Monthly, Dr. Frankel provides daily tips to the different radio stations to broadcast on air. Here are the 5 tips that you may have missed during the month of May.
#1.) Frankel Dentistry loves technology. One of the cutting edge pieces in our office is our CEREC machine. The CEREC machine is a device that can create a permanent crown perfectly formulated to fit your tooth in about an hour.
#2.) While flossing, be gentle. Guide the floss between your teeth using a rubbing motion. Don’t snap the floss into your gums. When the floss reaches your gumline, curve it against one tooth.
#3.) Know when to replace your toothbrush. Invest in a new toothbrush or a replacement head for your electric or battery-operated toothbrush every three to four months — or sooner if the bristles become frayed.
#4.) Pregnant? Be sure to schedule a dental appointment. While having a healthy mouth is always important, pregnancy can intensify dental problems. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can exaggerate the way gum tissue reacts to plaque, increasing the risk for gingivitis, the first stage of periodontal (gum) disease. Some studies have suggested that pregnant women with moderate-to-severe gum disease may be more at risk to give birth to low-weight or pre-term babies, who are at risk for many serious diseases.
#5.) Kids are always welcomed at Frankel Dentistry. Be sure to consider scheduling your child’s summer appointments now before the schedule becomes full. And don’t forget that all kids love drawing a special treasure from our toy chest after their visit!
Check out your dental practice before you become a patient. Ask for a tour of the office. What’s the vibe? Picture yourself visiting twice a year. Is this a place you could call home?
Look for clues. Smiling staff, happy patients, clean and fresh rooms and up to date equipment help define an office. Is the parking convenient? Are the hours convenient?
If it feels right, schedule an appointment.
Give it them straight, up front
Getting to know you is essential. Let your new dental home know why you left your previous dentist, what your initial concern is and any anxiety you anticipate.
Ask for options
Ask for options and the advantage of one over another. Do not be afraid to ask. Only you know your hesitation or desire.
Lend an ear
Okay, let’s get real. Someone actually went to dental school and has a specialized education. Listen to what your dentist has to say. Dental Assistants, Expanded Function Dental Assistants and Dental Hygienists also have a lot of training to guide you through your individualized care.
By the way, they will listen as well. Let your dentist and dental staff know when you feel something. Tell them about discomfort. Share when the bite feels off or if an area is a challenge to floss.
Make it a regular thing
This is a serious relationship. Don’t be a stranger. Visit at least every six months. It is better to catch small issues before they become big problems. As you know, a healthy mouth promotes a healthy body
Don’t stand up your dentist. You will be letting yourself down.
The connection between a healthy body and a healthy mouth has been well established. Heart disease, stroke, diabetes, low birth weights in babies, miscarriages even pancreatic cancer and Alzheimer’s disease have been linked to the heath of your mouth.
The first person you see at your regularly scheduled dental visit is usually a Registered Dental Hygienist. The dental hygienist is often associated with “just a cleaning”. Whether a periodontal patient on a schedule of every three months or a routine patient on a six month recare schedule check for more. Your hygienist is on a mission to gather data.
Top Five Screenings done by your Dental Hygienist
Health History Review
Changes in your medical history can dramatically change your oral health. Medications can cause dry mouth or lower your immune response to the bacteria that normally forms on your teeth. Additional aids such as natural healing gels or even at home fluoride treatments may be indicated. Sleep apnea and snoring can be treated with an oral appliance. Asthma treatments may also cause complications in the mouth. There are endless associations. Let your hygienist and doctor know every change or new medication you are taking even over-the-counter remedies such as aspirin, health supplements and vitamins. Include the dosage. It makes a difference.
Yes, your hygienist should be pulling your tongue. Checking the lymph nodes and muscles around the face and neck area, checking all the areas in the mouth including the lips, throat, sides, back and under the tongue are important diagnostic check points. Oral cancer rates have not dropped and early detection is key. The Oral Cancer Foundation, http://oralcancerfoundation.org, notes one person per hour, 24 hours per day dies in the US from Oral Cancer. These statistics can be lowered with earlier detection, diagnosis and treatment.
Restorative Screening
Taking digital radiographs or scans, using an intra-oral camera, the diagnodent (decay detecting device) and through a tactile and visual scan your hygienist checks for areas of disease, wear and decay. The condition of existing restorations will be noted along with any changes in previously restored teeth or in the way your teeth bite together. During the use of an intra-oral camera often the patient begins to point out areas of concern by themselves.
Periodontal Screening
The soft tissue survey includes checking digital radiographs and scans for bone loss, cysts, tumors and a constricted airway. The space between the gum tissue and the teeth will be measured and recorded in a process called periodontal charting (1-3 mm is considered within normal limits anything deeper simply can not be cleaned properly with a toothbrush or floss). The hygienist notes areas where bleeding occurs. Healthy gums do not bleed at all. Collection of information regarding the color and consistency of the gum tissue, recession of the gum tissue or mobility of the teeth completes the data collection.
