Dental School Rankings by DAT score.

The Dental Admission Test (DAT) is a multiple-choice standardized exam taken by potential dental school students in the United States.

Here are dental schools ranked by DAT score from the 2010 ADEA Official Guide to Dental Schools.

Dental School Rankings (Academic Average)

Columbia 21.7
UCLA 21
Harvard 21
Stony Brook  21
Alabama 20
UCSF 20
UoP 20
Connecticut 20
New York  20
Pennsylvania 20
Minnesota  19.63
Nova 19.58
Maryland  19.5
New Jersey  19.45
Buffalo  19.42
Pittsburgh 19.4
Washington 19.39
Boston University  19.35
Temple  19.3
Houston  19.15
Louisiana State  19.1
Illinois at Chicago  19.1
UNLV 19.01
USC 19
Colorado Denver 19
Florida  19
Iowa  19
Kentucky  19
Tufts 19
Detroit Mercy  19
Michigan  19
Chapel Hill  19
Case 19
Ohio State 19
Oklahoma  19
Baylor  19
San Antonio  19
Virginia Commonwealth  19
Indiana  19
Loma Linda  18.79
Oregon  18.71
Southern Illinois  18.6
Midwestern  18.5
Creighton 18.48
Missouri - Kansas City  18.02
Western U. 18
Georgia 18
Louisville  18
Mississippi  18
Nebraska  18
South Carolina  18
Tennessee  18
Marquette 18
Arizona  17.84
Howard 17.7
West Virginia 17
Puerto Rico  16
Meharry 16

Famous Dentists

by Robert Milton

Who says dentistry isn’t exciting? Our noble profession has captured the hearts and imaginations of some pretty interesting people over the years. Granted, eventually these folks turned to other less fascinating professions—like acting, gun fighting, inventing, painting and saving the country—but still, they all had their “roots” (pardon the pun) in the enviable art of dentistry. Just check out this list of people you didn’t know were dentists:

· Edgar Buchanan: This popular character actor started out as a successful dentist before moving to California in 1939. Although he co-starred in countless movies over the years, Buchanan was probably best known for his memorable roles in 1960s sitcoms like “Petticoat Junction,” “Green Acres” and “The Beverly Hillbillies.” Once he was bitten by the acting bug, he left dentistry. But, interestingly enough, his wife actually took over his successful practice after he retired.

• John Henry “Doc” Holliday: You may remember Doc Holliday for his friendship with Wyatt Earp and their famous gunfight at the O.K. Corral, but Holliday was actually a dentist who was trained in Pennsylvania and developed a booming little practice in Atlanta. After a short time, Holliday contracted tuberculosis and he was forced to leave his practice and move out West, where the rest is, well…history.

• Mark Spitz: Many of us know Mark Spitz from his record-breaking  7 gold medals won during the 1972 Olympic Games. What you may not know is that Spitz was actually accepted into dental school earlier on, but he decided to pursue his Olympic swimming career instead.

• Zane Grey: If you’re a fan of Western novels, then you’re no stranger to the name Zane Grey. Before writing over 80 books, Pearl Zane Grey was a practicing dentist in New York. Unfortunately, his love for dentistry decayed and he quickly abandoned the field when he became a published author. The lackluster Pearl went on to be one of history’s first millionaire authors. We can only hope none of his patients ever felt pangs while at the dental clinic as he did.

• Thomas Welch: While it may seem ironic that the creator of a company specializing in sugar-laden fruit juices was also a dentist, that’s exactly what happened with Thomas Welch. The founder of Welch’s was a dentist before he retired and gained some notoriety for inventing a pasteurization process for grape juice that kept it from fermenting. Welch’s intention was to create a non-alcoholic wine that could be used at the sacrament in churches.

• Miles Henry Davis: The father of Miles Davis, who is arguably one of the most famous and influential musicians of the last hundred years, was actually a dentist. While we’re not sure whether Miles Jr. was ever tempted to go into his dad’s profession, we’re glad he didn’t. Miles Sr. bought his son his first trumpet when he was a small boy.

• Paul Revere: This famous Revolutionary War hero made a midnight ride just before the battles of Concord and Lexington to warn people that, “The British are coming! The British are coming!” If he were advertising his day job, he might just as easily called out, “The dentist is coming! The dentist is coming!” Revere was a skilled silversmith who also advertised his services as a dentist and was known for making false teeth for his patients.

Keep this list of famous dentists handy for the next time someone hints that dentistry isn’t the most exciting profession. After all, if we were successful in attracting this list of characters in the past, you never know who’ll be among our ranks in the future!
 

10 Ways to Raise Healthier Kids

By Mitzi Dulan

One in three American kids are either overweight or obese. With that in mind, it is extremely important to start healthy habits as early as possible.

Here are my top 10 tips for raising healthier kids:

1. Consistently introduce a variety of foods to your kids. This is very important and the earlier, the better. It can take five to 20 times of trying a new food until your child actually enjoys it.

2. Avoid being a short-order cook for your kids. It's fine to frequently include some of their favorite foods, but you don't want to be making four different meals every night for everyone in the family.

3. Make the switch to whole grains. Bread, pasta, pancakes, tortillas, pita, cereal, crackers and brown rice offer plenty of opportunities. It might not always be possible when eating out, but it should be a no-brainer when you are making meals at home.

4. Put the brakes on fast food. It can certainly be tough when you're on your way back from a soccer game and have no groceries at home. But try to limit the number of times you eat fast food. Research shows that elementary- and middle-school students who live closer to fast food restaurants are more likely to be obese.

5. Make activity a family affair. Go for a family bike ride or walk. Find some local tennis courts, trails or a track and get moving!

6. Ask for their help. Tell your children that you want them to help you pick out some of their favorite healthy foods at the grocery store for good energy to play sports and do well in school.

7. Provide mental nutrition with a mantra. One of the most important parts of your child's health is his or her self-esteem. While we are often saying "no" to our kids, consider how you can help build your child's self esteem. You might teach them to practice a nightly self-affirmation like, "I can be whatever I want to be when I grow up".

8. Limit computer/phone/TV/game time. Kids are getting less physical interaction with other kids today, because they are consumed by their electronics. Set some limits, and encourage in-person interaction with friends and family.

9. Exercise. Encourage your kids to go outside and play. Go to the park and have them ride their bikes or (non-motorized) scooters, for example.

10. Eat together as a family more often. Researchers have shown that teens who eat with their families at least five times a week are less likely to be troubled than those who eat with their families three or fewer times per week. The teens who had more family dinners experienced closer ties with their parents and less stress, both of which lowered their risk of substance abuse.

Eating together means all family members are gathered around the same table at the same time. No one is eating in another room, and televisions are turned off.

Mitzi Dulan, RD, CSSD, is a nationally recognized nutrition and fitness expert who inspires people to lose weight and get fit.

Apthous ulcers

Aphthous stomatitis (also termed canker sores, recurrent aphthous stomatitis, RAS, recurring oral aphthae and recurrent aphthous ulceration) is a common cause of benign and non-contagious mouth ulcers (canker sores). This condition is characterized by the repeated formation of ulcers on the mucous membrane of the oral cavity (the lining of the mouth), in otherwise healthy individuals. These ulcers occur periodically and heal completely between attacks. Symptoms range from a minor nuisance to interfering with eating and drinking. The cause is not completely understood, but may involve a T cell mediated immune response which is triggered by a variety of factors. Different people may have different triggers, including nutritional deficiencies, local trauma, stress, hormonal influences, allergies, and a genetic predisposition. The condition is very common, affecting about 20% of the general population. There is no cure, and treatments are aimed at reducing pain and speeding the healing process. Often, the onset of the condition is during childhood or adolescence and usually lasts for several years before gradually disappearing, with or without any form of treatment.


Some tips to help with ulcer breakouts.

Rule out food allergies.

Check for vitamin deficiencies.

Can Rx kenalog in orabase.

Try sodium lauryl sulfate free toothpaste.

Rinse with warm salt water.

Great site with info on cavities.

http://www.sugarbugdoug.com/Home.html

REDUCED FEE AND COMMUNITY DENTAL CLINICS IN MARICOPA COUNTY

CITY ORGANIZATION/CLINIC NAME NUMBER
All         AHCCCS/Kidscare                         602-417-7000
Phoenix    Phoenix College Dental Clinic                 602-285-7323
Tempe Rio Salado Hygiene School                 480-517-8020
All         Abuse Give Back a Smile (AACD)         800-336-8478
All         Smiles for Success                         800-920-2293
All         ortho Smiles for Lifetime                         480-325-7500
All         ortho Smiles Change Lives                 816-421-4949
Avondale Avondale Family Health Center         623-344-6809
Buckeye  Clinica Adelante/Tidwell Family                 623-386-1630
Surprise   Clinica Adelante                         623-544-5189
Chandler  CHW East Valley Children's                 480-728-5790
Chandler  Chandler Family Health Center                 480-344-6109
Mesa AT Still-AZ School of Dentistry                480-248-8100
Glendale   Dental Care West AZ School                 623-251-4700
Glendale   Midwestern University Dental                 623-537-6000
Glendale   Glendale Family Health Center                 623-344-6789
Mesa C.A.R.E. Partnership                 480-333-8987
Phoenix    CASS Homeless Shelter                 602-256-6945
Phoenix    Dave Pratt Boys and Girls Club         602-954-8182
Phoenix    John C. Lincoln/Desert Mission         602-870-6363
Phoenix    Maricopa Medical Center Dental         602-344-1005
Phoenix    McDowell Health Care Dental                 602-344-6568
Phoenix    Mountain Park Health Dental                 602-243-7277
Phoenix    Neighborhood Christian Clinic                   602-258-6008
Phoenix    St. Vincent de Paul Dental                 602-261-6868
Phoenix    South Central Family Health                 602-344-6400
Phoenix    VA Medical Center                         602-222-6424
Tribal Phoenix Indian Medical Center                 602-263-1592
Tribal Native American Community                 602-279-5262

Eight Advantages of Digital Radiography

Digital radiography advantage #1 – Higher quality of care
Digital radiography typically reduces radiation exposure by 75% or more.

Digital radiography advantage #2 – X-ray image enhancement
Digital X-ray systems let you control the exposure of each image in real time, so you can make images darker or lighter on demand. You can also enlarge images, make enhancements to color and superimpose textures.

Digital radiography advantage #3 – Enhanced X-ray image quality
Clarity and detail are crucial in dental imaging. Digital X-ray equipment provides image quality that can surpass traditional film, bringing out tiny fractures and imperfections that might have been missed on film.

Digital radiography advantage #4 – Fewer files cluttering office space
Filing, organizing and storing paper charts can be a real chore. With digital X-ray equipment, you eliminate the need to file and store hard-copy radiographic images.

Digital radiography advantage #5 – No chemical developers
Nobody likes dealing with harmful developing chemicals and fixing solutions. Digital radiography eliminates the need for automatic film processors, taking with it the odor, wait times and space they require.

Digital radiography advantage #6 – Time and productivity savings
Reduce the long processing time of conventional radiography to seconds. X-ray images are instantly stored and ready to view on your computer. No more thumbing through files to retrieve an image. With digital radiography, all your images are just a few clicks away.

Digital radiography advantage #7 – Quick image sharing
Digital radiography gives your practice the ability to send images to other practitioners in just moments.

Digital radiography advantage #8 – No more lost images
Eliminate the risk of losing important radiographs. Digital radiography safely stores your X-rays, so you won’t have to worry about films becoming loose from their holders or separated from their files.

Dr. Umar's favorite referrals.

Adult Dentistry

Dr. Sewa Dhanjal
1430 N Central Ave
Avondale, AZ
(623) 932-0539

Midwestern University
Dental School
19555 N 59th Ave
Glendale, AZ 85308
(623) 572-3200

Oral Surgery

Dr. Randall Blazic DDS MD
1646 N. Litchfield Rd. Suite 130,
Goodyear AZ 85395
(623) 935-5774

Golding and Sabol
9515 W. Camelback Road Suite 122
Phoenix, AZ 85037
P| 623-234-9118
F| 602-957-3282

Endodontics

Valley Endodontics
20100 N. 51st Avenue, Suite: C-310,
Glendale, AZ 85308
(623) 572-4300
(623) 572-4320 Fax

Valley Endodontics
14155 N. 83rd Avenue, Suite: 7-141,
Peoria, AZ 85381
(623) 878-1000
(623) 878-1024 Fax

Orthodontics

Dr. Howard Choi DDS
Telephone: 623-486-2700
Email: info@peoriaorthodontist.com
Mailing Address:
7545 W. Bell Rd., Suite 106
Peoria, AZ 85382

Dr. Chris Murphy DDS
13210 W. Van Buren Street
Suite 106
Goodyear, AZ 85338
Phone (623) 932-9212

Anesthesia

Dr. Anthony Caputo DDS

Southwest Dental Anesthesia

4723 E. Camp Lowell Drive

Tucson, Arizona 85712

Office: 520.571.7951

1.877.SWD.ASAC (1.877.793.2722)

Fax: 520.571.7999

Pharmacy

Avondale Neighborhood Pharmacy

www.avondalecompoundrx.com/‎

10750 W McDowell Rd  

Avondale, AZ 85392

(623) 932-9800

A Nice Article on HealthDay

Tiny Tots in the Dentist's Chair Among Changes in Pediatric Dentistry

Options for kids now include sealants and early removal of wisdom teeth

May 18, 2012 RSS Feed Print

By Serena Gordon
HealthDay Reporter

FRIDAY, May 18 (HealthDay News) -- If you've been to the dentist with your children recently, you may have noticed that things have changed since you were a kid.

Many dental offices are more kid-friendly these days, offering books and toys to pass the time in the waiting room and maybe even TV or videos to watch while they're getting dental work.

But, there have also been changes in the actual practice of children's dentistry. You probably never got dental sealants as a child, or had topical fluoride treatments. If you had your wisdom teeth removed, more than likely it was because they were causing a problem, but today those teeth may come out sooner to reduce the risk for complications.

Here's a sampling of what's new in pediatric dentistry:

Dental Sealants

Many teeth have rough surfaces that are hard to clean. When applied to these surfaces, a dental sealant makes the pitted and grooved area of a tooth smooth and easy to clean.

"Back teeth have a biting surface and crevices that are hard to clean," said Dr. Larry Kronenberg, a pediatric dentist affiliated with Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, N.Y. "Depending on the depth of the crevice, bacteria and food can get lodged in the tooth and cause cavities."

"If your child has shallow crevices, sealants probably aren't indicated," he said. "But if you've ever given your child a pretzel and later saw that the food was still stuck on the teeth, your child could benefit from sealants."

Sealants are easy to apply. The dentist brushes them onto the teeth, and the sealant bonds with the tooth's enamel, according to the American Dental Association (ADA). Sometimes a curing light is used to help the sealants dry faster.

Fluoride Treatments

"Ingested fluoride works on teeth that haven't yet come into the mouth, those that haven't erupted yet, but it has no effect on the teeth already in the mouth," Kronenberg said. "A fluoride treatment using a gel or varnish incorporates the fluoride into the surface outer layer of the tooth. It has to be repeated because it gets worn off."

Fluoride is applied using a cotton swab or brush, or it's placed in a tray that the child bites down on and then holds in the mouth for several minutes. Once a fluoride treatment is done, there should be no eating or drinking for 30 minutes to allow the fluoride to soak into the teeth, according to the ADA.

Kronenberg explained that the difference between the fluoride contained in toothpaste and fluoride treatments is the concentration. The fluoride in toothpaste is much less concentrated, he noted.

Wisdom Teeth

Should they stay or should they go? That's the question kids and parents face.

Kronenberg said that most dentists start to look at a kid's wisdom teeth at about age 16 or 17 to see if there's room for the teeth to come in properly, without causing problems. If a tooth looks like it won't come in properly, some dentists now suggest removing these teeth sooner rather than later to make the removal easier. The less chance the tooth has to develop, the shallower the roots will be, explained Kronenberg.

But not everyone is practicing early removal.

"There's no cut-and-dried protocol saying that all wisdom teeth have to be extracted," said Dr. Joshua Verona from the division of dental medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City. "If they don't affect function or appearance, we just leave them in. We only extract wisdom teeth when they're symptomatic."

Parents should discuss with their family dentist the risks and benefits associated with leaving wisdom teeth in or taking them out.

Reducing Anxiety

Kronenberg said that pediatric dentists are seeing patients at a younger and younger age. Some recommend that well-dental visits, much like well-child visits at the pediatrician, start at age 1 so that dentists can discuss the importance of diet and oral hygiene with the parents. But more importantly, he said, early visits "help start a relationship between the child and the dentist at an early age, and generally if you've built a positive relationship, children are more willing to accept necessary treatments in the future."

More information

The Nemours Foundation KidsHealth website has more on good oral hygiene.

A companion article recounts changes in pediatric dentistry from one generation to the next.

Copyright © 2012 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Dental Infections

Dental Infection Can Cause Death

Donna Hicks, Yahoo! Contributor Network
Jul 4, 2013 "Share your voice on Yahoo! websites. Start Here."

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Many people may have suffered the excruciating pain that a dental infection can cause. Swelling, bad taste in the mouth, lost days at school or work can be consequences of an infection related to a decayed tooth or infected gums. It may be assumed that this is a minor health issue that can be cured with a short course of antibiotics. Some individuals may not even consider making an appointment with the dentist right away due to having to take off work or other obligations. While a dental infection may seem minor, it is actually potentially deadly.

How dental decay becomes dangerous

When asked if tooth decay can cause death, Dr. M. Kent stated in Tooth Talk the way many individuals may have felt at one time or another when experiencing a terrible toothache. You may "wish you would die when you have a tooth infection, only to get rid of the pain."

Dr. Kent then points out that teeth are "portals" to the rest of the body. When an individual has a dental infection, there is undoubtedly drainage or discharge. An infection can also be inside the gums or even the bone. The infection and surrounding inflammation causes swelling. Swelling can become severe enough that the airway is affected. Pus can be swallowed. When the drainage from a tooth infection is swallowed, it does not just magically dissolve. It has the potential danger of settling near or in a vital organ, which can lead to a life-threatening situation.

Actual cases of death related to tooth infections

While it may seem far-fetched to some, there are people who have actually died from dental-related infections. It was about 15 years ago that I read in the local newspaper where a man in his early 40s had died. An autopsy was conducted because the seemingly healthy man just suddenly collapsed and died. His family knew of no serious medical conditions in his family tree that may have contributed to his untimely death.

But the autopsy revealed the terrible cause of his death. The autopsy revealed the man had an abscessed tooth. Some of the drainage from the abscessed tooth was swallowed. The infection then settled around his heart causing a massive infection in the lining of his heart, which caused his death.

More recently, ABC News reported that a Cincinnati man and father, just 24 years old, died of a tooth infection. The man was unemployed with no dental or prescription insurance. He finally went to the emergency room, where he was given prescriptions for pain medication and antibiotics to cure the infection. Kyle Willis could not afford both prescriptions, so he only got the pain medication filled. Within a few days, Willis died after the infection caused swelling in his brain.

ABC also gave details of a case where a 12 year old boy died after the family had lost their Medicaid coverage and the family could not afford to have their son's tooth extracted.

Risks of death may be particularly high for poor, disabled and elderly

While many jobs offer dental benefits, those benefits are largely available to full-time employees and executives. Part-time employees and those in businesses such as retail or fast-food may not have dental health benefits.

For individuals on Medicaid, dental benefits do exist, but there are restrictions. The Medicaid website indicates that states have the "flexibility" to design their own program under the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP). The program must meet federal guidelines, however. But this means that not all benefits available in one state may be available in another. The website explains that dental coverage under CHIP includes dental coverage "necessary to prevent disease and promote oral health," and to treat emergency conditions.

Each state has the flexibility to decide what benefits are available to adults who are on Medicaid. The Medicaid website clarifies adult coverage by stating "less than half of the states currently provide comprehensive dental care." So adults with dental health problems get limited dental care. Care such as a root canal or other advanced dental procedures may need "prior authorization." This may take weeks.

Medicare recipients have even less coverage. While it may be assumed that older individuals may be in more need of dental services, Medicare does not provide any dental care coverage (nor vision) at all for recipients. The only exception is if an individual has to have some type of facial reconstruction or has had another type of severe injury. In addition to dental services during reconstruction of the jaw due to injury, if a tumor must be removed from the jaw or mouth, or in preparation for radiation treatment, Medicare may pay for dental services then. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) gives details of the "blanket exclusion" of dental services from Medicare.

Medicare will not cover any other dental care. This blanket exclusion includes those who receive Medicare due to disability as well as elderly Medicare recipients.

Minimal assistance is available even when teeth are infected

While there are free or reduced dental care services in many communities, accessing those services may be a major issue. For instance, Columbus Ohio has a few dental clinics that offers dental care for reduced fees starting at $40, based on income. But the more services or more advanced type of services needed, the cost rises. An individual who needs a tooth pulled will pay a minimum of $80 to have a single tooth extracted. If a person has a dental infection and is unemployed or under-employed, that $80 fee may not be possible.

I made a call to a couple of the clinics to determine the wait time if an individual needed an appointment. One said that appointments are not given over the phone; the person must come in and complete an application in person, bring picture identification, several weeks pay stubs or other proof of income and proof of current residency. A future appointment is then set up. The other clinic advised that they were booking 2 months in advance. Limited services are provided at all the reduced clinics. No root canals, dentures or partial plates or repairs are provided. Services are basically limited to cleanings, fillings or extractions. For each tooth that needs care, a fee is charged.

Some communities have completely free dental clinics. But as Dr. Glenn Stream, then-President-elect of the Academy of Family Physicians was quoted by ABC, "The wait is often months at these clinics." He pointed out that Willis died in less than 2 weeks of developing his dental infection. The end result of these long wait times may be the same as what happened to Kyle Willis.

Dental infections may not be considered to be serious by some people. Many individuals may choose getting a pain medication prescription filled when faced with a decision of which prescription to get when the individual or family has limited resources. Those who are unaware of the seriousness of dental infections may not realize that death can occur and in a very short time.

Raising awareness of the seriousness of dental infections to children and adults of all economic levels, as well as to appropriate government agencies and insurance providers, the medical, dental and social services community is critical. Increasing the availability of free dental care without extensive wait times and complicated application procedures, as well as filling antibiotic prescriptions for the unemployed, under-employed, elderly and disabled may possibly save lives.