Dr. Gordon Whitehead, DDS

Dr. Jana Carlton, DDS

Dr. Dean Troili, DDS

Dr. Dean C. Troili is Clinical Director of Family Dental Plan. Dr. Troili graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelors of Science degree in Chemistry. He received his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from Marquette University in 1986. Dr. Troili is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA) and the Utah Dental Association (UDA). He is an adjunct faculty member of the University of Utah, School of Medicine.

Dr. Deborah Perry, DMD

James Pingree, MD

Gary E. Nelson, MAED, PA-C

Graduated from the University of Utah - August 1983
Certificate, Physician Assistant - March 1991

Experienced in all aspects of medical care, including:
Family Practice
Internal Medicine
Orthopedic
General Surgery
EMT-OB/GYN
Neurology and Stroke

Gary has been working as a Physician Assistant for 21 years.

Gary enjoys fishing, scuba diving, Mountain Man activities, and his family.

Judy Berry, FNP

Judy Berry is a family nurse practitioner with over 20 years experience in a wide-variety of settings. She received her master's degree in nursing with national certification as a nurse practitioner from Catholic University of America, Washington, D.C. and her doctorate in nursing science from Rush University, Chicago, IL. Judy is presently co-coordinator of the graduate Family Nurse Practitioner Program at Brigham Young University, Provo, UT. She works one day a week at the Provo office of Health Clinics of Utah. Judy says that her clinic day at Health Clinics of Utah is her favorite day of the week because she enjoys working with the patients. In addition to her professional life, she is married with four grown children and the grandmother to seven.

Dr. Joseph Miner

Dr. Joseph Miner has worked tirelessly to improve the health of residents of Utah County. Because of his efforts, in 1988 the W.I.C. Program was finally placed under the umbrella of the Utah County Health Department after significant political opposition had been overcome. Under his leadership the program was greatly strengthened and expanded. Service facilities were modernized. Clinics were expanded to Payson and American Fork.

Dr. Miner brought to Utah County the Baby Your Baby @ program because of a concern about infant/neonatal mortality. The BYB program has been extremely successful, serving its 10,000th client in 1996.

As a result of Dr. Miner's efforts, medical support for the Children's Justice Center was initiated and continued. This service has proven to be vital to those children who are victims of sexual abuse.

Dr. Miner has been instrumental in establishing a community health organization called A Healthy Utah Valley @. A focus of this organization is to increase the numbers of children completely immunized by age two. The program includes the awarding of incentives and prizes for fully immunized children. Dr. Miner coordinated the entire effort with Healthy Utah Valley and Health Department staff.

Dr. Miner has actively pursued legislation and funding for programs supporting maternal and child health. He was instrumental in obtaining funding for second MMR vaccinations for secondary school students, allowing students to receive this protection at a minimal cost.

Dr. Miner has worked with Health Clinics of Utah (Provo) since our inception more than 15 years ago.

Rhonda Lee, PA-C

Rhonda Lee, PA-C has worked with our clinic for four years. She earned her BS degree in the Med Tech program at Weber State University and went on to complete the two year Physician Assistant program at the University of Utah. Rhonda is a great provider. Her patients love her.

Deborah Judd FNP-C

Deborah Judd FNP-C has worked for the Health Clinics of Utah since January, 2005. Deborah is a full time Professor of Nursing at Weber State University. Deborah earned her Associate of Science in Nursing degree from BYU University and her Masters of Science (MSN) Family Nurse Practitioner from Georgia State School of Nursing in 1994. She works at the clinic one day a week and fills in during summer vacations. Deborah loves working at our clinic and taking care of her patients.

Dental Health Experts At Nationwide Children's Hospital Remind Parents About Scheduling Toddlers For Dental Visits

While infants under 12 months old may only have a few teeth, experts say they should been seen by a dentist within the first year of life. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry's revised guidelines on infant oral health recommend infants 6 to 12 months old should to be seen by a dentist. More than 40 percent of children have tooth decay by the time they reach kindergarten. In order to help prevent tooth decay, dental experts at Nationwide Children's Hospital are reminding parents to schedule dental appointments for their toddlers.

Studies have shown that if children experience tooth decay in their baby teeth, they are more likely to develop tooth decay in their permanent teeth. By bringing their child to a dentist at an early age, parents learn about the structure of the child's mouth, preventative information on infant oral health and introduce their toddlers to the act of brushing their teeth.

"Infant oral health is the foundation for preventing future tooth decay," said Paul Casamassimo, DDS, MS, chief of Dentistry at Nationwide Children's Hospital. "If a child experiences tooth decay at an early age, it is a very difficult process to stop. The purpose of this initial visit is not only to introduce these toddlers to visiting the dentist, but also to provide preventative information to prevent tooth decay."

The Dental Clinic at Nationwide Children's sees about 35,000 patients and many of these patients under the age of 3. Dr. Casamassimo and his team formed a Baby Dental Clinic in the early 90s for toddlers from birth to 3-years-old. As one of the first baby dental clinics in the country, this clinic has proven to be successful in helping educate families on infant oral health.

"By establishing the relationship between family and dentist, parents learn early on how to take care of their toddler's teeth," said Dr. Casamassimo, also professor of Pediatric Dentistry at The Ohio State University College of Dentistry. "Taking a proactive approach to infant oral care can make a difference that will last a life time."

For parents of a toddler, here are a few tips for taking care of a toddler's teeth:

-- Move your toddler off the bottle as soon as possible. By no later than one year, toddlers should be drinking liquids from some form of a cup

-- When your toddler's teeth start coming in, start brushing their teeth to get them used to the idea of brushing

-- Confine sugar intake to mealtime. Experts suggest sugared-sweetened beverages should not be consumed throughout the day

During a toddler's first dental visit, parents can expect to meet with a dental hygienist and a dentist. Normally seated in a parent-assisted position (knee-to-knee), the hygienist or dentist will do a brief examination of the toddler's mouth; they are examining the oral structure of the mouth while also introducing the toddler to the feeling of a toothbrush. After the examination, parents will learn about dental and oral development, fluoride adequacy, teething, non-nutritive habits, injury prevention, dietary information and oral hygiene instructions. The hygienist or dentist will also explain future age-specific needs and dental milestones including scheduling the next appointment.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/239754.php

Put Your Medicines Up and Away and Out of Sight

More than 60,000 young children end up in emergency rooms each year because they got into medicines while their caregiver wasn't looking. Always put every medicine and vitamin up and away every time you use it. Families take medications and vitamins to feel well and to stay well. But did you know that more than 60,000 young children end up in emergency rooms every year because they get into medicines when their parent or caregiver isn't looking? Photo: Secruing a lid on a bottle.Any kind of medicine and vitamin – even one you buy without a prescription – can cause harm if taken in the wrong way or by the wrong person. All medicines and vitamins should always be kept up and away and out of your child's reach and sight. Protect your child. Here's how: Put medicines and vitamins up and away – out of reach and out of sight. Children are curious and put all sorts of things in their mouths. Even if you turn your back for less than a minute, they can quickly get into things that could hurt them. Pick a storage place in your home that your child cannot reach or see. Different families will have different places. Walk around your house and decide on the safest place to keep your medicines and vitamins. Put medicines and vitamins away every time. This includes medicines and vitamins you use every day. Never leave them out on a kitchen counter or at a sick child's bedside, even if you have to give the medicine again in a few hours. Be prepared in case of an emergency: Program the Poison Control number into your cell phone 800.222.1222 Call your poison control center right away if you think your child might have gotten into a medicine or vitamin. Hear the click to make sure the safety cap is locked. Always relock the cap on a medicine bottle. If the bottle has a locking cap that turns, twist it until you hear the click. Remember, even though many medicines have safety caps, children may be able to open them. Every medicine and vitamin must be stored up and away and out of children's reach and sight. Teach your children about medicine safety. Teach your children what medicine is and why you must be the one to give it to them. Never tell children medicine is candy to get them to take it, even if your child doesn't like to take his or her medicine. Tell your guests about medicine safety. Ask houseguests and visitors to keep purses, bags, or coats that have medicine in them up and away and out of sight when they are in your home. Photo: A woman texting.Be prepared in case of an emergency. Call your poison control center at 800.222.1222 right away if you think your child might have gotten into a medicine or vitamin. Program the Poison Control number into your home and cell phones so you will have it when you need it. Take the pledge. Visit the Up and Away websiteExternal Web Site Icon and take the pledge to store medications safely, make sure the safety cap is locked in place, teach children about medication, and program the Poison Control number in your phones. Learn more at www.UpAndAway.orgExternal Web Site Icon

Multilingual Library Gets a Facelift

The Office of Health Disparities Multilingual Library has been redesigned as a dynamic website. You can search for health brochures, websites and media by language, topic or target population, and narrow your results if necessary. The library includes resources in 41 languages.

Are you looking for resources especially designed for a specific racial group, such as African Americans or American Indians, even though these people may prefer English?  You can find such materials by searching by target population.  Other target population categories include low literacy readers, low income, rural area, and  age categories like children or elderly.

Check it out at http://health.utah.gov/disparities/multilinguallibrary/index.php

Get to Know Your Blood Pressure

‘Take the stairs’ and ‘reduce sodium’ are two of the messages in  new radio ads encouraging Utahns to make small changes to control or maintain blood pressure. The ads are airing on radio stations along the Wasatch Front. Print ads with the same message are running in newspapers in Tooele, Moab, and Price.

The ads are part of the second phase of a new blood pressure awareness campaign by the Utah Department of Health’s (UDOH) Heart Disease & Stroke Prevention Program (HDSPP).  Nicole Bissonette, HDSPP manager, says, “The aim of these ads is to show that changes to control blood pressure don’t need to be big.”

“Focusing on lifestyle changes was a natural lead in this campaign,” adds Bissonette.  “Our focus last year was on encouraging Utahns to visit a health care provider and learn their blood pressure numbers. Now, we want people to know that small changes can make a big difference in lowering your risk for heart attack and stroke.”

Other materials for this phase of the campaign will soon be available for download on the HDSPP website and include posters, bookmarks, and a brochure with blood pressure information.

Blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attacks and strokes, both of which are leading causes of death in Utah. Seventy-percent of the sodium a person consumes comes from packaged and restaurant foods. To hear the ads and see last year’s campaign materials, visit http://www.hearthighway.org/bp_campaign.html.

Cold Medicines for New Moms and Moms-to-Be

It’s cold and flu season in Utah, and new and pregnant moms are at risk like anyone else.  But unlike the rest of us, they can have different treatment needs. Staff of the Pregnancy Risk Line, a joint service of the Utah Department of Health and University of Utah Health Care, are standing by their phones, ready to help.

"Every year around this time, we get a significant number of calls from pregnant and breastfeeding women in Utah who are battling colds and are worried about which medications they can and cannot take," said Al Romeo, PhD,  nurse for the hotline.  "Callers have valid concerns because there are certain ingredients in over-the-counter medications that could be harmful to their babies," explains Romeo.

The following are the Top 5 Tips for moms and moms-to-be coping with winter ailments:

1.  Less is better. Take only those medications needed for your symptoms. Many cold remedies have 3-6 ingredients, some of which you and your baby do not necessarily need. If your major complaint is a cough, avoid combination drugs that include an antihistamine. Cold medications have not been known to cause birth defects, but they can reduce breast milk production.

2.  Oral decongestant alternatives. Women with high blood pressure should avoid oral decongestants in pregnancy. These women should consider saline nose drops or a short-term nasal spray decongestant instead.  All can benefit from a humidifier.

3.  Herbal ingredient warning. Watch out for herbal ingredients in many over-the-counter medications. Chances are they have not been studied for safety in pregnancy.

 4.  Throat Lozenges & Vitamin Overload. While most throat lozenges contain mainly sugar, some may include other ingredients such as zinc or vitamin C. When taking vitamin C, the recommended daily allowance for a pregnant or breastfeeding mom is 80-100 mg per day and zinc is 11 mg per day. The dose indicated on the lozenges package is usually too high for pregnant or breastfeeding moms.  Drinking a daily glass of 100% fruit juice that contains vitamin C will provide the same benefit.

5.  Cough Syrups & Alcohol. Some medications for colds and coughs contain alcohol. Although the amount is small and not harmful, consider alcohol-free formulations if you’re still concerned. Don’t hesitate to ask your pharmacist to help you choose the proper medication to help with your cold and cough symptoms.

For more information about the safety of medications during pregnancy and breastfeeding, contact the Pregnancy Risk Line at 800-822-2229 (BABY). 

The PRL is a free service for Utah families and health care providers and has been answering questions about the effects of medicines, chemicals and other maternal exposures on a developing fetus or breastfed baby for nearly 30 years.

Utah Kids Have Fewer Cavities, But Too Many Still Lack Early Dental Care

During the fall of 2010, the Utah Department of Health (UDOH) Oral Health Program (OHP) conducted a survey to assess oral health status among Utah children in first through third grades. The survey collected information on factors such as access to dental care, tooth decay, urgent treatment needs, sealant placement, and fluoride exposure. 

The results indicate that Utah children have healthier teeth today when compared to five years ago.  Overall dental decay fell from 55% in 2005 to 51% in 2010 for children ages 6 to 8. Untreated decay has decreased as well, from 21% in 2005 to 17% in 2010, which is substantially better than the federal Healthy People 2010 goal of 21%.  However, dental sealants (thin, plastic coatings applied to the surfaces of the back teeth to prevent decay) remain underused in Utah. The study found just 36% of 8-year-olds had sealants, compared to 45% in 2005.

Among 6- to 9-year-old children who received a dental screening, more than half (52%) had prior tooth decay, while close to one-fifth (17%) had current untreated cavities.  Just over a quarter (26%) of children had sealants present on a least one permanent molar.  Of those screened, 2% had extensive tooth decay, infection, and/or pain.

“This means these children needed urgent dental care,” says State Dental Director Dr. Steven J. Steed. “If we take that two percent sample and apply it across the state, we believe there are more than 2,600 first, second and third graders who need to see a dentist today.”

Poverty and lack of dental insurance have repeatedly been shown to affect oral health status.  More than one-fifth (22%) of parents surveyed in 2010 reported their child had no dental insurance, and 13% said there was a time during the past year when their child needed dental care but was unable to get it.  The reasons most frequently cited for not getting care were “could not afford it” and “no insurance”. 

Children with private dental insurance were also less likely than the uninsured to have filled or unfilled cavities or to have lost a tooth due to decay (45% vs. 55%).  Untreated decay was twice as prevalent (27% vs. 13%) among children without dental insurance. And Hispanic and non-white children were more likely to have unmet needs compared to the overall population surveyed.

“There is a common belief among immigrants in the myth that it is inevitable to lose most of your teeth at an early age,” said Mauricio Agramont, Midvale Community Program Manager. “This is a direct result of a lack of access to basic oral health information and preventive care,” he said. “The gap in knowledge that Latino immigrants bring with them to this country is passed on to their children, creating a vicious cycle of poor dental health.”

Community water fluoridation has been considered the cornerstone of dental decay prevention and the most economical way to deliver the benefit of fluoride to all residents of a community. The UDOH study found that children who received long-term optimal levels of fluoride, either from fluoridated water or supplements, had 42% fewer decayed and filled tooth surfaces compared to children who had no fluoride exposure. 

Although dental decay is preventable, it remains the most common chronic childhood disease.  The OHP promotes dental education and decay prevention methods such as checkups, sealants, and fluoride (varnish, rinses, water, and supplements) for all youth. For more information or a copy of the complete report, contact the OHP at 801-538-9177 or visit the web site at

http://health.utah.gov/oralhealth/pdf/oralHealthReport_2011.pdf