Dec 16, 2022 | Dental Topics 3, Family Dentistry, Blog
Life isn’t getting any slower, in fact, it seems that it’s always speeding up! This is never truer than it is for families, especially those with two or more children. Parents can feel like the local taxi service, running one child to band and another to piano and yet another to a doctor’s appointment. Finally, there’s a solution to one of the trickier issues: visiting the dentist.
In the past, parents would go to one dentist and the children would go to another. Those same children would later age out of their pediatric dentist and have to form a new relationship with a dentist who doesn’t know them at all! For young people just beginning to take responsibility for their own dental care, this can be the beginning of spotty or not-at-all visits to the dentist for checkups and cleanings. This can be the beginning of poor oral hygiene that leads to scores of adult problems.
A family dentist wants you to skip all that running around and to have your kids avoid the step of finding a new dentist. A family dentist wants to see your entire family, from the youngest baby cutting teeth to the oldest retiree looking at options for aging teeth. This type of relationship is so important. The family dentist will know the patient’s history going years and years back, and can make the best and most informed decisions based on this information.
Your family dentist will also make your family appointments in blocks. Can you imagine having each member of your family – including you – getting your checkups, cleanings and dental care done in the same day, sometimes at the very same time? This is a possibility with the convenience of a trusted family dentist.
If you’re looking to save time and to have the best possible dental care you can get for you and your family, seek out a skilled family dentist today. You won’t regret it!
If you need a dentist in Central Falls contact us today
Apr 28, 2023 | Dental Topics 3, Family Dentistry, Blog
Dentists recommend seeing children for the first time when they have begun to cut teeth, by the time they have celebrated a first birthday. A first visit is primarily about allowing a child to get comfortable in the dentist’s chair and about educating you, the parent, on how to care for your child’s baby teeth. Most children who visit at this age will not remember the visit, but it will lay the foundation for positive experiences in the dental chair in the future.
Once children reach the approximate age of 5, they will have their first set of X-rays taken. The family dentist will review them to look for cavities between the teeth and to check proper development of dormant permanent teeth.
As children age, between 6 and 12 years, they will lose their baby teeth and permanent teeth will begin to erupt. At this time, your family dentist may recommend a tooth sealant. This plastic resin bonds to the “flat” chewing surface of a tooth, protecting it from debris and decay in the crevices.
Your family dentist may also give your child an orthodontic evaluation. Most pediatric patients begin orthodontics once all of their permanent teeth have erupted; however, some patients benefit from staged orthodontics and can begin treatment much sooner.
If your child has been seeing a dentist since infancy, introducing the child to the dentist isn’t an issue; your child already knows and trusts your family dentist. If you are bringing your child to the dentist for the first time as a toddler or kindergarten student, you should plan to spend some time talking about what to expect.
Many times, having parents sit in the dental chair and then hold their child on their laps is very comforting to the patient. Your family dentist has experience in dealing with fearful or anxious children and will know what to do in each case. Often, videos or music are employed to relax young patients.
You can trust your family dentist with each member of your family, no matter what the age. Talk to your family dentist today with any questions you may have about your child’s first dental appointment.
Schedule your appointment at our Central Falls dental office
May 12, 2023 | Dental Topics 3, Family Dentistry, Blog
Your family dentist can perform all of the services offered by both a pediatric and an adult dentist, only for your whole family. Some of the most popular options are cosmetic or restorative procedures, correcting such issues as discolored teeth, crooked or misaligned teeth, unsightly metal fillings, crowded or rotated teeth, short or small teeth, or missing teeth or spaces between teeth.
Family members who have had their permanent teeth fully descend are eligible candidates for many cosmetic procedures such as whitening. Have your young person consult with your family dentist before trying any at-home products; immature adult teeth can turn splotchy or the gums can become irritated if at-home whitening products are used incorrectly or for too long. Because tooth discoloration can be a sign of a more serious dental issue, it is important to talk to your family dentist before moving forward with any treatment.
Your family dentist can help you with products such as dental veneers. Don’t suffer with tooth gaps, unsightly stained teeth, or crooked or badly shaped teeth. Veneers are thin layers of tooth-colored material that are placed on top of your teeth and that can correct many mistakes in your natural smile. Veneers can be used to change the color or shape of a single tooth or to spruce up an entire smile.
Talk to your family dentist about replacing your unattractive metal fillings with tooth-colored materials. You don’t have to tolerate a silver smile when you can turn to your family dentist for all-white fillings. Your smile will be far more natural and beautiful than before.
If you are missing a tooth, or are in need of a root canal procedure, talk to your dentist about your choice of crowns and bridges. A crown can save a tooth from total decay, protecting it and giving it a longer life. A bridge can keep you able to bite and chew properly, and can help maintain the shape of your face while preventing other teeth from misaligning.
Your family dentistry practice can help you make all of the decisions you need to make regarding your and your family’s dental health and appearance.
We treat patients from Central Falls and the surrounding area
Feb 18, 2022 | Dental Topics 3, Cosmetic Dentistry, Blog
If you have kicked the smoking habit, congratulations!!! Your whole body thanks you, including your mouth. Now that you’ve tossed your tobacco, you may need some extra dental care to help with any damage that was created by using tobacco.
Teeth cleaning
Even if you practiced good dental hygiene during the time you used tobacco products, the chemicals likely still stained and damaged your teeth. Schedule an appointment with your dentist for a thorough cleaning. Sometimes an even deeper cleaning is recommended to get rid of stubborn plaque and discoloration.
Examination for oral health problems
Your dentist will also examine your mouth for signs of gum disease and other problems. If any infection is present, antibiotics may be prescribed. Other issues like exposed roots or cavities may require further treatment such as root canals. You want to take care of problems right away so that your mouth function and your smile will get better instead of worse.
Cosmetic procedures
After your teeth have been professionally cleaned and treated as necessary, you may want to consider cosmetic procedures if you’re still unhappy with your smile. Professional teeth whitening may help brighten your smile, or you might need something like dental implants to replace any teeth that couldn’t be saved. Veneers might also be helpful if your teeth are too discolored from long years of tobacco use. Let your dentist know if you have any additional goals for your smile, because there are likely additional treatments that could benefit you.
We look forward to seeing you in our Central Falls dental office
Sep 30, 2022 | Dental Topics 3, Cosmetic Dentistry, Blog
When you meet someone for the first time, they notice things about you: your hair, your eyes, your handshake, but most of all they notice your smile. A bright, even smile, freely given, can leave the most positive impression you can make on a stranger. It sends a message of friendliness, confidence and ease. As you continue speaking to that stranger, your smile, your ready laugh and your comfortable manner all send the right signals of health and well-being.
When you don’t have a nice smile, that confidence is lacking. Smiles become tight-lipped, heads are bowed down and laughter is smaller and speech can become clipped. You avoid eating in public and when you do, you cover your mouth constantly with your hand to hide your teeth. Bad breath from bad teeth could lead you to fear getting close with someone. The message sent here is one of avoidance and embarrassment and shame.
Bad teeth and poor oral health can hold us back in our personal lives as well as our professional ones. Smiles that are decayed and unattractive send signals that we never intend. Correct or not, they can indicate histories of poverty, a lack of education or poor hygiene habits. These indications, even when they’re wrong, can lead to being passed over for promotions, for dates or for a variety of social opportunities.
Don’t be this person. Take steps now to work with a cosmetic dentist to change everything you don’t like about your smile. From large changes to small ones, a skilled cosmetic dentist can makeover your smile to be the bright, beautiful smile you’ve always desired.
Whether you need to correct some cavities and to revamp your oral hygiene habits at home, or if you need braces to correct alignment issues, a cosmetic dentist can help you. Dental veneers can change the color, shape and length of one or more teeth, and missing or gapped teeth can be replaced with dental implants or dental bridges.
Don’t let your smile hold you back another minute. Talk to a cosmetic dentist today about your smile makeover.
If you need a dentist in Central Falls contact us today
Sep 7, 2023 | Dental Topics 3, Implant Dentistry, Blog
If you have lost one or more teeth due to decay, disease or damage, you may be wondering what your options are for restoration. While there are several choices available to replace missing teeth, dental implants are considered the most innovative and advanced treatment option offered in dentistry today. A dental implant is a fabricated tooth root placed in the jawbone to secure a replacement tooth or bridge. With vigilant oral care, dental implants are highly successful and can last for a lifetime.
Dental implants are known to most closely act like your natural teeth. Their feel, function and appearance resemble that of a natural tooth. Unlike dentures, dental implants do not require special glues or adhesives. Implants are cared for exactly like your natural teeth, only requiring you to brush and floss normally and maintain regular dental checkups and cleanings.
Another benefit of dental implants is their ability to preserve your natural facial structure by preventing and slowing the bone resorption caused by tooth loss. Traditional dentures do not offer this advantage.
Patients who choose traditional dentures to replace missing teeth may also find they have trouble eating or speaking due to ill-fitting or slipping appliances. Because they function like natural teeth, with dental implants you will enjoy all your favorite foods and never have to worry about your dental appliance shifting or clicking.
Consult with your dentist to find out more about how dental implants can provide you with a lifelong solution to your missing teeth. Your dentist will assess your specific needs and determine if you are a good candidate for implants, so you can get back to enjoying life with a full set of healthy teeth.
If you need a dentist in Central Falls contact us today
