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| -Dentistry- |
| Advancing
Dental Care to Build a Healthier Community |
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Dr. Paul Gates,
Chairman,
Dentistry, observing
Dr. Jewan Singh, Attending,
Dentistry, treating patient. |
| Dr.
Paul Gates’ vision of establishing Bronx-Lebanon’s
Department
of Dentistry as a leader in the field is
being accomplished.
The Department of Dentistry now has the largest
general dental
residency in the nation and provides over
60,000 visits annually
to a wide variety of patients with many different
needs at six
convenient locations across the Bronx. It
also offers an exceptional
level of services as well as an expert and
friendly staff.
Dentists and Oral Maxillofacial Surgeons
are taking on a key
role in maintaining their patients’ overall
health. |
The
Department of Dentistry now has the largest
general dental
residency in the nation and provides over
60,000 visits every year. |
Dentistry
has evolved from a bi-annual visit to the dentist
for a cleaning and check-up to being recognized
as a contributing factor reflecting an individual’s
systemic health. With dental related illness now
among the most common causes of an ER visit across
the nation, the Department of Dentistry’s
clinical sites are prepared for urgent and non-urgent
care.
These sites have the latest state-of-the-art equipment available to patients
including the I-CAT imaging unit that provides high definition, 3D diagnostic
images for ultimate treatment efficiency as well as the I-Tero Cadent digital
impression scanner that is revolutionizing prosthetic dentistry. “Our scanner
provides an extremely accurate picture eliminating the need for standard impressions,” stated
Dr. Gates. |
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Dr. Marc Brown, Director,
Residency Training, Oral and Maxillofacial
Surgery (right), performing oral surgery,
assisted by Luis Hernandez,
Dental Assistant. |
Dr. James Ganey, Attending,
Dentistry, reviewing X-ray with
Milagros Mendoza, Dental Assistant. |
For
adult patients, a wide range of routine and specialty
services are available. Endodontic, periodontic,
orthodontic,
and restorative procedures including crowns
and bridges, root
canals, treatment of gum disease, and dentures
are provided.
The oral and maxillofacial specialists in
the department
are widely acknowledged for their expertise
in all types of
dental surgery from tooth extractions under
IV sedation and
emergency treatment of facial injuries to
innovative implant
procedures.
These specialists work closely
with ER physicians
to ensure continuity of care for patients
suffering from
traumatic facial injuries. Cosmetic dentistry,
including tooth
whitening, bonding, and veneers is brightening
patient smiles. |
“Our
dental residents, now dental specialists,
are practicing throughout the United States and
the world, reinforcing Bronx-Lebanon’s reputation
for excellence in dental care.”
-Dr.
Paul Gates |
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| Miaji Powell, Dental Assistant,
taking X-ray of patient. |
Dr. Leslie Smithey, Director,
Clinics/Co-Director General Practice
Dentistry Program, instructing Dental Residents
(LtoR): Taoheed Johnson,
Marc Thevenin, Tara Gainey, and Yuriy May. |
Pediatric
dentists are successfully establishing the idea
of
a “dental home” beginning at age one
to treat oral health
problems in children. Additionally, pediatric
orthodontists
are placing aesthetically pleasing braces
to ensure the best
tooth alignment. There are many treatment
options available
for children with complex dental problems
including oral
rehabilitation under general anesthesia and
conscious sedation
office visits.
In terms of prevention, the Department of
Dentistry is reaching
out to schools and daycare centers to teach
children and their
families about good oral health, with the
ultimate goal of
decreasing the impact of early childhood
carries. Screening
programs are now in place at primary schools,
daycare centers,
and community organizations. |
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| Dr. Ashley Beards, Attending,
Dentistry (right), observing Lamonica Davis,
Resident, Dentistry, as she examines patient. |
Dr. Karen Kemp-Prosterman,
Director, Pediatric Dental Residency
Program, with patient. |
The
oral health care for non-emergent patients begins
with the
registration process. Registrars provide
important assistance
and all patients are seen regardless of their
ability to pay.
Dental assistants then initiate the evaluation
by obtaining vital
signs (including initial pain assessment),
taking radiographs
and conveying information relevant for the
assessment to the
dentist or dental hygienist.
Support services,
such as sterilization,
supplies, and medical/dental record acquisition
are essential
to the day-to-day operational flow. “We are
a dynamic and
responsive team,” stated Dr. Leslie Smithey,
Director of Clinics,
Co-Director, General Practice Residency Program.
Both Bronx-Lebanon’s General Practice and
Pediatric Dental
Residencies are nationally recognized for
their outstanding dedication
to serving the underserved population. Its
Department
of Dentistry trains more under-represented
minorities than
any dental residency program in the United
States.
“Our dental
residents, now dental specialists, are practicing
throughout the
United States and the world, reinforcing
Bronx-Lebanon’s
reputation for excellence in dental care,” stated
Dr. Gates. |
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| Dr. Barat Mankad, Attending,
Dentistry, performing orthodontic procedure. |
Dr. LaToya Callahan, Supervising
Attending/Co-Director, General Dentistry
Residency Program, educating patient. |
Securing
grant funding continues to be an important part
of
Dr. Gates’ efforts and a source of pride
for him. Recently,
Dr. Gates attained one of two nationally
awarded five-year
renewable grants that will provide over $2.5
million in funding
for faculty development for dental residents
and attendings.
Additionally, the Health Resources and Services
Administration
(HRSA) Grant has awarded five-year funding
for dental residency
programs and operational initiatives which
provide equipment
acquisitions and renovations for clinical
space. The Ryan White
Dental Reimbursement Grant is also providing
important
assistance in addressing the needs of dental
patients with
HIV/AIDS.
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| Dr. Ngozi Ubu, Attending
Dentistry, Dr, Keith Williams, Attending, Pediatric
Dentistry, and Dr. Haewon Chung, Resident,
Dentistry, reviewing X-ray. |
Dr. Denny Chern-Kelk reviewing
chart of Bronx-Lebanon Special Care Center
patient, as Dental Assistant and Dental Resident
begin preparatory work. |
Construction
is also moving forward to increase capacity at
the 1770 Practice location. Nine additional chairs
and clinical space will enable dentists to see
more pediatric and orthodontic patients. An orthodontic
residency will soon also become an integral part
of the overall dental residency program.
“We are proud of the recognition bestowed
upon our service;
appreciative of the patients who entrust
their oral health care
to us; grateful to the support staff whose
contributions cannot
be understated; and proud of the residents
we have trained,
the faculty we have retained, and the leadership
maintained,”
stated Dr. Gates. |
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In
looking to the future, Dr. Gates is continually
striving to expand services in response to the
growing dental needs of the Bronx community. He
takes pride in the newly expanded BronxCare at
Third Avenue dental practice, which provides oral
health services in a family practice setting. |
| Dr. Oliver Sullivan, Attending,
Dentistry, and Amanda Eidelson, Resident,
Dentistry, examining patient. |
| Visit us here at BronxLebanonDentistry.org |
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