According to the American Dental Association, we should begin taking our children to the dentist around the age of one. While one of the reasons for this may be to check that the teeth are developing normally, that is certainly not the only benefit. It also gives the child some experience with dentistry and the family dentist before it becomes associated with any pain or any unpleasantness that can sometimes accompany dental care.
In the Provo Orem area of Utah County we have a variety of dentists and dental care experts for a young family to choose from. While one family may choose to see a Pediatric Dentist for their young ones, another may prefer to see a family dentist that will care for the entire familys dental needs. With the high number of families in the Provo, Orem, American Fork, Saratoga Springs areas, most if not all dental care providers are proficient in all of the young family dental care needs. If there is a question, however, many Provo dentists are eager and willing to refer a young patient to a Pediatric Specialist, if they feel one is required.
All over Utah County as in Provo, it is recommended that we make an appointment every six months for a regular dental check-up, to ensure that our teeth and gums are healthy. Some Provo dental offices are diligent on trying to contact patients when this time is approaching, either by mail or by phone calls. This can be an added benefit from your dental care provider, as so many of us with a young family are busy and have a hard time keeping up on all the dentistry recommendations. Having a dentist contact us, can take that one to-do item off of our list.
A six month check-up appointment usually includes Dental x-rays of the teeth and a thorough exam by the dentist. Dental x-rays are pictures of the teeth and bones. These are used by the dentist to find problems with the teeth and mouth that cannot be seen visually. The dentist wants to make sure that our teeth are developing properly, as we grow, and to check for any cavities.
Also, a cleaning will be done by the office Dental Hygienist using special dental tools. Then, depending on the area that we, as patients, live, there may be a need for a fluoride treatment. The city, Provo, Orem, American Fork, Saratoga Springs and any other city in Utah County all add fluoride to their water systems in differing amounts. It is wise to know the amount of our citys fluoride before going to our dental appointment and receiving a dental check-up.
Fluoride is a natural element found in the earth as well as in water and air. It is a nutrient that our bodies need to grow and develop properly. Years ago, it was discovered that kids who lived where fluoride was more prevalent in their drinking water had fewer cavities in their teeth. In the mid-1940s, communities started to put more fluoride in their water supplies to protect people against tooth decay. The Fluoride mixes with tooth enamel, that hard coating on our teeth, and protects against plaque build up and decay of our teeth.
Plaque builds up on and coats our teeth. It allows bacteria to grow over time. When plaque is allowed to remain on our teeth, it can cause decay, or cavities, to form. This is one of the reasons our family dentist, in Provo, is so adamant that his patients brush their teeth twice a day. It is so vital. That plaque needs to be removed every day to ensure protection from that bacterial growth. Brushing teeth cannot accomplish this alone, however, as our Provo dental care specialists are quick to admonish. Flossing is crucial to a successful daily teeth cleaning regime. Flossing removes food particles between our teeth that a brush cannot reach. Our Dentist wants his patients to understand the difference they can make on their overall dental health care.
Our Provo dental staff office services all of our general dentistry needs, including cosmetic dentistry, crowns, porcelain veneers, root canals, sedation dentistry, teeth whitening, and even varying parts of dental implants
Cosmetic Dentistry
While general and/or family dental services concentrate on required dental treatments, those necessary to maintain overall oral hygiene and dental health care, Cosmetic dentistry dental focuses on improving the appearance of a person's teeth, mouth and smile, or what some may consider elective treatments and services. Services that may fall under the Cosmetic Dentistry umbrella would be porcelain veneers and teeth whitening.
Porcelain Veneers
Porcelain veneers are bonded to the surface of a tooth to correct and repair chips and cracks. Porcelain veneers are also used to close excess gaps between teeth. They can also cover an uneven surface or severe tooth discoloration. Porcelain veneers may also be used if teeth whitening has not given the desired result.
Teeth Whitening
Teeth whitening is a very common cosmetic dentistry procedure. It is actually a bleaching of the teeth and can enhance the appearance of a smile. Teeth can become stained from smoking, food, drink, or even poor oral dental hygiene. Teeth whitening can restore teeth back to an original shade of whiteness.
Root Canal
Inside a tooth there are one or more channels that go down the length of each root. These channels are called root canals or pulp chambers. These root canals contain the pulp, or nerves of our teeth. If infection gets into the nerve of a tooth, then it will require root canal therapy. A root canal may need to be performed by dentist or a dental care specialist if teeth become decayed to such a degree that it reaches in to the pulp of the teeth. If teeth develop a bump at the edge of the gum line, an abscess, it can be a sure indication for a dental patient that there is infection inside the nerve or pulp of the tooth. A root canal will need to be performed. Also, if teeth are ever chipped or broken to the point that the nerve becomes exposed, this is also a time when a root canal may be required. After the root canal dental care, our Provo Dentist will create a crown to put on the tooth. This is done because the nerve and blood supply to the tooth has been removed and the tooth can become brittle, with a risk of becoming cracked over a period of time. A dental crown is applied over the tooth, to prevent this from happening.
Sedation Dentistry
For young patients and those patients who have a fear of dentistry and dental care procedures, sedation dentistry has become an effective tool used by our Provo family dentist and dental care professionals everywhere. Although sedation dentistry has been around for years, it recently has been overhauled with a much needed renovation. Now dentistry can be an almost relaxing experience. Patients have choices rather than being limited to the traditional nitrous oxide (laughing gas) or IVs. Now, added to the sedation menu are such things as a "no needle" approach that many patients find more appealing. Oral sedation dentistry is quickly becoming the number one technique used among dental car providers in Provo, Orem, American Fork, Saratoga Springs and other cities in Utah County, to ease their patients fears. The process is easy and requires no injections. Even better, the medications help a patient to be so comfortable with their dental experience that most patients do not even remember the details of their appointment. The patient does, however, remain alert enough to maintain a high level of cooperation with the dentist and office staff.
Dental Implants
Dental implants are artificial teeth root replacements (metal posts or frames) that are surgically placed into the jawbone beneath our gums. Once they are in place, our dentist can then mount replacement teeth onto them. Dentistry Dental Implants are used to compensate for tooth loss. Often the result is beneficial in not only an enhanced smile, but also a more youthful appearance, as missing teeth cause the gum to collapse, taking our face and youthful appearance with it. Our Provo dentist may refer us to a specialist for the initial surgery, after which, we will return to the dentist office for the mounting of the replacement teeth.
Provo dentists are among the best dental care providers in the nation. With a young family, keeping up on all of our dental care needs can often become a time consuming endeavor. It has been a relief to have a dentist here in Provo that we can trust with all of our dentistry needs; one that we have built a relationship with; one whose staff will contact us for dental appointments and keep us informed with any new or needed dental services. It would be our suggestion that if you live in Utah County or even surrounding areas and are in need of a dentist, that you look at making an appointment with one of the highly qualified dentists in Provo, Utah.
