As parents, we watch as our infants develop into toddlers. We watch as they begin to explore the world around them. We help them grow and learn. However, due to the fact that our children's’ teeth will be replaced with permanent ones we tend to overlook important dental facts. Starting Healthy Dental Habits Early In Life As usual nature has a plan for its designs. The baby teeth by staying in place until the adult teeth are ready to erupt , serve as a guide for the adult teeth. Baby teeth that come out due to decay before their proper time will not serve as place holders and the resulting shifting of remaining teeth will prevent the adult teeth from growing in straight. Toddlers are constantly teething and putting things (often besides food) in their mouths. It is essential to keep their developing teeth and gums healthy. The decay can lead to other health problems in the body of a child much the same as an adult. And when your toddlers become preschoolers it is time to start their dental care in a professional setting and get them used to a lifetime of good dental health. Choosing a dentist who will get to know your child for years to come is essential. It is important that they establish proper dental hygiene habits and reinforce these with both you, your spouse and your child. This includes teaching proper cleaning habits, such as brushing, flossing and rinsing with fluoride rinse. This will impact their overall health for years to come. So start off your preschooler’s well being with a smile! Call Finley Dentistry 419 472 6645 For your appointment TODAY!
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Most of us wake up in the morning and run to go brush our teeth. Many experience undesirable morning breath and for this reason, brushing their teeth is their very first morning task. However, when it comes to evening oral care, people’s routines differ. Some believe in brushing, flossing and/or rinsing right after dinner, while others wait until bed time. Which one is truly best? First, we ask ourselves, why is evening oral hygiene important in the first place? This is due to a lack of swallowing while we are asleep. For this reason, bacteria has a tendency to build up overnight, often causing “morning breath.” Dental professionals recommend a 3 step routine to nighttime oral care. This includes thoroughly brushing (teeth, tongue and gums), flossing and rinsing with mouthwash. This is so that all food remains and particles are removed, as well as plaque build up. People who are at higher risk for gum disease (such as gingivitis) should perform this routine after dinner, versus waiting several hours until bedtime. Many people also experience mouth grinding at night. Although there are many different theories as to why this occurs (psychological reasons, stress, etc.) there is also a way to prevent it. Mouth guards are commonly used and recommended by dental professionals, to reduce teeth grinding. At the end of a long day, we all just want to relax and go to sleep. It is important that prior to do turning in for the night, we take care of our oral hygiene. This way, we can wake up with a smile! It is no secret that smoking has many negative health effects For starters, there is a national surgeon general warning against tobacco products. Secondly, as many former smokers are quitting this habit, it is becoming less acceptable to smoke in public places. However, some people have a lot of trouble kicking this habit. Besides the many negative overall body effects and harms, smoking has a very negative effect on one’s oral health as well. The first factor which most people consider is bad breath Smokers often experience this symptom and are not sure why. However, dental professionals agree that bad breath can be an indicator of many of health complications. It is important to consult with a dental professional for regular examinations and cleanings, to prevent and diagnose these symptoms. Secondly, many smokers experience gum disease Attending bi-annual cleanings and checkups can help prevent gingivitis and other gum diseases and conditions, many of which are irreversible. Any bumps or sightings inside the mouth should be brought to the attention of a dental professional immediately, as smokers have an increased risk for many forms of oral cancer as well. Call us at Finley Dentistry today to schedule your appointment to a healthier, happier smile! You don’t have to be a smoker to be proactive about your dental care. Finley Dentistry (419)472-6645 When we think of wisdom teeth, we think of sitting in a dental chair, cringing in pain. We have all heard horror stories surrounding these famous teeth. Some of us dread the diagnosis from our dentist. We enter the dental office for our annual checkup and pray that we can go another year without undergoing this infamous extraction. However, prior to allowing ourselves to experience these feelings of anxiety we must ask ourselves, what exactly are wisdom teeth? In fact, when wisdom teeth are in their proper position and alignment they can be an asset to you. However, they are often misaligned throughout time and can even erupt through the skin and/or gum. Those of who are lucky, only experience a partial eruption, if any at all. The harm in leaving this situation untreated is that they can damage the surrounding teeth and gum and even leave you prone to an oral infection and other complications. The key to providing as much comfort as possible during this process is visiting an experienced dentist who has done many of these procedures in the past. At Finley Dentistry, Dr. Finley will work with you as a team in order to ensure as little pain and discomfort as possible. Additionally, he can review the many benefits to having your wisdom teeth removed and the complications which they may cause later down the road. Once you have agreed upon a wisdom removal plan that you are both comfortable with, you can proceed. Do you need to be evaluated for wisdom teeth extraction? Call Finley Dentistry at (419) 472-6645 today! 3D Dental X-Rays Provide More Information and Help You Make Better Decisions The Planmeca ProMax® 3D Classic unit is designed to obtain complete information on your patient’s anatomy in the minutest detail. This intelligent and multipurpose X-ray unit provides digital panoramic, cephalometric and 3D imaging as well as 3D photos and 3D model scans. This completely state of the art equipment provides a wealth of information to Dr. Finley. The patients’ entire dentition area in the minutest detail is digitally recorded and that data is available in 360 degree 3D views. Sounds more like Star Trek than a local dentist’s office? The technology is available and Dr. Finley insists on using the latest equipment available for the patients’ benefit. Planmeca is the first company to combine three different types of 3D data in one machine – a Cone Beam Computed Tomography (CBCT) image, 3D face photo and 3D model scan are one 3D image. The result is that the Planmeca ProMax® 3D Classic uses hardware and software to create a virtual patient for Dr Finley’s reference. This is of great value to both dentist and patient as the exact condition of the patient’s teeth is fully known. It is an old scientific view that an exact and accurate statement of the problem begs the solution. Finley Dentistry uses this advanced 3D x-ray to precisely duplicate the state of the patient’s teeth so that the most informed recommendations and treatments can be delivered to the patient. Beam me to Finley Dentistry, Scottie. How do You Know When You Need A Deep Cleaning? Regular dental checkups are essential for your oral and overall health. Everyone should go to the dentist twice each year for a regular cleaning of their teeth. During routine cleanings, the hygienist will take measurements of your gum tissue. If your gum tissue becomes inflamed, the hygienist may recommend a deep cleaning, which is also referred to as root planing or root scaling. The Difference Between Root Planing and a Regular Cleaning During a regular cleaning, the hygienist will scrape tartar and plaque off your teeth, brush and floss them. The regular cleaning only gets rid of the plaque and bacteria above your gum tissue. A deep cleaning involves scraping away tartar buildup from underneath the surface of the gum tissue. You may be surprised to know that one-third of your tooth’s length is actually below the surface of your gums. After the tartar is removed, the hygienist or dentist may apply an antibacterial rinse to flush out any leftover bacteria. When to Do a Deep Cleaning A periodontal probe will be used to measure inflammation around each tooth and the hygienist will check for signs of bleeding and periodontal (gum) disease. When signs of periodontal disease, such as bleeding or gaps (pockets) between your teeth and gums measuring 4 millimeters around the teeth are present, a deep cleaning is needed. The dentist may numb you to make the deep cleaning more comfortable. The deep cleaning may take place over two visits, with half of your mouth being cleaned during each visit. Some patients may need a deep cleaning once each year while other patients may only need them once or twice in their lifetimes. After a deep cleaning, patients with periodontal disease may need to come in for regular cleanings at intervals of three to four months rather than six months. The Benefits of a Deep Dental Cleaning A deep cleaning helps prevent advancement of periodontal disease. If periodontal disease is left untreated, it may cause your teeth to become loose, leading to loss of one or more of your teeth. Periodontal disease can also cause you to experience bone loss in your jaws, which can also lead to tooth loss. Having a deep cleaning may help you avoid future dental problems. Deep cleaning can also help to reduce sensitivity due to receding gums. Finley Dentistry in Toledo is well known for thoroughness in teeth cleaning and the results are spectacular! Have You Thought About Getting Sealants for Your Kids? Sweets, soda and sticky foods are common in the diets of many young children today. These foods are known to contribute to the development of dental cavities, even in children who are just beginning school. Dental sealants applied to the permanent teeth are an important tool that dentists have to help kids maintain healthy teeth for a lifetime. Unfortunately, fewer than half of dentists follow the American Dental Association’s (ADA) recommendations for the application of sealants and even fewer kids are getting this preventive care. How Sealants Work Sealants for teeth begin as a liquid resin. The dentist Toledo carefully places drops of the resin onto the biting surfaces of the child’s teeth, paying particular attention to the permanent molars. The sealant is set into place by shining a special UV lamp into the mouth. Application of the sealant only takes a few minutes and can be done after a routine cleaning. What Sealants Do The solidified sealant fills in microscopic spaces where food particles and plaque get trapped. Kids who have had even just one application of sealant on their teeth have half as many cavities as kids who have never had their teeth sealed. The sealants are not a free pass to eat junk or skip on good oral hygiene. They are extra protection against dental decay. Selecting a Dentist A highly skilled and experienced family dentist Toledo uses the proper technique for sealant application. Using the correct procedure for putting the sealant on a child’s teeth ensures that the sealant will protect the teeth against decay. While not all children need sealants, only an experienced dentist can make that determination. The Benefits of Sealants Properly applied sealants may help protect a child’s permanent teeth from cavities for ten years or even longer, according to research done by the ADA. Because 90 percent of the cavities that dentists see are on the biting surface of the molars, the early application of sealants can preserve the integrity of the teeth and prevent the child from needing extensive dental restorations later in life. The oral hygienists and dentists at this family dentist Toledo, OH can help parents learn about the benefits of sealants. To learn more about dental sealants for kids, contact Finley Dental. The dentist Toledo will gladly make the time to talk with parents who want to know if sealants would improve their child’s oral health. Lovelyn from the Philippines writes about her dental bridges: I remember when I was in 8th grade that my front tooth was chipped because of a basketball playmate accidentally hitting my mouth with his elbow. That was one of the most embarrassing moments for me as a young girl to have my classmates see my altered smile!. After that incident, I went home and told my mom that I wanted it removed. She said lets ask the dentist and we went the next day . I was a little bit afraid but my chipped tooth looked and felt like the tip of a knife which helped me overcome my fear. The dentist asked me what happened to my front tooth and I explained. Instead of removing it as I imagined he said that my front tooth is healthy and he can restore it. “How?” I quickly replied. He then proposed to put a dental jacket (crown) on it. Because I didn't understand the technicalities of it, I let my mom decide. After several minutes, my mom told me that I would be getting the jacket instead of pulling off the tooth. The process took 3 days to complete, from the preparation of the chipped tooth to the actual fitting of the jacket. Now, I went back to playing basketball with a huge smile and my playmates asked me about my chipped tooth wondering why they didn’t any longer see it. I then realized how I benefited from the procedure. I enjoyed having the jacket; it was like a part of me. Some years later another incident happened, three of my front teeth were damaged in a similar situation playing basketball and this time one needed to be extracted because the impact in my tooth was so strong that it nearly uprooted it. Luckily, 2 of them could have crowns placed. The damaged tooth that was in the middle of the two teeth could not be restored. This time my dentist suggested placing 2 crowns and a bridge in the middle. The procedure took 3 weeks to complete because we let the wound heal first before placing the crowns. This simple procedure was a great solution and I am again playing basketball without fear and my teeth are stronger than ever. I have my teeth checked yearly to maintain the appearance and strength of the bridge, but otherwise my teeth are never a problem. I am told that I can upgrade the bridge to porcelain when I decide to and want to enhance the appearance, but for now I am thrilled that my life didn’t have to dramatically change due to these incidents. |
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