Keep Smiling!

This book is useful to health-conscious adults and families, non-dental health-care professionals, teachers and students. It is written in a user-friendly “textbook” format with: • Information cross-referenced from one chapter to another • Comprehensive table of contents • Illustrations • Tables • Glossary of terms • Subject index • Bibliography

Save your teeth and save your money. Canadians spend $10 billion annually on oral health care, the second most costly disease after cardiovascular disease, according to the Chief Dental Officer of Canada. Much of this could have been saved if everyone understood and practised the dental care methods described in Keep Smiling! If you follow the directions in this guide, you could save yourself thousands of dollars in a lifetime. Ask yourself … Have you ever been frustrated, annoyed, mystified or upset by your treatment in a dental office? Would you like simple definitions of the jargon dental care practitioners tend to use when talking to you? Do you feel that you need more information about dental care to protect yourself against preventable oral disease? Would you like to gain greater control over your oral health to reduce the cost of dental treatment? Would you like to protect your children from negative dental experiences by preparing them for dental treatment in a helpful way? Would you like some hints on how to choose a dental care team which best suits your needs and those of your family? Keep Smiling! has the answers to these and many more questions about dental health care. The book demystifies the dental health process and provides valuable information on personal dental care that can help you avoid painful dental disease, stressful visits to the dentist and painful extractions from your wallet. The fewer holes in your teeth, the fewer holes in your bank account. Recommended for anyone with a mouth and teeth, real or replacements.

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 of Applied Arts and Technology 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 led 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 Board 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.