Your Child's First Family Dentist Visit is Extremely Important

For many, the family dentist visit may not be the most exciting place to go, but it is a place families chose to go to so they have the best oral health and hygiene available to them. These families have learned it is important to focus on a holistic preventative form of dental medicine and do so by bringing all generations of the family in to see the family, dentist. There are intrinsic benefits that come with this kind of routine. The benefits are for both you and for us, who, as a family dentist, get the privilege of treating multiple generations in the same family. The biggest advantage for a family dentist is that we are able to build a relationship of trust with the family. In any service-providing situation, families tend to reserve their trust of a provider to certain individuals, like the family general practitioner. When the family dentist has this trust, we can build on it for future generations, as well.

One of the largest advantages for the family to having a family dentist is the building of confidence. From a child's perspective, which is often the best place to start, the dentist office can be a scary place. There are all kinds of people walking around dressed in lab coats, whom the child perceives as strangers. In addition to this, there are strange sounds and smells, a number of funny-looking instruments, and the dentist chair. However, when a child comes in with their parent and sees them getting a routine examination or tooth cleaning, the fear turns to curiosity. The idea that Mom or Dad would trust the family dentist and allow them to do the work creates a scenario in which most children are unafraid to do the same thing. Ironically, the same holds true for the parents, as well. Once a child is being treated, the parents develop a greater sense of trust for the dental professional and are able to defeat their own dental anxiety.

One advantage to a family dentist is the ability to schedule all of the family needs around a specific time. With families, the schedules are often busy and conflicting. Trying to get everyone to different appointments on time can be stressful, so when you work with a family dentist, you do not have to worry about it. Instead, you can work with us to have a central time that works for everyone. The same holds true for the kinds of services you can get. Since everyone is coming in to get their teeth cared for by the same provider, it stands to reason that we provide you with all the services these multiple individuals might need, all in the same place. From x-rays to braces to dentures, we do it all so you are not running from pillar to post trying to get the needs of your family met. Finally, we also help with things like insurance plans where we can assist you to maximize the benefits you get from your family's flex spending plan.

Dentist  >  General Dentist

We Are Shedding Light on Common Health Myths in Our Family Dentist Office

As a local family dentist, we are asked many questions, and sometimes they come from common health myths that are circulating. Many of these myths develop out of convenience. For example, it is convenient to think that diet soda is good for your teeth if you love to drink it. The acid inside of it can lead to erosion, however, so this is one myth we are happy to debunk. Other times, these myths have simply been around forever. In either case, we can discuss oral health with you and shed light on these common misconceptions. With that in mind, here are a few myths we hear on a regular basis.

Myth – Only children get cavities.

As a family dentist, we treat both children and adults, and one thing is perfectly clear: anyone can get a cavity. It does not matter if you are a baby, child, adult, or senior, you can get a cavity. For this reason, we recommend that you brush and floss your teeth throughout the day and have your teeth professionally cleaned twice a year.

Myth – Root canals are only necessary if you have a cavity or infected tooth.

While mostly true, we also perform root canals to treat roots that have become damaged. This can happen during an accident, from nighttime grinding and clenching, or because you had too much dental work completed in quick succession. When you visit our family dentist office, it does not matter why you need a root canal, we can ensure that it will be completed quickly and comfortably.

Myth – Fillings always need to be replaced.

While it is true that fillings typically do not last forever, there is no set expiration date. If you practice good oral hygiene and eat a healthy diet, you can prolong the lifespan of your fillings and may not need to replace them. But if you do not take care of your teeth, there is a chance that decay could spread, and you will need to replace the filling with a crown. As always, preventative care is important.

Myth – Only sugar causes cavities.

Everyone has bacteria in their mouth. When you eat or drink something that contains sugar or starch, the bacteria can feed on it and create plaque. The plaque can secrete an acid that attacks the tooth, leading to decay. This makes it important to rinse your mouth with water after eating or drinking and to cut out anything particularly high in sugar, starch, or acid. Examples include candy, soda, and limes, to name a few.

Myth – Baby teeth do not matter.

All teeth have a purpose, including baby teeth. You should take the same level of care with your children's teeth as you do with your own, so they will not experience cavities and toothaches. It is also important to help the teeth remain in place until they are ready to fall out naturally. Baby teeth hold space for future adult teeth, and early tooth loss can lead to overcrowding and the need for braces.

Dentures  >  Dental Implants

Prevent Health Problems by Visiting a Family Dentist

A family dentist practices is a place where your entire family can go to get treated for any dental challenges, get their annual wellness check, and have their teeth cleaned. It is a safe and nurturing environment that teaches your kids that the dentist is actually on their side and they have nothing to fear from us. It is a place where elderly members of your family can come when they have challenges with their teeth, need replacements, or just have to make sure that their dentures fit the right way. We are, quite literally, a generational practice that has built a reputation for treating families year in and year out. For us, the best reward we can get is the smile of patients that we have taken care of and will continue to do so for years to come.

We have a particular advantage when it comes to families. We deal with multiple generations, and often times the challenges that younger people face will be found in the older generations as well. This allows us to identify problem areas ahead of time, meaning we will be cognizant of the fact that these could occur, and catch them earlier in younger patients. This puts us at the forefront of early diagnosis with regard to dental issues. It helps us to diagnose, treat, and follow up very efficiently.

There are several more common reasons why people find their way into our family dentist office, including –

• Tooth Aches and Dental Emergencies: There is nothing quite as uncomfortable as a toothache. Unfortunately, a toothache can be caused by a number of reasons ranging from an infection to an accident that chips a tooth. As your family dentist, we are also accustomed to children, and adults, coming in with dental emergencies like knocking out a tooth during a soccer game. If you have an emergency, give us a call so that we can give you some tips on managing the discomfort while you make your way in to see us. 
•  Cavities: Cavities are actually among the most common reasons why people have to take a sick day. Only people with the common cold take more time off to go and see a doctor. A cavity occurs when the acid that is in the food makes a small hole in the enamel of your tooth. Typically there is a build-up of plaque on the tooth before a cavity can be formed. Plaque is the sticky substance that is found in all food and leaves a residue on your teeth. The good news is cavities and plaque can be easily controlled by brushing twice a day, flossing regularly, and visiting our family dentist office for a professional cleaning twice a year. 
• Tooth sensitivity: Millions of people, each year, are affected by sensitive teeth. Typically the sensitivity occurs in the presence of a stimulant like heat or cold, and may be caused by an infection, loss of enamel on the tooth or a lack of Fluoride in your daily routine. We can help to protect sensitive teeth in our office using a variety of treatment solutions.

Emergency Dentist  >  Dental Office

A Family Dentist Review of How Oral Health Impacts a Students' Academic Performance

As a family dentist, we treat children and teens that suffer from poor oral health along with those that are trying to stay healthy.  The Herman Ostrow School of Dentistry of USC conducted research where they studied the impact of dental diseases and how it affected the academic performance of 1,495 disadvantaged elementary and high school students from Los Angeles County public schools. The study took into account the academic achievement and attendance data provided by the school district and linked these to each child's oral health issues.  They then examined the impact it had on the child’s or parent’s school or work absences. The study found that students with toothaches were almost four times more likely to have a low-grade point average.

About 11% of students who did not have access to dental care missed school in comparison to 4% of those who did have access. For every 100 elementary children, fifty-eight hours of school are missed annually and for every 100 high school students, 80 hours of school are missed annually due to oral health problems. Even the parents of the children who were surveyed averaged 2.5 absent days from work each year because of their children's dental problems. Oral health does affect students' academic performance and is now considered an epidemic. There are however preventative measures parents can take to prevent their kids from suffering from painful dental infections and missing school.

As a family dentist, we teach children and parents how to practice good oral health care at home so that cavities and gum disease can be prevented.  As long as parents implement a daily routine at home, kids can keep their teeth and gums healthy.  We also recommend visiting our office for regular checkups, which will reduce the amount of health problems kids have overall and prevent them from unnecessarily missing school. Preventative dental care is the key in keeping children and teenagers healthy and in school, and simple steps such as brushing and flossing daily can help to accomplish this.

It should be noted that everyone should brush and floss correctly and thoroughly, brushing at least twice a day if not after every meal and flossing at least once a day. Doing this removes plaque, which can turn the sugars found in most foods and drinks into acids that lead to decay, cavities, gingivitis and other dental diseases. Another simple step that could help is using a toothpaste or mouthwash with fluoride in them since fluoride is what protects teeth from decay. If a stronger concentration of fluoride is needed, we can prescribe fluoride in the form of a gel, toothpaste or rinse.

Eating a balanced diet is also key in keeping with good oral hygiene and parents limiting the amount of snacks their children eat, particularly those high in simple sugars, is extremely beneficial to combating tooth decay. Healthy foods like dairy products and green leafy vegetables can actually help to strengthen teeth.

Even if your child visits our family dentist office regularly, children still need to have good habits at home. Parents should examine their child’s mouth weekly to look for changes that might be of concern, for example, swollen gums, discolored teeth, sores or lesions on or around the gums and chipped teeth. If anything looks out of place, schedule an appointment with our office right away.

If You’re Getting Sick A Lot – Visit Your Family Dentist to Determine if You Have an Infection

Oral infections can go undiagnosed, making a trip to the family dentist extremely important.  If you feel as though you are sick all of the time, the best place to start is with a trip to the doctor.  If they can’t figure out what is wrong or you keep feeling sick, come see the dentist.

An oral infection can make you sick just like any other type of infection.  You can run a fever, start to feel achy, get the chills and more.  This typically leads to a trip to the doctor’s office as very few people associate these symptoms with an oral health issue.  If the doctor gives you antibiotics for your sickness and the symptoms keep returning, it could be because you have an oral infection that isn’t going away.  Antibiotics alone can’t solve the problem so this won’t be enough.

As a family dentist, we will look for signs of an infection during every dental exam.  After your teeth have been cleaned, and the bacteria and plaque removed, it is easy to see if the tooth is infected or if you are showing signs of gum disease.  Both can become painful and lead to other feelings of being sick.  Our goal is to identify and treat infections right away so that you don’t have to experience pain or discomfort.

If we identify any signs of gum disease, we will start by removing the bacteria that has built up underneath your gums.  This is the most likely cause of gum disease and once removed; your gums will start to heal themselves naturally.  If the disease has grown and spread, you may have pockets in your gum tissue.  This is particularly dangerous because it exposes your tooth structure and root system, making them more likely to become infected.  Once this point has been reached, a gum graft is necessary for closing the pockets and protecting your tooth.

When your tooth becomes infected, it can also lead to pain and create problems with your overall health.  A simple cavity creates minor discomfort but when the center of your tooth becomes infected, it can be painful and infect your roots.  If this happens, we will likely perform a root canal in order to remove the infected portion of your tooth and roots.  Afterwards, we will clean the area to remove any remaining infection, complete a filling, and place a temporary crown around the tooth.  Your permanent crown will protect the tooth and make it possible to bite down without pain.  Once the infection is removed, you will start to feel better.

The goal is to catch and treat any oral infections before they turn into a dental abscess.  This level of infection is painful, and surgery may be required in order to remove it.  As a family dentist, we want you to stay in excellent health so if your tooth hurts, or you are constantly sick, call us for a dental exam.