Every member of your family needs a dedicated dental professional who is specialized in handling the oral health needs of each age group. Regular checkups, proper hygiene, and professional cleanings all contribute to a healthy and attractive smile. Whether it’s the parents, kids, or grandparents, everyone should visit the family dentist.
Children:
Pediatric patients require special treatment based on their oral development as well as their emotional stages. Family dentists are familiar with the evolving needs of young patients, who grow from no teeth to baby teeth to permanent teeth. They teach children how to properly care for their teeth and gums, and advise on the do’s and don’ts related to diet and safety. The dentist and staff are also well-trained on keeping children happy and engaged while in the dental office. Family dentists can make kids feel comfortable and confident in the dentist’s chair so they’ll have a positive dental experience for life.
Adults:
With adulthood comes challenges such as increased risk for gum disease, tooth loss, decay that may require root canal treatment, cavities that need replacement, and more. Even with good oral hygiene, normal wear and tear on the mouth can cause issues. That’s why regular checkups are important to catch problems early, plus professional cleanings to combat the signs of age and environment on the teeth. Issues like heart disease or diabetes are also more likely during the adult years, and can impact your oral health.
Seniors:
Older adults require regular dental care for their unique needs. Family dentists offer dental implants or dentures for missing teeth, and are experienced in dealing with dry mouth and other problems common with seniors. After having a long relationship with their family dentist, seniors are able to continue that into their later years so that they have the best oral health possible.
Our dental office is located in Shreveport
Family dentists are experts in treating patients no matter what their age or oral health. The goal of a family dentist is to care for every family member in one convenient location, so that each patient is comfortable and confident about visiting the dentist.
Young members of a family present unique issues when it comes to dentistry. Many children find dental offices scary and parents struggle to get necessary dental care for their kids. Family dentistry offers a calming and welcoming environment for children, often providing distractions like videos and games. Having the flexibility and expertise to work with kids is a great advantage of family dentistry, because learning to handle dental visits at a young age is a good start to a lifetime of dental success.
Dental professionals suggest that children begin seeing the dentist around their first birthday. Not only will the dentist check and treat the child’s oral health, the parents will be educated on proper dental care. They will learn how to help their children avoid cavities, gum disease, and other issues as more teeth erupt and the child’s mouth grows.
Family dentists treat pediatric patients, but they are also skilled in the oral health needs of adolescents. If kids grow up going to the dentist, they won’t be as nervous or frightened about instruments and procedures as they become more aware of treatment. Comfortable patients are much more likely to sit still during procedures. Also, family dentists are trained to recognize issues related to orthodontics as older children reach the age that orthodontic intervention might be necessary. Some family dentists practice orthodontics, and others refer patients to specialists.
Family dentists take care of mom and dad, and even grandma and grandpa, too. The whole family can enjoy seeing the same dental professionals in one office location, and establish a long-lasting relationship for everyone with their healthcare provider. Family dentists perform all sorts of dental procedures, so no one is left out in the specific needs that might affect certain age groups. Oral health should never be neglected, and family dentistry is a step in the right direction.
We look forward to seeing you in our Shreveport dental office
Problems with your mouth or teeth can occur suddenly. You might be injured playing a sport, eating, or even just while doing a seemingly harmless activity. You should know what types of dental problems are considered emergencies, and what to do while waiting to see your dentist. Quick action can make a big difference in saving a tooth, or limiting damage to your mouth or face.
What is considered an emergency?
Not every dental problem must be treated as an emergency, but some do require professional treatment as soon as possible. This includes a broken or knocked out tooth, lost crowns and fillings, severe toothache, infection, and injuries to the soft tissues of your mouth.
What should I do?
See your dentist as soon as possible to treat the problem and prevent further damage. Here are some steps to take if you experience any of the following common dental emergencies:
- Severe toothache – rinse your mouth with warm water and floss to remove trapped food.
- Swelling – apply a cold compress on the outside of the swollen area. Do not place any painkiller or aspirin against your gums, because it can burn your gum tissue.
- Chipped or broken tooth – if possible, save the piece that has broken off. Rinse both the piece and your mouth with warm water. If it is bleeding, hold gauze on the area. Apply a cold compress to relieve pain and reduce swelling.
- Lost filling – apply dental cement from your drugstore to fill the hollow area until you can see your dentist. Or, try placing a bit of sugarless gum into the area.
- Lost crown –try to replace the crown on your tooth and hold it in place temporarily with dental cement, denture adhesive, or toothpaste.
- Abscess – infections in your mouth can become abscessed, which is a serious condition. Rinse with warm salt water and see your dentist immediately.
- Soft tissue injuries – treat damage to your gums, cheeks, tongue and lips by rinsing with warm salty water. Hold gauze to the specific area to control bleeding, and hold a cold pack to the external area.
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It may be obvious when you’re in a situation that requires immediate treatment by a dentist. Perhaps you’re in immense pain, or you’ve had a tooth knocked out or bleeding that won’t stop. Examples like this make it easy to decide you need help right away, but sometimes it’s not as clear. What are some other problems that may require emergency dental treatment?
Cracked teeth
A cracked or fractured tooth is serious, and often means that the tooth has been damaged both on the inside and the outside. Many times the tooth can’t be saved. If your tooth is broken, schedule an emergency appointment immediately. Remember, a cracked tooth is different than a chipped tooth, which is not as serious. You can usually wait to see your dentist at the next available opportunity for a chipped tooth.
Lost fillings
Some lost fillings require immediate care to avoid worse issues. Fillings protect your tooth’s root from exposure, so if the filling falls out your root can be uncovered and cause intense pain. There is also increased risk for damage to your tooth’s structure, so seeing your dentist as soon as possible is suggested.
Lost crown
If your crown falls out, call your dentist for an appointment as soon as possible. Until you can see the dentist, try putting the crown back in place using an over-the-counter dental adhesive. Do not use any products like Super Glue. If the crown won’t stay in place, make sure you take it to your appointment with you so that it can be re-cemented correctly.
Abscess
If you have a painful swelling on your gum that resembles a pimple, it might be a serious condition called an abscess. It can damage gum tissue and teeth, as well as spread serious infection to your body. See your dentist immediately for proper treatment.
We look forward to seeing you in our Shreveport dental office
The importance of having a family dentist who can take care of every family member’s oral health needs can’t be emphasized enough. You can prevent cavities, gum disease, and even tooth loss by visiting your family dentist regularly. Not only that, your overall health and your appearance will also benefit.
Better oral health:
Regular examinations by your family dentist will check for problems like tooth decay and cavities. Gum disease is another oral health issue that your dentist will look for, so that it can be detected and treated early. Dental problems are much easier to handle when they are caught early, before they can advance to more serious stages which may even mean tooth loss. Your teeth will also have a thorough professional cleaning at dental visits, getting rid of unhealthy plaque and tartar. Children can begin visiting the family dentist around the first birthday, and checkups should continue throughout life.
Improved appearance:
In additional to advantages for your oral health, your smile will look more appealing when you maintain regular family dental visits. Your teeth will be in the best condition possible when you have examinations and cleanings as recommended. If you are interested in further treatment that your family dentist doesn’t specialize in, you may be referred to a cosmetic dentist or orthodontist.
Enhanced overall health:
You may not realize it, but seeing a family dentist does more than protect your teeth. Your overall health will be improved when you care for your oral health. Gum disease has been linked to health problems like heart disease, diabetes, strokes, and pregnancy complications. So your risk for these serious health problems may be decreased with regular visits to your family dentist. Another health problem that dental checkups can catch is oral cancer. Most dentists perform routine oral cancer screenings during examinations, so that your chances for recovery are much greater with early detection and treatment.
We treat patients from Shreveport and the surrounding area
The area of dentistry that provides preventative and restorative treatment for oral health needs for the whole family is called family dentistry. These types of dental practices deal with all age groups using a wide variety of treatment options.
Although similar to general dentistry, family dentistry does not restrict the practice to specific age groups. It addresses oral health issues at every stage of life, from baby teeth to permanent teeth. Children should begin regularly seeing a dentist around turning one year old, so what better way to start your child’s professional dental care by establishing care with the same dentist that the whole family sees? It is convenient to have everyone seeing the same dentist, and you can establish a long-lasting healthcare relationship for all of you.
One of the most important aspects of family dentistry is ongoing, consistent maintenance and preventative treatment. Experts recommend getting a dental checkup every six months for deep cleanings and routine examinations. This helps eliminate plaque buildup, a primary cause of tooth decay and cavities, and identifies any oral health issues that might be occurring even before symptoms develop.
Fluoride treatments are offered by most family dentists. This involves coating the teeth with fluoride to help prevent tooth decay. Dental sealants are another line of defense against dental issues that family dentists can provide. Other services that some family dentists offer include cavity filling, gum disease treatment, crowns, root canals, extractions, and orthodontics. Treatments offered completely depends on the family dentist and the associated practice. Make sure you ask questions and learn all about the practice before choosing a family dentist for your own family’s needs.
Our dental office is located in Shreveport
