Let’s face it: as parents, the same things that bring us our greatest pleasure — our kids, our spouses, our lives — also happens to take the greatest toll on us. As we age, it feels easy to let ourselves go. Life’s just too busy to keep up with everything, or so it seems that way. While you can relax in many areas of your life, your dental health must always be maintained. In this article, we cover five oral health services that every adult needs to stay healthy and upkept.

1. Routine Checkups and Cleanings 

While most insurance policies provide two dental checkups and cleanings, only a few patients take advantage of their coverage which leads to additional cavity and decay. Not getting dental checkups regularly lead to increased costs and tooth loss. To make an appointment today, visit http://www.digitaldentistryatsouthpoint.com and click on “Make An Appointment” to schedule it online. It is the ideal time to bring in the whole family for a full screening and dental workup.

• Cleaning: The first thing your hygienist will do is clean your teeth to remove any plaque buildup and tartar that collects around the gumline. The hygienist also uses floss to remove any hard-to-reach food particles or plaque. Polishing will remove any residue and give your teeth a smooth, consistent look that will deter plaque from collecting easily.

• X-rays: A hygienist will perform a visual exam and take X-rays of your teeth so that the dentist will know of any cavities or repair needs. Offices tend to have traditional X-ray imaging machines, CT scans or 3D digital technology.
• Exam: The dentist will look for issues like cavities, alignment, grinding, clenching, gumline abnormalities, tooth fractures, bone loss or oral cancer. Not only will you receive treatment, but you will have peace of mind that there are no indications that more serious dental issues are required.

2. Dental Fillings

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 91 percent of Americans have cavities that require fillings and 27 percent never receive treatment. When a dentist detects cavities during routine exams, a material is used to fill in the hole after a decay extraction occurs. Possible restoration includes inlays and onlays.

When a tooth suffers from cavities, disease or injuries, inlays and onlays restore them depending on where in the tooth it occurs. Inlays are used to restore the area located between the rounded perimeter in the middle and the cusps. Onlays are used for one or multiple cusps or bite when decay is too severe for fillings but not too serious that a patient requires a crown. Materials include resin and ceramics.

3. Cosmetic Enhancements for Health and Aesthetics

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, this type of aesthetic dentistry boosts self-esteem, attractiveness, health restoration, youthfulness and advances in social or business activities. Cosmetic dentistry also removes stains, discoloration or imperfections because of whitening and smile restoration practices. Procedures that promote health include:

• Tooth whitening: People tend to regularly consume foods and beverages that are sweet, caffeinated or acidic which causes discoloration. The staining will darken over time even with regular cleaning and proper dental care. Tooth whitening is one of the most sought-after cosmetic procedures and is widely available at most dental clinics.
• Crowns and bridges: Dentists use crowns made of porcelain, gold or a blend of materials to protect underlying natural teeth. Bridges are also used to replace missing teeth or the space between the natural teeth or implants. Porcelain is a commonly used material as it is durable and resistant to long-term staining. It is also commonly used for molars. The ideal candidate for crowns is someone who is not a candidate for fillings. Crowns are also used to protect the structural integrity of a tooth or for patients that have broken or chipped them. They also improve bits and prevent bacteria buildup. Some patients also opt for them as an aesthetic enhancement to improve their smiles.
• Implants: For patients who have lost teeth and want a more permanent solution, implants are the best solution as they restore tooth function and allow users to perform many of the actions that natural teeth do. Implants are different from dentures in that they are implanted directly to the jawbone, which connects them more securely. Patients prefer implants as they are natural-looking. You will also not have to worry about slippage or speech problems that sometimes occur with prosthetics.

• Veneers: Veneers, also called laminates, are used to enhance the appearance of the teeth aesthetically. Patients generally suffer from discolored, chipped, misshapen or misaligned teeth. Materials used include porcelain, ceramic or composite.
• Braces: Braces are used for alignment issues like crooked teeth, crowding, gaps, crossbites, underbites and overbites. Some patients qualify for Invisalign services, but more serious dental issues require the use of traditional metal bracket and bands.

4. Root Canals

A root canal treatment is performed when a dentist needs to save a tooth after the detection of infection or decay. Without medical treatment, the tissue within the tooth eventually becomes infected and abscessed, which causes pain and inflammation. The dentist painlessly removes the soft material inside the root canal called the pulp, cleans the area around the tooth’s nerve, disinfects, reshapes the root canal, and then uses a filling to seal the tooth. 

5. Cancer Screenings

The American Cancer Society estimates that 51,540 Americans will get oropharyngeal cancer while at least 10,030 will die from it. Their data shows that this cancer form is more prominent in males than females. Most cancer diagnoses occur on the mouth, tongue, gums, tonsils, oropharynx, salivary glands and roof and floor of the mouth. Thanks to dental examination and cancer screening technology, the death rates for this type of cancer has steadily declined over the last three decades, which shows that dental detection and prevention are vital for parents.

For busy families today, prevention and early access to treatment will save money, starting when your child is a toddler. Access to top-notch dentistry will help give you and your family members confidence because of your beautiful, healthy smiles.

5 Oral Health Services Every Parent Needs

Let’s face it: as parents, the same things that bring us our greatest pleasure — our kids, our spouses, our lives — also happens to take the greatest toll on us. As we age, it feels easy to let ourselves go. Life’s just too busy to keep up with everything, or so it seems that way. While you can relax in many areas of your life, your dental health must always be maintained. In this article, we cover five oral health services that every adult needs to stay healthy and upkept.

1. Routine Checkups and Cleanings 

While most insurance policies provide two dental checkups and cleanings, only a few patients take advantage of their coverage which leads to additional cavity and decay. Not getting dental checkups regularly lead to increased costs and tooth loss. To make an appointment today, visit http://www.digitaldentistryatsouthpoint.com and click on “Make An Appointment” to schedule it online. It is the ideal time to bring in the whole family for a full screening and dental workup.

• Cleaning: The first thing your hygienist will do is clean your teeth to remove any plaque buildup and tartar that collects around the gumline. The hygienist also uses floss to remove any hard-to-reach food particles or plaque. Polishing will remove any residue and give your teeth a smooth, consistent look that will deter plaque from collecting easily.

• X-rays: A hygienist will perform a visual exam and take X-rays of your teeth so that the dentist will know of any cavities or repair needs. Offices tend to have traditional X-ray imaging machines, CT scans or 3D digital technology.
• Exam: The dentist will look for issues like cavities, alignment, grinding, clenching, gumline abnormalities, tooth fractures, bone loss or oral cancer. Not only will you receive treatment, but you will have peace of mind that there are no indications that more serious dental issues are required.

2. Dental Fillings

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 91 percent of Americans have cavities that require fillings and 27 percent never receive treatment. When a dentist detects cavities during routine exams, a material is used to fill in the hole after a decay extraction occurs. Possible restoration includes inlays and onlays.

When a tooth suffers from cavities, disease or injuries, inlays and onlays restore them depending on where in the tooth it occurs. Inlays are used to restore the area located between the rounded perimeter in the middle and the cusps. Onlays are used for one or multiple cusps or bite when decay is too severe for fillings but not too serious that a patient requires a crown. Materials include resin and ceramics.

3. Cosmetic Enhancements for Health and Aesthetics

According to the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, this type of aesthetic dentistry boosts self-esteem, attractiveness, health restoration, youthfulness and advances in social or business activities. Cosmetic dentistry also removes stains, discoloration or imperfections because of whitening and smile restoration practices. Procedures that promote health include:

• Tooth whitening: People tend to regularly consume foods and beverages that are sweet, caffeinated or acidic which causes discoloration. The staining will darken over time even with regular cleaning and proper dental care. Tooth whitening is one of the most sought-after cosmetic procedures and is widely available at most dental clinics.
• Crowns and bridges: Dentists use crowns made of porcelain, gold or a blend of materials to protect underlying natural teeth. Bridges are also used to replace missing teeth or the space between the natural teeth or implants. Porcelain is a commonly used material as it is durable and resistant to long-term staining. It is also commonly used for molars. The ideal candidate for crowns is someone who is not a candidate for fillings. Crowns are also used to protect the structural integrity of a tooth or for patients that have broken or chipped them. They also improve bits and prevent bacteria buildup. Some patients also opt for them as an aesthetic enhancement to improve their smiles.
• Implants: For patients who have lost teeth and want a more permanent solution, implants are the best solution as they restore tooth function and allow users to perform many of the actions that natural teeth do. Implants are different from dentures in that they are implanted directly to the jawbone, which connects them more securely. Patients prefer implants as they are natural-looking. You will also not have to worry about slippage or speech problems that sometimes occur with prosthetics.

• Veneers: Veneers, also called laminates, are used to enhance the appearance of the teeth aesthetically. Patients generally suffer from discolored, chipped, misshapen or misaligned teeth. Materials used include porcelain, ceramic or composite.
• Braces: Braces are used for alignment issues like crooked teeth, crowding, gaps, crossbites, underbites and overbites. Some patients qualify for Invisalign services, but more serious dental issues require the use of traditional metal bracket and bands.

4. Root Canals

A root canal treatment is performed when a dentist needs to save a tooth after the detection of infection or decay. Without medical treatment, the tissue within the tooth eventually becomes infected and abscessed, which causes pain and inflammation. The dentist painlessly removes the soft material inside the root canal called the pulp, cleans the area around the tooth’s nerve, disinfects, reshapes the root canal, and then uses a filling to seal the tooth. 

5. Cancer Screenings

The American Cancer Society estimates that 51,540 Americans will get oropharyngeal cancer while at least 10,030 will die from it. Their data shows that this cancer form is more prominent in males than females. Most cancer diagnoses occur on the mouth, tongue, gums, tonsils, oropharynx, salivary glands and roof and floor of the mouth. Thanks to dental examination and cancer screening technology, the death rates for this type of cancer has steadily declined over the last three decades, which shows that dental detection and prevention are vital for parents.

For busy families today, prevention and early access to treatment will save money, starting when your child is a toddler. Access to top-notch dentistry will help give you and your family members confidence because of your beautiful, healthy smiles.