Pediatric Dentistry - Taking Your Kid to the Dentist

Pediatric Dentists are specially trained to take care of the teeth of children.

Proper care of children's teeth at an early age is vital, as the so called "milk teeth" hold the space and guide the permanent teeth into their proper position. For this reason, maintaining healthy milk teeth is of the utmost importance.

Kids can be scared of the dentist (and so can adults), so it is important to choose the right dentist for them. Normally they will warm to a dentist that they are comfortable with and whom they trust.

When going to see a pediatric dentist, the office is normally set up to cater for the child. Fun games, toys and films are usually available to make the child feel more at ease. Also, the dentist, who is specially trained to make the child feel at ease, will be very much in communication with the child and explain everything he will do beforehand - this usually handles any tenseness the child may have about seeing the dentist.

Many children, after visiting pediatric dentists, actually look forward to going to the dentist again.

When a child starts teething, with their first teeth breaking through, or at least by the age of one, is it necessary to bring him or her to the dentist.

This is so the dentist can educate the parent in how take care for their child's teeth and give guidance on dietary requirements. Thus enabling the dentist to guide the child's teeth to grow up healthy and strong, and have great oral well-being for the rest of his life.

Brushing your child's teeth should be done at least twice a day. Once after breakfast and then before going to sleep. It is especially important to brush their teeth before going to sleep as saliva production will be at a minimal then, so any remaining acid and bacteria will be able to do maximum damage at this time.

It's important to monitor what your child eats and drinks. Avoid unwarranted snacks - especially sugary ones. Most "juices" or kid's "vitamin drinks" are packed with sugar; just about as bad as giving them a soda drink.

Caring for a child's teeth gives them a good grounding and education, ensuring they will care for their own teeth in the future.

Professional vs Home Teetth Whitening

Teeth stain over time.

Cigarette smoke, red wine, coffee or tea expedite the process.

Regardless of brushing and flossing teeth on a frequent basis, and regular visits to the dentist, your teeth will stain to some degree.

There are two solutions to this.

One is to have it sorted out professionally. The other is to purchase a do-it-yourself home kit.

A professional dental hygienist will be able to determine the best treatment for you.

When you get your teeth whitened professionally, you are assured of great results and the process is fast and straightforward. Bright white teeth are however not guaranteed; it depends on the original condition of your teeth. Teeth that are stained from within can not always be fully restored to their original whiteness by a whitening procedure alone.

Getting a home kit is also an option. It is usually a 2 week process and does not always get the same result as having it done professionally; but if the directions are followed, a good result can be possible.

Teeth whitening has become increasingly popular and is provided as a regular service at most dental clinics.

Dental clinics usually have professional hygienists perform the tooth whitening, however dentists also regularly perform the procedure where there is no dedicated hygienist.

Patients who have had professional whitening are usually so impressed that after a few years, they go back to the dentist for a follow-up treatment, to keep up the whiteness of their teeth.

Even though home tooth whitening can obtain results, there are a number of do's and don't's, regulations to be followed prior to the use of tooth whitening products - for which a trip to the dentist is highly recommended. The dentist can tell check to see whether your teeth and gums are able to take the chemicals used in the process of whitening your own teeth. Also, if you have tooth colored fillings, resin composite materials used in dental restorations (such as crowns, veneers, bridges etc) that have stained over time, they will not whiten the same as your teeth and can stand out like a sore thumb if you are not careful. Your dentist will be able to advise you on what the best course of action is in these instances.

In a nutshell, home tooth whitening solutions can work, however if you want a professional job, which is both fast and reliable, you are better of seeing a professional hygienist or dentist and get it done right the first time.

Dental Hygiene and Periodontal Disease

What is Hygiene and what is a Periodontal Disease? It is important to define these terms so one can clearly lay out what one is trying to achieve.

Hygiene is defined as: "The preservation of health" or "the practice or principles of cleanliness".

Periodontal is defined as: "in tissues around tooth - more broadly, it is relating to or affecting the tissues that surround the neck and root of a tooth."

A Disease is an "illness, caused by infection or failure of health rather than by accident."

Thereby a Periodontal Disease is an illness of the tissues surrounding the teeth. How can a Dental Hygienist prevent periodontal disease?

• They educate you thoroughly on how to take care of your own teeth - including how to properly floss and brush you teeth. Also, which toothbrushes, including electric ones, are most beneficial to you.
• They check your teeth for any signs of periodontal disease start-up and are able to address any signs of disease on the spot. If not detected at an early stage, severe damage could occur to your teeth or gums.
• They thoroughly clean your teeth with professional equipment using a variety of procedures and methods such as scaling and root cleaning. These procedures are used to get rid of the hardened tartar around the base of the teeth including underneath the gums.

It is recommended you visit your Dentist or Dental Hygienist every three months in order to maintain impeccably healthy teeth.

While the tissues around your teeth (gums) can be maintained perfectly, it is important that a good all-round diet is maintained including regular vitamin, mineral and protein intake. Your tissues are alive and will only remain healthy and firm if they get the required nutrition they require.

There are a number of periodontal diseases with a variety of names and symptoms. While we can go into details of what one or the other does - the basis is that they are not pleasant and can all be easily prevented.

• Keep your teeth as clean as possible at all times at home. This includes avoiding sweet foods.
• Visit your dentist or dental hygienist at regular intervals. Three months is the recommended interval period.
• Maintain a good diet full of nutrition. Taking additional supplements is highly recommended as most foods these days are highly processed with most nutrition stripped from them.

This article was supplied courtesy of Greenway Dental Group, MA.

Toothaches and sensitive teeth can cause major discomfort to your everyday living. Avoiding foods just because they cause sensitivity and pain is no way to live comfortably. That is why, at your local dentist exists, he helps patients with such problems and they are normally dealt with promptly.

There can be numerous causes for toothaches and sensitive teeth - generally the decay of the tooth with the nerve showing or the gum receding to such an extent that hot and cold foods can cause painful sensitivity.

Tooth filling, Root Canals, Crowns, Tooth Sealant, Dental Onlays, and all manner of Dental Hygiene Procedures, etc., are routinely practiced operations carried out by our qualified dentists.

Tooth decay can creep on unexpectedly, and from time to time, when pain strikes, the decay has gone too deep into the tooth - causing major damage and thus requiring major treatment. It is possible that this could have been prevented by having gone to see your local dentist beforehand so that he could spot the decay at an early stage, and deal with it economically and effectively.

We recommend that you see your local dentist routinely to ensure your teeth remain in good condition and do not decay.

As a dentist I recommned and advocate Preventative Dentistry.

What is Preventative Dentistry?

Preventive Dentistry is used to help each of us keep our teeth and gums healthy and so to prevent you from making unnecessary visits to the dentist, for fillings or other operations.

Most consumables in modern society contain sugar, which can cause tooth decay, so it is important that you take the necessary preventative measures for your teeth to stay in optimum condition. Things such as brushing your teeth, using floss, chewing gum, and rinsing your mouth with mouth-wash all help in preventing tooth decay.

Also, with so much sugar on the market, bad breath (halitosis) is a prevalent problem in today's society. Bad breath, in most cases, is caused by food remaining in the mouth - on the teeth, tongue, and gums - that bacteria then feast on. Dead and dying bacterial cells then give your breath an unpleasant odor.

Brushing your teeth, rinsing your mouth, or chewing some sugar-free gum, after you have eaten, goes a long way in preventing bad breath and tooth decay. Schedule your next preventative visit today or call the dentist for further consultation

Dental veneers were originally invented by a dentist in California, USA. At the time the adhesive used was unsatisfactory and the veneers fell off after a short time.

In this day and age, veneers have been highly modernized. Using modern bonding adhesives, they can bond to the teeth for up to 30 years. In the past, the only way to correct dental imperfections was to cover the tooth with a crown.

What is a veneer? Per the Encarta Dictionary, it is "a thin layer of a material bonded to the surface of a less attractive or inferior material". Veneers in dentistry are very thin layers of artificial tooth (made either of porcelain or a resin composite) that are the natural color of your tooth and are placed on your tooth.

In modern dentistry, veneers as such are used to improve the aesthetics of the teeth or to repair/protect a damaged tooth surface.

What makes you a candidate for veneers? Large spaces between your teeth; poorly shaped or crooked teeth; broken or chipped teeth; worn down, misaligned or uneven teeth. Dental veneers can also be used to handle externally or internally stained or permanently discolored teeth that can not be handled through professional teeth whitening.

As mentioned; veneers come in the form of porcelain or composite resin (hard plastic). Your local dental expert can advise which option is best suited for you.

Veneers are highly resistant to the staining from coffee, tea, tobacco etc. They can make your teeth look good and feel healthy; while giving you a new, better look.

Veneers are endorsed by dentists and patients alike, with stories of how they have literally changed peoples lives by instilling them with a confidence - no longer shying away from other people because of their teeth.

Though veneers stand within the realm of cosmetic dentistry, they are a relatively simple, fast, and straightforward procedure that greatly enhances one's looks, strengthens one's teeth, and may be exactly what you need to improve your appearance and your smile.

Veneers are prepared at the laboratory, after your initial visit with your local dental expert. During your initial visit, your dentist will consult you on the procedure and will take a mold of the tooth/teeth to be veneered. After your veneer(s) have been produced in the laboratory, your local dentsts will place them on the respective tooth/teeth. He will then consult you on how to take care of your veneers so that they last long and remain in good condition.

For more information or consulation please contact us or fill out a

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