Greetings,

I recently returned from a fine weekend scouting in and around Hendersonville, NC, former home of The Mother Earth News magazine if I remember correctly. I first learned about Dr. Nara and Oramedics back in 1980 after reading the 'Plowboy Interview' with Nara in Mother Earth News. Sixteen years later, the OraMedia site was drafted and went online - making this year our 10th anniversary! Thanks to those of you who've been subscribing since then and to you who've just signed up!

In case you were wondering, about 4000 of you subscribe to the OraMedia Newsletter. 15,000 of you visited the site in January, viewing about 40,000 pages. Prior to getting the site online, it was always my interest to tell people about Nara's work but I never dreamed that I'd ever be able to come into contact with so many folks in such a short time - let alone doing it on a monthly basis. Dr. Nara credits me with keeping this word on oral health spreading, but in reality it is you - and I would like to sincerely thank you for checking in and opening up to a different view on oral health, which, you are finding, works quite well when applied correctly.

Sincerely,

Tom Cornwell

Calcium

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Article by Michael Lutz

A couple of weeks ago my father-in-law, Dr. Robert Nara, asked if I would be interested in writing an article for this newsletter. At the time I didn’t think that was possible because I don’t know a lot about the field of dentistry. That was the case until this past weekend when I was skiing with my wife and I took a terrible fall breaking my collarbone. How does my accident relate to dentistry you might ask? The answer is simple, it’s calcium.

Read on...

Talk to Doctors So They Will Listen!

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A few years back I was working with a hospice which served 3 Upstate, New York counties. I was on the 'Speakers Bureau,' worked development and handled marketing and public relations. One thing I found was there was always a need for better communication between the patients, their families, doctors and hospice nurses. Oddly enough, I ran across a report by Patricia Loofbourrow, MD entitled, 'Talk to Doctors So They Will Listen.'

I read the report and found it chock full of good, applicable information relating to better communication with the friendly doctor and sold it at the hospice site to help raise funds for the organization.

Dr. Loofbourrow has since discontinued sales of the report but in tracking her down I purchased rights to market this report as it applies very seriously to our approach to prevention ala Dr. Robert Nara.

Nara points to the profession for its lack of responsible communication to the public on good oral health (this includes the various 'high level' organizations such as the American Dental Association (ADA), Canadian Dental Association (CDA), etc.). The profession blames the public: "We tell them, but they don't listen or will not carry through..." We, as the public don't know what to think. We throw our hands up and perhaps avoid the situation all together. Regardless, the public suffers. The dentists are getting wealthy and the governing organizations grow more powerful.

Ultimately, the responsibility for your health care issues is yours and yours alone. Don't think the insurance companies have your best interest at heart. They'll tell you that they do, but their main interest is in the bottom line.

The bottom line for you is that you need to understand the disease, how to avoid it or how to treat it and part of that treatment will have to come from dealing with the doctor from time to time, so learn how to talk to doctors so they will listen.

I ran this report by a doctor last week and she said it was right on the money!

Order Information...

Q&A: Looking for holistic dentist

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Tom, Do you know where I might find a "holistic dentist," or how I might research for a dentist like that?

It's unfortunate that often times we are forced to choose between the dentist and the eye doctor. Insurances won't let you have both.

Any suggestions you might have would be appreciated.

Thank you, A faithful customer

A: No, I am sorry I do not have a list of dentists in any area, holistic or otherwise, who would work with you on this type of program (though it is a very common inquiry). I do not necessarily feel that just because one may claim to be 'holistic,' he or she will work with you along the lines of Dr. Nara. Many dentists use this description to appeal to a certain audience seeking 'alternative,' minimally invasive, or other types of dental care. It may or may not be the case and is something you will have to check out on your own, like anything else, until you are satisfied with who you are dealing with.

Interesting to note that the term 'preventive dentistry' now includes the filling of teeth (according to the CDC). Technically, those dentists are 'preventing' something else, like the loss of a tooth. If this definition fits, then ALL dentists are practicing 'prevention' as long as they are not replacing your teeth with dentures. Hardly what we have in mind when we think of 'prevention...'

Hope this helps.
Tom