Toothprints
By Dr. Linda Niessen -- Baylor College of Dentistry STORY: TOOTHPRINTS SCRIPT #528 SHOOT: 9/10/03 AIRDATE: Monday, October 20, 2003 DHC Master #18 Timecode: 31:49 Note: This Saturday morning, from 9 am until noon, the Plano dental office of Dr. Chad Perry will be toothprinting …. In a special event for kids called a “Teddy Bear Clinic.” Parents are encouraged to bring their young children to the office at 15th and Independence Parkway in Plano. For more, call 972-398-1996. Saturday, Oct. 25th 9:00 am to Noon 1524 Independence Parkway Suite B Plano, TX Info: 972-398-1996
Monday, October 20, 2003
Teddy Bear Clinic
A new type of method to identify children involves a trip to the dentist. Parents are getting their kids "toothprinted." Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry has details in today's Dental Health Check.
Dental x-rays help with identification, but only when teeth have special characteristics, such as unusual anatomy, fillings, crowns, root canals, or implants. But some children today have a blank dental chart because they've had no decay. That's the main reason why dentists created a new method to take a toothprint. Like fingerprints, toothprints are very unique.
"It would give parents more peace of mind that they would have that extra evidence if something happens to their child which hopefully nothing does," says Dr. Chad Perry, a Plano dentist, who offers toothprints free to his patients. "Within our practice, we don't charge for it."
The special impression material picks up all features of young teeth including imprints of sealants. The method also provides DNA. "Through the epithelial cells shed by the cheek in the saliva," Dr. Perry explains. "We have a small safe so we're going to store the toothprints along with fingerprints, and a current picture."
Pam Gonzales had her 6-year old son Blake, toothprinted. "We'd had them fingerprinted several years ago. That gave us some sense of security," said Pam.
Dental identification is something you hope to never use. But toothprints may give parents some assurance until their young children grow up. For Baylor College of Dentistry in The Texas A&M University System Health Science Center in Dallas, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.
Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.
