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More Patient Stores
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My mother is in a nursing home, and I've been trying to get her to the
dentist for over 10 years. She has many rotten teeth that need to be pulled, and she
needs a set of new dentures. I'm told Medical Assistance will pay for it, but that
won't help if I can't get her to make the trip to the dentist!
Most nursing home residents go for many years without dental care and have advanced
dental problems. Many medications cause "dry mouth", a problem that makes matters worse.
Dental problems interfere with talking, eating, and being comfortable. Apple Tree is
here for nursing home residents and their families, providing on-site care so that frail
elderly people can get the services they need.
My sister is in a wheelchair, can't walk, and it's very difficult to take
her out for doctor or dentists services. It will be much easier for both of us to have
her dental work done at the nursing home.
Sometimes travel arrangements to and from a nursing home to a dental office can
cost more than the dental work itself. Apple Tree Dental is a new kind of dental practice that
brings comprehensive dental care to nursing homes in the Twin Cities and in the Red River
Region. Apple Tree's on-site services are cost effective and convenient for nursing home
residents and their families.
My son has Downs Syndrome and I had almost given up hope of finding a dentist
who could take care of him. I finally found a wonderful dentist, and not only are his cavities
filled but you can bet we will be taking him back for regular check-ups.
People with disabilities such as Downs Syndrome face tremendous barriers to care.
Most are dependent on Medical Assistance and are very fearful of dental office settings. The dentist
and the staff need to take extra time to make the patient feel comfortable, yet reimbursements
from Medical Assistance pay less that half of normal fees. Without regular dental care, dental
problems can become so severe that they require hospitalization and treatment under general
anesthesia. Apple Tree focuses on prevention and early treatment, and helps train young adults
with disabilities and their families to develop oral care as an important life skill.
Thank you for coming to our class to teach about teeth and how to brush. I liked
the cow puppet with the big teeth. He was funny. Maybe when I grow up I will be a dentist.
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Cavities are the most prevalent chronic childhood
disease in the country, much more common than asthma, and it is estimated that dental disease
and treatment lead to 52 million missed school hours a year. That's why Apple Tree's staff
takes the time to visit schools in our community and teach about oral care. All children
are special, and we want them to benefit from preventive dentistry. Children look better,
feel better, and learn better when they have good oral health.
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I didn't know about baby bottle tooth decay until it was too late. My daughter had
to go to the hospital for emergency care. It's important for other parents to know about how to
prevent it.
Baby bottle tooth decay is what happens to teeth when babies fall sleep with bottles full of sugary
drinks. The sugar causes cavities that wear away the teeth to the gumline, and the resulting pain
and infection can cause eating, learning, and speech problems. Treatment often requires general
anesthesia, which is both traumatic and expensive. Apple Tree believes in the importance of preventive
education for pregnant women and new mothers, and recommends that children have check-ups even before
they reach school age. Apple Tree provides mobile, on-site care at the Head Start centers and community
clinics and is available for mobile services to other Head Start centers in the Red River region.
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