In honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month, the Loretto Hospital Dental Clinic acknowledges dental hygiene is a crucial part of an adolescent’s overall health. The dental clinic, which is part of the full spectrum of services offered in Loretto Hospital’s Ambulatory Care Clinic, has been in full swing for more than a year providing comprehensive, quality dental care to adults and children ages just a few months old and older. Angelo Stamos, DMD, runs the dental clinic and says children should visit a dentist for regular check-ups at least twice a year to avoid costly and long-term damage to teeth and gums. “The more you see a dentist as a child, the less you’ll see one as an adult,” Stamos said. “Issues like crooked teeth, tooth decay, bad breath, are easily fixed as a child rather than as an adult,” he said. According to the Centers for Disease Control, cavities affects 1 in 5 children aged 5 to 11 years and 1 in 7 teens. If left untreated, tooth decay can cause pain, infections, and issues with eating, speaking, playing and learning, the CDC reports.

“There is an increase in tooth decay and bad breath because of poor diets related to cheap corn products that form alcohol in the stomach. Also, the sugars in these products can cause cavities. We can treat these conditions with fluoride and vitamins to make sure the teeth become healthy and are less affected by these products,” Dr. Stamos said. Fluoride is a natural mineral found in the earth’s crust and distributed throughout nature. Some food and water supply contain this mineral, but it is standard of care by dentists to treat cavities. Children who live in areas with fluoridated tap water experience less tooth decay. In addition to providing adolescent dentistry, Dr. Stamos specializes in patients with major health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiovascular which may interfere with healthy gums and teeth. Loretto Hospital’s general dental services include:

• Check Ups
• Cleanings
• Emergency Dental Care
• Extractions (some restrictions apply)
• Fillings
• Oral Surgery
• Preventive Care
• Root Canals
• Teeth Whitening
• X-Rays

Dental services are available each Tuesday from 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m., and on Fridays from 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. To learn more about the Loretto Hospital Dental Clinic, or to schedule an appointment, call 773-854-5306.