Dental Care Today
New Jersey Dentist Expands Sleep Apnea Expertise at Prestigious Dental Institute
As a cosmetic dentist in New Jersey, Dr. Jerry Strauss focuses on the overall oral health of his patients as he strives to create and maintain the smiles they desire. As part of his commitment to complete oral care, he often treats symptoms of sleep apnea to help his patients avoid common side-effects ranging from hypertnesion to heart disease, which is why he recently completed a comprehensive 3-day sleep apnea course at the internationally recognized Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies.
Fairfield, NJ (PRWEB) May 17, 2011
At his New Jersey cosmetic dentistry practice, Jerry Strauss, DMD says he strives to provide comprehensive dental care to enhance his patients’ overall oral health. While he specializes in improving their smiles with procedures such as teeth whitening or porcelain veneers, he stresses the need to address patient concerns on a case-by-case basis, which can include a variety of concerns, from sleep apnea to TMJ treatment. As part of this dedication to providing complete oral care, Dr. Strauss recently traveled to the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies (LVI) for a post-graduate course on successful treatment of sleep apnea.
At LVI, Dr. Strauss says day-1 of the sleep apnea program included a comprehensive presentation that not only focused on the effects of sleep apnea on adults, but also how this deadly disease can affect children. Day-2 of the LVI course concentrated on obstructive sleep apnea, and the need for immediate treatment to help patients manage the disease and improve overall quality of life. And finally, Dr. Strauss says day-3 included a presentation from the Dr. Brian Allen, an expert in dental sleep medicine. Ultimately, Dr. Strauss says he has a new appreciation for the disease, adding that the course will be helpful in his practice and personal life, as he too suffers from the effects of sleep apnea.
Whether enhancing a patient’s smile with porcelain veneers, treating the host of medical problems associated with sleep apnea, or reducing his patients’ level of anxiety with sedation dentistry, Dr. Strauss says he constantly strives to create a positive experience with each office visit. Maintaining a steadfast commitment to continuing education courses is yet another essential element of his New Jersey practice’s success. As Dr. Strauss returns to his practice from the Las Vegas Institute for Advanced Dental Studies, he says he believes he is better equipped to treat and manage sleep apnea, and help his patients continue to share their beautiful smiles.
About Dr. Strauss
Jerry M. Strauss, DMD earned his dental degree from Boston University’s School of Graduate Dentistry. He then completed a general practice residency at SUNY Upstate Medical Center, where he also served as a clinical instructor. Dr. Strauss has achieved Master Status with the Academy of General Dentistry by completing 1100 hours of continuing education, which is the highest honor the academy offers. He is also a member of the American Dental Association, the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, and the Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation.
Expanding 40 years of necessary medical care
The growing pains forcing expansion of the Henrietta Johnson Medical Center confirm how much the Southbridge health care agency has become a gem to the city of Wilmington.
Monday’s kickoff of a $4 million campaign to more than double its response to growing demand for dental care, women’s health screenings, prenatal and pregnancy care and routine family health services secures HJMC’s role as a “medical home” for the unemployed and uninsured.
And the campaign will prepare HJMC for the coming federal health reform mandates that begin in 2014.
In the last five years, requests for service grew 17 percent. Nearly 7,000 patients were serviced, with 66 percent falling below 200 percent of the federal poverty guideline and 84 percent of that group below 100 percent of the guideline. Inadequate exam and treatments rooms prevent hiring new medical staff, and women’s services are busting at the seams.
The numbers tell much about trends in unmet health needs in northern Delaware. For example, dental visits increased by 83 percent, but 10 percent of slots are reserved for walk-in emergency cases. The expansion will provide for another dentist and dental hygienist and help HJMC continue to provide health care to homeless families at no cost.
But most important, for those fortunate enough to have medical insurance, this campaign allows HJMC to continue to be a buffer against a rise in their premiums as well. Health insurers typically pass on the costs of caring for uninsured patients to those who have insurance.
Amerigroup Foundation Supports Health Services for Virginia’s Uninsured
The Amerigroup Foundation announced that it will provide more than $150,000 in support of the delivery of health care services to uninsured Virginians. The majority of this donation will be directed toward the southwest region of the state and the 2011 Remote Area Medical® Health Expedition in Wise County, Va., this July. Organizations receiving funds include The Health Wagon, the Virginia Dental Association Foundation and The University of Virginia Office of Telemedicine.
The Remote Area Medical® Volunteer Corps is a nonprofit, all-volunteer medical relief corps serving remote and impoverished areas of the United States and abroad. In Virginia, the Virginia Dental Association Foundation (VDAF), a local free clinic, The Health Wagon, and The University of Virginia annually team up with RAM to spearhead a three-day event, providing eye, dental and medical care to the uninsured and underinsured in the region.
“This project represents positive and worthwhile endeavors that promote and enhance access to health care delivery for citizens of Southwest Virginia,” said Teresa Gardner, RN, FPN, DNP, executive director of The Health Wagon. “We are very thankful for Amerigroup’s support for us to continue valuable and needed services.”
“Amerigroup has allowed us to expand our reach into underserved communities,” said Dr. Terry D. Dickinson, executive director of the VDAF. “Their support will create $1.28 million in free dental care, benefit the community at large, decrease the disparities in health care, increase health literacy and encourage better personal choices through not only the RAM Health Expedition, but also VDAF’s additional Mission of Mercy projects.”
“The University of Virginia is delighted to partner with the Amerigroup Foundation to expand access to high-quality specialty care services via our telemedicine network. We have facilitated more than 22,000 clinical encounters sparing patients more than 6.5 million miles of travel for access to health care services. In many cases, the patients we have served might otherwise never receive care in a timely fashion. This partnership enhances our ability to serve patients in need when they need care, regardless of geographic and financial barriers to access,” said Dr. Karen Rheuban, medical director of the University of Virginia Office of Telemedicine.
Last year’s RAM Health Expedition event was the largest of its kind in the nation, drawing individuals from more than 16 states. Run with the help of 1,746 volunteers, $2.3 million in free care was provided to more than 2,800 patients with 5,683 distinct encounters. This year’s event is expected to draw more than 3,000 patients.
“The Foundation is thrilled to be able to provide not only funds, but also volunteers, to support the amazing work of the RAM,” said John E. Littel, chairman of the Amerigroup Foundation. “We will be able to directly connect, better understand and strengthen the long-term health needs for individuals who are uninsured or underinsured.”