COLLEGE AND YOU
CHILD'S DENTAL HEALTH!
To me as a professional, I think of the month of September
and what it represent’s and I am reminded that over the years I have noted a
significant drop off of annual dental check-ups in students during their
college years. As explained to me by
many parents, they just don’t feel comfortable making an advanced appointment
for their college student before they come home from college because they don’t
know their child’s summer schedule. Before
they know it they are packing their kids up again and shipping them back to
school and their child never made it to their dentist.
Now, I can speculate that parents are trying to teach their
young adult children to take on the responsibility for themselves, for others
it maybe a financial issue; if the family doesn’t have dental insurance, yet
many families have dental benefits and neglect to use them. Though I don’t have
the exact answer as to why college students don’t take advantage of their
scheduled breaks to get routine dental check-ups and cleanings, I do know that
as these students graduate and go off on their own and they don’t continue the
good habits their parents have taught them which results in preventable dental
problems. So here are a few
suggestions:
1. Take
control and make an appointment for your student. You know your dentist office hours, ask your
child what he or she thinks will work out best and schedule an advanced
appointment so your child can put it on their calendar.
2. Connect
with your dentist and have them call your student directly on their cell phone
to schedule an appointment with your child.
Hopefully your dentist won’t get a message that says
“Mailbox full”!
3. If
necessary arrange for dental care in the city where they are going to school.
Us dentist’s look forward to seeing your college students
this summer not only to give them their dental check-up and cleaning but also
to “catch-up” with them about their college experiences!
Wishing you a start to the school year and as always don’t
forget to swish, floss, brush and swish again at least twice a day.
Please visit my website, roberthwaldmandds.com, and you will find many helpful videos which will explain many dental treatments.
Dr. Rob
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