Keep Kids Smiling

From cradle to old age a ready, pleasant smile is an invaluable asset. This book is designed for the adults in charge of caring for children. It provides detailed information on oral disease, its causes and most importantly, its prevention. When the actions described are implemented on a daily basis, children should enjoy excellent dental health and learn to maintain it.

From cradle to old age a ready, pleasant smile is an invaluable asset. It is an important part of overall physical and emotional health. The ongoing quality of our smiles throughout our lifetimes depends in large part on the daily assistance we had during its development when we were tots to teens. Today access to dental services in the developed world is the best in recorded history. However, it is important to remember that dental treatment is not the same as dental health. The former is provided at intervals by professionals, the latter is achieved by effective daily self-care decisions and activities. This book is designed for the adults in charge of caring for children. It provides detailed information on oral disease, its causes and most importantly, its prevention. When the actions described are implemented on a daily basis, children should enjoy excellent dental health and learn to maintain it. Dental health costs less, physically, emotionally and financially than the repair of dental disease. If your income is in the minimal to modest range, this should come as good news. Rest assured the advice offered, if followed, will pay for the book many times over. It might just be the most cost effective health care investment you will ever make.

Catherine Thom has been associated with oral health care since graduating with a Diploma in Dental Hygiene from the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Her work experience included private practice (orthodontic and general) and dental public health prior to becoming an educator after completing an undergraduate arts degree at Carleton University, Ottawa. Ms. Thom spent 28 years at Algonquin College in Ottawa as a professor and program co-ordinator. After serving in acting administrative capacities as Dental Programs Director and Chair of the Allied Health Department she chose to return to the classroom. Ms. Thom co-ordinated curriculum, clinical and field placement activities for the full-time, continuing education and post-graduate programs. She also participated in the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities curriculum development workshops to establish the baseline competencies to be taught in Ontario dental hygiene and dental assistant programs. While on sabbatical leave she completed a master’s degree in psychology at Carleton University which lead to research and co-ordination of standardized testing procedures for admission to dental hygiene programs used across Ontario for over a decade. Ms. Thom served for four years as a professional member on the governing Council of the College of Dental Hygienists of Ontario. She participated on the Education, Communication and Discipline Committees. As a member of the Quality Assurance Committee she assisted in developing professional assessment materials. She also chaired the Clinical Assessment Restructuring Committee. Since leaving Algonquin College, Ms. Thom has provided educational consulting services to dental hygiene programs and conducted continuing education workshops. This book represents the culmination of over four decades of experience in imparting health care information to dental professionals and clients.