Who is the best dentist for me?
When searching for a new dentist the best recommendation is always one made by asking a family member or friend. This will help in giving you a little bit of background on what type of office it is, and whether or not other people are happy with this office. If you are new to an area and do not have a friend who can recommend someone for you, then go to your phone book and make a list of the dentists in your area.
You can either call or visit these offices to find out such things as: How do they answer their telephone? What are the office hours? Are they convenient to your schedule? Will they work with your insurance plan if this is important to you? Do they treat children if you have any? Are they available in case of an emergency? Does the dental staff make you feel comfortable? Are they courteous and helpful? Are the answers to your questions direct or evasive? Paying a visit to the office will help you to assess the atmosphere of the office and help you decide whether or not you would be comfortable there.
Your visit to the dentist should be pleasant and comfortable. You need to feel relaxed with your dental team in order to ensure that you can work together in maintaining a healthy happy smile. Take the time to ask around for a dental office that can meet your needs.
How often should I go to my Dentist for a Check-up?
Some people tend to have a rather strange attitude towards checkups. If the dentist does not find something wrong, their time has been wasted. As a matter of fact, a series of successful visits can discourage them from ever seeing their dentist and hygienist again. The idea that you should only see the dentist when something is wrong is not only ridiculous but can end up costing you a lot of money, comfort and time.
Your dentist is trained to detect and treat many problems before you are even aware of them. The goal is prevention - prevent disease, decay and tooth loss. Your dentist can help you but only if you make the appointment. It all comes back to teamwork. Only you, your dentist and your hygienist can determine how often to make a visit, but most for most people, twice a year is sufficient. Checkups should not be a one-time event. They are necessary for regular assessments of the condition and the well being of your mouth. Check-up procedures vary with each dentist, but basically will contain: a review of dental and medical history, an overall examination of the mouth including oral cancer screening, a professional cleaning, possibly a fluoride treatment, and a general assessment of hygiene at home. Regular checkups are a MUST in the fight against gum disease.
How do I keep my teeth?
Your second set of teeth is your last, proper care will ensure that you keep them for life. In spite of what you may have heard dental disease is not only controllable, it is also correctable and most of all preventable. A thorough brushing and flossing routine is important for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Flossing is important because it reaches the areas a toothbrush can’t reach, between the teeth and under the gum line. Your teeth need proper nutrition just as your body does. Fresh fruit and vegetables are a sure bet for healthy teeth and gums. Natural sugars however act the same way on teeth as refined sugars, so be sure to brush or at least rinse with water if a toothbrush is not handy after eating even a piece of fruit. It is important that you find a dental team that you feel comfortable with and who you can work with in order to maintain a healthy smile for life. Routine visits to your dentist for a check up and cleaning will help to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
Do I really need X-rays?
Dental x-rays are taken routinely by your dentist. There are many diseases and dental defects, which can not be seen by the naked eye, especially where teeth are concerned. These may include such things as decay under old fillings, teeth trapped below the gums, cavities between the teeth, bone loss as a result of gum disease and changes in either jaw bone structure which can be affected by many systemic diseases.
If you are a new patient, your dentist may recommend x-rays to check the current status of your mouth and to check for hidden problems. Upon your first visit to the dentist he or she will usually take those x-rays that will be necessary to comprehensively assess your oral health. A full series of x-rays usually consists of 14 - 18 films. A Panoramic x-ray film showing a much greater areas of your jaw bones may be needed as well in order for your dentist to comfortably and competently examine you. Every six months or so your dentist may take a small series of x-rays consisting of four to six films. A six-month period is a long time in the life of a cavity and it is for this reason that a visit to the dentist every six months is so important.
Is it safe to have X-rays taken?
Yes. Numerous precautions and advances in x-ray equipment help protect patients from receiving unnecessary radiation. The amount of radiation received from a dental x-ray exam is extremely small compared to other naturally occurring sources of radiation, including minerals in the soil, radon and cosmic radiation from outer space. Unlike their medical counterparts dental x-rays are very low in radiation. A full-mouth series of films, using state-of-the-art digital technology, will deliver an effective dose that is equivalent to about 19 days of exposure to naturally occurring environmental radiation. The reason for this is that the amount of radiation needed to expose a film as small as a dental x-ray is very small. Also the areas in your mouth that are being x-rayed are far less dense than other areas of your body and therefore require very little radiation in order to pick up the image. Also the beam of radiation is a very small narrow one and literally passes through the cheek and out of your body. The rest of your body is also shielded from any stray particles with a lead apron or shield.
With the advances in computer aided dentistry, dentists can now provide patients the latest in diagnostic imaging. Digital means a fraction of the traditional x-ray exposure yet provides greater image resolution and clarity. The results include more exact diagnosis, greater confidence in treatment and patient/staff protection.
X-rays are an extremely useful and important diagnostic tool and can aid in preventing many major problems. The importance of routine thorough examinations by your dental team will do much to avoid major problems. Dental X-rays may reveal: the number, size, and position of teeth; unerrupted or impacted teeth; the presence and extent of dental caries; bone damage (such as from periodontitis); abscessed teeth; fractured jaw; gingivitis; impacted tooth; malocclusion of teeth; or other abnormalities of the teeth and jaw bones.
I am afraid of going to the dentist ... what can I do?
Fear of the dentist is quite common and many people are as fearful and concerned as you may be. However, because fear of the dentist is so common, your dentist and his/her staff are also well aware of this and are properly trained to work with you in helping you to overcome these fears.
Notify your dental team about your concerns and questions. You will find they are eager to work with you to make your visits pleasant. Asking questions about your mouth and proposed treatment will help to remove fear of the unknown and give you an opportunity to become involved in your dental health. Most importantly, remember that your dental team is eager to work with you, not just on you,in order to achieve a mutual goal - maintaining the health of your smile.
What is gum disease?
Gum disease or periodontal disease or gingivitis as it is also called is the number one cause of tooth loss today. The reason you loose teeth from gum disease is because this disease attacks the gums as well as the bone, which are the foundation in which your teeth rest. As the bone literally dissolves away from around your teeth, your teeth become loose and eventually fall out. Anyone at any age is susceptible to gum disease. Gum disease is caused by plaque. If the plague is not removed on a daily basis it will form calculus, which is the breeding ground for the germs which cause periodontal disease.
Bleeding gums are the first sign that there may be a problem with the gums. Puffy, tender red gums are also a sign that there is an infection present. Bleeding gums however are not always present even in severe cases of gum disease. Routine and regular visits to your dentist are the best way of catching gum disease in its early stages before too much damage has been caused. Gum disease will not go away by itself or with improved home care. The only way of removing plaque deep under the gums is with professional cleanings. Once you have had a gum problem you will always be susceptible to recurring problems, so be sure to see your dentist on a regular basis - every two to three months, unless he or she recommends otherwise. For more information on Gum Disease, click on this!
How does a tooth decay?
A substance known as plaque causes tooth decay. Plaque is a clear bacteria laden film, which develops on the teeth. The bacteria in plaque interact with the starches and sugars we eat and form an acid, which breaks down or de-mineralizes our teeth. As this process is going, on our saliva along with properties it has, acts to help re-mineralize teeth. When the demineralization process is faster than that of remineralization a cavity occurs.
There are several things that can be done to slow down or totally prevent this breakdown process which leads to cavities. One of the most important contributors to decay are sugars, and eliminating or drastically reducing your intake of them will help greatly in preventing tooth decay. Proper brushing and flossing, and removal of the plaque will also help in preventing breakdown. Home fluoride rinses help aid in the remineralization process. Of course routine visits to your dentist are of importance not only in the early detection of cavities but professional cleanings and fluoride treatments are very important in maintaining a healthy happy mouth.
How can I prevent tooth decay and what are sealants?
There are several things that you can do to help prevent tooth decay. The most important of course is the diet. What you eat plays a very important role in the overall well being of your mouth and the rest of your body. Since sugars are directly related to the breakdown process, which causes decay, eliminating sugar from the diet will have a direct impact on cavities.
Plaque and sugar interact with one another to form an acid, which breaks down the enamel of the teeth, resulting in a cavity. Proper removal of plaque will also greatly reduce the risk of getting cavities. Thorough brushing and flossing will not only remove sugar from the mouth but also the plaque, which has formed on the surfaces of the teeth since the last brushing. Certain foods will help to keep the mouth in a healthy state. These foods include whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, and any low sugar foods that won’t aid in tooth decay.
Sealants are a very good way of protecting the biting surfaces of teeth that have never had a filling nor have no decay. Sealants are a clear or white material, which is applied on the biting surfaces of the teeth. The purpose of sealants is to smooth over the normal crevices of the teeth were germs could easily accumulate, thereby protecting the teeth from decay.
Contact us for any other dental questions you may have.