It’s all in this FREE easy to install app for your Android smartphone, click here, or snap the QR code below with your phone.

Novartis Consumer Health Inc. issues voluntary nationwide recall of certain over-the-counter products (Bufferin, Excedrin [various], Gas-X, and NoDoz) due to potential presence of foreign tablets or chipped or broken tablets or gelcaps.

• See the full FDA recall notice, click here.
• See the full list of recalled over-the-counter drugs, click here.
• CBS news report of the recall, click here.

Except in limited circumstances, HMO, or strict in-network PPO, you can use and we’ll process your insurance.

I’m always surprised when I hear a friend / patient concerned that they can’t use their dental insurance in our office, particularly for carriers like Aetna or Met-Life. 99% of the time even when it’s a network PPO you can use your insurance (these typically have a co-pay, that may vary a little out of network). We’ll send in your claim, and after receipt of your insurance payment, if there is a balance we will send you a bill. It’s that easy.

If you have any questions at all please call Pat or Mariela, (703) 971-2788.

For more about using your dental insurance in our office, click here.

It’s almost that time again. Insurance open season, when you have an opportunity to change your insurance to better fit your life. But … it can be a puzzle. Which insurance plan is right for you? How is that company to work with? How is their coverage? Is dental separate from medical.

Federal open season runs from November 14 – December 12, 2011. Many other companies have a similar period at year’s end when you can change plans / coverage.

When it comes to dental insurance there are a few things to look at:

• Let’s be practical – do you need dental insurance? Do you have many large old fillings, then yes. Do you have almost no fillings, then maybe no. Do you clean your teeth real effectively, brushing and flossing? Do you hardly every floss?
• Depending on the types of dental treatment you might anticipate, fillings, only checkups, crowns – look at what a particular policy covers.
• Are you concerned about if you can stay with me / our office? We accept virtually all standard dental insurance, but no HMO plans. You can usually use your PPO plan with us, unless you sign up for an ‘in-network only’ plan. Usually even ‘in-network’ plans cover out-of-network, but on a slightly different fee schedule.

If you have questions about choosing between a couple plans, speak with Pat or Mariela to see if they are familiar with them to help you choose.

• financial contributions
  online to Food for Others (via Network for Good), click here
• food, clothing, goods taken to Koinonia
  • food
    • canned beans
    • canned fruit
    • canned meats – ham, turkey, chicken, tuna, and beef
    • canned soup, stew, chili
    • coffee
    • jelly
    • macaroni and cheese
    • peanut butter
    • soup
    • tuna
  • personal care items bath soap
    • conditioner
    • diapers (size 4, 5, 6)
    • shampoo
    • toilet tissue
    • toothbrush / toothpaste
  • cleaning supplies
    • dish / dishwasher detergent
    • laundry detergent
  • new or gently-used clothing (clean)
    • coats
    • socks
    • underwear

Those beautiful weeds coming out now can be a source of pain for your teeth: sinus problems that are worsened with the onset of pollen season often show up as tooth pain.

Allergic rhinitis involves inflammation of the mucous membranes of the nose, eyes, eustachian tubes, middle ear, sinuses, and throat (pharynx), and is characterized by symptoms that consist of any combination of the following: sneezing, itching (of nose, eyes, ears, palate), runny nose (rhinorrhea), postnasal drip, congestion, dental pain (upper back teeth, and even lower back teeth), inability to perceive odors (anosmia), headache, earache, tearing, red eyes, eye swelling, fatigue, drowsiness, and malaise. Allergic rhinitis is the most common cause of rhinitis. It is an extremely common condition, affecting approximately 20% of the population.

A common sign associated with allergic rhinitis is “allergic shiners”, dark circles around the eyes (related to vasodilation or nasal congestion). [Symptom versus sign: a symptom can more simply be defined as any feature which is noticed by the patient. A sign is noticed by other people. It is not necessarily the nature of the sign or symptom which defines it, but who observes it.]

How can you tell if it is your sinuses making your teeth hurt?

Some simple things that can give you a clue whether your sinuses are causing your teeth to hurt:

• a change in position, tipping your head forward and back, and your teeth hurt,
• going down stairs and your teeth hurt,
• standing on your toes and forcefully dropping on your heels and your teeth hurt.

Of course, if your teeth hurt and you have any questions about whether it is a cavity, the nerve of a tooth or your sinuses call for an appointment.

What can you do if allergies are making your teeth hurt?

If you’re not congested, try taking just an antihistamine AND ibuprofen for at least 24 hours. If you feel congested, take a combination decongestant / antihistamine AND ibuprofen for at least 24 hours.

Allergy, Cold, or Flu

• Cold and allergy symptoms overlap quite a bit
  • the most important difference is that colds don’t last longer than 14 days
• Colds and flu share many symptoms
  • the flu is generally worse than the common cold (symptoms such as fever, body aches, extreme tiredness, and dry cough are more common and intense)
  • colds are usually milder than the flu
  • colds are more likely to have a runny or stuffy nose than the flu
  • colds generally do not result in serious health problems (pneumonia, bacterial infections, or hospitalizations)

References – cold, flu, allergy: CDC, Mayo Clinic, WebMD.

Pseudophedrine (decongestant)

You now not only have to ask a pharmacist for any over-the-counter product that contains pseudoephedrine, and you have to sign for it, too.

In March 2006, the United States Congress enacted Senate Bill 103: the “Combat Meth Act of 2005,” which requires any product containing ephedrine, pseudoephedrine, or phenylpropanolamine to be strictly regulated to help prevent the production of methamphetamine, an illegal street drug. Pseudoephedrine is a common ingredient in many cold and allergy relief products.

In April 2006, restrictions began limiting the number of packages of products containing these ingredients that can be purchased in one transaction and the number that can be purchased in a 30-day period. Since September 30, 2006, all products must be placed behind the pharmacy counter, and purchasers of any of the above items are required to show identification and sign a logbook.

In addition to the federal law above, many state governments have enacted their own laws regarding the sale of pseudoephedrine products. State laws may be more or less stringent than the federal law. Since pharmacies are required to follow the stricter law, pharmacies in different states may have different procedures to follow when selling pseudoephedrine products. If you have any questions about purchasing pseudoephedrine products, contact a local pharmacy in the state where the purchase would take place.

What’s Exempt: During this three-day period, purchases of qualifying school supplies selling for $20 or less per item, and purchases of qualifying clothing and footwear selling for $100 or less per item will be exempt from sales tax. Retailers may also choose to absorb the tax on other items during the holiday period, but they are responsible for paying the tax on those items to the Department of Taxation.

Other Information:

• Guidelines (PDF)
• Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)
• Lists of Exempt School Supplies and Exempt Clothing and Footwear (PDF)
• Tax Holiday Information Center

from Virginia.gov
http://www.tax.virginia.gov/site.cfm?alias=SchoolSuppliesAndClothingHoliday

Local (Maryland, Chesapeake Bay) fossil shark teeth collecting and information, click here.

Here is some information about shark teeth to go along with Shark Week:

Shark teeth are some of the most unusual aspects of a shark.

They are very sharp, wedge-shaped, serrated and can grow as long as five centimeters (1 inch = 2.54 centimeters). It’s very common for a shark to have more than four sets of teeth during its lifetime, some even have as many as five or six sets of shark teeth throughout their lives.

The shark teeth are arranged in rows, most sharks have about five rows of teeth at any time. As the shark teeth are worn out and fall out, they are replaced by the next row. Shark teeth are replaced very quickly, some sharks can wear out a full set of teeth in less than six months. In a lifetime some sharks can grow and lose between ten thousand and thirty thousand teeth.

Hard to believe, but it really is not long before school starts up again. Make sure if you or the kids are due for your checkup that you schedule your appointment during the summer break when it’s easier. If college students need to have wisdom teeth removed, that’s best done at least a few weeks before returning to school.

Most contact sports require a mouthguard, and once all permanent teeth are present you may want to consider a custom mouthguard that protects teeth 9 times better than the boil and bite type.

School calendars: Alexandria, Arlington, Falls Church, Fairfax, Prince William and Loudon.