It’s “not a sexy topic.”
That is what Dr. Robert Geiman quips about dental hygiene. He should know, as he is co-author of “The Tooth Bible,” a new guide to navigating dental health care for children.
Geiman’s goal is to provide a public service to both parents and children. A first generation American citizen, Geiman’s parents came to the United States from the former Soviet Union, to escape the oppression encountered there. He is not the first in his family to write a book, however, as his grandfather was a neurosurgeon who wrote an atlas of his findings in neuroanatomy, which Geiman said he found in the library at Columbia University, while studying there.
Geiman’s credentials include a bachelor’s degree in math from Brandeis University, going on to complete a dual degree program at Columbia University, earning his doctorate of dental surgery from the College of Dentistry and a master’s degree in dental education from Teacher’s College.He said he obtained the degrees by attending night school for education concurrently with his daytime dental studies.
“When we are young we believe we can do anything,” he recalled. “I can do it all,” was his mentality as he went on to complete a masters of science degree in biomedical sciences and certificate in orthodontics at the University of Maryland.
His natural affinity for tutoring fellow students while in college grew into a desire to write a book in answer to common dental questions posed by parents and to acclimate children to good oral hygiene from infancy through adolescence. For instance, do most parents know that they are advised to brush their infant’s teeth? Those one or two tiny teeth need care as the rest begin to surface.
While serving as faculty and volunteering to teach dentistry students about orthodontics at Yale New Haven Health,
met his co-author, Dr. Michael Sultan, D.D.S., a graduate of New York University’s College of Dentistry, he said.
Sultan is the program director specializing in pediatric dental care at Yale New Haven Health. Together they created a “map” for parents to help their children with best practice oral hygiene habits.
“Parents rely on dentists to identify problems,” Geiman notes, but he also encourages self advocacy.
“Be as knowledgeable as possible,” he said he advises parents and caregivers. “Teach your children to brush better and it may improve their bite as well.”
As a parent of 7-year-old twins, a practicing orthodontist and the co-author of “The Tooth Bible,”. Geiman said he knows the challenges of making tooth care an enjoyable experience instead of a dreaded chore.
He recalls that “A lot of parents (often the moms) may have a lot of guilt. Why didn’t I notice that?” they comment when a dental issue arises. “The Tooth Bible” offers support to pregnant women, and continues its guidance to parents as their child grows to adolescence, he said.
Geiman said that a key age for pediatric dental care is age 7, although ages 6 through 8 are a vital window of opportunity for dental wellness examinations. Geiman, who said he seeks to create an atmosphere of trust with young patients, suggests that parents may consider bringing their 1-year-old babies or toddlers with them to their own dental examinations to help the little ones adjust to the sights, sounds and environment of the dental office. A parent can allow their child to “sit on” them, or watch nearby as the dentist performs the examination on the parent.
By accompanying their parent to the dentist, children view it as a normal part of a healthy routine, he said.
Geiman also said he advises parents not to divulge information about any previous discomfort in the dentist’s chair so that their children do not pick up their parents’ fears or resistance to dental care. His own children choose their favorite toothbrush characters, flavor of toothpaste and flossers in pink and blue to encourage them to enjoy the process of brushing and flossing their teeth, he said.
Sultan, who, is the self-described “quiet guy,” in the writing team, has been consistently promoted in his role at Yale New Haven Health. From his initial work as a resident, to a role as a teacher on the faculty, he is now the program director of pediatric dentistry. He refers to the “big need in the state,” for pediatric specialists as “most kids are seen by a general dentist” unless they have a special need or complicated dental issue.
Sultan was originally planning to write just a few chapters of the book. At the request of Geiman, the scope of “The Tooth Bible” grew to address the serious nature of dental disease and emphasize the imperative need for “baby teeth” to be treated in case of infection.
Sultan said the reason for the new standard that children 1 and older see a dentist is to ensure healthy gums and development of permanent teeth from baby teeth. His message is to encourage parents not to delay in visiting the dentist and to have their children’s baby teeth checked at 1, not age three as was formerly advised, he said.
He treats three or more specialized pediatric cases daily, in which the child often has a swollen face or other painful symptoms due to an infection. In these cases most of their primary teeth are compromised and cavity-ridden.
“Twenty out of 20 teeth,” are often involved, Sultan notes. He may work for two hours or more in conjunction with medical doctors to treat each pediatric patient.
Some children with whom he works are from refugee populations and their teeth are severely decayed. Others have parents who think that because baby teeth fall out, the situation is not serious. In fact, dental issues affect the whole body and children’s health may deteriorate rapidly due to an untreated infection. “Everything is integrated,” he said, referring to the effect of dental health on the entire body.
Originally a biology major at New York University, Sultan explored a pharmaceutical career and then settled into his role in dentistry after shadowing his own dentist and finding the work to be a natural fit for him.
“I wanted to be more hands-on…to be the one who moved the ball forward,” he said.
Sultan is the first person in his family to become a doctor. His mother is from Brooklyn, New York and his father is from Syria.
About some comical aspects of the work he does while relating to children, some of whom are not yet verbal, Sultan related an incident of the child who “bit into a Lego toy” and it got stuck on their tooth. He employs a “tell, show, do” approach when dealing with children. He uses puppets to illustrate the steps he will take, and finds that he is drawn to this “vulnerable population.” He relates to them by discussing cartoons or movies to develop rapport, before examinations begin, he said.
Initiatives to bring a mobile dental van to Head Start programs are underway to help address the need for cleaning and screening of children’s teeth at school, in the event that their parent is unable to take them to an appointment, Sultan said.
The two dentists are “looking to fill the void,” in messaging about children’s dental health, Geiman said.
The book has an easy-to-read question and answer format with photographs to illustrate the topics. Available online via Kindle for $2.99 through Amazon.com, a more expensive hardcover edition will be launched in November. The objective is to keep the cost low and allow “as many eyeballs as possible,” to read “The Tooth Bible,” he said.
Despite the thousands of hours the four year project required to complete the final version, Geiman said, the goal “is not to make money, it is a public health service.” The physical book launch is in the planning stages, but retail booksellers will carry copies soon, according to Geiman. In the meantime those interested may visit Amazon.com for information.
Early reviews are already beginning to appear online. One customer commented that “The Tooth Bible” is a “must have” for parents.
“This book has been so enlightening and so helpful, and I keep finding myself going back to it to look up answers to questions I didn’t know I’d have,” a parent wrote. “My baby has two bottom teeth and the teething is real, so understanding what he’s going through and how to help him has been crucial. I also didn’t know I needed to start brushing his two tiny teeth. I’m telling you, you’re going to learn things you didn’t even realize you should know.”
Sultan suggests that interested parents check the website for the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, which lists local pediatric providers, to find a children’s dentist and set up an appointment for an early life stage examination.
