One of the most important elements of our dental exam is the time we take to assess a patient’s caries risk (risk for dental decay). By looking at signs within the mouth and speaking with patients about their dental history and habits, we can begin to understand their risk for future problems and make appropriate recommendations regarding treatment and prevention. If risk is identified, efforts are made to not only
When it comes to our children, it’s sometimes hard to appreciate the value of a routine dental examination, but an encounter we had last week with a five year old child reminds us just how important it is. It was our young patient’s first visit to our office, and we started with a cleaning and exam. On the surface, everything looked fine… no visible cavities, no broken teeth, and no
When people think about braces, it’s common to think about head gear, retainers, and middle school; but, as many adult patients discover, adult orthodontics can be a critical tool for improving the health of your mouth. It’s easy to appreciate the cosmetic benefits of braces when crooked or crowded teeth are straightened, but what’s equally as important are the underlying functional benefits of braces. Simply stated, teeth that fit together
A few weeks ago, we had a patient come into our office with a concern for some irritations inside his mouth, and he was eager to receive a prescription for an antibiotic. Inside his mouth were several small sores on his gums, which are common sign of a virus infection. Given a few days, they typically heal on their own, but require some follow-up. As the patient had been in
