Parkland Dental

Our mouths are constantly changing depending on what we eat & drink, our habits & our age. Seeing a dentist regularly is the best way to catch a potential problem before it becomes a big deal. Not everyone needs to see the dentist every six months: some patients need to see us more often. Depending on your oral health situation, the dentist will recommend the frequency at which you need to visit us.

You should be brushing your teeth twice a day & flossing at least once a day. Most people brush in the morning when they wake up & brush & floss at night before bed. When you brush your teeth it should be for a full two minutes. Floss with about an arm span’s worth of floss, using a clean two inches for each tooth to prevent cross-contamination.

Don’t believe everything your hear in the news. It’s true that more studies are needed to solidify the connection between flossing & various effects on your oral health. But that doesn’t mean flossing is ineffective, it just means we need to know more. To us, the idea of not ever cleaning plaque & food out from between your teeth is scary, not to mention gross! You still need to floss every day!

Yes! There is some stubborn tooth gunk that even the best brushing & flossing can’t get off. This is especially true of tartar, which is the hard substance that plaque can turn into if not cleaned off in time. Getting a professional scaling & polishing by a hygienist can actually improve the appearance of your smile by removing stains.

Sugar is more like the fuel for decay & it doesn’t just come from sweet foods. When you eat, enzymes in your saliva break down carbohydrates into sugars. These sugars are then eaten by the bacteria in your mouth. Unless you brush or floss them away, these bacteria consume the sugar & excrete a waste product in the form of acid. This acid is what eats holes in your tooth enamel & the softer dentin layer underneath, causing cavities & tooth decay.

Children should see the dentist when their first tooth comes in or by age 3, whichever comes first. That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be caring for your baby’s oral health before then. After feeding, you can clean your baby’s gums by rubbing them gently with a damp washcloth.

Tell us! The last thing we want is for you to be uncomfortable in silence. Knowing that you are a nervous patient helps us prepare properly for your appointment. There are steps we can take to make you more comfortable during your visit. We can take things slower & explain more about what we’re doing at each step. Sedation is also an option in some cases & we’d be happy to discuss it.

Ask questions. You will feel much better, and be able to make a better decision, if you understand the dental procedure that is recommended to you. Here are some tips when asking questions: 1. If you can see any pictures of the procedure; 2. How many times your dentist has done this procedure; 3. How much it will cost; 4. How long it will take; 5. If it will need to be redone in the future; 6. If there are alternatives. The final decision about how and when to proceed with any treatment is yours.

X-rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation that can pass through soft tissues but are absorbed by teeth and bone. Digital x-rays require up to 90% less radiation than conventional film-type x-rays. They allow the dentist to see potential oral health issues that may not be easily visible from the outside, such as cavities, tooth roots, bone health, and tooth positioning.

Dry mouth, also called xerostomia, is a condition where the body does not produce enough saliva, characterized by a dry & often sticky feeling in the mouth. Persistent dry mouth can lead to various long-term health issues, including mouth sores, cracked lips, increased plaque buildup & a greater risk of tooth decay & gum disease.

Local anesthesia is used to make a very small, specific area of your body temporarily unable to feel sensations, including pain. Examples of procedures requiring local anesthesia include fillings, crown placement & root canals. A local anesthetic works by blocking nerve cells in a specific area from sending pain signals to your brain. You can expect this numbness to last for two to four hours.

Early detection is key in the battle against cancer. Even if you don’t smoke, keep in mind that 25% of oral cancer diagnoses are for non-smokers. It’s important that every patient receive a simple & pain-free oral cancer screening. During your screening, your dentist will visually examine your mouth & surrounding areas, and may use specially designed lights to highlight potentially cancerous spots.

Tooth decay is a common illness that can lead to pain, abscesses, or tooth loss if left untreated. It is caused by bacteria in the mouth that consume sugars and excrete acid, which eats into tooth enamel and dentin. Preventing decay involves a healthy diet, thorough daily hygiene, and regular dental visits.

A mouthguard is a piece of moulded plastic in the form of an arch that fits over the top teeth. It protects the upper teeth from impacts, prevents top and bottom teeth from impacting each other, and protects soft tissues of the mouth. There are three types: ready-made, boil-&-bite, and custom. Custom sportsguards offer the most secure and comfortable fit.