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Who’s the BEST dentist for you?
When searching for a new dentist the best recommendation is always one made by asking a family member or friend. This will help in giving you a little bit of background on what type of office it is, and whether or not other people are happy with this office. If you are new to an area and do not have a friend who can recommend someone for you, we encourage you to come to our office and interview us!
Call or visit our office to find out such things as: How do we answer their telephone? What are the office hours? Are we convenient to your schedule? Are we available in case of an emergency? Does our dental staff make you feel comfortable? Are they courteous and helpful? Paying a visit to the office will help you to assess the atmosphere of the office and help you decide whether or not you would be comfortable there.
Your visit to the dentist should be pleasant and comfortable. You need to feel relaxed with your dental team in order to ensure that you can work together with us in maintaining a healthy happy smile. We would look forward to giving you a personal tour of our office and having you meet us.
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How often should I go to my Dentist for a Check-up?
Some people tend to have a rather strange attitude towards checkups. If the dentist does not find something wrong, their time has been wasted. As a matter of fact, a series of successful visits can discourage them from ever seeing their dentist and hygienist again. The idea that you should only see the dentist when something is wrong is not only ridiculous but can end up costing you a lot of money, comfort and time.
Your dentist is trained to detect and treat many problems before you are even aware of them. The goal is prevention - prevent disease, decay and tooth loss. Your dentist can help you but only if you make the appointment. It all comes back to teamwork. Only you, your dentist and your hygienist can determine how often to make a visit, but for most people, twice a year is sufficient. Checkups should not be a one-time event. They are necessary for regular assessments of the condition and the well being of your mouth. Check-up procedures vary with each dentist, but basically will contain: a review of dental and medical history, an overall examination of the mouth including oral cancer screening, a professional cleaning, possibly a fluoride treatment, and a general assessment of hygiene at home. Regular checkups are a MUST in the fight against gum disease, dental decay as well as detecting other forms of pathology such as cysts and tumors of which you may be unaware.
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How do I keep my teeth?
Your second set of teeth is your last. Proper care will ensure that you keep them for life. In spite of what you may have heard dental disease is not only controllable, it is usually correctable and most of all preventable. A thorough brushing and flossing routine is important for maintaining healthy teeth and gums. Flossing is important because it reaches the areas a toothbrush can’t reach, between the teeth and under the gum line. Routine visits to your dentist for a check up and cleaning will help to maintain healthy teeth and gums.
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Do I really need x-rays?
Dental x-rays are taken routinely by your dentist. There are many diseases and dental defects, which can not be seen by the naked eye, especially where teeth are concerned. These may include such things as decay under old fillings, teeth trapped below the gums, cavities between the teeth, bone loss as a result of gum disease and changes in either jaw bone structure which can be indications of many systemic diseases.
If you are a new patient, Dr. Cohrs may recommend x-rays to check the current status of your mouth and to check for hidden problems. Upon your first visit he will usually take those x-rays that will be necessary to comprehensively assess your oral health. A full series of x-rays usually consists of 14 - 18 films. Every year Dr. Cohrs may take a small series of x-rays consisting of four to six films. A six-month period is a long time in the life of a cavity and it is for this reason that a visit to the dentist every six months is so important.
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Is it Safe to have X-rays taken?
Yes. Numerous precautions and advances in x-ray equipment help protect patients from receiving unnecessary radiation. The amount of radiation received from a dental x-ray exam is extremely small compared to other naturally occurring sources of radiation, including minerals in the soil, radon and cosmic radiation from outer space. Unlike their medical counterparts dental x-rays are very low in radiation. A full-mouth series of films, will deliver an effective dose that is equivalent to about 19 days of exposure to naturally occurring environmental radiation. Another way to think about it is to know that flying across the country will expose one to about as much natural radiation as would be received in a full set of dental X-rays. The beam of radiation is a very small narrow one. The rest of your body is also shielded from any stray particles with a lead apron or shield.
X-rays are an extremely useful and important diagnostic tool and can aid in preventing many major problems. The importance of routine thorough examinations by your dental team will do much to avoid major problems.
Dental X-rays may reveal:
- Unerupted or impacted teeth
- The number, size, and position of teeth
- The presence and extent of dental caries
- Bone damage (such as from periodontitis)
- Abscessed teeth
- Fractures of the jaw
- Cysts
- Tumors
- Malocclusion of teeth
- Other abnormalities of the teeth and jaw bones
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I am afraid of going to the Dentist ... What can I do?
Fear of the dentist is quite common and many people are as fearful and concerned as you may be. However, because fear of the dentist is so common, Dr. Cohrs and his staff are also well aware of this and are properly trained to work with you in helping you to overcome these fears. When you express a fear of experiencing pain during dental treatment, Dr. Cohrs will take extra time to explain what you can expect to feel during treatment, and then prove to you that dentistry can be painless.
Notify Dr. Cohrs about your concerns and questions. You will find they are eager to work with you to make your visits pleasant. Asking questions about your mouth and proposed treatment will help to remove fear of the unknown and give you an opportunity to become involved in your dental health. Most importantly, remember that Dr. Cohrs is eager to work with you, not just on you, in order to achieve a mutual goal - maintaining the health of your smile.
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What is Gum Disease?
Gum disease, or periodontal disease, as it is also called is the number one cause of tooth loss today. The reason you lose teeth from gum disease is because this disease attacks the gums as well as the bone, which is the foundation in which your teeth rest. As the bone literally dissolves away from around your teeth, your teeth become loose and eventually fall out. Anyone at any age is susceptible to gum disease, but usually periodontal disease is evident in adulthood. Gum disease is a complex breakdown of the gum and bone surrounding teeth, caused by an inflammatory process from the presence of plaque. If the plague is not removed on a daily basis it will form calculus, which is the breeding ground for the germs which cause periodontal disease.
Bleeding gums are the first sign that there may be a problem with the gums. Puffy, tender red gums are also a sign that there is an infection present. Bleeding gums however are not always present even in severe cases of gum disease. Routine and regular visits to your dentist are the best way of catching gum disease in its early stages before too much damage has been caused. Gum disease will not go away by itself or with improved home care. The only way of removing plaque deep under the gums is with professional cleanings. Once you have had a gum problem you will always be susceptible to recurring problems, so be sure to see your dentist on a regular basis - every two to three months, unless he or she recommends otherwise.
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How does a tooth decay?
A substance known as plaque causes tooth decay. Plaque is a cream-colored, bacteria laden film which develops on the teeth. The bacteria in plaque interact with the starches and sugars we eat and form an acid, which breaks down or de-mineralizes our teeth. As this process is occurring, our saliva acts to help re-mineralize teeth. When the demineralization process is faster than that of remineralization, a cavity occurs.
There are several things that can be done to slow down or totally prevent this breakdown process which leads to cavities. Some of the most important contributors to decay are sugars, and eliminating or drastically reducing your intake of them will help greatly in preventing tooth decay. Proper brushing and flossing, and removal of the plaque will also help in preventing breakdown. Home fluoride rinses help aid in the remineralization process. Of course routine visits to your dentist are of importance not only in the early detection of cavities but professional cleanings and fluoride treatments are very important in maintaining a healthy happy mouth.
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