DENTAL
HINTS
Brought To
The Community By
Spurgeon W. Webber, D.D.S.
à
Oral Surgeon
The past three columns have
discussed the oral surgeon and his
function in the professional dental
health care field. Today's column
will wind down the subject with
mention of a few remaining condi
tions that create questions
For example, a condition
parents don't always notice soon
enough - but it will be discovered
by your dentist immediately - is
speech impairment in their chil
dren caused by a too restrictive
frenum; that's the membranous
structure under the tongue that
controls its movement. An indica
tion that this situation exists is
when you notice the child cannot
put his tongue out straight; it will
curve down when extended. And,
this usually results in slurred
speech or the general inability to
pronounct certain words. A minor
surgical procedure called a fre
nectomy will lengthen the frenum,
and usually this will improve
speech and other tongue functions.
A cleft palate is another oral
condition that causes parents great
concern. This is caused by a
congenital fissure in the roof of the
mouth and may be accompanied
by a harelip - a fissure is the upper
lip. Surgical treatment can involve
a team of specialists including the
oral surgeon, an orthodontist, a
nrmnm r m.r w «
plastic surgeon and even a speech
therapist. The plastic surgeon can
repair a harelip when the child is
only a few days old. The palate
can be temporarily sealed at a tew
weeks of age and closed per
manently at about two years. Bone
grafts, if needed, and other sur
gery found necessary, can be done
when the child is in its teens. The
orthodontist aligns the teeth there
by permitting upper jaw develop
ment, and all procedures can add
up eventually to no external evi
dence that the cleft palate or
harelip ever existed.
Today's level of successful oral
surgery comes at a surprise to
many accident and malformation
victims? It is now possible to
reconstruct the face from within
the mouth with the outside remain
ing untouched; motor nerves con
trolling facial expressions and
therefore not damaged, and re
maining scars are inside the mouth
unnoticeable and soon forgotten.
These and ο the. procedural
developments go to prove that
today's dental patient is very
fortunate in having a "professional
team" at his command, with his
her comfort, welfare and good
appearance the prime imterest.
wdi v iiews looks ai scnooi discipline
Child restraints and school dis
cipline are the major subjects of
"WBTV News Special Edition," to
be seen Sunday, May 11th at 6:30
p.m. on WBTV, Channel 3.
WBTV News Reporter Barry
Ahrendt reports that traffic satety
officials say auto accidents are the
leading cause of death in children
ages l to 14, and that many of those
deaths could be prevented if
parents used proper, restraints,
such as infant and toddler seats, in
their cars. He talked with highway
safety experts at UNC-Chapel Hill
who've been active in promoting
child restraints, and found out
about efforts in North Carolina to
pass a law requiring motorists to
use restraints. He also looked at
such a law in Tennessee, the only
state in the nation that has one
In another segment, WBTV
News Reporter Beatrice Thomp
son looks at school discipline from
the teacher's point of view, and
finds the answers to such questions
as: Are teachers properly trained
to handle discipline problems?
How big is the discipline problem
in North Carolina and Charlotte
Mecklenburg compared to the pro
blem nationwide? How do teach
ers. school administrators and
students feel about it? And, how
are teachers coping with discipline
problems and what can be done
about them.
Barry Ahrendt is Producer-Edi
tor of "WBTV News Special
Edition."
44 Alice"
Carrie Sharpies, played by re
turning special guest-star Martha
Raye, pays a visit to her son Mel
and Mel pays her back by getting a
psychosomatic backache when she
tries to steal his chef's hat and take
over the diner's kitchen, on
"Alice," to be rebroadcast Sunday,
May 11 at 9 p.m. on WBTV,
Channel 3.
The ever astute Alice explains to
Carrie the real reason for Mel's
back problem. The two then come
up with a solution which puts Mel
on his feet again and the chef's hat
back on his head.
"Dallae"
Bobby finds himself getting at
tached to Luke Middens, the young
son of one of the hired hands, and
his attachment only makes Pam's
effort to tell Bobby the truth aboul
their unborn child even more
difficult. But eventually she is
forced to confess, on "Dallas," to
be rebroadcast Friday, May 9 at 10
ρ m on WBTV, Channel 3.
Simmons To Co-Host Good Mornihg Carolina |
Floyd "Chunk" Simmons, photo
grapher, world traveler, former
movie actor and Olympic Decath
lon Bronze winner joins Brad
Lacey as co-host of "Good Morning
Carolina", the week of May 12 at 9
a.m., on Channel Nine.
Monday, Courtney W. Roberts,
Manager of the Carolina Branch of
the Associated General Con
tractors of America, Inc., tells how
his office promotes open shop
construction.
Tuesday's guest, Dick Pierce,
Vice President of Corporate Com
Sunday In Carofcia
To Look At Spirit
Square Sunday
"Sunday in Carolina" takes a,
look at Spirit Square, Charlotte's
uptown cultural center, Sunday,
May 11 at 6:30 p.m. on Channel
Nine. Brad Lacey and Nerissa
Williams co-host.
In another segment, Jack Mar
graves reports on a man who was
compensated for health problems
stemming from breathing tobacco
smoke on the job. He also ex
amines the rights of smokers and
non-smokers while they are
working. ·
munications for Duke Power Co.,
discusses his involvement in a
wide range of civic activities.
Wednesday, Parker Whedon and
Oscar Penegar elaborate on their
interest in wild life and the
environment.
Thursday's guest, Barry Ward of
New Horizons Travel, Ltd., pro
fessional golfer and golf consul
tant, discusses travel and sports
Friday, Leonard Clemmer,
owner of a ballet and gymnastics
school in Charlotte, discusses child
development, physical therapy
and gymnastics.
UNIFORMS
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The largest selection
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featuring poly/cotton blends,
, bengaline, woven polyester,
1 double knits.
5322 South Blvd.
(Across from Tyvola Mall)
Hours: Mon. - Fri. 9:304:00 ; Sat. 9 - 5
523-7168
THE BUDWEISER
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You've watched them on TV. but here's your chance to
see them alive Thirty-two giant hooves pounding
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champion joining in a team effort, pulling the 3'/j-ton
Budweiser wagon Whether you admire big horses or
welcome a look into the past, come and bring your family.
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I . M
Wed. 3-6
.. Eastridge Mall
. .Gastonia. N.C.
Sat. 12:00-3
. .Callaway Cadillac & Olds
. .Monroe, N.C.
Sun. 25th - World 600
19-26 .
Can Be Seen At
Old Location of
Town & Country Ford
E. Indep. Blvd.
8 a.m. - 9 p.m.