Patient Center

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends a child be seen by a dentist for the first time when their first tooth appears or no later than their first birthday. This allows us to build a relationship with you and your child and to make sure everything is developing normally. We can also answer any questions you have and recommend ways to ensure your child’s future dental health. We recommend your child continue dental care with a cleaning and exam every 6 months.

The American Dental Association recommends seeing your dentist every 6 months. We recommend you have a dental exam and cleaning every 6 months and x-rays once a year. This allows us to address a problem when it’s small and is easier to fix. If you have periodontal disease or other health conditions such as diabetes or dry mouth, you may be seen every 3 months for a cleaning to maintain good oral health.

We recommend you brush your teeth a minimum of 2 times per day, once in the morning and once at night right before going to bed. You should brush for 2 minutes each time with fluoride toothpaste to strengthen your teeth.

Bad breath is known medically as halitosis and it can have many causes. Poor oral care is a major contributor to halitosis. Every time you eat there are food particles that remain in your mouth. Your saliva starts the break down process on these food particles which can cause odor. Periodontal disease, sometimes referred to as gum disease is caused by hardened plaque adhering to teeth, this plaque contains bacteria which also gives off strong odors and causes bad breath. Smoking and using smokeless tobacco are other causes of bad breath. Tobacco can make your mouth dry and irritate gums and this makes bacteria in your mouth multiply rapidly causing halitosis. There are also medical conditions such as diabetes, respiratory tract infections, chronic sinus infections, acid reflux, and kidney and liver problems which can also cause halitosis.

Flossing cleans the area in between teeth where your toothbrush can’t reach. When food remains in between your teeth your saliva starts to break down the food and this can lead to bad breath, decay between your teeth, and irritated gums.

Always tell your dentist all the medications you are taking before having a tooth removed. We will go over the potential complications and risk of having a tooth removed and answer any questions you might have. We will also inform you how to care for the extraction site after the tooth is removed.

Some stain can be easily removed with a dental cleaning. Other stain is deeper within the tooth and requires bleaching to be removed. Light stains often respond well to at home bleaching procedures, while darker and deeper stains often require a stronger in office treatment. Some stain may be resistant to bleaching and will require veneers or crowns to change the color of the teeth.

Oral cancer often presents as a non-healing sore. Tobacco use is a leading cause of oral cancer. Other causes of oral cancer include excessive sun exposure, family history of oral cancer, and excessive consumption of alcohol. The fastest growing form of oral cancer is related to the human papilla virus.