Family Health

– Steve Strom

on the eardrum. The ear tip transmits the broadest range of frequencies of any hearing technology on the market today. It sends high fidelity audio signals directly to the lens, gently vibrating the eardrum and creating enhanced sound.

“I started the Earlens process in 2021. The staff at Midwest ENT & Allergy were very accommodating,” says Strom. He has had his Earlens for over six months and loves everything about his new hearing device.

“Since I farm, my Earlens is exposed to all kinds of elements. They have held up to wind, dust, sweat, moisture, heat, and cold, and they keep working. They have been well worth the time and money invested. And they don’t require batteries.”

Not only is Strom happy that his new Earlens can survive the harsh conditions of farming, but he can also hear better than ever.

“The quality of the sound is crisp and clear, and the wind noise is reduced which means a lot for a farmer.”

His wife and family are happy too. “I can hear my grandkids and my family says I don’t say ‘what’ all the time.”

Earlens is only available in South Dakota through Midwest ENT & Allergy. To see if Earlens is right for you, call Midwest ENT & Allergy to schedule your consultation and demonstration today. You won’t believe the difference. n

By Charlotte Hofer

In South Dakota, 1 in 4 high schoolers and 1 in 16 middle schoolers regularly use e-cigarettes.

– Mindy Heuer, SDFMC, citing a 2019 statewide tobacco survey

“Our South Dakota youth are at serious risk for nicotine addiction,” said Mindy Heuer, RN and Program Manager for the Tobacco Prevention Grant, a state initiative led by the South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care (SDFMC). “Vaping is a particularly concerning trend. Middle-schoolers in South Dakota are using e-cigarettes at an alarming rate – 8x higher than that in 2011,” she said. Despite all the science that shows the dangers of smoking, many teens still choose to use tobacco. Tobacco companies know this, so they specifically target youth.

THERE ARE WARNING SIGNS YOUR CHILD MAY BE VAPING: • Increased thirst - vaping dries out your mucous membranes • Excessive craving for salty or spicy foods • Sores in the mouth • Unexplained cough • Unexplained scent of a sweet smell on them

Nationwide, 2.55 MILLION middle and high school students use a tobacco product, according to the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey, run by the CDC and FDA. E-cigarettes were young smoker’s most popular choice of product.

Botox has traditionally been used as a beauty-enhancing product, but did you know that it has uses beyond wrinkle and fine-line reduction? Botox functions by temporarily blocking the electrical conduction of nerves to transmit muscle movement through the chemical botulinum toxin (Botox). Due to its ability to temporarily reduce the muscle’s ability to contract, Botox can be effective beyond a wrinkle reducer. As such, Botox can be used to relax the jaw muscles that are responsible for clenching and grinding.

Having extensive knowledge of the head and neck anatomy, dentists at Great Plains Dental have been using Botox injections for both cosmetic purposes and to treat jaw pain and headaches for a number of years. “Some of our patients were struggling with jaw pain and headaches and we wanted to help them,” says Dr. McKinney “Botox has been proven to help relieve jaw pain caused by grinding and clenching and we have seen some great results throughout treatment.” To aid in jaw pain and headaches, Great Plains Dental has implemented a 3D printer giving them the ability to offer patients a

custom-fit appliance faster than traditional methods. The appliance works in conjunction with Botox treatment by protecting the chewing surfaces of the teeth. Using Botox for therapeutic or cosmetic purposes is safe for anyone over the age of 18 and patients can expect the treatment to begin working within one week after treatment, typically with noticeable effects for three months.

Botox for use in the cosmetic application is a service of choice of Great Plains Dental. “We have a lot of patients who see us every six months for preventative cleanings that were seeing a separate provider for their Botox needs,” shares Dr. Waterbury. “Offering Botox at our practice has allowed our patients to get both their dental treatment and their Botox done at the same time.” In addition to the Botox services, Great Plains Dental offers Snoring and Sleep Dentistry, Orthodontic and Invisalign Treatment, Preventative Dentistry, General Restorative Dentistry, Complex Restorative Treatment, and Cosmetic Dentistry including crowns, veneers, and implant services.

Great Plains Dental originated in Sioux Falls, SD as McKinney Family Dentistry in 1997. From a small 4 chair practice and one dentist, Great Plains Dental has grown to 19 chairs and five dentists. While the practice has grown, its commitment to treating every patient like family has remained the same. They offer services that are designed to provide their patients with the best possible dental experience and highest-rated dental care.

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Any time a person gets injured by someone else or at work, that person needs a personal injury attorney. Insurance companies are skilled at handling claims. There is a signifi cant disparity of power and expertise between the adjuster and injured person. Having an attorney that is very experienced with handling car accidents, personal injury, and workers’ compensation claims means that the injured person will not get taken advantage of and will be treated fairly. Attorneys Kim Lanham and Jami Bishop with the Johnson, Janklow, Abdallah Law Firm focus exclusively on helping clients that have suffered from an injury. “We handle the entire case so the client’s only focus is to heal and improve,” says Jami. “They no longer have to talk to the insurance company as all of the communication is through us.” Unlike a lot of fi rms that have multiple practice areas, Kim and Jami’s practices are unique as their focus is entirely devoted to car accidents, personal injury and workers’ compensation cases. They are dedicated to their clients and strive to provide them with the highest level of representation. “The best part of representing clients is providing results that can change their lives for the better,” shares Kim. “We walk beside our clients during the darkest times of their lives.” Attorneys Kim Lanham and Jami Bishop cannot change the past or what happened to you or your loved ones, but they can provide compassion, guidance and be passionate advocates when it is needed most.

Jami Bishop & Kimberly Lanham

• Motor vehicle collisions • Semi-truck collisions • Motorcycle collisions • Farming accidents • Work-related accidents • Slip/trip and falls • Daycare abuse • Wrongful deaths • Product injuries

The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) has honored South Dakota for its accomplishments with the Project Firstline Program (a national collaborative to educate and train healthcare workers on infection prevention). South Dakota was recognized in the national CDC report for Marketing and Promotion of the life-saving program.

“Bold, dynamic, out-of-the-box ideas helped to draw attention to Project Firstline and infection prevention,” says Charlotte Hofer, Director of PR and Marketing. “It’s exciting to see that creativity in healthcare works!”

To diversify their outreach and better target the healthcare worker, SD Project Firstline built partnerships with local media and developed multiple story angles, created a video, QR code, and bookmarks to build interest. They selected local infl uencers and healthcare champions, even a local magician to draw attention and create excitement.

“The magician performed a ‘break the chain of infection,’ magic trick with city and health leaders. The magic act was the hit of the event and reinforced visually that we can all help break the chain of infection,” says Hofer. “A magician to promote a health program? That’s different, but it worked.”

This multi-pronged approach resulted in an estimated readership of 200,000.

“The newest promotion includes a scavenger hunt,” says Jess Danko, Program Lead for SD Project Firstline.

“Over 50 healthcare and academic institutions across the state have participated in the scavenger hunt so far! It provides a fun and unique opportunity to educate staff on infection prevention. To participate, visit our website at www.sdprojectfi rstline.”

The South Dakota Foundation for Medical Care leads Project Firstline in South Dakota, in partnership with the CDC and SD Department of Health.