May 28, 2016 | Blog
Even from an early age, it’s important to help your children develop good oral health habits. Because oral health has a direct impact on overall wellness, you want to make sure your kids protect their teeth and gums. With the right care, your kids can enjoy beautiful, vibrant smiles for life.
These tips will give you valuable information so that you can keep your children’s smiles looking their best.
Infancy
As soon as your child’s first tooth comes in, you should begin a home care routine. Gently clean baby teeth with a soft cloth or baby toothbrush and water. Around age two, you can use a little bit of training toothpaste. Don’t use toothpaste with fluoride at this point because it can lead to spots on teeth from too much fluoride.
Early Childhood
Though most kids like to brush on their own by four or five, children don’t have the dexterity for adequate teeth cleaning until about seven years old. Until then, allow your child to brush first and then you can follow up afterward. This is a good time to create the habit of twice daily brushing.
Tween Years
By this point, your kids probably lead busy lives. Continue to promote good habits with brushing two times a day and healthy eating. Kids model what they see, so if you choose fruits vegetables, and lean protein, they will likely follow your lead.
Adolescence and Beyond
Peer pressure contributes to decision making at this age, so use this fact to your advantage. Remind your kids that brushing and flossing will keep their smiles looking good and their breath smelling fresh. Many teens wear braces, so explain the importance of brushing and flossing during orthodontic treatment.
Dentist for kids in Central Falls, RI
Mar 9, 2016 | Blog
One way to achieve the smile you always hoped for is through dental veneers. These porcelain shells fit right over the fronts of your teeth to make them look straight, white, and healthy. Customized just for you, veneers are a natural-looking way to enhance your smile and make you look younger.
The first step is to schedule an appointment with a cosmetic dentist. Factors will be discussed such as your dental history and goals, and an examination will be performed to determine the extent of your oral health issues. If porcelain veneers are the right treatment for you, several dental visits will be necessary to complete the process.
The veneer procedure usually involves gently removing the top layer of your tooth enamel to create space for the veneer to fit. The dentist will make an impression of your teeth and sent to a laboratory so that your personalized veneers can be created. You and your dentist will be able to select the color of your veneers so that they look natural but provide you with a beautiful bright smile. Once the veneers are ready, you will return to your dentist to have them permanently bonded to your existing teeth. It is a painless process that doesn’t require extensive time in the dental chair.
Porcelain veneers usually last for decades if you care for them properly. Central Falls, RI cosmetic dentist Dr. Frias will explain how to maintain them and help them last as long as possible. You can expect your dental veneers to give you a flawless smile that will make you proud to show off your pearly whites.
Feb 27, 2016 | Blog
It’s hard to miss the stunning smiles sported by movie stars and other celebrities, but there’s no reason why your teeth shouldn’t look that good. It’s highly unlikely they were born with such perfect teeth, and more often it’s the result of sophisticated cosmetic dentistry. There are numerous cosmetic treatments that could transform your smile, including veneers, tooth whitening and Invisalign clear braces. Your cosmetic dentist in Central Falls, RI can custom design your smile makeover, and the stunning results can be a huge boost to confidence.
What Is a Smile Makeover?
This is a procedure specifically designed to meet your needs and will include one or more cosmetic dentistry treatments to correct teeth that are chipped, crooked, stained or even missing completely.
Am I a Good Candidate for a Smile Makeover?
Just about anyone will be suitable for a smile makeover, provided their natural teeth and gums are healthy. If your dentist in Central Falls, RI discovers any issues such as gum disease or cavities then these will need to be treated prior to having any cosmetic dentistry work.
Which Procedures Are Involved in a Smile Makeover?
Most smile makeovers will involve a combination of different treatments. These can include dental implants, porcelain crowns, veneers and tooth whitening. Using a combination of treatments will usually help provide the best possible results, although some people may only need minor modifications to their smile.
How Long Does It Take to Complete a Smile Makeover?
This really depends on the issues requiring correction. Some treatments such as dental bonding, renewing old fillings and tooth whitening can be completed quite quickly in just a few visits, while others such as dental implants and adult orthodontics are far more complex and may take months to complete.
How Long Can I Expect Results to Last?
Most modern restorations are relatively durable but this does vary according to techniques and materials used. Tooth whitening, white fillings and dental bonding will generally last several years, but treatments such as dental crowns, veneers and bridges should last considerably longer.
Jan 21, 2016 | Blog
There is a high possibility that you want to have a smile full of sparkly, white, straight teeth. However, you must not forget about the goal of having a healthy smile too. The functionality aspect is just as important as the beauty aspect. If you don’t pay proper attention to your oral cavity, there are a number of diseases and problems that can arise. Poor hygiene is the root of many issues. Therefore, it’s smarter to make sure your teeth stay in good condition. Follow these suggestions for a healthy smile.
Maintain focus on daily care
Your mouth needs comprehensive care each day. You simply can’t perform hygiene tasks once every few days or just when it’s convenient, and expect to have an attractive smile. Do follow your dentist’s instructions diligently on proper brushing of your teeth. For a average person, the standard is at least twice daily, and floss every day usually before bed. In fact, flossing is just as important to your oral health as brushing, in fact even more important! By performing both of these daily tasks well, you’ll be able to remove the germs in your mouth and improve your smile.
Never ignore your dentist
Even if you’re doing a good job at maintaining oral hygiene at home, it’s important to continue seeing your dentist regularly. Experts have suggested that having dental checkups every six months is beneficial for all. This is so your dentist can look for problems like gum disease, cavities, and oral infections. It is wise to get any issues treated right away, before things worsen and lead to more costly, painful procedures later.
Choose your products wisely
Choose the toothpaste that meets your oral hygiene needs. It should always contain fluoride, but you can also choose brands with objectives like tartar protection, improving bad breath, and teeth whitening. You may also want to select the brand of mouthwash that you can use to clean your oral cavity with the best efficiency.
Find a dentist in Central Falls RI
Jan 14, 2016 | Blog
Sensitivity or pain after a dental filling is in place has been a problem previously. However, today’s technologies make it a much less frequent occurrence now. Often, a few doses of over-the-counter pain relievers is all you need after a filling procedure before you are as good as new. There are just a couple of complications that can occur, however, to cause lingering pain after a filling.
Modifications required
The situation that commonly occurs is that the filling was not conducted accordingly. Due to that, you may not normally bite when your mouth is still numb, sometimes it is hard to tell during treatment if the filling is overly prominent when you bite down. Afterward, if it only hurts when you bite down when you are not eating something, it most likely means a minor adjustment is necessary by your dentist to make the filling sit better in your tooth.
Irreversible Pulpitis
Feel sensitivity towards hot or cold? Or your tooth begins hurting without any prior stimulation? You may have a condition known as Irreversible Pulpitis. Notify your dentist if you experience these signs and symptoms as treatments are usually required to solve this problem. Irreversible pulpitis usually presents as pain in the night, disturbing your sleep.
Reversible Pulpitis
If the dental decay in your tooth has become rather extensive and the filling approximates a nerve, it can cause sensitivity. Discomfort is common when you eat or drink something cold, but not when biting. It requires time for the nerve return to the normal state. If the pain lingers or becomes more severe, notify your dental practitioner.
Family and general dentist in Central Falls, RI
Dec 28, 2015 | Blog
Did your dentist tell you that you need a root canal treatment? If so, there are several ways you’re able to prepare for your therapy that will ensure your experience is as stress-free and successful as possible.
Root canal treatments are performed under dental sedation. Because of this sedation, you will need to arrange a trip to and from the dentist. You absolutely may not drive yourself. You might feel alert after your treatment, but you are not and you won’t be fully awake for several hours following sedation dentistry, especially if IV sedation was administered.
Because your tooth will likely be tender following your treatment, you will want to be certain to have plenty of soft, tepid foods available. Avoid very hot or very cold foods or drinks, especially until your sedation has worn off. If your mouth is numb, you might not know that you burned your soft tissues with hot coffee until the feeling starts to return. Applesauce, yogurt, flavored gelatin and milkshakes are all good choices as you are recovering.
Have plenty of ibuprofen or other over-the-counter pain killers on hand. Ibuprofen works well because it has anti-inflammatory properties. If you’ve been prescribed a narcotic pain killer, be judicious in its use. Narcotic pain relievers can leave you feeling dizzy or very sleepy.
Try to rest following your treatment. Sometimes sleeping is the best way to shake off dental sedation and wake refreshed, already on the path to a good recovery.
These and other tips are available to you from your dentist or endodontist as you prepare for your root canal treatment.
