In the past two weeks I have seen three patients in the two year old age range. The biggest challenge with patients in this age group is getting them to open their mouths and to stay open while you look in their mouth. I asked my son's pediatrician the other day why it is that one and two year olds don't like to open their mouths. His response was that the mouth is the one thing a child that age can control. Apparently you can put your fingers in the child's ears and eventually they will open their mouth to get you to remove your fingers. While this trick might work for the pediatrician that is just trying to take a quick look in the back of the throat, it doesn't work so well for the dentist that needs to evaluate 20 individual teeth.
Back to my story... I saw three such patients recently. The first one was a girl that was turning two in a couple of weeks. She didn't want to have anything to do with me and refused to even open her mouth. The second child I saw was a girl that had just turned two. I tried a different approach with her. First, my assistant found a cartoon on television for the girl to watch. Then I had the mom hold the daughter in her lap while we counted the mom's teeth. After we counted the mom's teeth, the little girl wanted her teeth counted as well. While counting the teeth I am able to evaluate each individual tooth for cavities. By two years of age nearly all twenty of the baby teeth have erupted. If cavities are present at this age, then they are either visually evident or are apparent when touching the tooth with a dental explorer (an instrument with a pin like end).
The third patient I saw was a three year old boy. In his case both the cartoon trick and counting daddy's teeth worked. As a three year old there was a little bit more comprehension of what was going on and I was able to polish his teeth as well.
Fortunately, in all three cases the children's parents were doing a good job assisting with the brushing and none of the children had any cavities. When kids this age do get cavities the only way to treat them is to either wait until the child is older (like age four or five) or to treat them while the child is under anesthesia. The best thing for the two and three year old patient is cavity prevention!
Kari Ann Hong, DDS
1000 Newbury Road, Suite 190
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.familycaredentists.com
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Grandma- The Obiturary
Mildred Bernice Carnot was born on August 24, 1928 in Hemingford, Nebraska to Louise and Emil Nekuda. For the first twelve years of her life Mildred lived on a farm with her parents that was owned by Mildred's maternal grandparents. When Mildred started kindergarten she didn't speak a work of English as the Czech language was the only thing spoken at home. Mildred spent a lot of time on the farm with her maternal grandmother, Marie (Stumf) Vorovka, and her uncle George Vorovka who was only six years older than her. Mildred's one sibling, Arline, was born when Mildred was seven years old.
At the age of twelve, Mildred and her family moved from Hemingford, Nebraska to Santa Monica, California where her father had the opportunity to work as an electrician. Mildred attended Santa Monica High School and graduated in 1946. After high school Mildred worked in the Santa Monica High School office. World War II ended in December of 1946. Soon after the war ended Mildred met her future husband- a World War II veteran, Jerry John Carnot, at a Czech dance function in La Crescenta. They were married in March 21, 1948 in Santa Monica California.
Mildred and Jerry lived near the USC campus after they were married while Jerry completed his accounting degree. While Mildred was pregnant with their first child, they built a house together in Sherman Oaks, California where they ended up living for the next 42 years. Mildred was on bed rest for the latter part of her pregnancy and was unable to be apart of the daily decisions being made at the house. On one occasion when she was able to make it over to see the house, she found out that her father-in-law had vetoed her decision to have a sunken living room. Apparently, Jerry, his father, and brothers did much of the work on the the house themselves and made some executive decisions without consulting Mildred, which made her quite upset. Mildred and Jerry's first born, Candis, was born on September 7, 1951. They went on to have two more children- Karen on August 6, 1953 and Robert on May 20, 1958.
Over the years Mildred held a number of jobs to bring in extra income for the family. Her next door neighbors the Shroeder's had a dime store that she worked at when her kids were little. When her daughters entered high school Mildred worked at a local elementary school, Dixie Canyon Elementary, so she would have extra money to send her girls to college. In her 50's Mildred worked for Sol Saks, the writer for the television show Bewitched, managing his checkbook and taking notes for him in long hand. She also volunteered at the Los Angeles Zoo.
Mildred traveled all over the world with Jerry, but her favorite place to vacation was in Yosemite where her parents owned a cabin in Wawona. Mildred used to say that when on vacation in Yosemite that time would stand still for her. She loved the peacefulness of the pine tree cover in the forest and the sound of the river flowing near the cabin.
Mildred and Jerry had a large social network of friends which included people they met in the Czech community, neighbors in Sherman Oaks, and parents of their children's friends. They played golf, had bridge parties, saw performances at the Hollywood Bowl, traveled, and had holiday parties with their friends.
In 1993 Mildred and Jerry sold their house in Sherman Oaks and moved to Newbury Park, California to be closer to Mildred's mother. Mildred started to show signs of memory loss as early as 1996. She couldn't remember how to make foods she had always made with ease, she would re-tell the exact same story within a five minute time frame, and her personality started to change. By her 50 year wedding anniversary with Jerry in 1998, Mildred was no longer the same person. Alzheimer's Disease was diagnosed in 2001. In all the years that Mildred had her illness, she did maintain a very sweet and loving personality. She was never angry or cross, despite her frustrations to communicate and make sense of what was happening to her.
Mildred was a soft and kind hearted soul. She was fond of classical music, playing the piano, Scrabble, card games, golf, tennis, cooking gourmet meals, decorating for the Christmas and Easter holidays, keeping her house super clean, and spending time with her family and friends. She was the parent her kids would go to when they wanted something. She would find a way to help them get what they wanted. As a grandparent, Mildred was a wonderful caregiver, generous, fun-loving, and always up for an adventure. As a daughter, Mildred looked after her mother and even after her illness she had some trustworthy helpers in her husband and daughter Candy to carry out her wishes.
Mildred is survived by her mother, three children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. After Mildred's husband Jerry passed away in July 2005, Mildred attended the Methodist Church in Thousand Oaks with her daughter and son-in-law most Sundays. Despite the fact she had limited verbal communication and memory these past three years, she was still able to say the Lord's Prayer during Sundays services. We pray that she is in a better place now and that she will rest in peace.
Kari Ann Hong, DDS
1000 Newbury Road, Suite 190
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.familycaredentists.com
At the age of twelve, Mildred and her family moved from Hemingford, Nebraska to Santa Monica, California where her father had the opportunity to work as an electrician. Mildred attended Santa Monica High School and graduated in 1946. After high school Mildred worked in the Santa Monica High School office. World War II ended in December of 1946. Soon after the war ended Mildred met her future husband- a World War II veteran, Jerry John Carnot, at a Czech dance function in La Crescenta. They were married in March 21, 1948 in Santa Monica California.
Mildred and Jerry lived near the USC campus after they were married while Jerry completed his accounting degree. While Mildred was pregnant with their first child, they built a house together in Sherman Oaks, California where they ended up living for the next 42 years. Mildred was on bed rest for the latter part of her pregnancy and was unable to be apart of the daily decisions being made at the house. On one occasion when she was able to make it over to see the house, she found out that her father-in-law had vetoed her decision to have a sunken living room. Apparently, Jerry, his father, and brothers did much of the work on the the house themselves and made some executive decisions without consulting Mildred, which made her quite upset. Mildred and Jerry's first born, Candis, was born on September 7, 1951. They went on to have two more children- Karen on August 6, 1953 and Robert on May 20, 1958.
Over the years Mildred held a number of jobs to bring in extra income for the family. Her next door neighbors the Shroeder's had a dime store that she worked at when her kids were little. When her daughters entered high school Mildred worked at a local elementary school, Dixie Canyon Elementary, so she would have extra money to send her girls to college. In her 50's Mildred worked for Sol Saks, the writer for the television show Bewitched, managing his checkbook and taking notes for him in long hand. She also volunteered at the Los Angeles Zoo.
Mildred traveled all over the world with Jerry, but her favorite place to vacation was in Yosemite where her parents owned a cabin in Wawona. Mildred used to say that when on vacation in Yosemite that time would stand still for her. She loved the peacefulness of the pine tree cover in the forest and the sound of the river flowing near the cabin.
Mildred and Jerry had a large social network of friends which included people they met in the Czech community, neighbors in Sherman Oaks, and parents of their children's friends. They played golf, had bridge parties, saw performances at the Hollywood Bowl, traveled, and had holiday parties with their friends.
In 1993 Mildred and Jerry sold their house in Sherman Oaks and moved to Newbury Park, California to be closer to Mildred's mother. Mildred started to show signs of memory loss as early as 1996. She couldn't remember how to make foods she had always made with ease, she would re-tell the exact same story within a five minute time frame, and her personality started to change. By her 50 year wedding anniversary with Jerry in 1998, Mildred was no longer the same person. Alzheimer's Disease was diagnosed in 2001. In all the years that Mildred had her illness, she did maintain a very sweet and loving personality. She was never angry or cross, despite her frustrations to communicate and make sense of what was happening to her.
Mildred was a soft and kind hearted soul. She was fond of classical music, playing the piano, Scrabble, card games, golf, tennis, cooking gourmet meals, decorating for the Christmas and Easter holidays, keeping her house super clean, and spending time with her family and friends. She was the parent her kids would go to when they wanted something. She would find a way to help them get what they wanted. As a grandparent, Mildred was a wonderful caregiver, generous, fun-loving, and always up for an adventure. As a daughter, Mildred looked after her mother and even after her illness she had some trustworthy helpers in her husband and daughter Candy to carry out her wishes.
Mildred is survived by her mother, three children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild. After Mildred's husband Jerry passed away in July 2005, Mildred attended the Methodist Church in Thousand Oaks with her daughter and son-in-law most Sundays. Despite the fact she had limited verbal communication and memory these past three years, she was still able to say the Lord's Prayer during Sundays services. We pray that she is in a better place now and that she will rest in peace.
Kari Ann Hong, DDS
1000 Newbury Road, Suite 190
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.familycaredentists.com
Monday, September 15, 2008
Grandma
My grandma, Mildred Carnot, passed away last night after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease. She was eighty years old. She is survived by her mother, sister, three children, three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
When I was growing up my grandparents lived in Sherman Oaks in a two bedroom house they built themselves in the early 1950's. Their home always felt like a second home to me. I could probably build a cardboard replica of their house I knew it so well. Down to the magnolia tree in the front yard, the sycamore tree in the backyard, the rose bushes the bordered the front windows, the hydrangea plant that screened the neighbor's door, the banana bushes on the side of the house, the tomato plants and zucchini bushes in the garden in the summer, the lime tree, the brick patio that defined the back courtyard, the real stone fireplace that covered an entire 12 foot wall in the den, the green 50's tile that covered the kitchen counters, the bathtub in the "kid's bath," and the dual sided furnace heater that heated the entire house.
I have so many fond memories of spending time with my grandparents. My parents would drop my brother and I off for weekend visits quite often. Also, we would spend one week every summer with my grandparents at their vacation home in Yosemite.
My grandmother was an amazing cook. My two favorite dishes were her buttermilk pancakes and her chicken matzo ball soup. However, she made much more elaborate meals for family gatherings. Basically there wasn't ever anything she made that I didn't want to eat.
My grandma taught me many things. She loved card games- pinochle, war, bridge, hearts, and gin rummy. She was an avid golfer and tennis player. She had an extreme fondness for animals. She sewed and knitted. Best of all, my grandma was fun loving and innovative in her approach to entertaining us grandkids. I remember one summer when my grandparents had purchased a new Maytag washer and dryer. Grandma let us decorate the boxes the machines came in and we slept in them one night out on her back patio. When we were in Yosemite she was constantly coming up with art projects that used either fallen tree wood or stones from the river. It was in Yosemite that she taught me how to knit and where I had started to knit a baby blanket for my cousin that is now 16 years old. I never finished the blanket, but I still have the squares I started then, and I still remember how to knit.
I last saw my grandma at her assisted living home about a week ago. It was so sad to see her at the end of her life, totally unable to move or think. I visited her that day with my mom, my great-grandma (her mom) and my 15 month old son. My mom was calm and collected, my great-grandma wanted to sit by the bed and hold her hand, my son walked around the room wanting to touch all of the electronics, and I sat in a chair and cried uncontrollably. I couldn't even say goodbye. It has been a long, difficult journey to see my grandmother deteriorate the way she has over the last 10 years.
My son has been an amazing life force during this difficult time. He is so full of life and love and joy. He seems so unaffected by the sadness that surrounds him. Perhaps the most precious moments though are to see my mom with him and to know that my son will get to know his grandma the way I got to know mine.
Kari Ann Hong, DDS
1000 Newbury Road, Suite 190
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.familycaredentists.com
When I was growing up my grandparents lived in Sherman Oaks in a two bedroom house they built themselves in the early 1950's. Their home always felt like a second home to me. I could probably build a cardboard replica of their house I knew it so well. Down to the magnolia tree in the front yard, the sycamore tree in the backyard, the rose bushes the bordered the front windows, the hydrangea plant that screened the neighbor's door, the banana bushes on the side of the house, the tomato plants and zucchini bushes in the garden in the summer, the lime tree, the brick patio that defined the back courtyard, the real stone fireplace that covered an entire 12 foot wall in the den, the green 50's tile that covered the kitchen counters, the bathtub in the "kid's bath," and the dual sided furnace heater that heated the entire house.
I have so many fond memories of spending time with my grandparents. My parents would drop my brother and I off for weekend visits quite often. Also, we would spend one week every summer with my grandparents at their vacation home in Yosemite.
My grandmother was an amazing cook. My two favorite dishes were her buttermilk pancakes and her chicken matzo ball soup. However, she made much more elaborate meals for family gatherings. Basically there wasn't ever anything she made that I didn't want to eat.
My grandma taught me many things. She loved card games- pinochle, war, bridge, hearts, and gin rummy. She was an avid golfer and tennis player. She had an extreme fondness for animals. She sewed and knitted. Best of all, my grandma was fun loving and innovative in her approach to entertaining us grandkids. I remember one summer when my grandparents had purchased a new Maytag washer and dryer. Grandma let us decorate the boxes the machines came in and we slept in them one night out on her back patio. When we were in Yosemite she was constantly coming up with art projects that used either fallen tree wood or stones from the river. It was in Yosemite that she taught me how to knit and where I had started to knit a baby blanket for my cousin that is now 16 years old. I never finished the blanket, but I still have the squares I started then, and I still remember how to knit.
I last saw my grandma at her assisted living home about a week ago. It was so sad to see her at the end of her life, totally unable to move or think. I visited her that day with my mom, my great-grandma (her mom) and my 15 month old son. My mom was calm and collected, my great-grandma wanted to sit by the bed and hold her hand, my son walked around the room wanting to touch all of the electronics, and I sat in a chair and cried uncontrollably. I couldn't even say goodbye. It has been a long, difficult journey to see my grandmother deteriorate the way she has over the last 10 years.
My son has been an amazing life force during this difficult time. He is so full of life and love and joy. He seems so unaffected by the sadness that surrounds him. Perhaps the most precious moments though are to see my mom with him and to know that my son will get to know his grandma the way I got to know mine.
Kari Ann Hong, DDS
1000 Newbury Road, Suite 190
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320
www.familycaredentists.com
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