Volunteers Needed for the Southern Maryland Mission of Mercy

The Second Annual Southern Maryland Mission Of Mercy (SMMOM) will be held July 18th and 19th, 2014 at North Point High School in Charles County. Once again, Dr. Dargan is the Volunteer Coordinator for the event.  Our mission is open for registration of general volunteers.  We welcome the volunteer support of our adult patients and friends to be part of this extremely rewarding experience! If you would like to volunteer, please Click HERE.

 

 

Last June, the First Annual SMMOM was held at Chopticon High School and provided dental services to adults in the Tri-County area who otherwise would not be able to receive dental care, at no charge.  Services valuing over $855,000 were administered to over 650 patients - fillings, extractions, and cleanings.  Over 550 volunteers were involved in this endeavor, including 80 dentists, 40 hygienists, 80 dental assistants, and more than 350 general volunteers.  Our office was represented by Dr. Dargan, an event organizer, Dr. Miller, and Dargan & Miller, D.D.S. team members Tracy, Jeanine, Karen, and Mande.

                                                                                               

If you are interested in volunteering at the Second Annual Southern Maryland Mission of Mercy on July 18th and 19th at North Point High School in Charles County, please click HERE.

 

You support of the

Southern Maryland Mission of Mercy

is much appreciated!

 

 

 

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Family Event to Support the SOMD Mission of Mercy!

(click for larger view)

The Southern Maryland Mission of Mercy (SMMOM) will host the Classic Family Variety Show on Saturday, December 14th, 2013 at 7:00 p.m. at Great Mills High School to help raise funds for their mission/free dental clinic in July 2014. This wonderful two-hour variety show from Branson, Missouri will star Dalena Ditto, Branson’s Female Entertainer of the Year, and feature Patty Davidson, a multi-talented performer and top-notch Ventriloquist. 

Order tickets ONLINE HERE

or by calling:
Jean Wathen at 301-884-4438
 

or purchase at the door

Pricing:

$15 for children

$35 for adults

The SMMOM budget for supplies, equipment rental, and other expenses is $65,000, and funds come through fundraising activities such as the Classic Family Variety Show, as well as from contributions. If you are able to make a donation of any dollar amount, please Click HERE.  

 

The Second Annual SMMOM will be held July 18th and 19th, 2014 at North Point High School in Charles County. Dr. Dargan is the Volunteer Coordinator, once again.  After January 1st, 2014, our mission will be open for registration of general volunteers.  We welcome the volunteer support of our adult patients and friends to be part of this extremely rewarding experience! If you would like to volunteer, please Click HERE.

 

 

Last June, the First Annual Southern Maryland Mission of Mercy (SMMOM) was held at Chopticon High School and provided dental services to adults in the Tri-County area who otherwise would not be able to receive dental care, at no charge.  Services valuing over $855,000 were administered to over 650 patients - fillings, extractions, and cleanings.  Over 550 volunteers were involved in this endeavor, including 80 dentists, 40 hygienists, 80 dental assistants, and more than 350 general volunteers.  Our office was represented by Dr. Dargan, an event organizer, as well as Dargan & Miller, D.D.S. team members Tracy, Jeanine, and Mande.

                                                                                               

If you are interested in volunteering at the Second Annual Southern Maryland Mission of Mercy on July 18th and 19th at North Point High School in Charles County, please click HERE.

 

You support of the

Southern Maryland Mission of Mercy

is much appreciated!

 

We hope to see you at the
Classic Family Variety Show!

 

Our Grateful Thanksgiving Message!

 

May your Thanksgiving be filled

with

Gratitude & Love!

 

Gratefully,

The Dargan & Miller, D.D.S. Team

How did THAT Happen?

Aging ~ it happens! You wake up one morning, look in the mirror, and get the shock of your life, "Wow! How did THAT happen?!" A whole lot of changes are taking place and you quickly realize that gravity is not your friend and youth is fleeting. Even your teeth are showing signs of wear and tear! Are your teeth discolored, stained, worn, chipped, or missing?

Consider Cosmetic Dentistry to:

~ fill in for missing teeth

~ replace damaged teeth

~ secure dentures & bridges 

To begin the process of combating the aging process in your mouth,

please call the Dargan & Miller, DDS office at 410-535-4050

to schedule your consultation appointment.

 

The Toothpaste Personalities

Toothpaste ~ so many brands,

so many options from each brand.

THE TRAVELER: Some people are so committed to their brand that if one store doesn't carry their specific favorite, they will head to other stores to hunt it down. Finding it is a personal quest. And when they find it, they stock up - after all, what if their one and only becomes discontinued? 

THE ADVENTURER: Other people are more adventurous ~ making their way through the toothpaste aisle, reading every box, they are open to trying something new with the hope of covering all the bases of their dental needs. It's their own personal experiment.

THE EASILY INFLUENCED: Some people are motivated to search out a specific kind after seeing an advertisement. They see it, believe it, want it, buy it! Done!

 

THE I'M-NOT-CHANGING-FOR-ANYTHING: Then there are those who have never and will never make a change. From their earliest recollection, they have been using the same brand. And why not? It worked then; it works now!

 

THE DEAL SEEKER: These savvy shoppers are all about finding the very best deal. If it has fluoride, they are a good to go and feel a certain amount of satisfaction from saving money.

 

Dargan & Miller, D.D.S. do not recommend one brand over another (nor will they divulge their personal favorites). Here's a good rule of thumb: seek out the American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Acceptance  - it's there to help you make good choices. According to the American Dental Association, "Not all products submitted for the Seal meet the ADA’s stringent requirements. In fact, to obtain the ADA Seal companies frequently are asked to meet higher standards than what is required by law. The ADA Seal is never sold. No profit goes to the ADA when a company earns the Seal. The ADA Seal is not an endorsement of a particular product; rather it is designed to help you know that claims made on the label say what they do and do what they say. These claims are approved by the ADA before the product ever hits the market." 

 

So, inquiring minds want to know ...

what toothpaste personality are you?

what kind of toothpaste is your favorite?

Top 3 Ways to Prevent Dental Injuries

 1.

DO wear a mouth guard
when participating in sports
or recreational activities. 

 

 

 

   2. 

DON'T chew ice, popcorn kernels
and hard candy,

all of which can crack a tooth. 

 

 

    3. 

DON'T use your teeth to open anything,
such as bottles, nuts, packages ... 

 

 

A Deadly Epidemic Requires A Call to Action

 

With prescription drug abuse having reached epidemic proportions, a call to action is being heard across the country by the medical community. In April 2013, the Maryland State Dental Association (MSDA) and the Maryland Board of Dental Examiners announced that all Maryland Licensed Dentists, in order to renew licensure and practice dentistry, are required to complete a continuing education course entitled "Prescribing and Disposal of Prescription Drugs."

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly one-third of people aged 12 and over who used drugs for the first time in 2009 began by using a prescription drug non-medically. On the Mouth Healthy website of the American Dental Association (ADA), it states: "Unfortunately, prescription medications have become a leading source of drug abuse among teens and young adults. These medications are often obtained from a friend or family member who had received a prescription for a legitimate purpose. Parents are sometimes fooled into handing over these drugs to treat an apparent symptom of physical distress or pain. More often, they are stolen from the medicine cabinet or lifted from the trash."

 

 

In an effort to relieve pain after a dental procedure, dentists may prescribe a narcotic analgesic for a patient. When used as prescribed for a limited amount of time, these medications are effective. But using these drugs beyond a limited reasonable period of time or for any other purpose is illegal, dangerous, and can even be fatal. 

The ADA offers suggestions on what you can do

to help in the fight against

prescription drug abuse:

• Communicate. Talk with your children about the dangers of using prescription drugs for non-medical purposes. Be sure they understand that prescription drugs are not necessarily safe (or safer) just because they are legal. Prescription drugs can be just as addictive and dangerous (even fatal) as illegal street drugs. They are also only legal for the person for whom they are prescribed. 

• Secure. Properly secure your prescription medications. Do not leave them in predictable, accessible places like your medicine cabinet. Hide them in unexpected places or, better yet, lock them up to ensure you do not become your teen’s supplier. 

• Monitor. Be mindful of whether anyone else—especially your child and his or her friends—may have been taking your pills. Take note of how many pills are in each of your prescription bottles or pill packets and keep track of your refills. This goes for your own medicine, as well as for your teens and other members of the household. 

• Dispose. Properly dispose of your unused, unwanted or expired prescription medications. If you are unable to attend a drug take-back day or cannot get to a permanent prescription collection site, try mixing unwanted prescription medicines with coffee grounds or kitty litter. This makes pills less appealing and less recognizable to anyone who can see your trash—including your kids. 

• Spread the word. Tell your family, friends and neighbors about how teens are now using prescription drugs to get high. Encourage them to talk with their children, safeguard their medicines and tell others in their communities.