The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends bringing your child to the dentist before his or her first birthday. At this initial visit, the dentist will:

• check your child’s teeth for decay and signs of early developmental problems;
• explain how to care for your child’s teeth; and
• answer any questions or concerns you might have.

Children should see a dentist every six months. To help your child develop a positive attitude about the dentist:

• Take your child with you when you go in for a checkup so he/she can get used to the office and its staff.
• Avoid using negative words such as “needle” and “hurt.”
• “Play dentist” to familiarize your child with what takes place during a visit.
• Ask your dentist how he or she explains procedures to children.
• Answer your child’s questions honestly and sensitively.

Caring for an infant’s teeth

Cleaning a child’s teeth should begin when the first tooth is visible, because teeth are susceptible to decay as soon as they appear in the mouth.

Wipe the baby’s teeth and gums clean after every feeding with a soft, damp washcloth or gauze pad. A leading cause of tooth decay among young children is known as “baby bottle syndrome.” When an infant is allowed to drink from a nursing bottle containing milk, formula or fruit juice during nap time or at night, the baby often falls asleep with the bottle in his or her mouth. Exposure to the sugars and acids in these liquids that pool around the teeth can cause discoloration and decay.

Since breast milk contains sugar, decay also can occur when a baby falls asleep while breast-feeding. To prevent damage to the teeth, clean your child’s teeth after each feeding and, if necessary, give him or her a bottle filled only with water at bedtime or during a nap.

Eating and drinking habits are key to healthy teeth

Studies have shown that children who drink fluoridated water from birth have up to 65 percent fewer cavities, and by the time they become teenagers, many of them still have no tooth decay.

If you live in a community without a fluoridated water supply, you can make sure your kids get their fluoride by using tablets, drops or gel and by having topical fluoride treatments applied at the dental office (to check whether your drinking water contains fluoride, call your local water company or health department). Using a fluoride toothpaste and mouth rinse is also effective.

A balanced diet is also an important contributor to healthy teeth and gums. Children especially need calcium, which helps build strong teeth. Good sources of calcium are milk, cheese and yogurt. Research shows that eating cheese after meals seems to inhibit the effects of decay-causing acids. Avoid snacks containing sugar or starch.

By age 3

Children should be brushing their own teeth under adult supervision. Only a pea-sized amount of toothpaste is necessary. Start flossing your child’s teeth daily when all the primary teeth are in or when teeth are touching each other.

By age 8

Children should be able to brush and floss by themselves, with occasional checks. Turn brushing and flossing into a daily routine — make it fun by giving your child a colorful toothbrush and bubble gum-flavored floss.

With a parent’s guidance and proper personal and professional care, children have a good foundation for maintaining healthy teeth.

“This study substantiates the basics taught to dental school students that diet is an important part of proper oral health,” says Marilynn Belek, DMD, chief dental officer and senior vice president for Delta Dental.

The easiest way parents can help children prevent tooth decay and cavities at school, Dr. Belek says, is to monitor their eating habits. For example, parents can offer their children healthy snack alternatives such as apples, bite-size carrots or other foods that are naturally sweet, and instruct children to avoid candies, chocolate, caramels, soda, chocolate milk and other foods that contain refined sugar. Cavity-causing organisms feed on sugar and turn it into acid, which attacks tooth enamel and causes tooth decay. Sticky, chewy candy especially can linger on teeth throughout the day. If children do happen to eat sugary snacks at lunch, they should brush and rinse with water or eat a piece of fruit to help clean teeth surfaces and gums.

Dr. Belek also encourages parents to find out what their child’s school lunch program offers. “If programs do not offer healthy alternatives, talk to the school about incorporating healthy lunches or snacks,” she adds.

Finally, parents should consider professionally-applied sealants as another way to protect children’s teeth from cavities. Sealants, a thin coating of bonding material applied over a tooth, act as a barrier to cavity-causing bacteria. They can be put on as soon as the child’s first permanent molars (back teeth) appear.

Our dental rooms also each come equipped with a television where you can watch a movie while your teeth are worked on. Our dentists make sure you are comfortable and at ease with your visit. You’ll never be rushed or pressured into unnecessary dental work. Our staff is friendly and helpful and can answer any of your questions.

The dental equipment at Cheyenne Dental Group is the latest technology available. Our digital X-ray machines are in every dental room, allowing you to remain comfortable while your teeth are inspected. Those who are curious about the condition of their teeth can view their X-rays on a conveniently located monitor where your dentist can point out areas that could use more attention.

At Cheyenne Dental, your trips to the dentist will be something to look forward to. Our unrivaled service, helpful staff, top-of-the-line dental care, and comfortable patient amenities make our offices the best all around. Make an appointment today for a dental experience like no other.

Think of it this way: if you visit the dentist twice a year, then decay and gum disease won’t be able to grow for more than six months at a time. This is usually plenty of time for your dentist to reverse their effects and restore your teeth to their original healthy and beautiful state.  To find out more about our Las Vegas Dental Practice, click here.

To all those college students who are leading their own lives now, be smart and be careful!  Being away from parents and living on your own can quickly lead to all sorts of bad habits, such as staying up too late, drinking too much, and smoking cigarettes.

You’ve made it to college and you’re now an adult, so why not try a little self-discipline?  Your oral health can be significantly damaged by consuming too many soft drinks, skipping out on brushing and flossing, smoking cigarettes, and grinding your teeth out of stress.  In fact, if you notice yourself grinding your teeth, we recommend trying a custom-fitted bite guard to protect your teeth while you (hopefully) sleep your recommended full eight hours each night.

Good luck and stay safe in school!

Please visit Family Las Vegas Dentist to make an appointment today or call us: (702) 405-7400.

In Part I of this article, we talked about what constitutes a dental emergency and why it’s so important to have them treated immediately by an emergency dentist.  To sum things up, a dental emergency is any accident or event that causes noticeable damage or to your teeth.  This includes physical trauma, severe toothaches, and loosened or knocked out dental restorations (fillings, crowns, etc).  When these emergencies occur, you must know how to handle them or risk even more severe and/or permanent damage to your oral health.

The first thing to do when a dental emergency occurs is to try to solve the immediate problem.  There are many types of dental emergencies, so it may not be possible to know exactly what to do in each situation.  In this article, we’ll go over a few scenarios and explain how to handle each one.  The most common dental emergencies involve broken or knocked out teeth.  It’s important to know that severely injured teeth have only 15 to 30 minutes before they start to die.  If your tooth is broken, quickly rinse your mouth with warm water.  Then apply a cold compress to reduce swelling.  Once this is done, you must call your emergency dentist for an appointment.  If you can locate the broken pieces of your tooth, bring them with you to the dentist.

Believe it or not, knocked out teeth can actually be reattached as they are if done quickly and carefully.  Recover the knocked out tooth by holding it from the top (keep your fingers away from the root).  Do not rinse it or remove pieces of tissue from it.  Carefully try to re-insert the tooth from where it was knocked out in the mouth and hold it in place gently.  If you cannot do this, keep it hydrated in a cup of milk or water with a pinch of salt.  Whether or not you have been able to reattach it, call your emergency dentist and make an appointment.  Knocked out teeth are significantly more likely to be saved if seen by a dentist within an hour of the injury.

If you do not know for certain how to immediately handle a medical emergency, do not attempt to fix the problem on your own.  Always call an emergency dentist and find out what to do.  In medical emergencies, you know to dial 911.  With dental emergencies, your emergency dentist’s number is just as important to know and have available.  When you talk to your emergency dentist, it can help to tell them the answers to the following questions:

1. What is the dental emergency that you’re calling about?
2. How long ago did it occur?
3. Is there swelling?
4. On a 1-10 scale, how painful is it?
5. Is there any sensitivity to hot or cold sensations?
6. Are you taking any medications, antibiotics, or painkillers?

The more information the dentist has, the better they can help.  Once the situation is in the hands of your reliable emergency dentist, you’re already on your way to recovery.

Want to know more?  Ask us at: Las Vegas Pediatric Dentist

Have you ever been in an accident that knocked out or damaged one or more of your teeth?  Have you ever lost a dental crown or tooth filling?  Has a toothache ever been so painful that you simply could not eat?  These are, simply put, dental emergencies.  If they aren’t dealt with quickly, you could have a big problem on your hands (or more specifically, in your teeth)!  How long does one have to wait before they can see a dentist after making an appointment?  One week?  Two weeks?  A month?  By then, it will be too late.  You’ll have permanently lost that knocked out tooth, gotten that previously repaired tooth infected again, or gone hungry because you couldn’t eat with the pain.  Dental emergencies happen all the time, but you don’t have to suffer.

What you need is an emergency dentist.  These general and specialist dentists are the ones that are there for you when you need to get your dental problem taken care of immediately.  Whether it’s midday or midnight, emergency dentists are available to save your teeth right away.  In Part II of this article, you’ll learn what to do in a dental emergency and how to contact an emergency dentist for an immediate solution.

Want to know more?  Ask us  at: Las Vegas Pediatric Dentist

A crown is which covers completely the tooth or some time the dental implants are hidden by this process. Crowns are also often used for filling the cavities and the other health issues related to the tooth. They are made up of different materials and bonded to the tooth by dental cement. People think this process is only to enhance the looks but they are not only for this purpose but they also provide the strength and protection to the tooth that are being damaged.

There are many methods of crowning the tooth such as dental impression and indirect method. There are new technology for crowning which is computer aided design or computer aided manufacturing that are very efficient and quick with the perfectly the same results that old good technologies of crowning has been providing. This new technology can get you the crown in few hours that mean it saves your lot of time. Whereas other ways can cause you to go to dentist for many times because of the slow process of making the crown and then matching of the color. It requires a lot of patience because it is not important that it gives you perfect result in single go.

*Please call our office for details (702) 405-7400 or visit Las Vegas Cosmetic Dentist if you have any questions.

Maxillofacial Procedures – Dental implants, joint procedures, surgical oral reconstruction, and cleft palate procedures are some examples of maxillofacial procedures. These can range from minor corrections of mouth or jaw abnormalities to major surgeries.

Periodontal Treatment – Gums can become diseased if not properly cleaned regularly. Periodontal treatments are used to repair damage from gum disease and can include medicated mouthwashes, deep-plane scaling, and even surgery at later stages.

Laser Procedures – In many cases where a drill or other invasive equipment is required to perform a dental procedure, dental lasers can be used in their place. The functions of dental lasers are greatly varied and can assist in bonding, scaling, periodontal surgery, tooth whitening, and sleep apnea treatments.

*Please call our office for details (702) 405-7400 or visit Las Vegas Family Dentist if you have any questions.