Your Dental Care Playbook for The New Year

It’s the start of a new year for your teeth! Let’s make sure that 2022 is the best year yet for your oral healthcare. Whether you’re taking care of your own teeth, or you’ve got a little one that just got their first tooth, it’s important to stay on top of your dental information. That’s exactly why we’ve compiled this guide full of important tips and common dental terms to know about.

Dental Care For Adults

When it comes to taking care of adult teeth, the biggest challenge is simply sticking to good habits and keeping plaque at bay.

According to the ADA, adults should brush their teeth twice a day and floss at least once. In addition to this, some adults may opt for optional oral care products such as mouthwash, waterpiks, or braces/dentures.

Dental Check-Up

As far as dental check-ups go, the general recommendation is to see your dentist 1-2 times per year. These dental visits allow your dentist to look your teeth over for anything concerning. Your dentist may look for things such as cavities, holes, chipped teeth, irritated gums, as well as other warning signs of dental problems.

It’s important to see your dentist regularly as many oral problems can go unnoticed until the problem is advanced. For example, many cavities can’t be felt until they’ve already burrowed deep and caused significant damage to the tooth. So although it may seem tempting to put off those pesky dental visits, try not to do so.

Cosmetic Dentistry

A prevalent aspect of oral care for adults these days is cosmetic dentistry. Although it may not be immediately noticeable, a very large proportion of adults in the US now get dental work to improve the appearance of their teeth. In fact, according to Raconteur, a whopping 45 million Americans have had their teeth professionally whitened. This is largely because teeth whitening is an easy and quick fix, with lots of benefits. Not only does it allow you to feel more confident, but it positively affects the way that people perceive you in situations – both personally and professionally.

Dental Care For Children

Dental care does look a little different when it comes to kids. For starters, most children require some guidance when learning to brush their teeth. Keep in mind that small children are often not able to do a thorough brushing on their own, which can lead to frequent cavities.

Pediatric Dentist

We know that finding a new pediatric dentist for your little one can be a stressful task. It’s important to select a dentist that your child is comfortable with during those first few years of dental care. Fortunately, however, our team of pediatric dentists here at Snodgrass-King Dental is more than up for the task. Don’t believe us? Check out our reviews! Both children and adults alike, love their experience with us. Our team is filled with highly qualified dentists that do all that they can to provide swift, quality dental care.

Regardless of the dental office that you decide to go with, don’t forget to choose one well ahead of time. According to the ADA (American Dental Association), children should have their first dental visit within six months of their first tooth, and “no later than the child’s first birthday”.

Braces

As you probably already know, braces are one of the most common dental procedures for children. Some things you may not know about braces, however, are details such as cost, insurance coverage, options for braces, and length of treatment. Here is some basic information to get you started:

Cost – Generally speaking, braces can cost anywhere from $2,000 to $10,000. The actual price that you pay, however, heavily depends on what type of braces you get, and whether or not your dental insurance covers the procedure.

Options For Braces – The most common options for braces are metal, ceramic, lingual, and Invisalign. Metal braces are no doubt the most popular choice since they are typically the cheapest option.

Insurance – It’s very important to reach out to your insurance provider to ask about coverage for braces before you move forward with any procedures. Many dental insurance plans will provide at least partial coverage for braces for children. If however, your insurance doesn’t cover any orthodontic procedures, you may want to consider looking for secondary insurance. In the case that you do opt to enroll in a supplemental plan for orthodontia, make sure to call the insurance company to ask about the start date for the plan, and exactly which providers are in-network.

Dental Sealants

Another important term to be aware of when it comes to pediatric dentistry is sealants. Sealants are a very common procedure that involves applying a liquid sealant to the top of teeth and then using a special light to harden the sealant. This creates a hard shell that seals up small crevices and grooves that are normally hard to brush. This procedure is typically recommended for small children simply because their teeth are small and tend to have many of these crevices that can harbor bacteria and develop cavities. It’s an easy and very cost-effective way to prevent cavities from an early age.

Answers To Common Questions

Here are some answers to other common questions.

When Do Kids Lose Their First Tooth?

Generally speaking, most children begin losing their baby teeth at the age of six. This allows for your child’s permanent teeth to eventually start coming in. Some variation in loss of baby teeth is perfectly normal. If however, you notice that your child has begun losing baby teeth too soon (0-4 years of age), don’t hesitate to mention this to your child’s dentist.

What Are Wisdom Teeth?

Your wisdom teeth are the third set of molars found in the back of your mouth. These teeth are typically the last ones to come in, and most often erupt in your late teens or early twenties. Please note that some people have less than four wisdom teeth, and some have none at all. So don’t panic quite yet if you notice that your wisdom teeth haven’t come in yet, simply ask your dentist about them.

How To Get Rid Of Cavities?

The only way to get rid of a cavity is by visiting your dentist. Most of the time, a small cavity can be fixed with a simple filler procedure.

You should always get cavities treated as soon as possible, however. Letting a cavity fester only runs the risk of the cavity burrowing even deeper into your tooth.

How Much Is Teeth Whitening At The Dentist?

The exact cost of teeth whitening depends on a variety of factors, including the type of whitening procedure performed. Having said that, you can expect the average in-office whitening procedure to run you at least a few hundred dollars.

Do You Still Have Questions About Dental Care?

It’s always best to get your dental information from a verified source, so make sure you vet your sources before following any online advice. Of course, the best place of all for dental advice is your own dentist. Our dentists here at Snodgrass-King are more than happy to answer any of your or your child’s questions regarding oral care.

Snodgrass-King Dental also features a variety of helpful blogs on our website. These articles can answer all kinds of dental questions from the comfort of your home. Simply visit our blog page to browse all of our topics.

Looking For A Dentist In The Tennessee Area?

Whether you’re new to the Tennessee area, or simply looking to switch dentists, we’ve got you covered here at Snodgrass-King Pediatric and Family Dental. We offer dental services for all ages, from children to adults. Feel free to give us a call or contact us via our online form if you have any questions about the services that we offer.

You can also find a variety of great information on our website. For example, if you’re looking to schedule an appointment with one of our dentists, simply navigate to this page, and fill out our short form.

Once you request an appointment, we may ask you to fill out some forms before your visit. Fortunately, the New Patient Pre-Registration Forms can also be found on our website. We are more than happy to walk you through the forms, however, so don’t hesitate to reach out to us if you have any questions.

We look forward to seeing you at Snodgrass-King Dental!