COMPREHENSIVE
DENTISTRY FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
What is comprehensive
dentistry? Remember the old pictures, the old attitude of dentists?
(Drill 'em, fill 'em, and bill 'em.) Not any more!! And, certainly not
at Ridgepointe Dental!! Each patient is an individual who requires and
deserves individual care based on his or her needs and desires.
Even though Dr.
Manning is considered a general dentist (and would never advertise as
a "cosmetic" dentist), many of the treatments and restorations
we do make an amazing and very noticeable difference in the patients'
smiles. Whether it is a treatment as simple as whitening with Zoom!
or a complex treatment such as a dental implant, we can take care of
it here at Ridgepointe Dental. Dr. Manning will formulate a treatment
plan that will allow you to keep your teeth healthy, functional, and
attractive for the rest of your life. Making sure that your gums and
bite are in good shape can increase the longevity of your natural teeth.
Regular dental care can be compared to aligning and balancing the tires
of your car so they don't show premature wear. Same holds true for your
mouth! The healthier your gums and bite, the better your teeth and dental
work will hold up under everyday stress: biting and chewing.
INFANT
DENTAL CARE
You just had a baby!! How wonderful!! You took care of your own teeth
during your pregnancy, but how do you take care of your baby's mouth
when they are so little? A moist washcloth or other soft cloth serves
as adequate cleaning for tiny gums, cheeks, and tongue. You can use
this method until the child is about a year old.
Between the years of one and four, a toddler sized toothbrush and a
tiny amount of toothpaste can be used before the child goes to bed each
night. It is important that the parent does the brushing, until the
child can adequately maneuver around the teeth with a brush. The earlier
you introduce your child to help with cleaning their teeth, the better
they will accept it.
It is very important that you do not put a child to sleep with a bottle
or "sippy" cup that contains milk or a sweetened beverage.
If the liquid stays on the teeth during the night, acids create holes
in the teeth...yes, babies and toddlers can get cavities. If you must
give your child a bottle at 'sleepy time', it should contain water only.
If you have other questions about your baby's oral care, we'd be happy
to answer them for you.
Remember, the love of sweets is an acquired trait. Rewarding your child
with sweets or having desserts regularly is damaging to their teeth
and can lead to major problems later in life. Try to avoid giving your
child sweets at any time. Find other ways to comfort or reward your
child.
CHILDREN
At Ridgepointe Dental, we start seeing children at around age three,
or when the child is old enough to know to listen and follow our instructions.
When you schedule your child for his or her first visit to the dental
office, you should probably tell them just the 'bare bones' about what
is going to happen. He or she doesn't need to know all the details about
the treatment in a dental office, and you certainly shouldn't 'telegraph'
your fears or apprehensions, if any, to the children. Please don't talk
about "shots," - the doctor uses shots and they hurt. The
dentist uses a bubble and it doesn't hurt. Being honest with your child
is one thing; doing it to the point that it frightens the child is entirely
another!
Tell your child the dentist is a friend of the family who can make
sure that his smile is okay, and the hygienist is going to count teeth!
This is a good explanation for children under the age of five.
Dr. Manning is very good with children, exercising a great deal of
patience, and truly caring for them. If it is necessary for the small
child to have treatment done on the teeth, he makes sure the child is
comfortable, and uses other techniques to relax and calm your child.
Your child can
have a lifetime of healthy, natural teeth if they start good oral hygiene
habits early in life. Dr. Manning recommends that children start coming
to the dentist no later than age 4, so that any potential problems can
be diagnosed early. As a former instructor at Baylor College of Dentistry
Children's Clinic, Dr. Manning has years of experience in caring for
children and their teeth. (Additionally, he likes kids and takes the
time to make sure they are at ease in the dental office.)
Brushing
Oral health professionals
recommend that children brush their teeth for two to three minutes twice
a day. Try putting a timer in the bathroom, or have them brush for the
length of a song...generally two to three minutes.
It is important
that your child brush his or her teeth before going to bed. The 8 to
10 hours your child is asleep gives the bacteria lots of time to produce
enamel-eating acid. Brushing takes away the bacteria's food source.
The technique for
brushing your child's teeth is the same whether you do it or he or she
does it. If your child is too young to do it him or herself, it may
be easiest to cradle his or her head in one arm while keeping your other
hand free to brush the child's teeth. If a child brushes alone, remember
that most children miss the molars and the tongue sides of the bottom
teeth when brushing. Be sure to help them pay attention to these areas.
Flossing
Once any two of
your child's teeth touch each other, it's time to start flossing. Flossing
helps prevent cavities by removing plaque and food particles caught
between teeth. Your child should be able to floss on his own by the
time he or she is about 9 years old. To floss younger children's teeth,
place them in your lap facing you, and floss as you would floss your
own teeth.
Remember, good
oral hygiene is an important part of your child's overall health. Your
child can get off to a good start by:
- Seeing a dentist regularly
- Brushing twice a day and flossing at night
- Getting the right amount of fluoride
- Eating a healthy diet with lots of fruit and vegetables
TEEN
TRENDS
It is most important for good dental hygiene and regular maintenance
to be continued through out the teen years; teeth and bones are still
growing and need to be watched for possible crowding and other problems
which might require orthodontic care.
In recent years,
dentists have been at the diagnostic frontline when teen trends go horribly
wrong. We are often the first to see problems like eating disorders
and oral infections that can be managed successfully - IF diagnosed
and treated at an early stage.
Tongue Piercing
Since the wound
never entirely heals, the risk of infection is enormous. It is of the
utmost importance that the patient be aware of any of the following
problems: bleeding, swelling, worn gums, broken teeth, or damaged restorations.
These are not the only problems associated with piercings. The bottom
line? Don't do it!!
Eating Disorders
Bulimia nervosa
affects many young female teens...and a few males. Unable to resist
the commercial image of "the thinner, the better", they try
to lose weight by binge eating followed by purging (often vomiting).
This is a disastrous practice for a young person's teeth. Eventually,
stomach acid erodes the enamel, revealing the yellow dentin beneath
and often leading to decay on the tongue side of the teeth. Because
much of the damage is behind the teeth, dentists and hygienists are
often the first to see it. Bulimia is a complex disease, but if diagnosed
early, intervention can be successful.
Sports-related
Injuries and Mouthguards
Not all mouthguards
are created equal. Store-bought, stock, and boil-and-bite guards provide
some protection at low cost, but they are usually very uncomfortable
and can make talking or breathing difficult. Dentist prescribed, custom-made
mouthguards are essential to aid in the prevention of dental and facial
injuries, as well as concussions.
ADULT
DENTAL CARE
We've all heard it most of our lives...see your dentist every six months
for regular dental checkups. We all know how impressive an attractive
smile can be. Yet, sometimes we don't attach a high level of importance
to keeping our dental appointments. Why? Because we feel that there
just isn't anything wrong.
IF YOU WAIT UNTIL YOU FEEL PAIN IT'S GOING TO COST YOU MORE!
That's the bottom line! For instance, visualize this all-too-common
scenario:
- You come in for your regularly scheduled dental cleaning.
- The Hygienist thinks she finds a small cavity and the Dentist
confirms it.
- You leave the office with the promise that you'll call back for
an appointment as soon as you check your daily planner.
- A couple of weeks go by, and then a couple of months, and then...
- You miss your sixth-month appointment for regular maintenance.
- Three or four or five months later, you are on the phone late
some Saturday night, calling the Dentist, and asking for something
to relieve the pain.
- Monday morning you are scheduled for a root canal to fix that
small, many months old cavity.
This happens at Ridgepointe Dental; no matter how emphatic we are
about having treatment done when diagnosed. Don't let this happen
to you!
OLDER
PATIENTS
Maintaining good
dental health into old age has many benefits, including comfort of the
teeth and gums, the ability to enjoy food, and a better appearance.
The ADA is finding that good oral hygiene contributes to overall health
and can add years to your life by enhancing the ability to properly
chew to aid in digestion and proper nutrition.
People 65 years
of age and older should see their dentist twice a year for checkups
and cleanings. Any problems that the dentist diagnoses should be treated
quickly. Patients who wear full or partial dentures should have them
examined for proper fit and comfort. Dentures that are many years old
may have become worn and not fit adequately. Loose dentures make it
difficult to eat and speak, they don't support the face as well, and
they can lead to joint problems. If you find that you need to use more
and more adhesive to keep your dentures in place, it is probably time
to have them relined. Sometimes this relining is not adequate and new
dentures should be made when the existing dentures cannot be used comfortably.
Dentures should be inspected annually and replaced, if not relined,
every five to seven years.
Good dental health,
including regular dental care and good oral hygiene, can add years to
your life...and life to your years.
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