Health – Christopher C. Babcock

ADA Philanthropy Day SmileCon Gives Back to Houston Local Youth

Dr. Christopher Chris C. Babcock, DMD and MD, is a Louisville, Kentucky, oral surgeon who belongs to several professional organizations. In addition to his role at Louisville Oral Surgery and Dental Implants, Christopher C. Babcock, MD, is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA), one of the country’s premier professional dental organizations.

In October 2022, the ADA hosted its Philanthropy Day (SmileCon) to support the national Give Kids a Smile Program and to help Houston’s underserved youth. While local youth were the focus of the day’s activities, the effort also helps youth nationally.

Numerous activities took place, including events such as SmileDash 5K in Downtown Houston and the Give Kids a Smile Pack & Give Back. For the latter, participants packed around 1,000 backpacks, filling them with nutritious food, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and oral health education cards.

In a collaboration between the ADA and the Houston Food Bank, the packs went to area youth who are food insecure, supplying them with nutritional assistance on the weekend and giving them oral healthcare supplies.

The day included other events such as visits from the Colgate Bright Smiles, Bright Futures mobile dental van for dental screenings, DENT Talks featuring speakers talking about volunteering, and Philanthropy CHAT (connect, huddle, talk).

AAOMS Advocating for Oral Health in Recently Introduced Legislation

Located in Louisville, Kentucky, Christopher C. Babcock, MD is an oral surgeon and works at Louisville Oral Surgery and Dental Implants. As an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Christopher C. Babcock, MD is associated with numerous organizations related to his work in dental medicine such as the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

The American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons (AAOMS), is an organization representing more than 9,000 oral and maxillofacial surgeons across the United States. The organization supports and advocates for education and research in the field. To be a member of the AAOMS members must complete continuing education requirements as well as agree to periodic evaluations to assure the public that all members meet national standards. In short, the organization’s mission is to ensure the highest quality patient care by preserving professionalism and skill in its members as well as advancing and promoting the field of oral and maxillofacial surgery.

The AAOMS provides resources and advocates for its members by introducing and supporting legislation that helps professionals in the industry. For example, in June of 2021, two Congress members reintroduced the Resident Education Deferred Interest (REDI) Act which, if passed, will allow individuals serving in medical or dental internships or residency programs to qualify for interest-free deferment on student loans. In addition, the Foster Youth Dental Act was introduced in 2021, which will protect the oral care of current and former foster youth as well as expand the age requirement for dental providers to serve youth who may not qualify at this certain time because of restrictions already in place.

Dentist Visits Key to Early Oral Cancer Diagnosis

Dr. Christopher C. “Chris” Babcock holds both an MD and DMD, as well as state licenses in dentistry, anesthesia, and oral/maxillofacial surgery. Dr. Christopher C. Babcock has worked at Louisville Oral Surgery and Dental Implants since 2018, where he performs extractions and oral pathology exams for issues such as cancer.

Dentists are front-line professionals when it comes to oral cancer screenings and diagnostics. Many oral cancers go undetected since many of the symptoms are similar to those associated with toothaches or mild infections. Survival rates decline steeply as cancer progresses. For this reason, people with an elevated risk of developing oral cancers (including previous oral HPV infection or frequent tobacco use) should schedule annual screenings during their dental visits.

Most people will go through a basic exam where the dentist looks for superficial changes to the oral tissues. This type of exam may also be performed with a laser. If abnormal cells are detected, the dentist may perform a more in-depth exam, which can include a biopsy or the use of a special dye. The dentist can also discuss ways to mitigate the risk of developing oral cancer.

ADA’s Fluoride in Water Campaign

As an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Christopher C. Babcook is a member of the Kentucky Dental Association, and Kentucky Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Working in wisdom teeth removal, dental implants, and oral pathology, Christopher C. Babcook, MMD is also a member of the American Dental Association.

One of the programs of the American Dental Association is the Fluoride in Water program which seeks to provide information to the public about the efficacy and safety of fluoride. A naturally occurring substance, fluoride is added to water, as it can decrease the number of cavities in communities by around 25 percent. Water fluoridation has been studied for over 70 years and is considered safe by many international organizations such as the American Dental Association, the World Health Organization, and the Center for Disease Control.

As it is predominantly an educational resource for the benefits of Fluoride in Water, the program provides information on studies that were conducted about fluoride, the many benefits it provides, and the ways in which it’s used. There are also clinical guidelines, and fluoridation advocacy.

About TMJ and Treatments

Christopher C. Babcock, DMD, earned his MD from the University of Louisville in 2003. Besides dedicating time to his dentistry career, Dr. Chris Babcock works in finance, focusing on disability insurance and life insurance. Currently, Christopher C. Babcock, MD, works as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon at Louisville Oral Surgery and Dental Implants, specializing in maxillofacial trauma surgery and TMJ treatment and surgery.

Maxillofacial surgery refers to surgery executed to address problems of the head, face, jaw, neck, and sinuses. Typically, surgeons of this area perform surgeries that involve bone, but they can also deal with tissue structures.

One example of a situation that may require maxillofacial surgery if other treatments fail is temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ). This condition causes pain in the jaw due to the joint connecting the jawbone to the skull. People with TMJ often experience acute pain and have difficulty with everyday activities such as eating and talking. Although maxillofacial surgery is an option for those suffering from TMJ, some conventional treatments provide substantial relief.

Among the standard treatments are physical therapy, ice, rest, relaxation techniques, and orthodontic bite correction if bite problems cause the TMJ. In cases where bruxism (a condition in which the patient clenches or grinds their teeth while sleeping), causes TMJ, a custom-fitted splint may also be recommended by an orthodontist.

SSA Announces Proposed Changes to Social Security Disability Insurance

A graduate of the University of Louisville, Christopher C. Babcock, MD, DMD, is an experienced oral and maxillofacial surgeon. Dr. Christopher “Chris” C. Babcock is also a financial representative at Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and has given talks on disability insurance through public lectures.

Disability insurance is a type of insurance that helps provide income to people who are unable to continue with their occupation due to a disability. There are different types of disability insurances available and each type has a different set of rules for determining whether or not a person is qualified to receive benefits.

Some policies can be obtained through private insurers, while others are accessible through federal programs. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are two common US government programs that aim to help disabled individuals with their basic needs. Individuals that are eligible for the benefits of these programs are those suffering from disabilities who do not show any signs of improvement. Therefore, many SSDI and SSI recipients undergo a test known as a continuing disability review (CDR) to detect whether their condition is improving.

In November 2019, a proposed change to the two programs was released by the Social Security Administration. The new policy proposed would increase the frequency of CDRs each recipient must undergo annually. As stated by the Social Security Administration, this proposed adjustment would ensure that the programs stop giving benefits to recipients who are experiencing medical improvement, thereby minimizing the amount spent on disability benefits.