Is It Your Turn Yet?

September 2008

"Wow! Look What Many Can Do!"

It is amazing what like minded people can get accomplished when they decide to work together for a common goal.

Our Regional YMCA, through terrific volunteerism, has been given a new spirit that is evident when you walk through the doors. This is just the beginning. Our very active and forward thinking Board is working hard to attract a dynamic executive director to lead the staff and volunteers in the remaking of our YMCA. Our fall youth programs, which are a high focus, have been very well received and increased volunteerism has made that happen.

As we proceed over the next many years, it is that community spirit that will allow our YMCA to be the center of this regional community. Broadening programs with Dexter, Guilford, Milo and other surrounding communities can help bring together, all of the region, with a common foundation of physical and mental health and well being.

If you have some time, stop in and talk with the staff to find out what the ‘Y’ can offer you. If you have time and want to work with others, please consider volunteering, as it is many people doing a small amount that is going to make this regional community and this YMCA a positive center.

Today is the first day of the rest of our YMCA life.

Article written by: Dr. Daniel L. Steinke

Is It Your Turn Yet?

August 2008

"A Dental Home"

As many of you know, I have two boys. Jack is almost three and Griffin will be turning one this month. During the first years of their lives, we have taken them to their many “well baby visits” with our primary care physician to ensure they are growing at the proper rate and to hear recommendations on the prevention of childhood diseases.

What would the majority say is the most common childhood disease? Is it Asthma (an illness that is certainly on the rise) or Attention Deficit Disorder (a condition we hear a lot about in the news)? It’s neither one. The most chronic disease affecting children in the United States today is Dental Decay which is five times more common than asthma. Yes…tooth decay is a disease! It is caused by a bacterial process. By the time children are in preschool, 19% have at least one tooth with untreated decay. Almost 60% of children ages 5-17 have cavities and the numbers are increasing in all cultural and economic populations. It is a common reason for sleepless nights and missed school days for thousands of children each year.

As an effective way to begin a lifelong program of preventative dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry now recommends that a child has their first dental visit by their first birthday. During this first visit, the dentist can check for proper oral and facial development and detect any early tooth decay. Most importantly, it allows for the dentist to review a home dental care program and diet.

Early preventative care is also a good financial and health investment. Some parents avoid taking their young children to the dentist to save money; however, studies show that dental costs for children who have their first dental visit before age one are 40% lower in the first five years then for those who do not see a dentist before their first birthday.

In our office we continue to see the benefits of starting dental visits at an early age. Many of the children who start coming at a young age and grow up in our practice, learn the importance of good snacks and taking good care of their teeth. These patients have never had a filling and don’t know what it feels like to have “numbing” until they have their wisdom teeth out at age 18!

To help families in our area establish a “dental home” we would like to offer one free visit for any child less than 18 months. If the family is already established in our practice, the baby can be brought to a family member’s appointment and have an exam by the doctor or hygienist. If the family is not already established with our practice, the staff will be happy to assist you in scheduling your child for a first time exam.

Many of you, in some way, have children in your life…whether your own, a grandchild, niece, nephew, or the child of a friend. We are asking you to help the caregivers of these children to understand the importance of early dental visits and encourage them to give our office a call at 564-3455 (Dover-Foxcroft office) or 422-3770 (Sorrento office). It is the key to a lifetime of healthy, cavity free smiles!

Today is the first day of the rest of your life!

Article written by: Dr. Hillary S. Caruso

Is It Your Turn Yet?

July 2008

"Changes In The YMCA"

There are positive changes going on in our YMCA and I have committed to be part of it. As most of you know, I have sponsored this advertising for the YMCA for the past 12 years. Our YMCA is a crucial part of the fabric of our community in the Penquis area. We are the smallest population in New England with a YMCA. We are also the poorest region to have a YMCA. YES, there are challenges, but our YMCA should be the center of healthy activity in this region. Admittedly, these past five years have been a challenge. Although we have dedicated people, our youth programming, our community network, and facility has suffered.

If you have come into the ‘Y’ in the past few months, you have seen some very positive changes and a very positive group of individuals that have newly dedicated themselves to the YMCA’s success. At our annual meeting last Thursday, 12 enthusiastic, dedicated people were voted to be on our Board of Directors. This is exciting because the Board of Directors is like the coaches on a team. They direct, inspire and plan for the future. After being a Board member since I came in 1988, but being inactive over the past 8 years, I was asked and accepted the position of President of the YMCA Board. It was because of the new enthusiasm and leadership, that I accepted this position.

We want to engage YOU to be an active part of your YMCA. We pledge increasing customer service, improved programming, and most importantly, improved listening to you, the population, as to what you want from your Regional YMCA. We believe the YMCA should not be the community center in this region, but the “center of the community”.

Our new Board members are: Jason Brochu, Margie Gutierrez, Lisa Libby, Jen Fairbrother, David Lee Finley, Teresa Myers, George Merrill, Brenda Merrill, Amy Fagan-Cannon, Warren “Skip” MacDonald, Dick MacDonald, and Pamela Schmidt. They join existing members Jean Hitchcock, Jody Annis, Marie Louise Kemp, Dennis Ruksznis, Laurie Smith, Dennis Lyford, Jeff Kelly, Caroline Swett, Dick Swett and Jack Clukey. If you know any of them and have concerns about your YMCA, I encourage you to call them (including me) and share your vision on how to make the ‘Y’ the “Center of our Community”. Our children, young adults and our seniors deserve the best and we want to provide for everyone.

Please follow the YMCA program on our website at www.dover-foxcroft.org and click on the ‘Y’ under Piscataquis Regional YMCA You may ask questions or make comments through e-mail.

My family sometimes watches “Extreme Makeover – Home Edition”. As I arrived back from the annual meeting my wife was watching the program and saw a touching story of how a community came together to make a dream happen for a challenged individual and family. If we work together, we can make our YMCA the finest, most fun and active place in the State of Maine. I know our community can do this. I am asking for your support in helping this new Board navigate its way to the center of your heart and the top of your expectations.

Today is the first day of the rest of OUR life!!!

Article written by: Dr. Daniel L. Steinke

Is It Your Turn Yet?

June 2008

"Core Values"

The office staff and management team recently attended a two day conference on customer service and personal interaction skills. At the end of the second day, the speaker spoke on Personal and Professional Core Values.

My best and most vivid memory of core values was the movie “City Slickers” in which Billy Crystal was discussing with the old cowboy the meaning and fulfillment of life and the old cowboy simply put up his finger. The confused Billy Crystal needed more clarification and the old cowboy simply said, “The One Thing”.

It is often evident in our society, that we, as individuals, don’t think about our “core values”. My theory is that if we, as individuals, routinely, internally assess what is really important to us, ie: family, helping others, we could make a better society and true enjoyment in life would increase.

There are so many distractions in our daily lives and so much pressure to go fast that we often begin to do things that aren’t (or shouldn’t be) important. The negative challenges in our world, ie: divorce, alcoholism/drug abuse, etc. are symptoms of having so much pressure in our society to perform and go fast that we don’t slow down to think about what is really important.

Does it sound “hokey” and “new age” to sit quietly on a regular basis and think about “The One Thing”. The “Thing” that makes you feel fulfilled, happy and proud of yourself. Then, after finding that “One Thing”, to see if your daily actions match that “core value”.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

Article written by: Dr. Daniel L. Steinke

Is It Your Turn Yet?

May 2008

"Dental Care For The Physically and Mentally Challenged"

It is a blessing in our practice that the great majority of You can have good dental care even if you have some anxiety regarding the event of being at the dentist office.

Oral sedation, in our office, has given us the ability to treat 98% of the people who seek care. What I am addressing today, are the 2% that physically or mentally are unable to have dental care even with oral sedation. To be honest, I have not encountered a fully functional, mentally/physically healthy individual that cannot have dental care in our office with oral sedation. It is the individual who is bed ridden in a nursing home or the severely mentally/physically challenged individual that we have been unable to give the quality of care that we desire.

As of March 2008, Mayo Hospital has purchased a dental unit that can be utilized in the operating room so that Dr. Caruso and I can treat individuals with severe disabilities who require general sedation. This allows even the most severely challenged individuals to receive quality care in a very safe environment. This is a day surgery in which the patient comes into the operating room about 2 hours early and leaves the same day. An anesthesiologist/anesthesist is with the patient at all times during the sedation process.

Mayo Hospital’s commitment to this service is to be applauded as this is the first time in Piscataquis County that this population can have preventive and restorative care, ie: fillings, root canals, etc. There are two dentists in Bangor who treat dentists at EMMC,,but the waiting period is months away.

In this day of keeping teeth rather than being condemned to full dentures, it is terrific that all individuals in our area can now have complete care available to them.

If you are interested in these services, please call our office at 564-3455 or Linda Zimmerman at Mayo Hospital 564-4262.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

Article written by: Dr. Daniel L. Steinke

Is It Your Turn Yet?

April 2008

"Trust "

I am sitting on a beautiful spring day in the middle of the hillside of my stallion’s pasture waiting to see if Merlin will come up to me of his own free will if I just sit in the grass waiting for him. Understanding horses is a hobby. I view their habits and how their minds are analyze and make decisions. Merlin, having spent his 23 years with me, is much more cautious about randomly coming up to me as I sit at the top of his pasture. He’s had many years and many times of finding out that when I come to see him it means work. I did the same experiment on my new 6 month old colt, Knight Hawk, and now I can’t get rid of him if I go anywhere in the pasture.

Merlin, now after 15 minutes, seems to be grazing closer and closer, every once in a while looking up at me and analyzing whether there could be some benefit, such as a treat, if he would dare to come the next 40 feet. I think he understands enough to know that he has already gone for a long ride today so the chance of a second ride is slim. Howeverl, it’s daylight and there is that slight chance that I might do something awful like worm or groom him.

Interestingly, I have done this same experiment with all the horses on a beautiful starlit night, sitting quietly in the pasture and even Merlin, within minutes, has the curiosity to approach me. Now, 3 minutes later and 20 feet away, he grazes closer and closer, keeping an eye on me. When experimenting the same way with the mares and geldings in a separate pasture, at night, it is almost dangerous, as they come up to me, nibble and vie for my attention. The daytime hours aren’t nearly as productive with any of the horses, except for Knight Hawk. Isn’t innocence wonderful? His only contact with me results in my giving him treats, rubbing his neck and bringing him into the barn for grain.

Merlin is now only 15 feet away. The sound of the birds coming back and the rustling of the spring wind is awesome after a long winter. These days, before the bugs come, are some of the most precious for me. Two weeks ago, the very place I am sitting on, this dry grass, was covered with two feet of snow. The robins have arrived and the deer are eating from our yard at dusk and again in the early morning, walking amazingly close to Merlin. Neither the deer or the turkeys seem to mind Merlin. They will come to finish off his grain as they know he is a sloppy eater, Now he is only ten feet away, keeping one eye on me. He takes one more step, turns around and then walks away.

It must be too weird for him to find me sitting here. Something must be up! This is the same horse, that last year, after I wormed the others and left him in his pasture, wouldn’t let me catch him for two days, knowing what was in store for him the next time he was caught.

Sometimes, trust in our relationships, isn’t as dependable nor as constant, as we would like it. Humans, like horses, judge that trust based on past experiences.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

Article written by: Dr. Daniel L. Steinke