How To Stop Your Child Getting Holes In Their Teeth

 I watched the live twitter feed as The Dentist was on last night  ( I know I need to get out more)  and I was struck  ( but secretly pleased )  by the outrage from the general public as child after child was referred for the removal multiple teeth under general anaesthesia. "Refer to social services" said one. "Some people should not be allowed to have children" said another. so if we all think this is appalling, then how come day in day out I refer children for this procedure? How can you stop your child getting holes in their teeth?

Firstly, let's get this straight. Dental decay or caries is 100% preventable. There are few conditions where the teeth come through poorly formed as a result of genetic conditions or a disturbance which happens around the time of birth but these are in the minority. Most of the children and young people I see have holes which could have been avoided. so it is just a case of eating fewer sweets? Well yes, and no. Yes, because diet is a big factor, but it's not the only one.

So, here are my top tips to stop your child getting holes in their teeth:

1.)  Get grandparents on side

Try to encourage grandparents to use alternative treats to sweets - putting money in their piggy bank or buying a small gift can allow them to spoil grandchildren without wrecking their teeth.

2.)  Spit, don't rinse

From the age of 3 your child can use a pea sized amount of adult toothpaste. Encourage them to spit out excess paste, but not rinse their mouth with water. Why? Because rinsing washes away the fluoride which has shown to reduce dental decay.

3.)  Respect the golden hour

 Dentists call the hour before bed, "The golden hour". Avoid letting your child have anything to eat or drink in this time aside from water. The reason for this is that when whenever we have anything containing sugar to eat, it takes our mouths time to recover and to move from the process of demineralisation  ( rebuilding them again ) . When we sleep, our mouths dry out and we lose the protective effect of saliva. This is why having sweet things in the hour before bed is a recipe for disaster.

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Dental Tourism: A Fast Growing Industry

 Dental tourism has become a fast growing industry, where every dentist battles for his reputation and credibility, and would like to be among the first choice for the travelling or visiting patient. This industry is one of the pillar of medical tourism and while many are emerging, the rise in competition between and within countries means some dental clinics are not engaging enough business.

The current endeavour is the consequence of patients travelling abroad to obtain the dental care or services they are unable to get at home. Patients are persuaded to travel out for dental care due to limited access to quality or high cost of services in their home country. However, this is fast growing worldwide medical domain along with the progress of specialized generations of dental professionals as well as dental technicians. Notwithstanding the competitive aspect in such unpredictable economy, all technological innovations are now spreading extensively, allowing dental specialists in the developing countries to provide equally qualitative services as those offered in the developed countries but with additional cost saving plan. As a result, the increasing awareness of the future of dental tourism, more and more dental clinics are trying to get into the business of attracting or rather motivating foreign patients.

The onset of low-cost air travel, the eagerness to go beyond borders and the enormous information gathered through the internet is bringing the responsibility for dental health fast back in the hands of healthcare customers. Approximately more than half of all medical tourists travel for dental purposes. An immense majority of dental patients who decide to go abroad had an outcome of overwhelmingly positive results.

Some business travellers are significantly startled to discover that they can associate their trip with a high quality dental treatment. Besides proficiency in their field of expertise, most clinics offer a wide range of services, from dental implants to cosmetic surgery at a very affordable price. With the outmost commitment of every dental professional every patient always receive the best solution for their dental problems.

Photo credit:   fixmysmile.co.uk

Overview Of Cosmetic Dentistry

The value of your smile for improving your self-esteem and appearance is immense. The goal of cosmetic dentistry is to maximize your smile, make it bright and beautiful, in order to build confidence and esteem. This can be achieved through the meeting of art and science in dentistry.

Though general dentistry involves the assessment and treatment of basic dental and oral needs like cavities and root canals, cosmetic dentistry involves procedures based less on dental needs and more on personal desires and goals. Nonetheless, both dental needs and aesthetic desires can be achieved with procedures like white fillings.

General dentists are fully trained to provide cosmetics procedures. Cosmetic dentistry is not a defined specialty, however dentists take many hours of continuing education to enhance their skills in this area. Many dentists take pride in providing patients with a bright, esthetically pleasing smile. And since the field of cosmetic dentistry is so competitive, many will utilize dental seo services to make sure their practices get found in the search engines.

With the development of intra-oral cameras, digital x-rays and in-office crowns, and computer imaging software, dentists are able to help you visualize how your smile could be transformed. Many procedures can be done to improve your smile. Some are included in the following lists:

• Tooth whitening

• Composite fillings / Bonding

• Dental veneers

• Crowns and bridges

• Crown lengthening

• Dental implants

• Full mouth reconstruction

Tooth whitening

One of the fastest, least invasive ways of changing your smile is to have your teeth whitened. Tooth enamel, over time, becomes stained due to pigments that pass into the mouth from things like coffee, tea, wine, and smoking. Because of this, as we age teeth naturally become yellowish. Tooth whitening chemically involves removing these stains with either in-office procedures or take-home kits. And presto, your smile is brightened!

Bonding

Composite fillings, or "bonding",  are white fillings made of a hard and durable resin material. This material comes in various shades which allow a dentist to match an individual's tooth enamel coloring. Bonding is one of the most cost-effective esthetic treatment options

Dental veneers

For individuals with teeth that have deeper stains, crowding or spacing, dental veneers are often a good option. They involve preparing a small amount of the front of the tooth in order to bond on a porcelain veneer of appropriate size, shape and color. Veneers are one of the quickest and least invasive ways of dramatically improving one's smile.

Read full story at  http://www.dental-education.ch/