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Signs Your Child May Have a Dental Problem

Examining your child’s mouth isn’t easy! Their bone structure is still developing, and they might have difficulty opening wide—if they don’t, you’ll probably need a flashlight and a dental mirror for examination. 

Your Portland dentist, Dr. David Case of Family Dental Health, is equipped with a comfortable dental chair for them to lean back in, an illuminating overhead light, intraoral cameras, and x-ray imaging that helps us get an accurate picture of the condition of their teeth, gums, jawbone, and tongue.

However, if your child is experiencing any dental issue, such as gum disease, a tongue tie, or tooth decay, there are telltale signs you’ll notice, such as your little one avoiding eating or drinking because of sensitive teeth.

Physical Cues

Young children may not be able to verbally express that they’re experiencing pain, but if they’re drooling, rubbing their faces, having trouble sleeping, or even acting out angrily, bringing them to Family Dental Health is a good idea. We can talk more with you about the most common dental symptoms that indicate trouble and explain potential causes.

If you’re concerned for any reason about your child’s dental health, don’t hesitate to contact Family Dental Health! We’re here to ensure your little one’s smile doesn’t cause them pain.

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Does My Child Have to Have a Shot to Get Dental Work?

No one of any age gets shots in their mouth for fun, and fear of needles (trypanophobia) is a documented condition. Children may fear shots because they seem so unfamiliar, with a fear of potential pain. Does your child have to have a shot to get dental work? It will depend on the procedure being done, and what Family Dental Health advises.

Pain relief methods that do not require a shot include:

• Topical anesthetic alone numbs the gums enough for most children to tolerate dental work.
• Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) can relax a child but isn’t appropriate for all kids.
• Oral sedation may be effective pain relief for young children receiving extensive care.
• Laser therapies can eliminate the need for shots. 

Some other ways to calm a child who fears shots:

• Demonstrate a small pinch on their arm to show how a shot could feel, substituting words like “sleepy juice” and “tickling your teeth” that seem less scary. Don’t lie about pain— but avoid horror stories!
• Have the child meet the dentist at a separate appointment where no dental work is being done so they can meet the staff, ask questions, and get more comfortable with our office at Family Dental Health.

If you have any questions or concerns, we’re happy to help! Get in touch with Family Dental Health today.

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Questions to Ask at a Back-to-School Dental Visit

Some schools require a back-to-school dental visit, but even if yours doesn’t, right before school starts is a good time to schedule one of your child’s regular checkups. Family Dental Health can take care of any problems so your child won’t have to miss class after school starts, and if oral hygiene routines got a little lax over the summer, Family Dental Health can help get kids back on track.

Here are a few questions to ask at your child’s appointment:

• How is my child’s overall dental health?
• Will my child get a cleaning today? 
• Does my child need an x-ray?
• Do you recommend sealants?
• Can you check my child’s mouthguard?

These questions cover all the bases for general dental health and safety. A mouthguard will be checked for wear, tear, and fit in case a replacement will be needed, while sealants can help prevent cavities in permanent molars. A professional cleaning picks up where brushing and flossing leave off to give your child a nice bright smile to begin their school year.

If you need to schedule a dental checkup for your child at any time of year, give Family Dental Health a call today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

A Deeper Dental Cleaning: Scaling & Root Planing

Teeth are typically the first thing that comes to mind for people when they hear the words dentist or dentistry, which makes sense—the root word dent actually means tooth! However, your teeth require healthy gums to hold them in place. 

Did you know gum disease is the leading cause of adult tooth loss? That’s why we need to examine your gums just as thoroughly as your teeth, and for you to remain diligent about your oral hygiene routines and cleaning visits with your Portland dental team at Family Dental Health.

If You Have Gum Disease

First, know that you’re not alone. Nearly half of adults in the U.S. over the age of 30 experience chronic periodontitis (the advanced stage of gum disease, which starts as gingivitis). Gum disease can be treated, and one of our first steps might be scaling and root planing.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule a visit with Dr. David Case to ensure your teeth and gums are in good shape, contact Family Dental Health today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Mouthwash: More Harm Than Good?

At Family Dental Health, we know a lot of people feel they’re adding a layer of tooth decay and gum disease prevention to their oral hygiene routines when they swish with mouthwash—which may be true, but it depends on the mouthwash. If you floss and brush properly, mouthwash isn’t always necessary, and certain types could even be harmful to your oral health.

Think about it this way: do you take antibiotics when you don’t have an infection that requires them? Like antibiotics, certain mouthwashes can kill beneficial bacteria and either create or aggravate problems.

It’s All About the Ingredients

One of the conditions that can be exacerbated by mouthwash is dry mouth, and it’s usually due to the alcohol content many of them carry. Do you know that burning feeling that makes it feel like it’s working? That’s the alcohol, and it’s doing more harm than good. 

If you have any questions or concerns about this topic or any other oral health subject, contact Family Dental Health today. We love staying in touch with our dental family!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

CariFree®: Oral pH in Balance

CariFree® is a revolutionary dental product line that balances the bacteria in your mouth for a healthier pH level. Once the chemical makeup inside your mouth is healthy and stable, CariFree products have been scientifically proven to prevent cavities. 

They also offer solutions for sensitive teeth and dry mouth, and xylitol gum in addition to gels, rinses and sprays that keep teeth and gums clean and healthy. Family Dental Health carries the CariFree product line because Dr. Case has seen so much improvement in the oral health of our patients.

Cavities are caused by bacterial and acidic imbalances in the mouth, but when dentists fill cavities, only the result of the imbalance is being treated—the actual imbalance is not addressed at all. 

Until quite recently, it was believed that favorable oral hygiene removed bacteria and eliminated decay from the mouth—but it’s more complicated than that. The elevated pH of CariFree products neutralizes decay-causing acids, solving the problem at its source.

If you would like to find out more about CariFree products or ask any questions about the oral-systemic link to wellness, contact Family Dental Health today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Is it Time to Toss that Toothbrush?

When you find a toothbrush that’s just right for you, it can be easy to get attached. After all, you use your toothbrush morning and night (ideally) to prevent plaque and bacteria from hardening and becoming tartar—that’s what we like to call quality time! 

When your toothbrush does so much good, you want to return the favor, so throwing it out every three months can seem like a betrayal. What if it were your toothbrush that betrayed you, though? 

Learning to Let Go

Bad jokes aside, it’s important to replace your toothbrush seasonally (at least). Want to know why? First of all, your toothbrush bristles will inevitably become worn down over, and frayed, worn bristles just won’t get the job done. Second, old toothbrushes can be breeding grounds for bacteria and pathogens, and you should always replace toothbrushes after an illness to prevent reinfection.

If you’d like advice on toothbrushes or anything else dental health-related, your Portland, OR dentist, Dr. Case at Family Dental Health, would be happy to hear from you! Contact Family Dental Health today, and schedule a visit to find out if your toothbrush is serving you well.

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

What Did My Dentist Just Say?

At Family Dental Health, education is paramount in our mission to help our Portland, OR friends and neighbors improve and maintain their oral health. For this reason, we try to avoid using dental jargon when we’re speaking with our valued patient family. 

However, there are terms that can’t be broken down as easily; in those cases, we’ll explain things in as much detail as you need to feel comfortable and confident in your care. Usually what we’re describing isn’t as complex as it sounds! 

That’s a Mouthful

As an example: alveoloplasty. That’s just the technical term for the surgical reshaping of your jawbone, often performed after extraction to prepare your mouth for a tooth or teeth replacement. Words (or abbreviations) you’ll hear more commonly include prophylaxis, scaling and root planing, TMJ, and bruxism. For a crash course on these words and more, check out this glossary.

If you have questions about the terms you see (or terms that didn’t make the list) and you’d like to talk about it over an appointment, please contact Family Dental Health today. Dr. Case loves talking all things oral health and sharing smiles with you!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Zirconia Crowns for Kids

Zirconia has been used in major medical procedures like hip replacement for many years due to its strength and biocompatibility. It took the dental industry until the early 2000s to catch up, beginning with adult dental procedures such as dental implants, root canals and dental crowns. In 2010, zirconia became available for use in pediatric dentistry. Family Dental Health outlines some benefits of zirconia dental crowns for kids below.

The use of white zirconia results in a durable and visually pleasing crown. As the strongest non-metal material available on the market for use in restorative pediatric dentistry, it has allowed kids to enjoy natural-looking dental solutions they can rely on for:

• Damaged, chipped, or broken teeth
• Abnormal tooth development
• Significant dental decay
• Damage from cavities in early childhood

Family Dental Health may choose a crown restoration to protect a compromised tooth from breakage that the process of filling a tooth may cause. Zirconia crowns don’t stain, chip, or break and are resistant to plaque and decay. 

If you have any questions about zirconia crowns for kids or would like to schedule an appointment, get in touch with Family Dental Health today!

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

Should I Let My Teen Whiten Their Teeth?

Do you remember feeling like standards of beauty were unattainable when you were a teenager? Heck, many of feel this way as adults! It makes sense that teenagers might be concerned with the appearance of their smile and pine for bright white smiles the same way adults do, because they’re often exposed to the same media that displays stunning smiles nonstop. 

There’s a lot to be said for defying those expectations, but if there were a simple, safe, and widely available treatment that could make a world of difference for your teen’s self-confidence, would you be ok with it? 

Your Dentist Can Help

If your teen has expressed that they’d like to have their teeth whitened, you might be inclined to gasp and reply, “Your smile is perfect as it is!” We understand, and at Family Dental Health, we do love how unique smiles are from person to person, and we want everyone to feel comfortable with their natural smile just as it is. 

However, maybe it can lead to a productive discussion and informed decision. First, there’s the question of whether teeth whitening is a suitable treatment for adolescents, and if it is, what type of treatment will be the most effective and economical. 

If you have any additional questions or would like to schedule a consultation with your Portland, OR dentist, Dr. Case, please contact Family Dental Health! We want all of our friends and neighbors to have healthy smiles they feel proud to share.

The content of this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.