Month: March 2020

Many parents are often anxious when taking a child to a dentist. They believe in waiting until all of their teeth have appeared or until there is a real issue. According to the experts, you shouldn’t do that and suggest that your child’s first visit should be when the first tooth arises in the mouth; no later than the age one to two. Moreover, the first visit isn’t really about doing real work as it is just for the introduction of the dentist’s office to your child and making them comfortable with the dentist.

Be Prepared for the Visit
Before you take your child for their first visit to the dentist, it is essential to prepare them, yourself, and the dentist accordingly. Make sure to discuss all your queries and concerns with the dentist beforehand. You should give your child a basic idea of what to expect from the visit and also tell them the importance of visiting a dentist.
If possible, try to schedule morning appointments, so your child stays alert and fresh. As parents need to provide moral support to their kids, try to keep your dental anxieties and fears in front of them as they tend to catch up quickly. Stay calm while in the dental exam room, and your child will follow up the same.

First Visit to the Dentist
It is suggested that your child’s first dentist visit should be by 12 months of age or within five months of the first tooth erupting. The first visit attains three things majorly; first, it familiarizes your kid with the staff and the dentistry environment. They need to know that the situation is not threatening and hence build strong trust.
If your child is comfortable with the dentist, he or she will be prepared for the next visit in the future without any complications. Second, it introduces your child to a precise language that the office employs. Moreover, the first visit lasts typically 30 to 40 minutes as it depends on your child’s age.

It may involve a full exam of the teeth, bite, gums, jaw, and oral tissues to check the development and growth. If necessary, your kid may also experience a gentle cleaning that can include polishing teeth and removing any tartar, stains, and plaque. The dentist will also teach you and your child ways to keep good oral hygiene.

Protect your Kid’s Teeth at Home
Some essential tips that you should follow to protect your kid’s teeth at home:

• Before your child’s teeth appear, you should clean their gums with a clean and damp cloth. Start brushing with a tiny, soft-bristled toothbrush and a small amount of toothpaste right when their first tooth comes in.
• You can use a pea-sized dab of fluoridated toothpaste after three years of age, though it is suggested when your child is old enough to spit out the toothpaste after brushing.
• Try to avoid baby bottle tooth decay by not giving them a bottle of milk, juice, or any sweetened drink before bedtime.
• Make sure to assist your kids in brushing their teeth until the age of 7 to 8 and watch them over to avoid any missing spots.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

When you talk about dentistry, you think about your family dental office where you go often for teeth cleanings and checkups. But the profession grows to a greater extent than this and your general dentist is only a single speciality in this industry. There are other types of dentists as well.

Types of Dentists
There are numerous different types of dentists, each of whom expertise in a specific field of dentistry. Majority of people are familiar with a general dentist as this is the expert they consult on a daily basis, e.g. their yearly check-up. Then there are other dentists like specialist dentists, orthodontists, who treat patients with a certain problem. Many dentists are self-employed where they have duties for receptionists, dental nurses, technicians, and dental hygienists.
Some of the categories of dentists are mentioned-below:

• General dentists
• Specialist Dentists
• Cosmetic dentists
• Endodontists
• Orthodontists
• Prosthodontists
• Periodontists

Role of a General Dentist
Experts who provide primary care for the majority of basic dental requirements such as routine cleanings and bi-annual checkups are considered as General Dentists. These dentists manage a broad variety of dental treatments and complaints which range from check-ups to fillings, root canal treatment, and crowns. They also execute extractions whenever needed.

Some people take them as a family dentist who caters to the requirements of patients of every age group; from kids to the elderly. These general dentists advise about preventative actions like the need for oral hygiene, good nutrition, and six-monthly check-ups that assist in maintaining healthy gums and teeth.

When to Visit?
If you experience oral problems like gum diseases and root issues below your gum line, then it is suggested to consult a trusted general dentist. They are known to guide you through the process of braces, false teeth, mouth guards, and various other oral treatments. General dentists are the healthcare practitioner that you see the most as they monitor the health of your mouth, neck and head to ensure there are no serious problems.

Role of a Specialist Dentist
Basically, a specialist is a general dentist who has finished extra postgraduate training. By completing substantial training in their selected field, they focus essentially on carrying out certain processes. They are meant to deal with the diagnosis, causes, prevention, and treatment of oral diseases and injuries of the human dental pulp or the nerve of the tooth.

Moreover, they also perform simple to complex root canal treatments and various other kinds of surgical root processes. If you plan to visit a specialist on your dental chosen plan, perks can vary as per your plan.

Do You Need a Dental Specialist?
Determining if you need to see a specialist can be a daunting decision, thus, make it easy by consulting your general dentist first. They will analyse the situation and help you decide if you require an extra level of attention and care or not. Specialists have an essential part to play in the dentistry field as they provide specialized care in different sectors, assuring that the process goes smoothly with your oral care.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

You are sitting on the dental chair with your mouth open and the the drilling machine yells at your mouth! You know how dreadful that noise sounds, right? Everybody feels the same horror when they face it. A lot of people are familiar with the whole procedure and the pain it involves. They know the whole drill which comprises a couple of tests and some appointments. Sedation dentistry which is sometimes referred to as “Sleep Dentistry” helps soothe patients’ nerves on the dental chair through medication. Infact, Sedation Dentistry is a common process which is availed by many individuals, and it is said that it helps to control the fright of many patients while they undergo the relevant dental procedures.

While it is pretty clear that the process the teeth are staved off the infections and other such issues, you might still have a few questions about dental X-rays.
We have created a list of questions that most patients have in their minds and tried to address them with relevant answers:-

Question 1: Will I still feel any pain?
Answer 1: The dentists put a local anesthetic that numbs down the pain, and the dental sedative will eventually lessens your awareness level such that you feel a lower amount of pain during the dental procedure.

Question 2: How frequently should I get the X-rays done?
Answer 2: This entirely depends on the particular patient and on the dental office. While some patients need these X-rays annually, others might require them every six months and might even require them even more often. It depends entirely on what the condition is of the dental problem of the patient. Dentists should carefully analyse the advantages that it has to offer and also the potential risks, if any. This is dependent upon the tests and the courses of the treatments that are recommended for a particular patient.

Question 3: Should I worry about the radiation involved?
Answer 3: This has always been a concern for a lot of patients as scientific research has proved the involvement of radiation in such a procedure. The amount of radiation that is involved in dental x-rays is minimised and the patients are given all the possible protection layers which also includes an apron made out of lead linen to cover the portions of the body that could be exposed to the harmful rays. In addition to this, the patients are exposed to the X-rays only when it is compulsory so as to avoid unnecessary risk.

Question 4: Would I be put to sleep?
Answer 4: No, sedation dentistry does not allow the individual to go in their subconscious mind. You will be awake the whole time and would be able to speak or show your emotions. However, your mind will be less active and your subconscious mind will be less-responsive. It just leads you to unwind and be at ease.

Question 5: Are there any side effects of the sedative medication?
Answer 5: Though, one needs to be cautious while using any medicines on the body, there are hardly any unpleasant side effects of sedative medication such as a sense of amnesia. However, some people might have unpleasant side effects such as hiccups with oral sedation, nausea with nitrous oxide, and other little unusual and unpleasant side effects.

Sedative medication may lead to more effects as time goes by and hours pass in a snap. The patient might experience a sensation of pain or discomfort but overall it creates a sense of relaxation.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.