Evidence suggests a possible link between periodontal diseases and other systemic conditions that can negatively affect a person’s overall wellness, such as diabetes and heart disease.

Bacteria associated with periodontal diseases have been linked to heart disease, diabetes, stroke, and preterm low weight births. The bacteria travel through the body’s veins and arteries using them as a highway system to link to the other parts of the body. Periodontal bacteria can also spread from the oral cavity to the rest of the body, including the lungs and can cause respiratory diseases associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, the sixth leading cause of mortality in the United States.

No matter where the bacteria travels in the body, the immune system will respond by sending white blood cells to battle the bacteria. These white blood cells release chemicals that create and inflammatory response. Inflammation can damage tissues. Scientists now understand that inflammation causes or complicated other diseases, including pancreatic cancer and Alzheimer’s disease. For example, inflammation can damages tissues in the brain which can increase a patient’s risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Inflammation from gum disease can also be linked to arthritis. Many scientists believe that inflammation is responsible for the development of rheumatoid arthritis in some estimated 2.1 million people suffering from the condition.

Autoimmune diseases can have side effects related to oral health. Conditions such as Sjogrens syndrome, Lichen planus, pemphigus, pemphigoid, HIV/AIDS, and Erythema multiforme can present many different oral complications. Advise your dental professional if you suffer from an autoimmune disease. Your dental professional can work with you and your physician to help control any periodontal infections and adverse drug interactions. Maintaining good oral health can impact your quality of life. Good oral health provides the ability to eat and speak with confidence and contributes to your overall wellness. This includes maintaining a regular oral hygiene routine, including brushing daily, flossing, and regular dental visits. Brushing and flossing is the best way to prevent the development of progression of periodontal disease.

America is aging. People live longer nowadays and it has become more crucial for me as a dentist to find a way to help my elderly patients to save their teeth. At my dental school – Boston University I had the opportunity to work with the elderly population in the geriatric dentistry department. It was a great experience for me as a student to treat patients by visiting their home and making dentures. All clinical steps to denture impressions were done at patient’s home. This experience influenced me to work with the elderly population in my own practice. Seeing my patients on a daily basis inspired me to think about the program and some steps that could be done to protect my patients from cavities or gum disease.

Every day we faced several teeth conditions and our patients concerns.

To save every tooth in your mouth is a priority because various studies have determined that a minimum of 20 functional teeth are necessary to guarantee good digestion of food.

Caries remains a major oral health problem among the elderly for various reasons: age-related salivary changes, a poor diet, exposure of the root surface by gingival recession, and a greater likely hood of drug treatment with xerostomia as a side effect all can cause the decay of teeth. The 6 month cleaning and checkups help diagnose early stages of cavities and treat them with less damage to the tooth.

Root decay may cause the potential loss of the whole tooth. The tooth roots become exposed as gum tissue recedes from the tooth. Roots do not have any enamel to protect them and are more prone to decay than the crown part of the tooth.

Studies demonstrate that the topical effect of fluoride in an adult’s mouth during the early stages of decay can not only stop the decay process but also make the teeth more resistant to future decay and cavities.

Dental decay is reduced by 27% in adults who use toothpaste with fluoride and drink fluoridated water.

Fluoridation conserves natural tooth structure by preventing the need for initial fillings and subsequent replacement of fillings. The fluoride varnish should be applied twice a year during the routine teeth cleanings.

In 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended a then-newly calibrated ratio of fluoride to water at .7 mg/L, or parts per million. The American Dental Association DA supported this recommendation. According to the Weymouth Department of Public Work water quality summary report of 2016 states that Fluoride level is 0.45 - 0.73 ppm in tap water of Weymouth.

When the cavities or gum diseases are not treated the tooth has to be extracted. The loss a lot of teeth in a mouth can cause the rest of the teeth to drift and shift into the open spaces. That is why the denture placement should be considered after tooth extraction. The immediate denture – is a denture inserted same day at teeth extraction one of the solutions. Unfortunately, the bone present today may be gone tomorrow. If the immediate denture is placed into the mouth this denture needs to be relined (add additional lacer of acrylic) after 4-6 months of the teeth extractions. Sometimes a patient too tired to visit a dentist and does not wants to have extra expenses so the patient skips the steps of relining the denture. As a result the denture becomes lose and fits poorly this can cause more bone resorption.

Another option to save the bone structure is to place the implants the day of extraction. Recently I placed two implants for one of our patients due to severe decay of all his lower teeth. The implants were placed the same day of teeth extraction and covered 100 % by DentaQuest dental insurance because this patient is older than 65.

The immediate insertions the implant on lower jaw more beneficial because it cause less resorption and more denture stability. Also it is an easy procedure compared to placement of implants after a few years of all teeth extraction when the bone “shrinks”.

Dry mouth is caused by reduced saliva flow, which can be as a result of cancer treatments that use radiation to the head and neck area, as well as certain diseases, and medication side effects. There are different mouth sprays, rinse or tablets to reduce the dry mouth symptoms.

Age in and of itself is not a dominant or sole factor in determining oral health. However, certain medical conditions, such as arthritis in the hands and fingers, may make brushing or flossing teeth difficult to impossible to perform. The one of solution is an electrical tooth brush. In our office you can test-drive – the Oral B electrical tooth brush. Our hygienists will help match the tooth brush to patient’s needs.

What is Fluoride and Fluoridation? Fluoride is a substance that protects the teeth and helps prevent tooth decay. Fluoride can be found in toothpaste and even tap water.

Fluoridation plays a protective role against dental decay throughout life, benefiting not only children but also adults. Because older adults experience more problems with gum recession, the risk of root decay increases with age.

• Studies demonstrate that the topical effect of fluoride in an adult’s mouth during the early stages of decay can not only stop the decay process but also make the teeth more resistant to future decay and cavities.

• Dental decay is reduced by 27% in adults who use toothpaste with fluoride and drink fluoridated water.

• Fluoridation conserves natural tooth structure by preventing the need for initial fillings and subsequent replacement of fillings.

In 2015, the Department of Health and Human Services recommended a then-newly calibrated ratio of fluoride to water at .7 mg/L, or parts per million. The American Dental Association DA supported this recommendation. According to the Weymouth Department of Public Work water quality summary report states that Fluoride level is 0.45 - 0.73 ppm.

In summary, Fluoridation plays a protective role against dental decay throughout life, benefiting not only children but also adults.

The decision to continue to write short noticed about dental procedure that we do in our office is based on feedback from our patients who read this newspaper. The topics on this article are based on everyday questions that we get from our patents. Today I would like to talk about the denture on implants.

At the previous article at September newspaper we touch the problem with lower complete denture. If the person lost all teeth on the lower jaw, the complete denture is usually fabricated. This type of dentures is not so stable compare with upper complete denture because the lower jaw is smaller than upper one. Also the chicks and tong moves the lower denture of the jaw easily. The implants or remaining teeth can help to stabilize the lower denture.

Let imagine the situation of remaining two lower canines in a person mouth. Even the canines are not in good condition and have broken crown it is possible to use them in denture fabrication. The canines have long roots that can hold the denture and also preserve the jaw resorption. For this reason the approach has been exposed to retain the roots of natural teeth with finished roots canals beneath a complete denture. This type of denture is called over-denture and have to be carefully consider. If the root is in good condition and root canals done the root can cover by small crown or cover. Denture will be fabricated with all steps that we talked at previous article.

Another, more popular option to retain the lower denture today is the placing implants. If the implant is placed before loss a jaw bone structure, it appears that the implant may serve to maintain the jaw. Also the advantage of the implant is the caries resistance compare with natural root. For more stability the four implants can be placed on the lower jaw. Ideally four placed implants that are distributed far from each other would provide four points of contact upon which denture support will be ideal. Unfortunately cost consideration or bone resorption interferes with ability to place four implants. Two implants also can be placed in canines’ area of lower jaw to create stability of the denture. Moreover, for implant placement it is important to have enough bone. That is why the implant placement can be done at the same day of teeth extraction.

The most common used material for oral implants, commercially pure titanium has proven very bio compatible in numerous experimental studies. Modern implants over all have been documented for up to 25 years with good outcomes. Smoking has been reported to yield significantly lower success rate with oral implants. The mechanism behind this are unknown, but vasoconstriction may play a role. Continuing substance abuse also may be a contraindication to implant treatment. Radiation treatment is relative contraindication for implant placement. A one year delay after irradiation before inserting implants has been recommended. Usually implant placed into a bone and gum sutured back to cover the implant. It is a waiting period from 3 to 6 month of bone growing around the implant. Than the second small surgical procedure is performed to exposed the buried implant and connect to oral cavity by abutment. The picture represents the model of lower jaw with abutments that were placed on canine areas. The denture need to have part the connected with abutment. It is recommended an annual check up of the implant denture.

Overall , the implant or root supported denture improved quality of life and social integration. Some insurance companies cover implant placement with 100% coverage for patient s over 65 years old. If you need any consultation about poor fitting lower denture please free to call office 781-340-5361. Dental Aid 1.

Tooth whitening is the removal of stains and discolorations from the enamel and dentin by placing hydrogen peroxide on tooth surface.

The office whitening procedure takes 40 minutes. Please visit Dental Aid 1 for teeth whitening procedure and consultation. It is important to allowed a dentist to look at your teeth before any home or office whitening procedure.

If you participate in football, wrestling, basketball, baseball, volleyball, ice hockey, field hockey, softball, or soccer you need a mouth guard. As well as, in recreational sports including cycling, inline skating, or skateboarding.

At Dental Aid 1 we can fabricate a personalized mouth guard, to protect your teeth during sports and other activities. A personalized mouth guard is more comfortable and can better protect your teeth than one purchased at the store. Mouth guards are covered by most insurances including Mass Health.

Dentures are one of constant and routine dental procedures in our office. We would like to share our experience, advantages and disadvantages of the different types of dentures. Today we would like to discuss the immediate denture.

This type of denture - immediate denture can be done when a large number of hopeless teeth need to be extracted and a person cannot wait to heal for few weeks after extraction and walking without teeth. Is it possible to remove the hopeless teeth and place the denture in same appointment?

The first step of the immediate denture fabrication is the patient evaluation and planning. However, each patient’s case is different but we have developed different strategies that can be applied based on number of teeth in patient’s mouth. In the first appointment of denture fabrication the preliminary or first impression of teeth helps to make a denture design. Transitioning from natural teeth to artificial dentures is not easy and can impact person emotionally and physically. To make this transition as smooth as possible, at Dental Aid 1 we recommend removing posterior teeth first with leaving anterior teeth in position. The posterior teeth are multi rooted and the healing process after extraction takes few weeks before the final impression can be done.

Also several factors need to be considered:

1. The bone resorption following teeth extraction progress is more rapid in lower jaw compare with upper jaw.

2. The upper denture gains support from the palate.

3. The upper jaw is connected tight with the cranial when the low jaw is swinging with ligaments and more mobile. It appears that the fabrication of immediate denture in the upper jaw is more predictable procedure than making the lower denture.

Usually there are four visits before the denture is done and ready for insertion. Those dental visits can be combining with teeth treatment such as fillings, teeth cleanings or something else.

When we get the finished denture from the dental laboratory we can plan the day of teeth extraction. The dentures will be inserted into a patient mouth at same day immediately after teeth extraction. One of the cases was done in Dental Aid 1 office. Please see picture before and after at same day appointment.

The immediate denture required 24 to 48 hours follow up visit after extraction to evaluate occlusion and denture stability.

Immediate denture required more visits in the first 6 month after insertion compared with regular denture. This requirement depends on bone healing and remodeling after teeth extraction. Due to the bone healing process the denture can be unstable and can start rocking. Usually the bone healing takes place 2-3 month after denture insertion.

Sometimes the denture is not stable at the beginning when more that couple teeth were extracted. To stabilize the denture and help the denture sit well in mouth it is possible to add material to the inside part of denture. This procedure called reline. Denture reline can be done in one appointment in office visit or the denture can be send to dental laboratory. Our experience shows that fist reline may be done immediately or after couple of months of denture insertion.

An advantage of immediate dentures is that the person does not have to be without teeth during the healing period. Nowadays, the majority of our patients prefer to get immediate denture and later reline the base of the denture than remove teeth and wait couple months for bone healing, denture fabrication, and waking around without teeth.

In some reasonable cases, we offer to avoid expensive root canal treatment by sealing the exposed nerve. A patient, 30 years old came with a deep cavity in his back tooth with periodic pain on cold and hot food. The decay was removed and pulp was covered with material that stimulates pulp regeneration. The final restoration was done in the same appointment.

Tooth extraction is always like a thriller, challenging and exciting. You should be ready to meet tooth roots with any surprises...

Nowadays digital radiographic imaging helps dentists to diagnose damage and disease not visible during a regular dental exam.

For example, if we look at the intraoral picture we can see small cavity on one tooth and another one look absolutely healthy.

However, the patient experiences pain when his teeth come in contact with cold and hot food, and sometimes at night. The patient’s last dental visit was more than 5 years ago. An X-ray was taken and two large cavities were found on both teeth.

This type of X-ray (bite wing) is a routine dental screening tool helps the dentist find cavities between teeth that cannot be detected visually.

The most common questions that our patients ask about dentures are probably your questions as well. Here are the questions we are asked most frequently:

1. How many visits will I have to make? At least five visits are required to properly make and fit your dentures.

2. How many impressions need to be done to make one denture? Two impressions.

3. What is the most important step in denture fabrication? All steps involved are equally important.

4. How is the height of the denture and teeth position determined? In our office we use an articulating device that helps us to determine the physiological position of teeth in relation to upper and lower teeth, to ensure the best possible fit.

5. Can dentures be delivered on the day teeth are extracted? Yes, this type of denture called immediate denture and can be prepared in advance before the extraction of teeth. However, this type of denture needs reline, which involves adding an additional layer of material inside the denture when extraction wounds will be healed.

6. Which denture is more difficult to use, lower or upper, and what can be done to improve this adaptation? The lower denture is more difficult to adapt to because the lower jaw is smaller, and tongue and cheek muscles can dislodge this denture. You may need to have an awareness of your mouth and chewing that you did not have before. Today, one of the options is mini implants that can retain the lower denture. Some insurance covers this type of implant.

We enjoy these days on Yankee Dental Congress and learn a lot about new hi-tech technologies in dentistry

Thank you for choosing Dental Aid 1. We’re wishing you all of the joys of the Holiday Season and look forward to serving you in the coming New Year.

Dental trauma is one of the common issues of dental emergency visit. Many studies show that between 13% and 39% of all dental injuries are sports related. Researchers found the five most common causes of childhood injuries related with sports in order of frequency are: basketball, baseball, football, hockey and soccer.

A properly fitted mouth guard is an essential piece of any athlete's protective equipment. How can we as a parent or a sport’s coach protect our children and help the young generation to enjoy sport activities? Besides a helmet, a protective eye wear or a face shield a mouth sport guard significantly can reduce risk of teeth or soft tissue trauma.

What are the advantages of the custom mouth guard fabricated over a dental cast of the athlete's teeth? In addition to the best fit custom made mouth guard also do not restrict speech and breathing. Why it is important that the mouth guard fit tight into an athletes’ mouth? The poor fitting mouth guard does not distribute the collision forces. In collision the object as a baseball, or an elbow or opposing teeth impose forces toward anterior teeth and cause trauma. Also teeth by itself can traumatize the soft tissue in the mouth or child lips. The force causes trauma can be decrease by increasing time or length over which collision occurs. This effect can be achieved by placing mouth guard around teeth and gums and separating upper and lower teeth by soft material.

The custom made sport guard protects not only teeth but also gums and faces soft tissue. The picture shows one of the custom made clear sport guard that was fabricated at single dental visit. The cost of fabrication custom mouth guard is the same as simple cosmetic restoration of broken front tooth

We offer root canal therapy as shown in the case below.

The patient H, 56 years old, visited us this week and complained of periodic tooth pain during the last month. The exam showed that the first molar had large amalgam filling. The X-ray (picture before) revealed that the old filling was very close to the pulp. This was an obvious reason for pain. We proposed to make the three root canal therapy (picture after) and it was done in one visit. Now the patient is able to chew food on the both sides of the mouth and he is happy.

We offer emergency dental restorations, like in the above case.

This patient, 35 years old visited us with a chipped front tooth. It was proposed to make a white cosmetic filling and it was done in one appointment on the same day. So during the emergency cosmetic restoration white multi-layer filling was used to repair the chipped front tooth and high aesthetic results were achieved. In the end, the patient was very happy and confident with a new smile.

Many people have a fear of the dentist, the thought of going to the dentist evokes the whining sound of the dreaded drill, or needles being poked into your mouth. Dental air abrasion changes all of this.

Yesterday, I had a patient who was fourteen years old and wasn't too keen on drilling her tooth. So I proposed to use air abrasion to fix up her tooth after her cleaning.

Without any "needles" I got access to the decay that located on her cracks of the tooth. Air abrasion is silent, fast and pain free. It produces no “burning” odors, no hand piece whine, no vibration, no pressure and no heat.

Few minutes later I have gotten out all of the decay and I was ready to do the filling. All soft decay was removed and now we can see yellow healthy dentin.

In this case I like that my preparation saved the intact tooth structures, that's hard to achieve with rotary "drilling" instruments. Air abrasion technique also reduces the risk of micro-fracturing, a problem sometimes caused by drilling.

This is the tooth finished with the filling. The patient was very happy because there was no drilling, no anesthesia, and no pain. She now had a beautiful and healthy smile before new school year.

Air abrasion, has opened up a whole new method of treatment for patients that preserves far more tooth structure than was ever previously possible, with greater patient comfort and superior aesthetics.

At Dental Aid 1 we are now offering teeth whitening. It is a simple process. Whitening products contain one of two tooth bleaches (hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide). These bleaches break stains into smaller pieces, which makes the color less concentrated and your teeth brighter. Book an appointment to get a brighter smile. Discount is available for new patients.

Dry Mouth

Dry mouth (Xerostomia) is a very uncomfortable condition resulting from reduced or absent saliva flow. It is not a disease but it can be a symptom of a medical condition or side effect of a treatment. It is necessary to have saliva in order to moisten and cleanse the mouth and digest food. Also it causes severe decay around the teeth.

LUBRICITY

Lubricity is a proprietary formulation, which contains no alcohol or sugar, developed in University of Buffalo Dental School and owned by You First Services Inc., scientifically designed for long lasting comforting effect for those suffering form symptomatic Dry mouth.

Lubricity is an oral saliva substitute containing gel film forming polysaccharides. The naturally occurring polysaccharide mixture, hyaluronic acid, has lubricating and moisturizing properties in the buccal cavity. This product is formulated, preserved and packed in blow modeled polyethylene terephthalate bottles with a closure system comprising a metered dose liquid spray fitting manufactured from polypropylene, high density polyethylene, polymethoxylene copolymer and stainless steel. All container closure components have appropriate status under FDA food contact or GRAS regulations.

Three or four sprays of Lubricity from the metered dose liquid spray fitting should be sprayed into the oral cavity after meals and before sleeping for the desired effect. (Up to 8 hours.)

Dental Aid 1 recommends to use Lubricity for paitents who have dry mouth.

Apples

Food can be categorized as "smile-challenging" or "smile-friendly" explains Jonathan Levine, DMD, spokesperson for ProNamel toothpastes. Smile-challenging foods are acidic and lower the pH level in your mouth, threatening your teeth with too much acidity; whereas smile-friendly are alkaline foods that raise the pH level in your mouth to a healthier level for your teeth. (These are the best hygiene tips for healthy, white teeth.) Apples are a great alkaline fruit, says Dr. Levine. Not only do they raise your mouth's pH, but apples also act as "a natural exfoliate to take stains off the teeth," says Dr. Levine. (Brushing with a toothpaste like ProNamel Strong & Bright can help build a protective barrier on teeth to guard against acid erosion.) Read more about the many health benefits of apples.

Herbal tea or unsweetened fruit juice

You may love carbonated sodas, both the diet and regular kind, but they threaten the health of your teeth. Carbonic acid is found in all carbonated beverages, and produces a nasty acidic environment for your teeth, explains Dr. Levine. Instead, opt for herbal tea, non-sweetened fruit juices, or just plain ol' water. Found out more health benefits of herbal tea.

Silken tofu

Not only is tofu one of the most alkaline of all proteins, but also it provides calcium to your teeth! Maria Bella, RD, recommends replacing your favorite creamy dessert with this custard-like product. It will provide you with a great dose of protein all while giving you your daily dessert fix.

Sweet potatoes

Who doesn't love the yummy taste of a perfectly cooked sweet potato? Yet, this vegetable does not only taste amazing, it also helps protect your smile. Like apples, sweet potato produces an alkaline (more basic) condition in your mouth. This allows your teeth to get stronger and whiter.

Cheese

Any dessert with sugar produces harmful acid in your mouth. The solution? Be like the French and eat cheese for dessert, says Bella. "Cheese is great for dessert because it has calcium," says Bella, so you avoid the harmful sugars for your smile, while benefiting your bones and teeth. Plus, cheese is super satisfying and tastes pretty amazing, too.

Cucumbers

According to Live Science, cucumbers have a healthy dose of fiber, vitamin A, antioxidants, potassium, and vitamin K. Another plus? Cucumbers are 95 percent water. "Try cucumbers in place of crackers, because they won't stick to your teeth and they have a lot of water," says Bella.

Stevia

Normally, artificial sweeteners receive a bad reputation for being fake and full of chemicals. But, Dr. Levine says that stevia is actually the healthiest of all sweeteners. It is an alkalizing food that also prevents plaque from forming on teeth, explains Dr. Levine. Next time you reach for a sweetener to put in your latte, grab a stevia and strengthen your teeth.

Carrots

This crunchy vegetable is another food that keeps your smile clean and bright. Bella describes carrots as the "perfect snack." Not only do they promote a higher pH in your mouth, but they also help clean out your teeth—think of it like a vegetable toothbrush!

To see original article click here:http://www.rd.com/health/wellness/foods-for-teeth/

It is important to take care of your teeth. Oral hygiene is not only essential for a great smile but also to avoid other medical conditions like bone loss, gum infection and stroke. There is more to dental hygiene than brushing. You must be brushing your teeth twice a day but it is not enough. Proper diet, tongue care and use of fluoride contribute to healthy, strong teeth. There are some basic rules you must follow to keep your teeth away from dental problems away. This guide will tell you how to get healthy and strong teeth. (ALSO READ Try oil pulling to keep tooth decay at bay and for complete oral health).

1. Use fluoride

Look for a toothpaste that contains fluoride as this mineral will help prevent the cavities and harden tooth enamel. Apart from toothpaste, some dental treatment products and mouthwash also contain fluoride. Consult your doctor for a suitable fluoride containing product.

2. Use dental floss

Brushing your teeth twice a day is not sufficient. You need to floss your teeth or use a god interdental brush. Move the floss up and down slowly while flossing. It is advisable to floss your teeth once a day at night.

3. Get your teeth cleaned by your dentist

Get your teeth cleaned by your dentist

You should get your teeth cleaned by a dentist once every six months or a year. This will allow the dentist to catch any abnormalities or formation of cavity at an earlier stage. Cleaning will also make your gums strong and healthy.

4. Brush your tongue

Brushing your will not only keep your teeth healthy but will also remove the bacteria from your mouth. You can sue a toothbrush with tongue cleaner. Tongue cleaning is also effective in getting rid of bad breath.

5. Avoid acidic drink

Your drinks can affect your teeth. Drinking soda, soft drinks and packaged fruit juice can result in tooth decay. Drink water, fresh fruit juice and milk to make your teeth stronger.

To view original article click here: http://www.india.com/lifestyle/how-to-get-strong-and-healthy-teeth-5-tips-to-keep-dental-problems-away-2056863/

We’re often afraid of what we don’t know, which is one reason why it is so important to introduce your child to dentistry and good oral health habits as early as possible. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) recommends that your child’s first dental visit occur when the first tooth appears or by his or her first birthday at the latest. Choosing the right dentist for your child at this crucial stage of development is essential for ensuring a positive relationship with dentistry and a lifetime of healthy smiles.

We asked the experts at Cambridge Pediatric Dental Associates for some tips for parents to help children become comfortable with dental visits and develop confident attitudes toward their dental health. Here are a few tips to help make your child’s dental experiences happy ones.

Find the right “dental home” for you and your child.

Dr. George McEachern, CPDA’s founder, suggests focusing on finding a long-term “dental home” for your child—a practice your child can grow up with. Children are less fearful of people and places they have become familiar with.

So, for you, it’s all about partnering with a team you trust, and for your child it’s about finding a place they’ll feel safe and comfortable going to for years to come.

Dr. McEachern highly suggests selecting a pediatric dentist. Pediatric dental specialists have had two additional years of training and are staffed with team members dedicated to the unique needs associated with children’s dental care. Many have also studied child psychology, which helps them communicate and interact with their patients in ways that foster relationships and make visits enjoyable for children, rather than scary.

Additionally, pediatric dental offices are generally designed with children’s comfort in mind. Look for waiting rooms that are colorful, engaging, and stocked with toys, stuffed animals, books, and doodle boards to entertain children. This way, the dentist becomes a place children look forward to visiting.

Ask about what happens during early visits and explain it to your child.

First visits to the dentist are more introductory in nature and geared to provide positive experiences. Early exams usually just involve simple demonstrations of things like tooth brushing—something kids are already used to doing at home. Through these interactions, the dentist determines what the young patient is most comfortable with and slowly introduces additional procedures such as cleanings and full exams.

Kids seem to learn better from the show-and-tell technique that many pediatric dentists employ. Dr. Fatima Aziz, a former patient at CPDA, is now a dental associate at the practice. Before an initial exam, she puts her young patients at ease by showing them pictures and explaining what to expect. She demonstrates on Dentoform® stuffed animals and teaches about dental instruments by using friendly names such as the Tooth Tickler, Mister Thirsty and Bubble Maker. Everything is focused on making the experience entertaining and informative. At her office, kids can even test the instruments on balloons made from dental gloves to show them there’s nothing to be afraid of.

Dr. Aziz says she fondly remembers choosing a “prize” after her visits to the dentist as a child, and she offers her patients the same opportunity. She knows how picking out a special sticker or trinket or getting a new toothbrush can make visiting the dentist fun for kids. Plus, the positive reinforcement helps children create positive memories of their early dental visits.

Learn tips and tricks to use at home.

Pediatric dentists and hygienists are a fantastic source of information about children’s oral healthcare. Remember that you and your pediatric dental team are a partnership with the primary goal of keeping your child healthy, so don’t be afraid to ask for guidance! They can suggest products, show you how much toothpaste to use, and give advice on helping your child enjoy brushing and stay engaged in their oral health care at home.

They can also offer dietary counseling and guidance that can benefit your child’s overall oral and systemic health, such as which snacks are more cavity causing than others and when (and how) to start breaking habits like thumb-sucking and the use of pacifiers. Staying involved and establishing good oral health practices at home will result in better visits to the dentist, which benefit everyone.

Know what emergency oral care is available in your child’s dental home.

As many parents of toddlers soon discover, these new movers and shakers are especially prone to tumbles and injuries as they master gross motor skills. According to the American Academy of Pediatric Dentists, many of these injuries affect the mouth. To be prepared, it is important to consider what type of emergency oral care is available through the pediatric dentist you choose. Some offices, including CPDA, have an on-call doctor available via telephone after hours—since kids and accidents aren’t on an office schedule!

It’s never too early to begin reinforcing positive oral health care habits with your child. Good pediatric dental care can result in a positive attitude about going to the dentist and, subsequently, a lifetime of healthy smiles!

To view original article click here:http://www.bostonmagazine.com/sponsor-content/4-ways-to-keep-your-kids-from-being-afraid-of-the-dentist/