Beside manner is a term that most adults know. They understand that visiting the local dentist office is more than just receiving tips on good dental hygiene; they also recognize how important feeling comfortable and connecting with the dentist is. However, when it comes to their children’s dentist, they may say that beside manner doesn’t really matter. After all, most kids don’t have a grasp on the denotation of that term anyway.
Kids Do Understand
Just because children do not know what the words mean or imply does not preclude them from understanding connections with other people. Children who are under the care of dentists exuding mean, harsh or ambivalent behavior are likely to feed off of that energy. On the other hand, kids who feel as though their dentists understand their struggles and connect with them may very well have more positive dental hygiene experiences throughout the course of their lives.
Questions and Answers
Kids must go to the local dentist’s office to keep their teeth in good shape. However, these regular appointments also help them to develop useful skills for the future. One day, they will act as the masters of their own dental destiny. Dentists who have strong bedside manner create a more comfortable environment in which children can ask questions. Kids who learn how to ask appropriate questions and to recall the answers are developing important skills for when they take themselves to the dentists.
Future Fears
Kids who have bad experiences with dentists when they are little may never forget about these issues. Even if they go to a new dentist with better bedside manner, they may still have a great deal of trepidation. In fact, when they grow older, they may begin to avoid the dentist entirely, thereby spreading this fear to their own children. Having positive experiences with dentists from the start can set kids up to care about their dental health and to develop better exchanges with the professionals as they grow older.
Children often understand more than people give them credit for, and in that sense, they can appreciate good bedside manner. Parents want to help their kids have this experience from the early days of their dental visits, so they should give us a call to schedule an appointment.
Although dentistry has evolved incredibly, many Americans still suffer loss of teeth through decay, gum disease and accidents. For many years, the available dental treatments for these misfortunes were bridges and ultimately, dentures.
Today a cosmetic dentist can provide teeth that look, feel and perform just like natural teeth.
What are dental implants?
Dental implants are the perfect way to regain natural, beautiful teeth.
Implants provide a root structure for new teeth, with special titanium posts placed in the jaw bone. When bone grows and affixes around these posts, they become part of the natural structure of the jaw. When artificial teeth are attached to the posts via individual implants or a denture bridge, they provide a strong, stable structure much like natural teeth.
With proper oral hygiene, implants may last a lifetime.
Am I a candidate for implants?
Commitment to routine dental visits and good oral hygiene are a prerequisite for successful implants. An x-ray will determine if you have enough bone in your jaw to hold the implants firmly. Special evaluation must be considered if you suffer from chronic disorders such as diabetes, or if you smoke. These factors may affect the successful outcome of the implant procedure.
What happens during an implant procedure?
A cosmetic dentist will devise an individualized plan for you. A coordinated team trained in oral surgery will work to provide your treatment.
A surgical template, or guide, is made for your individual dental structure.
A tooth root implant made of titanium is placed into your jaw by the cosmetic dentist. An oral surgery procedure places the implant underneath the gum and against the bone. Integration with the bone mass must occur, which can take from six to 12 weeks.
When healing is successful, the surgeon connects a post to the titanium root, called an abutment. This will be the connecting point for new individual teeth or a special denture.
Is this process painful?
Most people are surprised at how little discomfort they experience. Local anesthesia is provided. If you are anxious about your surgery, the dentist can provide an intravenous sedative.
Success rate
Discomfort is minimal and the success rate for bone healing is 95-97%. The procedure is team-organized and carefully constructed.
If you would like to regain your natural smile through beautiful implants, click here for an appointment now.
Brushing and flossing are effective ways to keep your teeth healthy; however, you may feel that your smile is lacking some of its old sparkle or that your teeth have become slightly yellow. Teeth whitening is an effective option for brightening your teeth and improving your smile. Cosmetic dentists typically provide whitening along with braces and preventative dentistry.
Teeth Whitening Methods
• Toothpastes Formulated for Whitening
All toothpastes can help to remove surface stains since they contain mild abrasives. These abrasives scrub the tooth enamel thus rubbing away the substances that cause the stains. Whitening toothpastes contain special chemicals and polishing agents that increase their ability to remove stains. However, whitening toothpastes can only work on the surface of teeth. The result is that they cannot change the color of teeth, unlike bleaches.
• Bleaching
This involves changing the natural color of teeth. Cosmetic dentists can use bleaches to make teeth as much as seven shades brighter. Your dentist may use in-office or at-home whitening methods. The active ingredient in the bleaches can be either hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. These bleaches can remove both surface stains and those that are deep in the enamel.
With in-office bleaching (sometimes referred to as “chair-side bleaching”), a protective gel or special shield may be applied to protect your gums from the bleach that will be used on your teeth. Your dentist may also use a special laser that makes the bleaching agent more effective.
At-home bleaching will be limited to the use of the bleaching agents. The bleaching agents may come in gel form and used in trays that fit over your teeth, or on a strip that adheres to your tooth enamel. The bleaches used for at-home whitening are less concentrated than those that a dentist would use in their office.
• Non-Bleaching Dental Procedures
Cleanings are an important part of preventative dentistry and can improve the appearance of your teeth as well. A dentist or dental hygienist may use abrasion along with polishing as a part of the cleaning procedure. This can remove most of the external stains left by smoking and food.
Not everyone will respond to whitening in the same way. In some cases, the only way that a patient will see significant improvement in the color of their teeth is with the use of veneers or bonding. For more information on teeth whitening procedures and to find out which is right for you, call our office to schedule an appointment.
What is a Pediatric Dentist?
A pediatric dentist is trained in the care of children’s oral health. They typically treat children who are infants through the teenage years. Children normally begin to get teeth when they are six months old. Between the ages of six and seven, many children begin to lose their first set of teeth and grow in a second set that is permanent. A pediatric dentist has special qualifications in caring for children’s teeth, gums and mouth throughout all of these stages.
A pediatric dentist must complete:
Additionally, many pediatric dentists receive additional training in treating children with special needs, such as autism, anxiety or hyperactivity.
What Treatments are Typically Done by a Pediatric Dentist?
A children’s dentist can provide:
At What Age Should My Child See a Pediatric Dentist?
Proper dental hygiene for children is a growing concern with tooth decay being five times more common in children than asthma and seven times more common than hay fever. Tooth decay can cause infections, pain and problems with proper tooth alignment.
Because of this, it is important to schedule regular visits with a children’s dentist. The American Dental Association recommends that a child’s first visit to the dentist occur as soon as their teeth being to grow in, between six and 12 months of age. An appointment from the local dentist office should be requested as soon as teeth begin to appear.
What Can I Expect from a First Appointment?
During the first visit, a child’s teeth, gums and mouth will be thoroughly examined. This exam may include taking x-rays. The child’s teeth will then be cleaned and a fluoride treatment may be applied to the teeth. The dentist can teach parents the best ways to clean the child’s teeth, remove plaque, give dental hygiene tips and answer any questions that parents may have about their child’s oral health.
A pediatric dentist will be able to provide specialized care for children of all ages. The local dentist office will be able to recommend a pediatric dentist that will give individual care for whatever the child may need.
Do you loathe going to the dentist? Goodness knows you’re not alone! There are countless people out there who are neglecting a crucial part of their dental health. A trip to your local dentist office is unlikely to be brilliantly fun, but it’s absolutely necessary from time to time. Here’s why.
Dental Exams Are Impossible To Fail
In recent years, some parts of the medical community have come clean about over-emphasizing how important they are. General practitioners no longer recommend physical exams every year the way they used to. Even obstetricians are cutting back on the amount of high-intensity care they recommend for mothers. Your friendly general dentist is different, though. When he or she says you need to come in every six months, you must obey.
A general dental check-up is of course designed to root out any signs of serious problems with your teeth. Beyond looking for new problems, though, dental exams perform a number of essential maintenance tasks you simply cannot handle on your own. Getting rid of plaque and tartar build-up is something you have to do regularly, and you’ll need a dentist’s help to do it.
Your Local Dentist Office Needs To Be Convenient
One important factor to look for when it comes to your routine dental needs is convenience. While traveling a long distance makes sense if you have a very specific dental issue to take care of, for general maintenance and check-ups convenience trumps all other factors.
Keep in mind that in this case convenience is about more than just proximity! A truly convenient dentist is one that makes you feel comfortable and puts you at ease. (The more relaxed you are during an ordinary dental inspection, the smoother everything will go!) There’s a financial component, too — a dentist office that’s fully covered by your health insurance is a lot more convenient than one that makes you pay out of pocket.
A Good General Dentist Can Draw On Other Professionals
Besides taking care of the regular maintenance and cleaning work that your teeth need, your local dentist is also your prime point of contact for every issue relating to dental health and hygiene. If you find yourself in need of some of those specialized services, there’s no one better to recommend an expert than a dentist who’s already thoroughly familiar with your teeth.
While you might not be able to solve all of your problems at your regular dentist’s office, the odds are very good that you can learn about all of them and plot an effective course of treatment there. Whether you have a specific dental issue or just need to get back into the habit of regular check-ups, talk to your local dentist today!
Of all the different appliances an experienced dentist can install in your mouth, dental crowns are some of the most versatile. Capable of protecting teeth from a number of different problems and available in all sorts of different materials, crowns are truly the “jacks of all trades” in modern dentistry.
What Dental Crowns Do
In restorative dentistry, a crown is any device intended to cover the exterior surface of the tooth. Crowns traditionally encapsulate the entire tooth, although “3/4” crowns are sometimes used on teeth that don’t require complete coverage. There are a variety of different conditions that may lead your dentist to suggest a crown, from physical damage to the tooth to heightened risk of infection.
Crowns can be either temporary or permanent. Most temporary crowns are installed to protect a tooth while a permanent replacement is manufactured. Children also sometimes receive temporary crowns on their primary (non-adult) teeth. Fitting a crown normally requires multiple visits to your dentist’s office. The tooth is first prepared to receive the crown; this involves removing some material (or even adding more). Impressions are taken to prepare the crown, and you return later to have it cemented in place.
Modern Restorative Dentistry: Tons Of Crowns
You have a huge range of choice when it comes to materials for modern crowns. Metal is often the least-expensive option available, and many temporary crowns are crafted out of humble stainless steel. Permanent metal crowns are created from gold or alloys, offering an inexpensive and long-lasting option.
Other affordable options include the traditional porcelain-on-metal crown, which presents a compromise between economy and aesthetics. Resin crowns are a more modern alternative, offering a very natural appearance and an attractive cost. Resin crowns are among the least durable of your alternatives, though.
Crowns crafted entirely from porcelain or ceramics are regarded as the ideal solution for most crown needs. They look almost identical to natural teeth, they’re hypoallergenic, and they’re normally very long-lasting. Porcelain and ceramic crowns can crack under exceptional strain, though, making them not entirely perfect.
The most cutting-edge option in the world of crowns are milled crowns. These appliances are created right in your dentist’s office using a specialized computer-guided milling machine and a digital imaging camera. These crowns cost no more than traditional ones, and the convenience of a single-visit installation is very appealing. For the time being, milled crowns don’t look quite good enough to cover front teeth.
Following The Advice Of An Experienced Dentist
No matter what kind of crown you need, you should pay careful attention to what your dentist has to say on the subject. Crowns don’t entitle you to a life free of dental hygiene! Crowns require regular brushing and flossing in order to protect your surrounding natural teeth and gums. Get in touch with your dentist today to discuss what sort of crown is right for you.
Since the introduction of the power toothbrush in the 1960s, this tool has undergone many technological advances, from design and bristle motions to rotation oscillation and sonic vibration.
What is rotation oscillation? That’s when the head of the toothbrush alternately rotates in one direction and then the other. Power toothbrushes can deliver up to 50,000 strokes per minute, which is much more effective than the average 300 strokes per minute with a manual toothbrush.
A smaller brush head is available for hard-to-reach areas, which is a good alternative for small mouths. The brush heads are replaceable and should be changed every three to six months. Each family member should have his or her own brush head while sharing the base motor. What a great deal! Check the handle size. A large handle is better for members of the household with arthritis, children, or family with other physical disabilities.
A rechargeable toothbrush is ideal. It should deliver enough power on a full charge for one week of brushing.
We recommend you brush for a minimum of two minutes. Some electric toothbrushes include a signal you can hear, such as a beep every 30 seconds, to indicate it’s time to switch to a different area of the mouth. Others sound an alert after the full two minutes has elapsed.
Will an electric toothbrush harm the teeth or gums? Studies indicate that people tend to apply more damaging pressure to their teeth and gums during manual brushing than when they use an electric toothbrush. If you experience tooth sensitivity, choose a model with pressure sensors that stop the toothbrush any time you press too hard.
Who would benefit from an electric toothbrush? Everyone! Consumers with a physical disability may have specific needs that power toothbrushes can address. Children also tend to maintain better oral health hygiene when they use an automatic toothbrush. Plus, many of them find it fun to brush!
Automatic toothbrushes really do remove debris better than the old-fashioned way. You may have heard the term “biofilm.” Better known as plaque when it occurs in the mouth, biofilm is the debris and bacteria that cause infections to your teeth. It regenerates quickly; so healthy habits are the best defense for a healthier you! With a healthier mouth, you face a lower risk of gum disease and other conditions like heart disease: mouth health has been linked to heart health.
When you’re ready to make your decisions, be a wise comparison shopper. Consult with our team at our Uptown Charlotte dentist office to decide what is best for you!
Thank you for stopping by to check out our brand new website and dental blog. We have built this website with our patients and potential new patients in mind to be able to easily find information about the dentistry services we provide for your whole family.
Our blog will be refreshed with great, informational content on a regular basis, so we do hope you’ll check back often and keep Belvedere Family Dentistry at the top of your mind when needing dental work or a checkup.
From all of us here at Belvedere Family Dentistry, we hope you have a wonderful day and also hope to see you soon!
Uptown Charlotte Dentistry & Orthodontics
We do our best to make it easy for you to get the beautiful smile you deserve! Our office accepts nearly all major insurance plans. Even though dental insurance is a private arrangement between you and your company, we will file your claim, handle all the paperwork, and help you get maximum insurance benefits.
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