Category: dentist

Planning Your Child’s First Trip To The Dentist? Here’s Everything You Need To Know!

If you’ve kids, their dental health should be your top priority. This is a fact that parents are typically not aware about when to take their kid to a dentist. Studies reveal that you should not delay unless all of his teeth have emerged, or until there is any serious problem. The American Association of Pediatric Dentists suggests that a child’s first dental visit should be done when you find their first tooth appears. And it’s basically within 6-12 months at the latest. 

Dental tension and nervousness typically begin during childhood. And this is likely to become worse if not given proper guidance and care. Hence, a child’s first dental visit is crucial. The trip will set the tone of proper oral regimen your toddler will retain for a lifetime.

Prepare yourself

Ask all your queries to the Pediatric Dentist. If you have dental nervousness, then don’t panic and remain calm! Also do not show those fears or dislikes to your kid. 

Prepare the Dentist

Hand-over your toddler’s entire health history to the dentist as it is your kid’s first visit. At Grand Mission Dentistry, we are skilled to treat your toddler and always focus on patience. We won’t make your kid rush or pressurize them anyway. We also use child-friendly language!

What you can expect at the First Visit?

The visit is everything about introducing your toddler to the office ambience and staff! It will help your child to explore the instruments and even take a first ride in the chair. When he/she becomes comfortable, it will build trust! Then, the dentist can take a quick look at his/her mouth. 

The session may include an entire examination of the teeth, jaws, bite, gums, and oral tissues. But this depends on your child’s age. If required, the Pediatric Dentist may also recommend a gentle cleaning. It includes getting rid of plaque, tartar, and other stains and polishing teeth. The dentist may guide you and your child, how to maintain healthy oral regimen, diet and fluoride needs. The dentist might also inform on baby bottle tooth decay, infant feeding practices, finger-licking habits, dental issues and so on. The first session generally takes 30 to 45 minutes.

Protect your Kid’s Teeth at Home

  • Before teeth emerge, clean your toddler’s gums with a clean, damp cloth.
  • Start to brush with a small, soft-bristled toothbrush and a very little amount of toothpaste only when the first tooth appears. After 3 years of age, apply a very tiny amount of fluoridated toothpaste. 
  • Never offer your child milk, juice, or any kind of sweet items at bedtime or just before nap.
  • Reduce food items that cause tooth decay. 

 

If you’re searching for ‘Pediatric Dentist near me’, in Richmond, TX, then surely call us at Grand Mission Dentistry to avail top dental treatment for your kid! Our Pediatric Dentist in Richmond, Dr. Tam Nguyen will make your toddler’s first visit a memorable and exciting one. Let your kid undergo this exciting first step!

Follow These 6 Tips to Never Have Any Oral Health Issue

Everyone wants to have a healthy and great-looking smile. Good oral hygiene is essential to ensure that your teeth and gums stay healthy. Habits such as brushing twice a day and scheduling regular dental cleanings and exams are necessary to keep your gums and teeth healthy.

Oral health is not only about preventing decay or cavities. Research has shown that there is a strong association between oral health and overall health. A dentist near you in Richmond TX can help you maintain oral health and hygiene and ensure that you do not suffer from tooth decay, gum loss or any other associated problems.

To help you boost your smile and keep it healthy, here are 6 things you can follow and forget worrying about oral issues:

1. Brush for 2 minutes twice a day

Everyone knows that brushing is the most important activity for removing bacteria and plaque and keeping teeth healthy and clean. If bacteria and food particles are not removed from your teeth, they can contribute to the decay and cavities, causing serious damage to your oral health. However, brushing alone is not enough. You should also brush properly.

Use circular motions to brush tooth and remember to brush for 2 to 3 minutes. Using a hard-bristled brush or brushing aggressively can also hurt the tooth enamel or the gums. So remember to use a soft-bristled brush and change it every 3 months to get the best results.

2. Clean your gum line with a floss

Flossing is necessary to remove bacteria and plaque from areas of your mouth where the toothbrush cannot reach. These include between the teeth and below the gum line. It also helps in preventing bad breath by removing any debris and food trapped between the teeth. Since the area between the teeth is the most common place for cavities to form, flossing should be practiced at least once every day.

3. Use a toothpaste containing fluoride

Fluoride is a common ingredient in many toothpaste and mouthwash. It is believed that the use of fluoride can help in preventing cavities and decay. However, many people are not cautious about their toothpaste and use one without fluoride. Even if you take care of your teeth, the lack of fluoride can lead to tooth decay. While fluoride can be found in your water supply, it may not be enough to meet your daily needs.

4. Clean Your Tongue

The tongue is also a part of the mouth. A healthy tongue should appear pink. But if you notice that your tongue is slightly whitish in appearance, it means it is the home to foul-smelling bacteria. A dirty tongue is one of the major causes of bad breath. Improve your oral health and breath by brushing and scraping your tongue every day.

5. Abstain from smoking or tobacco use

Use of tobacco and smoking harm the immune system of the body. This makes it difficult for the body to heal worn out tissues, including the ones in your mouth. Smoking is also a risk factor for gum diseases. Further, if you smoke, it can slow down the healing of your teeth and gums after treatment. If you love your bright, white smile, you should know that smoking causes yellowing of teeth and tongue.

6. Visit your dentist regularly

Experts recommend that one should see a dentist every 6 months. During a routine dental checkup, the hygienist will clean your teeth and remove any hardened tartar or plaque. A dentist near you in Richmond TX will carefully examine the mouth for any signs of gum disease, cavities, oral health issues and even oral cancer.

Visiting your dentist regularly will ensure that you do not have to worry about your oral hygiene and your teeth remain healthy and dazzling white. With some diligent oral care at home, you will never have to worry about oral health issues. If you do face any concerns, the team at Grand Mission Dentistry is always here to help you.

Missing a Tooth

Has it been hard for you to smile due to a missing tooth? According to the Kelton study for Invisalign, teeth are the most standout feature people notice when meeting the first time. About 66% will likely remember you due to having beautiful teeth and smile. If you have a missing tooth, especially in the front, it’s hard to smile. You not only lose confidence in yourselves, but missing teeth causes long-term damages to your facial structure and the way you bite. However, there are a few options for you to regain back a healthy beautiful smile. 

First let’s start with doing nothing. When a tooth is pulled malocclusion can happen if we don’t get a replacement for the missing tooth. Malocclusion is a condition where our teeth shift, and it changes the way we bite. Teeth are supposed to touch one another so when a tooth is extracted, both the adjacent tooth and the tooth opposing the missing tooth will shift. This means that you will see a change in your smile such as gaps, uneven alignment, and a tooth longer than the others. Another consequence is, loss of jawbone and gum tissue, which results in an older appearance because of a sunken look to your facial features.

However, we can prevent all the consequences of not replacing a missing tooth or teeth. There are few options with the pros and cons for each of them.

Dental Implants: 

Dental implants are the most effective way to replace a missing tooth. Not only is it durable, but its lifespan is longer compared to the others. This is also the nearest thing to a natural tooth available today. Implants are made from titanium that is safe for your body. It is surgically placed in the jawbone where you are having a missing tooth. However, the process is a bit longer than the others. Dental implant consists of the implant itself, abutment, and a crown. This does not a one-day procedure, but at least 3 months. Everyone is different, and it all just depends on if you need bone graft material, how fast your implant settles in, or if you have periodontal disease. This may seem like a long journey for some, but the reward for waiting is much more beneficial for long term durability, and lifespan of about 15 to 20 years.

Dental Bridges:

 Dental bridges are good for people who want a faster solution that does not require surgery. This procedure takes 3 weeks and just two visits to your dentist. It is more affordable than the implant. However, with dental bridges, the dentist would have to shave down the adjacent teeth, which are your two good permanent teeth to use as an anchor. The lifespan of the dental bridge is about 5-7 years, which is shorter than the implant. This does not help with keeping the bone in the area from atrophy occurring though. You will continue to lose bone in that area over time compared to the implant that will secure the bone indefinitely. Hygiene will be harder to keep up with because you can’t floss normal. You’ll have to buy a special floss that will get under your bridge since food can get caught there. Unfortunately, for the perfectionist, dental bridges are not as aesthetically pleasing than an implant. 

Removable Partial Denture (RPD):

 Removable partial denture known as a flipper, is the least expensive and the fastest thing you can have after an extraction to walk out the office without a missing tooth. However, it is primarily for esthetic purposes. You can’t chew with it on because it is a resin base that can break easily. You would have to take it off every night still leaving you with a gap that will create shifting of your teeth and bone loss. In order to hold the artificial tooth or teeth in place, a bulky plastic frame will be sitting in your mouth all day. Flipper is best used for just a temporary solution until you get a permanent replacement.

With all the options given to you, it is still ideal to speak to your dentist to help you choose what is best for you. Not everyone is a good candidate for implants, that’s why we offer free consultation here at Grand Mission Dentistry to make sure you are a good fit for an implant. Give us a call or make an appointment today so we can make sure you are on the right track in replacing a missing tooth.

References:

https://www.nobelbiocare.com/content/patient/international/en/home/541561/why-is-it-important-to-replace-a-missing-tooth-.html

https://fourseasonsdentistry.com/2018/07/20/should-you-replace-your-tooth-after-an-extraction/

https://www.gotoapro.org/dental-implants-faq/

http://www.ada.org/~/media/ADA/Publications/Files/ADA_PatientSmart_Tooth_Replacement.ashx

http://www.ironwooddental.com/long-dental-implant-placement-take/

https://www.carefreedental.com/resources/26-implants-and-bridges/96-dental-implants-vs-bridges-how-to-know-what-s-best-for-you

https://www.nhcenterforcomprehensivedentistry.com/removable-partial-dentures-pros-and-cons-to-consider/

The Dentist’s Guide to a Basic Teeth Cleaning

A regular teeth-cleaning at the dentist is a necessity, more than a luxury. Plaque and tartar vandalize your teeth and gums if left in your mouth for too long. This is why you are often advised to get professional teeth cleaning at the dentist, ideally twice in a year.

Both plaque and tartar have millions of bacteria in them and your daily brushing and flossing are not enough to get rid of them. Tartar or calculus is commonly considered to be the harder form of plaque and it requires scraping to take them off your teeth and gums. This sort of dental cleaning could only be done at the dentist’s clinic. As per Caleb Murphy, “Brushing your teeth at home is great, but it’s not enough. To have optimal oral health, you’ll want to get periodic dental cleanings from a professional. Dental insurance often covers this, so it may be no cost to you. Why not get your teeth cleaned by a pro?” So, how teeth are cleaned at the dentist, you ask? Here’s how:

  1. The first step is inspection. The dentist uses a dental mirror that works like a magnifying glass, to spot the areas in your gums and teeth containing plaque and tartar. These are the areas that the dentist will specifically target.
  1. Following this, some dentists tend to use ultrasonic vibrations to loosen the plaque and tartar. The frequency of these vibrations is set as per the patient’s comfort. After this, the dentist will use a scraper to scrape off the plaque and tartar from certain spots in your gums and teeth. This might sound unnerving but you don’t need to worry. Most patients claim that this experience is more of a discomfort than pain, with weird scraping noises and sensitivity.
  1. The dentist may then use a scaler to smoothen your teeth. Once that is done, your mouth will be thoroughly rinsed with water to wash away any residual tartar that may have stayed during the scraping process. What follow are professional brushing and flossing.
  1. The dentist will be using a mildly abrasive toothpaste on a powered toothbrush that will brush your teeth thoroughly. This will be some hard brushing to get rid of any remaining germs in your teeth. Professional flossing will also be given to you by your dentist, to completely cleanse your teeth.
  1. Followed by this, most dentists opt to provide a fluoride treatment. They usually come in flavors and you can choose yours! The fluoride will be applied to your teeth and will be left there for a minute or so before the dentist asks you to spit it out. There are two purposes of this fluoride treatment. Firstly, fluoride is meant to kill off any remaining germs inside your teeth and also prevents plaque and tartar from forming in your teeth and gums any time soon. Secondly, fluoride gives a bright shine to your teeth.

And that is it! Just a 5-step guide to a teeth cleaning process at the dentist!