Tag: teeth care

Pediatric Dentistry 101: What Does a Pediatric Dentist Do?

For most parents, nothing is more important than their children. If you are a parent, you must be going the extra mile to ensure your children’s welfare and health.  This is especially true during the children’s formative years. You want to provide them with a strong foundation that sets them up for a fulfilling, healthy life.

You are probably taking care of all their diet and education. But how much attention do you give to their dental health? If you’re like most parents, then you probably take them to a local doctor or dentist only when they fall sick or develop a cavity problem.

Part of your responsibility as a parent is taking care of your child’s teeth. You must ensure that they are healthy and free from cavities. However, to ensure this, you and your child need to pay regular visits to the local pediatric dentist.

Who is a pediatric dentist? A pediatric dentist—also known as a pedodontist—is a dentist specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of children’s dental problems from infancy to young adulthood.

Dedicated to children’s oral health, a pediatric dentist is qualified to take care of your child’s mouth, gums, and teeth throughout their childhood and teen years. Following is a more detailed look at pediatric dentists, what they do, the qualifications they have, and the services they offer. Additionally, we provide you with a list of the important things to consider when choosing a pediatric dentist.

What Is a Pediatric Dentist—Pediatric Dentistry Explained

Children start getting their baby teeth, a process known as teething, before they are 6 months old. Generally, these baby teeth are intact until the child reaches their 6th or 7th birthday. From this age onwards, the child’s baby teeth start to come off, only to be replaced with permanent teeth. If you are not careful about your child’s oral health, then they may develop serious dental problems such as oral decay and disease. These can result in a lifetime of pain and complications. The good news is that there is someone to take care of your child’s teeth for you—a pediatric dentist.

Being medical professionals with specialized qualifications, pediatric dentists cater to children who need general dental care or have special needs such as dental filling and emergency care. After graduating from dental school, pediatric dentists need to undertake two to three years of further training before they can practice their profession, ensuring that your children’s oral health is in safe hand.

Dentists that work closely with general dentist and pediatricians, pediatric dentists are recognized by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD). Primary and specialty oral care providers for infants and children through adolescence, pediatric dentists offer a wide range of treatment options as well as expertise and training for taking care of your child’s oral health. You can find out more about pediatric dentistry in the following section.

What Are the Services or Treatments Provided by a Pediatric Dentist?

With a pediatric dentist, your child’s oral health is in safe hand. This is because pediatric dentists offer comprehensive oral healthcare that includes the following:

Infant Oral Health Exams—Includes an assessment of risk for caries in mother and child

Pediatric Dental Exam—Comprehensive examination is carried out to determine the state of your child’s oral health and recommend/provide preventive measures

Preventive Dental Care—Fluoride treatments, dental cleaning, and diet/nutrition recommendations

Counseling on Habits—For sucking of the thumb, use of a pacifier, etc.

Initial Evaluation and Treatment—Performed for fixing or straightening teeth via orthodontics

Repairing—Includes repairing of defects or tooth cavities

Diagnosis of Oral Conditions—These are oral conditions associated with health problems such as hyperactivity disorder, hay fever, asthma, congenital heart defect, and diabetes

Gum Diseases Management—This includes the management of pediatric periodontal disease, mucoceles, and ulcers

Dental Injury Care—Dental emergency treatment, this includes care for dental injuries such as displaced, fractured, or broken teeth

At a pediatric dental exam, the dentist may perform the following procedures:

  • A comprehensive dental examination that provides you with important information on taking care of your child’s teeth/oral health. The examination may also include cleaning, habit counseling, and fluoride treatments
  • To increase protection for your child’s teeth, sealants may be recommended and applied
  • The pediatric dentist may recommend a suitable treatment, such as space maintainers, extractions, crowns or fillings if cavities are found in your child’s teeth
  • The potential need for orthodontic procedures may be determined using exams and X-rays
  • Diagnosis and treatment of pediatric gum disease

With a pediatric dental exam, your child gets early and appropriate dental care. This can help prevent many oral health problems later in your child’s life.

Choosing the Right Pediatric Dentist—Some Things to Consider

So, now you know what pediatric dentists do and why they are critical for maintaining your child’s oral health. But how do you ensure a local pediatric dentist is right for your child? By looking for the following signs:

Education and Experience—Make sure that the pediatric dentist you choose for your child has the required qualifications and training as well as experience in providing the oral healthcare service that you seek for your child. Another thing to ensure is that the dentist is a licensed member of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD).

A Fun, Relaxing Environment—Make sure that visiting a pediatric dentist is not a frightening experience for your child. Make sure that the office of the pediatric dentist you choose is designed to be a bright, happy place that fulfills both the physical and psychological needs of children. More importantly, the dentist should be good with children and talk in a language they understand. After all, the comfort of your child is the most important thing!

When choosing a pediatric dentist, look for qualified and experienced pediatric dentists and a fun, relaxing environment. These ensure that your child walks out of our clinic happy and with a bright smile!

How to Have Healthy Gums

There is so much more in having good oral health than just having healthy teeth. Oral health is a combination of healthy teeth, healthy gums, good position of the teeth and balanced bite. Dental patients often forget that having teeth without cavities is not going to be a guarantee that their teeth will last for a whole lifetime. Number one cause of losing teeth is periodontitis, and a dental therapist at Dental Suite Clinic is there to help you overcome this disease.

Healthy gums vs. unhealthy gums

If a person doesn’t brush their teeth regularly, particles of food will remain on the teeth. Those particles are a perfect environment for bacteria. The combination of food and bacteria is called plaque. After a few hours, bacteria multiply and causes the inflammation of the gums – gingivitis. This inflammation is the response of the human immune system. After a few days, plaque begins to harden and become tartar. At this point, a dental patient can’t remove the tartar with teeth brushing. Bacteria remain on the gums and the inflammation becomes bigger.

What is a healthy gums color?

Healthy gums are firm and pink. There shouldn’t be any swollen parts of it, especially not on the edge of the gums, near the tooth. Also, a sign of healthy gums is the absence of bleeding and pain. In these pictures of healthy gums, you can see the difference between healthy gums and gingivitis.

Is gingivitis reversible?

At the point where the inflammation is spread only through the gums, this disease is reversible. After having professional teeth cleaning done by a dentist, your gums will recover from the gingivitis. However, if the inflammation is not treated, bacteria and their toxins can spread deeper in the tissue, through the bone and teeth ligaments. This disease is now called periodontitis, and at this point, it becomes irreversible. Part of the jaw bone that is supporting the teeth is being decomposed and this could lead to a loss of the tooth. Teeth cleaning and scaling can help with stopping this disease to spread deeper in the bone structure, but the lost part of the bone can never be healed by itself. This could only be done with a dentistry surgical procedure, by adding artificial bone.

How to Have Healthy Gums

How to get healthy gums again?

Here is some advice from this dental clinic, on how to keep your gums healthy:

1. Maintain good oral hygiene – If you brush your teeth every day at least twice, you will keep your teeth clean and that way there will be no food particles or bacteria to cause the inflammation for the gums. It is very important to learn your children to maintain their oral hygiene from early childhood.

2. Floss and use interdental brushes – spaces and gaps between two teeth are a perfect place for food to stick and for bacteria to attack. Keep these spaces clean and prevent any problems with your gums and teeth.

3. Use mouthwashes – these liquids are a very good alternative for teeth cleaning if you are away from your bathroom and toothbrush. Swishing mouthwash through your mouth will rinse the bacteria and food particles. However, nothing can replace good teeth brushing, so even if you like to use mouthwash, at the and of the day, brush your teeth thoroughly.

4. Stop smoking – this habit is bad not only for your general health but also for the health of your mouth.

5. Have a dental checkup twice a year – this way, your dentist will clean and polish your teeth and you will prevent any kind of inflammation. This is also very important for dental patients that already have periodontitis so that disease doesn’t spread deeper in the tissues.

6. Breathe through your nose – breathing through your mouth will cause dry gums and tongue. This is also a good environment for bacteria. If you breathe through your nose, saliva will protect your gums all the time.

If you are worried because of the color of your gums or you have noticed that your gums are bleeding when you wash your teeth, go to a dental therapist to check your oral health. Dentist at Dental Suite Clinic will help you overcome your oral health problems and teach you how to take care of your teeth.

Picture No. 1 – https://www.carsondds.com/dental-services/common-dental-problems/gingivitis-periodontal-disease.html

Picture No. 2 – http://www.dentinnovation.it/1884/cosa-causa-parodontite/

Here’s How To Ensure Good Oral Health

Oral health is not just something related to the odor of your mouth, rather it is something of grave concern. The number of positive compliments you receive for your teeth doesn’t necessarily mean that you have absolutely no oral issues. Some of the oral health issues remain hidden for a considerably longer duration until they become unbearably painful and a matter of worry.

To possess healthy teeth and no oral health problems, you need to take certain measures for a lifetime. Taking care is not something you do for a couple of days or weeks, but it should be added in your daily routine. Here is an article which will tell you the things you need to do to have good oral health.

  • Use oral irrigators for cleaning of your mouth

An oral irrigator is a revolutionary innovation in the world of mouth cleaning aid and can be used to pump water in your mouth in a pulsating manner. This is found to be highly effective when talking about flushing the leftover food and bacterias.

This device or aid can prevent plague and infection in your mouth. However, if you think that you have already developed plague in your teeth, it is time that you visit a doctor. There are several health insurances that cover oral health issues but it is crucial to be mindful about these before you opt for an insurance plan. You need to know more about iSelect health insurance quotes in order to cover all your expenses when in need of oral surgery.

  • Skip sugar for a healthy mouth and body

Sugar is significantly related to tooth decay. If you haven’t yet, it is time that you cut off sugar consumption as much as possible as its substantial intake can lead to erosion of your teeth. When you take in sugar, it reacts with the bacterias in your saliva to make an acid which tends to finish your teeth layer by layer. Even the protective layer of a tooth, the enamel, cannot withstand the action of this acid.

  • Don’t neglect your tongue while brushing 

Ever wondered why some people have a bad oral odor? There can be many reasons for that, but the most common one is carelessness in cleaning the tongue. It is a fact that plague can also build up on your tongue which can not only lead to bad odor but also cause many other oral health issues.

It is recommended by top dentists that, you should brush twice a day and whenever you brush, your tongue should not be left out. Gentle strokes of your brush on your tongue will do the job or you can get a tongue cleaner for the purpose.

  • Try using a Fluoride toothpaste

Fluoride is an element which is known to be found in several kinds of toothpaste. As a matter of fact, its presence is a considerably vital element of toothpaste in order to fight germs in your teeth which lead to tooth decay. It not only protects your teeth from decaying but also decreases its possibility by making a protective layer around your teeth. 

How To Brush Your Teeth Properly

It is vital that you know how to correctly brush your teeth, as incorrect brushing will likely lead to oral issues before long. The objective of brushing one’s teeth is to remove as much food residue as possible, and when you consider that the insides of a person’s mouth is far from smooth, it can be difficult to reach some areas. Failure to effectively clean your teeth can have serious consequences, as decay will soon follow, if the brushing technique issue is not addressed.

Choosing A Suitable Toothbrush

How To Brush Your Teeth Properly


Image Source: Pexels

Just as important as the brushing technique, selecting the right type of toothbrush will ensure optimum performance when you brush. Ask any orthodontist Gold Coast has and they will confirm that a soft brush with a small head is the best type of toothbrush to use, and most dentists will stock good quality toothbrushes. A small headed toothbrush can help to reach the awkward areas in between the teeth and the soft bristles will not damage your gums.

Two-Minute Brushing

The experts say it should take at least 120 seconds to brush your teeth, and while that might not sound a long time, next time you brush, time how long it takes and you might be surprised at how quick you have been brushing. Use short, gentle strokes, while focusing on the line between the teeth and gums – where most food particles are trapped.

Brush At A 45-Degree Angle

How To Brush Your Teeth Properly


Image Source: Pexels

For best results, the head of the toothbrush should be tilted at around 45 degrees, while also sweeping away from the gum line, which helps to remove plaque. Don’t be afraid to go over the same areas more than once and by changing the angle and brushing motion, you are maximising your chances of removing food particles.

Brush Your Tongue

Brushing your tongue will help to keep your breath fresh and although it might feel strange at first, it will soon become second nature. If you would like some further reading on the importance of brushing your tongue, there are articles you can find online. Brushing the tongue should be done with gentle strokes and you can vary the motion, from circular to up and down, which helps optimise the cleaning process.

What Type Of Toothpaste Should I Use?

There are many different types of toothpaste on the market and it really is down to personal preference, as to which you use. If you are a smoker, then use a toothpaste that removes tobacco stains. Many dentists recommend using a powdered toothpaste, as this is more effective than a cream or paste, due to the added abrasion. If you are at all unsure about the best toothpaste, you can always ask your dentist.

How To Brush Your Teeth Properly


Image Source: Pixabay

It is especially important that children know how to correctly brush and floss, so you might want to pass on this new knowledge to your family. With correct brushing, regular flossing and the use of an antiseptic mouthwash, your oral hygiene will go a long way towards maintaining healthy teeth and gums.

Of course, you still need to have regular dental examinations, which will detect any issues in a timely manner, and treatment can be carried out.

Do You Have A Missing Tooth? Here Are 4 Benefits Of Dental Implants

Have you recently lost a tooth? Would you like to find a permanent replacement that will look and feel completely natural? Well, you have certainly come to the right place. Dental implants are replacement teeth that are fitted into your gums or jaw bone and topped off with a crown in order to fill the gap left by a missing tooth or teeth. According to the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, there are two main types of implants namely endosteal and subperiosteal. The former are placed in the jaw bone while the latter are placed under the gum but above the jaw bone. Here are some astonishing benefits of getting dental implants:

     1. Restores normal appearance and functioning

Missing teeth is a common problem that can greatly affect your quality of life. Simple tasks such as eating and talking can become much more difficult when you have a missing tooth or teeth. It can also be a huge blow to your self-esteem since you might feel ashamed to smile in front of people. If you have been experiencing these problems, don’t worry because dental implants can certainly help. They look completely natural and furthermore, you will be able to regain normal functionality.

     2. Long-lasting solution

Unlike dentures which you need to remove and clean on a regular basis, dental implants provide a permanent solution. This is because they are securely installed into  your gum or jawbone to ensure that they cannot be removed. In simple terms, you will be getting a brand new tooth that functions like the one you lost. This means that you will be able to brush your teeth and floss just like before. With proper care and maintenance, your dental implant could last for a lifetime.

     3. It prevents bone loss

Perhaps you don’t mind the appearance of a missing tooth. Or maybe the gap is deep within your mouth where no one can see it. However, did you know that missing teeth cause you to develop bone loss on your jaw? This can eventually lead to sagging cheeks since your face will start to collapse inwardly to fill the space left by your missing tooth. All this will cause you to develop a characteristic look of premature aging. So, rather than looking 10 years older, simply contact Kate Brayman DDS for the best dental implant services. She is undoubtedly the best New York cosmetic dentist.

     4. It keeps the adjacent teeth firm and stable

Your dental formula is arranged in such a way that a missing tooth will affect the alignment of the other teeth adjacent to it. This means that when you get a tooth extracted, it is important for you to get a dental implant or else the adjacent teeth might cave in to fill the space left by the missing tooth. This will eventually cause a domino effect whereby over time, all your teeth will shift slightly and this will ultimately affect your bite. So, whether you have a single missing tooth or multiple missing teeth, be sure to get implants immediately so that you restore your lovely smile!

Top 8 Signs and Symptoms That You Have Cavitation and the Treatment

Cavitation is one of the major dental problems that most people usually end up having. You may have heard of cavities and think they are one and the same. But the two are different. While a cavity is simply a whole in the tooth caused by decay, a cavitation has two different meanings. It could mean a hole that has become so deep that it is barrowed to the bone. It also refers to the dental procedure of removing part of the bone that is infected in order to allow for the healthy bone to grow back. This is in regard to the hole in the bone. In order to tell if you have a cavitation or not, you need to be aware of the signs and symptoms to watch out for. Some of the manifestations of the condition include:

 1. Bone pain

When you have any problems with your teeth, you are bound to be in a lot of pain. However, cavitation pain is a bit different. Apart from aching inside the tooth, you may feel pain in the bone. You may also experience some pressure on top of the pain itself. It is an uncomfortable feeling that can be recognized immediately it is felt. Depending on the severity of the pain, you can how serious the condition is. For it to get as bad as becoming a cavitation, it means that it must have been ignored for a while. Since it is a hole in the bone itself, bone pain is a sure symptom that you could be having it. The only way to be sure would be to see a dentist and have them ascertain this.

 2. Bad breath

Tooth decay usually has the potential to cause bad breath. This is because it creates a breeding ground for all the bacteria in your mouth. Under the right conditions, the said bacteria eat away at your tooth, creating a cavity. This may cause rotting of the teeth in question. In turn, it would result in bad breath. Therefore, if the condition worsens and becomes a cavitation, the bad breath is likely to become worse. It is possible for it to get so bad that you are unable to talk or open your mouth in public because of the embarrassment. In some cases, you might experience some sour and bitter taste in your mouth constantly. A breath mint does not help in this situation. When you experience all these, it is a sign that you need to visit a dentist to help you find a solution to the problem you are experiencing and help you get your life back.

 3. Swelling

Sometimes a cavitation may become infected. The inflammation may cause it to swell and become red. Furthermore, pus may begin to ooze out of it. The swelling is not a normal occurrence, and neither is the pus mentioned. They are a sure sign that the area has become contaminated and hence infected. You can try to swallow antibiotics to help with the infection and over the counter anti-inflammatories to help with the infection. However, you need to keep in mind that all these are temporary fixes. The more you use that side to chew or the more you keep disturbing the area, the more likely it is that the swelling will recur. In order to have the problem solved and have a chance to live your normal life, you need to get a permanent solution. You can see a dentist for advice on the steps to take.

 4. Failed dental procedures

One of the reasons why it is important to choose a qualified dentist is to avoid botched procedures that end up causing more damage to you. You end up spending much more money than you need to fix the damage. All the while, you may be in pain that was caused by a professional you trusted to do their work well. One of the most common signs that you may have a cavitation is a dental procedure gone wrong. Whether it is a tooth extraction or a root canal, if your dental surgeon is not careful, they may put undue pressure on the bone when performing the procedure. Too much pressure, especially if the tooth is firmly fixed in its socket, may cause the bone to break or worsen the cavity at hand. If noticed at that time, it can be handled then. If not, it could lead to future complications.

Knowing about the signs and symptoms is a major part of identifying whether someone has a cavitation. Another vital step to enabling one to get back on track to living their normal life is treatment. Dental pain, when very intense, cab greatly affect someone’s quality of life and make them very unhappy. It could prevent them from going about their daily activities. This is not good as it takes away from quality time that could have been used to earn an income and provide for the family. If you are not aware, a cavitation could lead to many other complications if the infection spreads. This can even result in death. Most people never know what they are suffering from early enough. The good news is that there are ways to manage and treat cavitations before they get out of hand. Some of the factors that contribute to effective treatment and the methods of treatment include:

 1. Early diagnosis

Identifying the problem is the first step to making things right. In recent times, there are many people raising awareness about cavitations. The other day, there was news where a holistic dentist warns of a silent killer cavitations. Such awareness helps to promote early diagnosis. The more people are educated on what they should know on the condition, the more likely they are to go out and seek treatment. The problem is that it is sort of an angel of death because not many people see it coming. Some people when the experience the above symptoms just ignore it and shoulder on. When it is finally diagnosed, there is usually nothing much left to do. Early diagnosis helps to get it under control early enough. In most cases, you are able to make a full recovery with no complications.

 2. Filling

Depending on the extent of damage and how early it is diagnosed, some cavitations can be solved by filling them. If your doctor manages to ascertain that the hole is not too deep, they would recommend this option for you. If your cavitation is infected, they are likely to recommend you take antibiotics first for a particular period of time before doing the filling. If they do the feeling before the infection clears, it will only make matters worse. Your tooth will look okay from the outside but continue rotting on the inside, which is dangerous. Filling is a non-invasive procedure which involves using a paste to cover up the hole in your tooth. The paste needs a few hours to dry and set fully before you can eat. Other than that, when done well, it can be the fix you need for your problems.

 3. Root canal

Root canals tend to be a bit more intense than the fillings. It is a longer procedure. The dentist would be the best person to evaluate the extent of infection or damage on your tooth and decide on the way forward. One of the methods they could recommend for treatment is a root canal. This is if he or she feels that they cannot preserve the pulp of your tooth as it is badly infected or damaged. The procedure should not make you afraid. If carried out by a proper dentist, it has a high chance of going well. First, you will be given anesthesia to numb the affected area. So if you are experiencing a lot of pain, be sure that your dentist will not work on you until the area has been numbed. Therefore, before they start working on you, they will give you some time to allow the anesthesia to work.

 4. Extraction

This would be the last resort. In some cases, the dentist will present to you all the facts and ask you to choose between a root canal and an extraction. Some people believe that the extraction is better because it does not leave any room for the affected area to get infected in future. This is because it entails removal of the whole tooth from the bone. It requires a skilled person to do because if done badly, it could cause you a lot of pain and may even break the jawbone if not done carefully.

Most of the above methods of management and treatment take care of the affected tooth but depending on the extent of damage, could help the bone as well. In extreme cases, after the above procedures, the doctor could look into other ways of treating the affected part of the jaw bone separately.

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4 Benefits of Having a Good Dentist at Hand

Most people wait until they are sick or have a problem before seeing a dentist. However, there are those people who plan in advance and already have a dentist they see regularly. Both ways have their own pros and cons. Having a dentist at hand is the way to go because it saves you so much trouble when you are unwell. Preplanning helps you know all your options and the best one available. Aspen Hill Smiles is one of the best dentistry practices there are. In order to get more details, you can visit their website at aspenhillsmiles.com. Some advantages of planning early and choosing your dentist earlier on include:

  1. Solve all your dental issues

Choosing your dentist earlier will give you time to scout all the available options. You will be able to tell what each dental practice offers. If you are lucky, you will be able to get a dentistry clinic that can solve all your problems. You won’t need to visit one clinic to fix a cavity and a different one if you want to get a cosmetic tooth replacement. You can find all these services under one roof. Such applies for a group of dentists who have specialized in various fields who decide to start a clinic together.

  2. No complications

When you look for a dentist in advance, you take your time with the whole process. You get enough time to properly investigate the dentist in question. If they are online, you can catch some reviews about their clinic. You will be able to see their ratings and the feedback from clients. This will help you evaluate their complication rates. When you know that, you will be able to decide with a clear mind whether or not to go to their clinic. Scouting makes it easy to sort the good dentists from the bad.

  3. Convenient

Toothache can be a real pain. It makes you unable to concentrate on anything and literally brings your life to a standstill. Scouting for a good dentist in advance is convenient because when something comes up, you can just go to the clinic. The problem with waiting until the pain comes on before searching is that you might end up settling on anyone who can alleviate your pain. They may not necessarily be good at their jobs. Furthermore, they may be inconsiderate and rude but you won’t have any other options at that point.

  4. Reasonable costs

When you look for a dentist earlier on, you get to evaluate your choices fully based on a number of factors. One of them is how affordable it is in the long run. In as much as taking care of your teeth prevents most problems, you cannot predict how often you will need a dentist. It is therefore wise to consider cost as an important determinant. If you plan on you and your family being treated by the same person, you need to find a clinic that you can afford.