You got your teeth bleached at the MALL? Then click the link below...

You got your teeth bleached at the MALL?

Paranoia and the Great Health Care Debate.

Paranoia will always defeat reason. 

However, the treatment for the paranoia will be excluded by your insurer's mental health care restrictions. So either way you're pretty much out of luck.

Universal health care??

      Personally, I'm appalled at our ability to justify leaving so many people out in the cold. And whenever I get together with other doctors, I am one of the few who would be happy for a government run system which covered everybody, even if I had to get paid by the government.
    The problem with those on the other side (by which I usually mean Republicans) is that they aren't selfish enough. They lack the insight to see that a country who's citizens' health is protected is a stronger, more resilient, more productive and ultimately richer society.  (But I wouldn't waste my breath trying to explain that to Sara Palin)

60% ? ? That was a "D" back when I was in school !

     There were two interesting articles in the NY Times today, side-by side with one another. One article was an excellent review of the advances we've made in dental implant therapy. The other was a history of water fluridation going back to the 1930's (when Fluoride's beneficial effects on developing tooth enamel were discovered).

     Unfortunately, the article also says (with a note of triumph) that almost 60% of public drinking water in this country is now fluoridated. How they score this as a victory is beyond me. Back in school, I remember 60% being a "D".  The lack of fluoridation in some of the richest partis of this country, such as the "gold coast" of Long Island, is a national disgrace. If 60% of children were being vaccinated, or if 60% of women were getting adequate prenatal care we would be appalled. Water fluoridation costs pennies per person per year, and is one of the great public health triumphs of the 20th century. Pity that we let luddites and science-averse "leaders" determine the course of public health policy in this country

The problem of tooth grinding and clenching has not only become more prevalent (bad) but also more often recognized (good) This article was a fresh reminder to me of the interaction between our oral health and our general health. Stress affects our immune systems, our GI system, and of course our nervous system.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/08/fashion/08SKIN.html?_r=1&em