This year more than 43 million people, about 16 percent of the U.S. population, will relocate. They'll survive moving day frenzy, inherit a new home, ZIP and area code, but will lose their familiar neighborhood network of contacts, including their health care providers, according to the Academy of General Dentistry.
In unfamiliar territory, many consumers will turn to the local phone book to scour the pages for a new family physician and dentist. However, that may not be the easiest or most reliable source of information.
Designed to help consumers find a qualified dentist near their home, work or school quickly and easily, consumers can dial 1-877-2X-A-YEAR (1-877-292-9327) toll-free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week from anywhere in the United States or Canada. When they do, operators will provide them with names, address and phone numbers of up to three Academy member general dentists. Callers should be prepared to provide their ZIP code or the name of a city or region.
This toll-free service, sponsored by the Academy of General Dentistry, makes locating a qualified dentist easy and reliable. Celebrating its second national anniversary this January, the 1-877-2X-A-YEAR service also helps to raise public awareness of the importance of seeing a dentist at least twice a year.
New Neighbors Use 1-877-2X-A-YEAR to Find a Dentist
Calls to the toll-free service, originally launched on January 10, 2000, have helped connect more than 7,300 consumers with more than 16,000 general dentists. Sixteen percent of those callers new to their area called the toll-free service to find a new dentist.
"Millions of consumers relocate each year, and it is our goal to help those families connect with a new dentist, one that they will feel comfortable visiting twice a year," says Howard W. Zuckerman, DDS, MAGD, president and spokesperson of the Academy of General Dentistry.
Dr. Zuckerman agrees that consumers should brush twice a day with fluoride toothpaste, drink fluoridated water, floss daily, eat nutritious meals and maintain regular dental checkups for a healthy mouth. Frequent checkups can help prevent gum disease, tooth decay and improve dental and overall health.
In recent years, researchers have found a possible connection between gum disease and coronary vascular disease, which can place people at risk for heart attacks and strokes. In individuals with diabetes, gum disease is associated with poor control of insulin levels. Pregnant women also need to be careful; gum disease can place them at risk for having low-birthweight babies.
Share Your Medical History
Dr. Zuckerman reminds consumers to share their medical history with their new dentist. Doing so helps ensure the quality of dental restorations, prevents potentially harmful drug interactions or health conditions.
On the Academy's Web site, www.agd.org, one can still search for a dentist in their area via "Find A Dentist" under the Consumer Section pull-down menu.
