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Pediatric Dentistry: An Overview

Dr. Jake Williams

As a parent, your child's health is of utmost concern. You want them to be healthy and look good. It is also important for you as a parent to focus on the oral health of your kids. Kids aren't just small adults! The needs of every kid are different from other kids.

Dr. Jake Williams

El Paso is known for its strong military presence and culinary scene. Sad to say, if you're looking for a dental implant in El Paso, here are a few things you have to keep in mind.

Dr. Jake Williams

We live in a click and post age, there is an average of 1000 pictures posted on Instagram every second! In an age where the world is obsessed with clicking everything and everyone, a lot of importance is given to how we present ourselves and the most charming aspect of every selfie you click is undoubtedly “Your Smile”!

Dr. Jake Williams

Everyone craves for a dazzling smile - It would be a nightmare if that dazzling smile is discolored. Teeth can get stained with food and drinks such as coffee, red wine, cigarettes, medications, trauma, and even age. You may be flossing, brushing, cleaning every day to keep your teeth white but still feel your smile is sparkling no more, you are not the only one.

Dr. Jake Williams

Your introduction can just be your smile. A smile never goes unnoticed, it makes your impression last. So, owning a confident smile is an achievement. A bright, white smile can really enhance one's self-esteem. If you are not sure or confident in your smile you definitely have to consider meeting a cosmetic dentist.

Dr. Tony Kasallis

Dentists on Saturdays – You got that right. Your dental problem cannot tell days in a week. When you start to experience oral discomfort in your mouth, you need to visit a dental specialist right away. Some clinics do close on weekends because dentists do need offs, but not your dental issues.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Having beautiful teeth enhances the physical beauty of a person. Lovely pearly whites always strike a pretty picture. Take for instance Hollywood actresses Julia Roberts, Jessica Alba and Anne Hathaway. Their beautiful marble-like teeth are beautifully aligned, making them drop-dead gorgeous.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Many mothers express their concerns regarding their kids' eating habits. Naturally they want their kids to eat lunches that are healthful and good for them. However, making them eat healthfully is hard to do. A mom of two boys, Geraldine Gennari expressed her sentiments on the matter. "Most days, my sons will eat the apples or other fruit I pack for lunch, but what they really want is what the other kids are eating."

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Sugary snacks are a good motivational tool. If you want kids to study their lessons, use sugary snacks to motivate them to open their books. If you want them to help with the chores at home and offer sugary sweets as reward, they'll get the job done. Truly, sugary snacks are excellent leverage devices in dealing with kids.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Feeding your kids can be difficult. They are usually picky with their food usually preferring junk food over the healthy food that they should be eating. Try bringing them to the grocery store and you'll see them grabbing the sugary and starchy items instead of apples and oranges. This can be a disaster for children's health; not to mention, their dental health.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Have you noticed how most athletes (boxers, football players, etc.) wear mouthguards for every game? This protective gear helps prevent jaw and tooth injuries. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists highly recommends wearing one when engaging in physical sports like boxing, basketball, football, wrestling and other similar activities. Think of it as armor and a cushion for your teeth, protecting them from an incoming ball, another object or a person.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

In 2007, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued consumer warnings against toothpastes coming from China and South Africa. The agency has identified these imported products over concerns that they contain a poisonous and potentially hazardous substance known as diethylene glycol (DEG), which is used in antifreeze. An advisory was also issued stating that these products are typically sold, at a lower price, at "bargain" stores and retail outlets.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Babies suck on things; it's their natural and physiological reflex. They find comfort in bringing their fingers, pacifiers or any object within reach inside their mouth. Though it may be a normal aspect of their development, sucking could create a problem for your baby.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Tooth decay poses a serious threat for today's kids. Twenty-eight percent of children aged 2 to 5 in the US have tooth decay, this according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The pain interferes with the kids' eating, playing, sleeping and other activities. While tooth decay treatments are readily available, the best "cure" is still prevention.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Most kids become uneasy when they go to the dentist's office. We can't really blame them, though, with all they've heard from friends or seen on TV and in movies. Nevertheless, dentists put up with all that anxiety. After all, it's their job. So what do they do to keep kids at ease? Simply, they use sedation techniques to keep kids sitting still long enough for the procedure to be done.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Dentists perform endodontic treatment for people who experience tooth pain due to severe sensitivity or exposed tooth pulp. This procedure can be performed both on permanent and baby teeth. And even though baby teeth will fall out eventually, dentists would still opt to fix them. After all, these baby teeth occupy the spaces that permanent teeth will replace once the former fall out. Otherwise, the neighboring teeth would occupy the space and block the growth of the permanent tooth, causing it to tilt out of place.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

If a patient experiences tooth pain over a long time period for no apparent reason, most dentists would likely attribute it to the tooth's pulp. When the tooth becomes severely painful, has become very sensitive to changes in temperature or has an exposed tooth pulp, dentists generally recommend an endodontic treatment for the patient.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

There are a lot of factors that cause discoloration of our teeth. Take coffee, colas, and cigarettes, for instance. Their ingredients contain chemicals that stain the teeth. In fact, even fluoride, an active ingredient in toothpaste, can cause mottling and produce a white or brown stain on the teeth. To eliminate these unwanted teeth stains, most patients undergo a procedure known as enamel microabrasion.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

We've all seen, heard or read them many times before. Let's sort things out once and for all. Here are nine simple ways to keep your teeth healthy and strong.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

When a dentist wants to see the size or position of a patient's teeth, he or she uses a dental x-ray. This device helps monitor the oral orifice. A dentist can detect teeth or gum injuries and prepare orthodontic treatment for a patient without the need of a thorough visual exam on the inside of the mouth. Indeed, the dental X-ray is a valuable tool at the dentist's office.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Dental X-rays are used much more than just for detecting tooth decay and cavities. Dentists also use them to survey teeth or bone anomalies, diagnose dental disorders and/or prepare orthodontic treatment. With dental X-rays, dentists can now perform these oral surveys without the need of direct visual exam, making the procedure comfortable and convenient for the patient.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

In a statement released on May 30, 2011, the American Academy of Pediatrics announced that children born to indigenous populations have more tooth decay and cavities compared to other children. The pediatrician group further recommended that doctors and dentists should pay more attention to these kids' oral health.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, many adults in the US are suffering from gum disease.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Each day offers an opportunity for your child to learn new things. Last week's lesson was about twisting, licking and dunking a cookie on a glass of milk. The other day was about making "bunny ear loops" to tie shoelaces. With so many things that you can teach your child, perhaps you could also demonstrate how to take care of one's teeth. A young age is ideal for developing the habit of brushing and flossing.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Brushing and flossing are ideally the best steps to protect your kid's teeth from decay as well as gum disease. But without a well-balanced and healthy diet, brushing and flossing won't do much.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Much like noise-canceling or noise-reduction headphones in airliners, a new dental technology can block out the shrill sound from the dentist's instruments, which has been the prime cause of patient phobia and anxiety.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Toothpastes containing less than 1,000 parts per million of fluoride concentrations are as ineffective at preventing tooth decay as toothpastes with no fluoride at all. This finding, published in the Cochrane Database of research group Cochrane Collaboration, is taken from 79 clinical studies involving 73,000 children worldwide.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Green tea has become an increasingly popular beverage being touted in numerous studies as having therapeutic benefits for heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, genital warts and obesity. Green tea's antioxidant properties are believed to produce anti-inflammatory and wound-healing effects.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Patient anxiety or fear of going to the dentist has been one of the predicaments dental practitioners face when providing dental care. One in 20 patients or 5% of patients in the US and Europe have odontophobia, or extreme dental fear, while up to one-third experience some degree of anxiety.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Periodontal disease (gum infection) can spread through the bloodstream and infect the uterus (womb). This could cause low birth weight, premature delivery and infection of the unborn child. A case report published in the Green Journal of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists reported fetal death due to infection of oral bacteria, Fusobacterium nucleatum, found in gum disease.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Dentine hypersensitivity is a sudden, sharp shooting pain in the teeth triggered by hot, cold or acidic foodstuff. Pain is also felt with touch, such as from chewing or tooth-brushing, and with air pressure, such as when one is breathing through the mouth.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

You will never look at toothbrushing again as a routine hygiene to take lightly or you can do without. A recent study found that people who brush their teeth less frequently have a 70% increased risk of heart disease compared with those who brushed their teeth twice a day. When people don't brush their teeth regularly, they are prone to periodontitis, a chronic gum infection. This will manifest at first as gingivitis, or inflammation of the gums, which not only causes bad breath but also sets off a chain of events in our bloodstream.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Mouth sores are any open blisters found in the oral cavity. They are commonly seen on the lips, the tongue, the gums, the palate and the inside of the cheeks. Examples include canker sores, cold sores and fever blisters.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

An impacted wisdom tooth can trap food particles and debris. Bacteria feed on these food particles, which may cause infection of the surrounding tissue. This is called pericoronitis.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Periodontal disease is an infection of the gums, thus aptly called gum disease. Bacteria are the primary culprit in periodontal disease. A bacterium produces sticky, colorless plaque on the teeth. Brushing and flossing will help eliminate plaque. However, plaque that is not removed will form tartar, a harder substance to clean. Tartar harbors bacteria that make it easier to invade your gums, causing gum disease.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

Cleaning in between tooth spaces is widely accepted as an important part of oral healthiness. Flossing removes plaques and food debris in hard-to-reach areas of the mouth.

Steven Spivack, D.D.S.

People's teeth tell what happens when they sleep. Dentists know if they grind their teeth while sleeping - scientifically known as bruxism - by looking for "abfractions" in the teeth. Abfractions are wear patterns in the teeth near the gumline. These are caused by clenching, gnashing and grinding the teeth during sleep.