eco-dental

Dental FAQs: How Often Should You See a Dentist?

Fri, 03 May 2019 11:53:47 GMT

We all know that we should see our dentists more frequently, but how often should you see a dentist? Find out which frequency is right.

Are you putting off seeing the dentist? Afraid they're going to scold you for not flossing often enough? Or do you not even realize that you're overdue for an appointment?

Dentists are in charge of more than just your pearly whites. They look at your gum health as well.

Don't know if you're overdue? Learn how often should you see a dentist below.

How Often Should You See a Dentist as An Adult?

Though almost no one follows through on this, you should see a dentist every six months in your adult years.

Most people don't know that and forget to schedule checkups on their oral health. But every six months is just an estimate. There are complications, lifestyle changes, and health risk that can increase the number of appointments you need per year.

We've listed some of them below.

Reasons to See the Dentist More Often

Think you should be seeing your dentist more than twice a year? You might be right if you fit into the following categories.

1. You're a Smoker

Smoking is terrible for your all-around health. Most people talk about how it affects your lungs, but it can degrade your teeth and gums too.

Smokers are more prone to a degenerative gum disease called periodontitis - which can get very painful.

Not only that but smoking can lead to mouth/tongue/ throat cancer , which a dentist can point out (and send you to a specialist for).

2. You Already Have Cancer

If you have and are being treated for cancer, it probably seems unfair that there's yet another appointment you need to go to. But you need to check in with the dentist during your treatment.

When you have cancer your immune system is weakened, which can lead to oral infections. The treatment process is also dehydrating, so you may be combating dry mouth.

Thankfully dry mouth, unlike cancer, is easy to treat.

3. You're Pregnant

If you're pregnant you probably feel the same way about appointments. In that, you really don't know if you can fit in another one.

But you need a pregnancy dental exam, usually only once during your pregnancy. Your dentist will check for gum inflammation from the pregnancy hormones .

That's called gingivitis - and it can develop into a more serious condition if not treated.

4. You Have Heart Disease

You know what are two seemingly unrelated health issues usually diagnosed together? Mouth or gum issues and heart disease.

If your dentist notices certain issues in your mouth, they can save you from having a heart attack, in the future. It's not a promise, but if you see the dentist regularly they can screen you for heart issues through your mouth.

If they notice anything suspicious they'll recommend you go see a heart specialist, who can give you an exam and any necessary treatment.

5. You Have Diabetes

People with diabetes are at a higher risk for oral health issues , like gum disease. You're also at a higher risk of developing oral fungal infections - which are about as fun as they sound.

Tell your dentist your diabetes diagnosis and ask them how often they'd like to see you.

6. You're HIV Positive

If you've tested positive for the HIV virus or it's developed into AIDS, you need to see the dentist. Your lower immune system puts you at risk of developing oral infections.

You may also have faster tooth decay than other non-HIV positive people.

7. You're in Pain

If you're having issues with your teeth or gums, don't wait for your next scheduled appointment. Try to figure out what the root of the issue is - like if you flossed too aggressively and gave yourself sore gums.

If it's something that won't go away on its own (like sore gums from over flossing) go see the dentist! It's better to be safe than sorry when it comes to your teeth.

If a tooth or an implant feels loose, don't delay - sometimes we can save the tooth - but only if we catch it early enough.

8. You've Experienced Face Trauma

If you ate it at the skate park or just fell and hit your head/face, you should probably come in. Especially if you hit your chin or lower cheek.

That impact could have damaged your teeth, cracking, chipping, or even loosening a few of them. See your general doctor (or go to the ER) first, though.

Your immediate health is more important than checking for cracked teeth (in that situation).

9. Newly Sensitive Teeth

If your teeth are sensitive to temperatures all of a sudden, you may have an enamel problem. Or it could be an issue with just one tooth.

A lot of oral pain radiates around the mouth.

Either way, you need to come to see the dentist. Pretty much any acute and noticeable change is a good reason to give us a call.

Our staff is trained, so they'll be able to tell you if your issue is worth making an appointment or not.

How Often Do Children Need to See the Dentist?

Children need to see their dentist every six months or so as well. Usually, we don't see an issue with parents bringing their children in twice a year.

We do see parents bringing their child in late, though. Just because your child doesn't have teeth yet doesn't mean their oral health isn't important.

Your child should see a dentist before their first birthday, then every six months after that.

Picking Your Family Dentist

Now that you know how often should you see a dentist, you need to find one you like. That means someone that can take care of both you and your children at the same appointment (or at least in the same office).

We'd like to be that dentist for you. We're trained in children's dentistry and we love working on mini-smiles.

Need more information? Here's why you should trust our dental training .

Just Chillax! The 8 Benefits of IV Sedation Dentistry

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 18:30:34 GMT

If you have a mortal fear of the dentist, then IV sedation dentistry might just be for you. Learn about the benefits of this practice.

Most people get at least a little bit nervous when they walk into their dentist's office. But for those who suffer from a condition called dental phobia (also known as dental anxiety), it can be almost impossible for them to deal with the idea of a dentist working on their teeth.

There are more than 30 million Americans who have dental phobia, and unfortunately, many of them have stopped seeing their dentist altogether because of the fear they feel. This puts them at a higher risk for gum disease, tooth loss, and more.

IV sedation dentistry is here to help. This type of dentistry relies on the use of advanced sedatives and IV drips to help people relax when they visit a dentist . Here are 8 of the main benefits that come along with IV sedation dentistry.

1. Starts Working Right Away

It doesn't take people who have dental phobia very long to start feeling anxious when they enter a dentist's office. All they need to hear is one drill sound and they'll want to start running to the door.

The first big benefit of IV sedation dentistry is that it provides quick relief to these people. They'll often be escorted directly to a chair and numbed up with a topical cream before receiving an IV drip containing a sedative.

This will make the patient feel calm and comfortable within just a few minutes of walking into their dentist's office. It doesn't give them time to worry about what's going to happen during the procedure that's going to take place.

2. Reduces Anxiety in Patients

Going to the dentist makes some people feel anxious because they're worried about what might happen during their dental procedure.

Will it hurt? Will there be blood? Will the dentist find something that they weren't expecting to find?

These kinds of questions race through the mind of someone suffering from dental phobia. And before long, they're terrified to even think about sitting down in a dentist's chair.

IV sedation dentistry eliminates all these questions and puts people's minds at ease during their trip to the dentist's office. Once the sedative that they're given kicks in, their mind will slow way down and they won't feel anywhere near as anxious as they did before.

3. Allows Dentists to Work in Peace

Dental phobia doesn't just affect the person who has it. It also affects the dentist who has to try to get the person to relax enough so that they can work on them and perform whatever procedure needs to be done.

With IV sedation dentistry, dentists don't have to struggle so much while working with patients who are consumed with fear and anxiety during dental procedures. They're free to work in peace once a patient has been given an IV sedative to calm down.

4. Gives Dentists Time to Perform Numerous Procedures

A person with dental phobia usually struggles to sit through one dental procedure at a time, much less several dental procedures at once. As a result, these patients often have to come back to their dentist several times to have procedures done one by one.

This isn't the case anymore thanks to IV sedation dentistry. Sedations provides dentists with the opportunity to perform a bunch of dental procedures at once so that they don't have to go back in and do more later. This cuts costs for patients and results in a lot fewer visits overall.

5. Leaves Patients With No Memory of Procedures

Some people are scared to go to the dentist's office because they remember dental procedures they've had done in the past. Those procedures scarred them to some degree and made them fearful of returning to see their dentist again.

Most of the patients who utilize IV sedation dentistry don't have to worry about this because they have no memory of the procedures they have done after receiving an IV sedative. This means that they're not as afraid to go back to the dentist in the future.

6. Helps Those With a Sensitive Gag Reflex

IV sedation dentistry can help more than just those who have dental phobia. It can also help anyone who has a sensitive gag reflex that causes them to feel like they're going to choke when a dentist is working on their teeth and gums.

An IV sedative will allow these people to relax without feeling like they're going to gag every time they open their mouth wide for the dentist. It provides them with some much-needed relief from their gag reflex.

7. Leads to Improved Oral Health

When dentists are able to work on their patients through the use of IV sedatives, it enables them to clean their teeth , fill cavities, perform root canals, and more. This leads to a dramatic improvement in oral health for those with dental phobia.

8. Encourages People to Return to the Dentist

Those who have dental phobia might not ever circle the date of their next dentist's appointment on the calendar and look forward to it. They'll always feel some sense of anxiety any time they know a trip to the dentist's office is on the horizon.

But IV sedation will make them slightly less fearful of the dentist overall, which will encourage them to go back to the dentist regularly moving forward. That alone is a huge win for both patients and dentists everywhere.

Give IV Sedation Dentistry a Try Today

Do you have a hard time working up the nerve to walk into your dentist's office every six months? IV sedation dentistry should give you some hope for the future as far as your oral health is concerned.

You won't freak out anymore when you know you have an appointment coming up. You'll also be more open to some of the dental procedures that you've been putting off over the last few years.

If you want to learn more about what IV sedation is all about, we're here to help you. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.

Tooth Extraction: The Top Signs a Tooth Extraction is Needed

Wed, 16 Jan 2019 00:00:00 GMT

When does a tooth need to be extracted? Read on to learn the top signs a tooth extraction is needed.

Dental problems can be the bane of our existence. It’s no secret that teeth issues are painful and can even debilitate your ability to be productive.

If your teeth have trauma, crowding or disease, it only means one thing. You need a dental extraction.

Up to 40% of Americans aged 20–64 think their teeth are below good or poor. Once your dental health starts to fail, this means you might need a tooth extraction.

Even then, not everything you feel in your mouth means you need something extracted. What are the top signs that tell you need tooth extraction care?

We have a helpful guide that can teach you the signs when you need a dental extraction. Here they are.

Understanding The Need For Dental Extractions

Except in emergency events, tooth extraction care is only possible through the recommendation of your dentist. Before you get a tooth extracted, you would want to have extensive tests done. This is because improper extractions may worsen the situation if you don’t do it right.

This is the reason why you would want consistent visits with your dental health provider. If they can give you early warnings, you would have less of a need for procedures like this. Many early-stage issues are resolvable without much hassle.

There are many possible reasons that you may get a procedure. The tooth extraction cost will vary on the complexity of the case.

1. Overcrowding and Impaction

Overcrowding is one of the standard causes of dental extraction. In many events, your teeth grow to a point where there’s not enough space. There’s also a point where your dentist preps your mouth for orthodontia.

In orthodontia, the end goal is to create enough space to adjust your teeth. If there is zero space, this is impossible. It will then lead to removal, which then goes to tooth extraction healing.

At the same time, impaction can be a problem as well. Impaction is the inability of the teeth to grow out of the gums.

Tooth impaction is painful. You can only get relief from surgery and getting the tooth extracted.

2. Periodontal Infections

Here’s another possible reason your dental service provider performs tooth extraction care. You have an infection on your teeth and gums.

If you have any type of periodontal disease that creates a lingering infection or illness, you need the procedure as soon as possible. This is regardless of the tooth extraction cost.

In events of severe infection and decay, you must act fast. You might need to have the tooth extracted if it does not respond to medication.

In severe gum diseases, you may also have the root damaged. This will also lead to your tooth’s extraction.

The people who are most affected by periodontal issues are patients. Those that have their immune systems compromised become a problem. This includes people under chemotherapy, organ transplantation or has autoimmune diseases.

This means tooth extraction healing is preventative. It’s there to keep the health of the patient secure.

3. Physical Damages

If there are severe physical damages to your teeth, getting it extracted is a top priority. Damage by disease or trauma may be the only option.

Signs You Need Your Teeth Extracted

When looking for the signs that you need some dental extraction, there are common issues.

Since dental extraction happens to people with wisdom teeth, we need to address something first. If the wisdom teeth do not show signs of discomfort, it may not need extraction.

Some of the signs may include the following.

1. Severe Tooth Pain and Aggravated Pressure

Severe tooth pain is common in cases where there might be impaction. Because of the tooth pushing on flesh and other teeth, the pain will be sharp. It will radiate across the affected area.

The pain may also worsen as you chew. You’re putting pressure on the tooth, which the tooth extraction healing will relieve.

2. Jaw Pain and Stiffness

Jaw pain and stiffness is something indicative of a possible infection or damage. Many jaw pains relate to swelling on the gum line. This can even be a lingering disease that reduces mobility on your jaw joint.

In this regard, swelling is another sign that you need to have a tooth extracted. The swelling will happen as the roots are radiating the pain on your teeth’s root.

3. Gum Infection

As with any possible tooth issue, the presence of gum infection may lead to the need for extraction. You would want to consult your dental professional and even make sure there are other issues present.

What to Expect with Tooth Extraction Care

When it comes to dental extractions, there are a few things that you should expect. Modern techniques allow for removals to be simpler than ever. If you don’t want to be awake during the procedures, you can opt for various sedation options.

Many types of tooth extraction care can be painless, depending on the case. The pain should not be more than a tooth filling. Relief is possible with necessary painkillers, including acetaminophen and mefenamic acid.

When it comes to tooth extraction healing, it will take no more than a couple of weeks. It has no complications most of the time, with only infections giving issues. Even in many cases, you will feel relief in the first 24 to 48 hours.

You wouldn’t want to perform heavy oral activities during that time like heavy chewing and crushing ice. At home, ice packs are good for relief, together with oral rinses. Food intake should have limits.

Complete tooth extraction healing will happen in at least a month, up to two months for some cases. You would also expect a restoration plan from your healthcare provider, as well.

What Do You Do When You Need Tooth Extraction

When it comes to tooth problems, having a tooth extracted is one of the standard procedures you will get. If you are having pain, stiffness or infection, it’s advisable that you consult your dentist soon.

Tooth extraction is now a comfortable, generally hassle-free procedure with many options for you. Pick which one you’re comfortable with, and you’ll be ok.

Are you looking for a great dentist in the Stockton, California area? Do you need a dental care provider with friendly and easy to access service? What you need is East Chapman Orange Dental. From tooth extractions to cosmetic dentistry, consult with us at East Chapman Orange Dental . We’ll make sure to take care of your dental needs.