Halkin Mason Photography

In keeping with the spirit of Earth Day, the Stroud Water Research Center in Avondale announced a major global-friendly achievement on Monday.

Its Moorhead Environmental Complex, which opened in the fall, has received the nation’s highest certification for green construction:  LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum, said a news release from the center.

“We’re delighted to have achieved LEED Platinum, the highest honor in LEED certification,” Bernard W. Sweeney, Stroud’s director and senior research scientist, said in the release. “The Moorhead Environmental Complex was a huge undertaking. It combined creative, cutting-edge architectural and mechanical design with other innovative environmental approaches like ‘getting the water right,’ which became our guiding principle in pursuit of a new green building for environmental education and public outreach that would model sustainable practices for managing water.”

Since 1967, the center has been pioneering research in the field of freshwater science; that work has yielded valuable insights into how streams and rivers function and how their health can be impaired as well as restored and preserved. As companions to its research, the center has also developed education and watershed restoration programs to advance knowledge and stewardship of freshwater, the release said.

While the Moorhead Environmental Complex houses the center’s departments of education, watershed restoration, development, communications, facilities, and administration, it also serves as a teaching tool, providing opportunities for educators to discuss the various features such as wetland treatment of wastewater, rainwater capture, and photovoltaic panels.

“The green building movement offers an unprecedented opportunity to respond to the most important challenges of our time, including global climate change, dependence on non-sustainable and expensive sources of energy and threats to human health,” said Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief executive officer and founding chair of the U.S. Green Building Council. “The work of innovative building projects such as the Moorhead Environmental Complex is a fundamental driving force in the green building movement.”

LEED certification of the Moorhead Environmental Complex was based on a number of green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community, the release said. Some of the green features on site include: storm water management using natural landscaping with porous surfaces, a green roof, composting toilets, a geothermal radiant heating and cooling system, and soy-based, spray-foam insulation.

“With two new classrooms, educational signage, and the green features that our educators can utilize as teaching tools, school and community groups who come to the center will learn not just about environmental science but also environmental stewardship and how they too can be a part of the solution,” said Susan Gill, education director.

To learn more about the Stroud Water Research Center, a nonprofit that seeks to advance knowledge and stewardship of freshwater, visit http://www.stroudcenter.org/mec/.

National Infant Immunization Week will be observed from April 20-27.

Nearly 12,000 babies born each day in the U.S. will need to be immunized against 14 vaccine-preventable diseases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

National Infant Immunization Week – April 20-27 – is an initiative designed to raise awareness about the importance of childhood immunizations to prevent the spread of disease and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs in promoting healthy communities throughout the nation, said a news release from the Chester County Health Department.

“National Infant Immunization Week provides a valuable opportunity to educate our community on the importance of adequate vaccination for our children,” said Margaret Rivello, Director of the Chester County Health Department.

In observance of National Infant Immunization Week, the Health Department will join the Kennett Square YMCA to promote “Healthy Kids Day” on Saturday, April 27. The Health Department will have a display board on infant immunizations, educational materials and give-a-ways. The program will be held outdoors from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

For more information on National Infant Immunization Week, visit http://www.cdc.gov/vaccines. For information on childhood vaccinations, visit www.chesco.org/health.

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD, FAGD, Columnist, The Times

Stem cells have made news over the last 15 years. They have been the focus of much scientific excitement and much political controversy — and now it’s possible teeth could be a key source for these building block cells.

What is a stem cell? Simply put a stem cell is an undifferentiated cell that has the potential to develop into many different cell types in the human body. Through the process of cell division, these cells can become heart muscle, blood vessels, nerve tissue or other organs.  The ultimate goal of stem cell therapy would to be able to replace a damaged part of a patient’s body with new tissues grown from the patient himself.  Scientists are researching how to use stem cells. This area of research is moving quickly and some stem therapies are already being used.

Early in stem cell study the only stem cells scientists could use were embryonic stem cells. This led to the political controversy and a slowdown in research.  Fortunately scientists are stubborn and they found some stem cells in adults.  The tissues that can be regenerated from adult stem cells can vary depending on the source of the adult cells. Embryonic cells are now collected from the umbilical cord and placenta that are discarded at birth. Families may elect to “bank” this cord blood and preserve the stem cells.

Stem cell research is going to lead to treatment and therapies that will make it possible to one day treat or cure a person with their own tissue. We now know that there are different types of stem cells and depending on where they are found will determine what they have the potential to become.

We often hear of patients needing an organ or tissue transplant to survive and how difficult it is to find a matching donor.  In the world of stem cells, today if the patient was fortunate enough to have his or her stem cells banked, many treatments could be completed using the patient’s own stem cells to provide tissues that are a perfect match.  No waiting and hoping for matching donors and less need for anti-rejection medications. Banking stem cells is certainly a great option.

Why does a dentist care about this? Stem cells have recently been found in dental pulp tissue — the center of the tooth.  These cells can be saved from some baby teeth and healthy permanent teeth. The dental stem cells can be used to regenerate tooth structure, bone, muscle, nerve cells and connective tissues.   Studies have shown that dental stem cells have already been used to regrow jaw bone and connective tissues. Dental stem cell researchers are optimistic that stem cells from teeth could play a role in treating Parkinson’s disease, diabetes, spinal cord injuries, heart attacks and possibly even Alzheimer’s disease.

A service is now available to bank these stem cells. Once the tooth is removed by a trained dentist, it is sent to a stem cell lab to verify the viability of the stem cells and then it is cryopreserved — or frozen at extreme temperatures — to maintain the cell viability.  Not every tooth is a candidate for collecting stem cells. Teeth that have had root canal therapy or certain dental fillings are no longer able have their stem cells collected.  Dental stem cell research is still in the early stages but the early results are promising.

While nobody can predict the future it may make sense to consider saving stem cells for the future.  If you didn’t bank cord blood when your kids were born, it’s not too late.

Dr. Stephanie McGann is a resident of the Unionville area and along with her partner, Dr. Marie Scott, operates The Brandywine Smile Center, a family-friendly dental practice in Concordville. She is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD, FAGD, Columnist, The Times

Dentistry is a profession full of interesting (not the adjective my husband usually uses) people. I thought it might be entertaining  to track down some of the more famous (infamous?) dentists.

Paul Revere: Everyone knows Paul Revere was a silversmith who advertised his services as a dentist and made false teeth for people.  As for his making teeth for George Washington, the first president had numerous sets of teeth but none is specifically attributed to Paul Revere.

Thomas Welch:  This dentist retired and then managed to also invented the process for pasteurizing grape juice to prevent it from fermenting.  The Welch’s grape juice we see on the shelves today was developed by Dr. Welch.

Zane Gray:  Zane Pearl Gray practiced dentistry in New York.   Once he became of published author he left dentistry behind.   Dr. Gray wrote more than 80 western novels and became a millionaire.

John Henry “Doc” Holliday:  John Holliday was a  graduate of the Pennsylvania College of Dentistry in 1872. This dental school later became Temple University School of Dentistry.  Later he developed a practice in Atlanta. Unfortunately he developed tuberculosis and was advised to move west.  He did and became friends with Wyatt Earp. He would later become famous for the gunfight at the O.K. Corral.

Edgar Buchanan:  This character actor started out as a successful dentist .  He was best known for his roles in the 1960’s comedies like “Petticoat Junciton,”0 “Green Acres” and the “The Beverly Hillbillies.” He left dentistry but his wife took over his successful practice after he retired.

Mark Spitz:  Mark Spitz was accepted to dental school.  He declined admission to pursue his Olympic swimming career.  He won seven gold medals in the 1972 Olympic games.

Miles Henry Davis :  The father of Miles Davis, famous jazz musician, was a dentist. Dr. Davis purchased the first trumped for Miles Davis when was just a boy.

Barney Clark:  While dentistry was his profession he became famous for what he did when he could no longer practice. Barney Clark, suffering from congestive heart failure was the recipient of the first artificial heart.  His suffering paved the way for modern cardiology.

Les Horvath:  Les Horvath was a Heisman Trophy winner and dentist. He graduated from Ohio State in 1942, Graduated from dental school in 1945, joined the navy and served until 1947. He played professional football for three seasons and then returned to the practice of dentistry.

Jack Miller:  Dr. Miller currently practices dentistry in Indianapolis.  He also spent time on the racetrack.  This driver finished 20^th at the Indy 500 in his rookie year.  He practiced dentistry and drove in the Indy Racing League from 1997 to 2001.

Jim Lonborg:  Major league pitcher Jim Lonborg was a Cy Young winner in 1967 with the Boston Red Sox and pitched seven seasons with the Phillies, winning 18 games for the NL East division-winning 1976 Phils. He went to dental school after his baseball career was over. Dr. Lonborg practices just 30 miles from Fenway Park.

And my favorite -

Herbie the Elf:  While Herbie is not a real person everyone who as ever seen the holiday classic “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” knows that Herbie wanted to be a dentist.  Some of the people in our list this week left dentistry to make history, others became dentists only after they became famous and a few contributed to the fame of others.

Feel free to chime in with others I may have missed.

Dr. Stephanie McGann is a resident of the Unionville area and along with her partner, Dr. Marie Scott, operates The Brandywine Smile Center, a family-friendly dental practice in Concordville. She is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.

By Dr. Stephanie McGann, DMD, FAGD, Columnist, The Times

Yesterday, when I told my husband what this month’s column would be on, he looked puzzled.  I know there are new and exciting high tech and wonderful things to write about and yet, every week we see people who are suffering and just don’t know why.

If you one of the many folks who are prone to mouth ulcerations you know what I mean. Some people refer to these common ulcerations as canker sores. The ulcer starts with open raw patch inside the mouth that can come seemingly from nowhere and be a real pain. What we don’t know for sure is why some people get them and why others don’t.  Studies show that 1 in 5 people will develop these ulcerations during their life. Some unlucky few seem to get them all the time.

The most common type of ulcer is the aphthous ulcer.  These can occur almost anywhere inside the mouth.  They can affect kids and adults and females are affected slightly more often than males.  Minor aphthous ulcers (also called canker sores) are smaller than a dime, they last 7-10 days and the pain level can vary. Major aphthous ulcerations are larger, may be larger than the size of a quarter and can last from a week to a few months.  These larger ulcerations can be extremely painful and can make everyday life difficult. A third type called herpetiform (not related to herpes) is a cluster of tiny pinhead sized ulcerations. Apthous ulcers are not contagious.

The ulcers can occur at any age but most frequently occur between the ages of 10 and 40. The frequency of outbreaks tends to lessen with age.  Some children are prone to them and get them regularly.

What causes aphthous mouth ulcers?

The cause is unknown; the ulcers develop for no apparent reason in people who are healthy.   While there is no one cause of these uncomfortable ulcerations, some people get them on a regular basis. These cases are called recurring apthous stomatitis.  Sometimes the ulcers may come as a result of a trauma, such as from a poorly fitting dental applicance, irritation from orthodontic brackets, an injury from a hard toothbrush or overzealous brushing.  Females may find that the ulcers are related to their hormonal cycle. In some cases poor nutrition has been linked to the development of aphthous ulcers. Certain food sensitivities may trigger an aphthous ulcer. Heredity may play a role as some families get ulcers more frequently. Stress or anxiety is said to trigger aphthous mouth ulcers in some people. Tell your doctor if you have any other symptoms in addition to the mouth ulcers. Rarely, severe mouth ulcers can occur after taking a medicine you are allergic to. Sometimes a blood test or other investigations are advised if other causes of mouth ulcers are suspected.

What are the treatments for aphthous ulcers?

While there is no cure for apthous stomatitis there is treament designed to ease pain and heal the open sore. Small ulcerations usually resolve in 7-10 days with good oral hygiene over the counter pain relievers and topical analgesics.  While a few larger ones may last significantly longer and require more aggressive measures to speed their healing.

Things you can do help heal an ulcer quickly. Avoid spicy foods, acidic food or beverages, and very course crunchy foods that can be irritating to the open tissues.  If you think a dental appliance or denture is responsible, see your dentist right away. If a new medication is suspected of causing  the ulcers let the prescriber know immediately. Always use warm salt water to rinse the tissues and keep the mouth clean.

There are a number of ways to block the pain. A barrier paste such a OraBase will cover and protect the lesion.  If your dentist has a dental laser, then ask him or her to evaluate the lesion- some lasers can stimulate the tissues, speed healing and cause a protective scab to form over the area blocking the pain from an open sore.  An over the counter benzocaine rinse or ointment will help ease the pain temporarily. For severe pain and large ulcers prescription pain relievers, lidocaine or steroids may be prescribed.

When should I see a doctor?

Any sore that does not heal within two weeks should be evaluated by a physician or dentist.  If an unusual odor or foul taste is present that can be a sign of an infection in the ulcer that may require additional treatment.  For folks who get recurring cases of aphthous stomatitis, a physician more order blood tests to rule out any underlying health concerns that may contribute to this condition.

The best advice for people who are susceptible to apthous ulcers, avoid any known triggers, eat right and take a multivitamin if indicated.  Ask your dentist what you should do if you feel an ulcer developing.

Dr. Stephanie McGann is a resident of the Unionville area and along with her partner, Dr. Marie Scott, operates The Brandywine Smile Center, a family-friendly dental practice in Concordville. She is a Fellow of the Academy of General Dentistry.