Quick tip for Busy Parents..."I don't want to brush"

AAPD President Dr. William C. Berlocher (2009-2010), shares his insight on those hard-to-brush preschoolers: “A pediatric dentist's average day in the office includes a number of encounters with children who are initially not cooperative. Sometimes this uncooperative behavior is a result of a child being anxious in a new and foreign environment. Other times it is simply a child manifesting some recently appreciated control in their lives.” Fear of the unknown is usually handled quite easily using several basic behavior guidance tools. These are: Tell/Show/Do - a technique that involves explanation of procedures in age-appropriate levels (Tell), demonstration of the procedure in a carefully defined, nonthreatening setting (Show) and then without deviating from the explanation and demonstration, completion of the procedure (Do). Positive Reinforcement - positive feedback is used to reward desired behavior and strengthen the recurrence of these behaviors.      Modeling - a technique that involves allowing children to observe activities that are new to them by watching other more experienced children engage in these activities.  “Children who have discovered they have some control in their lives and are resistive to their parent’s direction and instruction can be a more challenging issue. A term that I've found to be extremely useful in these situations is "cheerful persistence." First of all, parents need to be positive and keep a smile on their face when working with their child. Parents give many nonverbal cues to their children. If you go into a tooth-brushing session looking like you're going to war, more than likely it will be just that! Secondly, oral hygiene is something that works only if it is undertaken on a regular basis. Therefore, daily brushing is a must. Avoiding tooth brushing because of the potential for a clash between a child and parent dramatically increases the potential for development of dental cavities."  Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS Complete Dental Care 103 South Colorado Street Salem, Virginia, 24153 540-387-3844

Tips from Rachael Ray and Dr. Wallace- Is Your Medicine Cabinet Hurting Your Health?

1)  Prescription and Over-the counter meds.  Meds aren't meant to be stored in a sauna! The heat and humidity can degrade tablets or dissolve gelcaps.  FIX IT:  Move all of your meds to a cool, dry place.

2)  Leftover Antibiotics.  If you followed doctor's orders, you shouldn't have any leftover antibiotics.  are designed to kill the bacteria making you sick; if you stop taking them as soon as you start to feel better, any bugs still in your system could become resistant.  FIX IT:  Finish you antibiotics, but if you do have stragglers, toss them immediately.

3)  Expired stuff.  Okay, over-the-counter pills, maybe a month past due is okay, beyond that, getting a fresh bottle will give you peace of mind.  Old prescriptions and expired sunscreens need to go right away.  FIX IT:  Start the new year by cleaning out your medicine chest.  Check dates on everything, get rid of stray meds or anything that looks or smells funny.  If topical medications have separated, toss them.

4)  Contact Lens Case.  The good news:  Keeping the case in the medicine chest protects it from the microscopic unmentionables that spray when you flush the toilet.  The caveat:  You should leave the empty case open to air dry, so bacteria don't grow in the moisture--so make some extra space on your shelf.  FIX IT:  Replace your case at least every three months to lower the risk of contamination and infection.

Thanks Rachael, however; you forgot about the toothpaste!!!  Fluoride is air soluble.  Capping the toothpaste tube after use protects it from those microscopic unmentionables sprayed from your toilet, preserves the effectiveness of the fluoride and may help keep the counter top cleaner.  FIX IT:  If you open it, shut it!!!  Keep the lid on the toothpaste!!!

What is Preventive Dentistry?

 Preventive dentistry means a healthy smile. Preventive dental care for children includes:

• Proper nutrition and dietary habits
• Brushing and flossing
• Fluoride
• Regular dental check-ups
• Assessing risk for developing cavities
• Evaluating oral growth and development
• Oral health education
• Protection against injuries
• Management of oral habits
• Guidance of erupting teeth
• Sealants

Your pediatric dentist practices preventive dentistry. Preventive dentistry for children, in addition to regular dental visits, requires parental involvement with daily oral care at home.

Q: Why is preventive dentistry important?

A: Children with a healthy mouths have a better chance of general health. Oral conditions can interfere with eating and adequate nutritional intake, speaking, self-esteem, and daily activities. Severe decay can affect growth and development. Children with dental pain may be unable to concentrate in school. A healthy mouth is more attractive, giving children confidence in their appearance. Finally, preventive dentistry can result in less extensive -- and less expensive -- treatment for your child.

Q: When should preventive dentistry start?

A: Preventive dentistry begins with the first tooth. Daily cleaning of the teeth should begin as soon as the first tooth erupts. Visit your pediatric dentist at the eruption of the first tooth or no later than 12 months of age to establish a dental home. Early dental visits are the foundation for a lifetime of good oral health. The earlier the dental visit, the better the chance of preventing dental disease and helping your child build a cavity-free smile.

Q: What role do parents play in prevention?

A: After completing a thorough oral examination and assessing your child’s risk for developing cavities, your pediatric dentist will design a personalized preventive program of home care for your child. This program will include brushing and flossing instructions, diet counseling and, if necessary, fluoride recommendations. By following these directions, you can help give your child a lifetime of healthy habits.

Q: How do pediatric dentists help prevent dental problems?

A: Tooth cleaning and polishing and fluoride treatments are all part of your child’s prevention program. However, there is much more. For example, your pediatric dentist can apply sealants to protect your child from tooth decay, help you select a mouthguard to prevent sports injuries to the face and teeth, and provide early diagnosis and care of orthodontic problems. Your pediatric dentist is uniquely trained to develop a combination of office and home preventive care to insure your child a happy smile. 

From the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

We here at Complete Dental Care place a heavy emphasis on Preventive Dentistry and its long term positive effects  on not only dental health but the bodies overall well being.

Dr Caroline Wallace DDS

Complete Dental Care

103 South Colorado Street

Salem, Virginia, 24153

540-387-3844

Amalgam versus Resin Fillings ?

Amalgam Fillings

Used by dentists for more than a century, dental amalgam is the most thoroughly researched and tested restorative material among all those in use. It is durable, easy to use, highly resistant to wear and relatively inexpensive in comparison to other materials. For those reasons, it remains a valued treatment option for dentists and their patients.

Dental amalgam is a stable alloy made by combining elemental mercury, silver, tin, copper and possibly other metallic elements. Although dental amalgam continues to be a safe, commonly used restorative material, some concern has been raised because of its mercury content. However, the mercury in amalgam combines with other metals to render it stable and safe for use in filling teeth.

While questions have arisen about the safety of dental amalgam relating to its mercury content, the major U.S. and international scientific and health bodies, including the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization, among others have been satisfied that dental amalgam is a safe, reliable and effective restorative material.

Because amalgam fillings can withstand very high chewing loads, they are particularly useful for restoring molars in the back of the mouth where chewing load is greatest. They are also useful in areas where a cavity preparation is difficult to keep dry during the filling replacement, such as in deep fillings below the gum line. Amalgam fillings, like other filling materials, are considered biocompatible—they are well tolerated by patients with only rare occurrences of allergic response.

Disadvantages of amalgam include possible short-term sensitivity to hot or cold after the filling is placed. The silver-colored filling is not as natural looking as one that is tooth-colored, especially when the restoration is near the front of the mouth, and shows when the patient laughs or speaks. And to prepare the tooth, the dentist may need to remove more tooth structure to accommodate an amalgam filling than for other types of fillings.

Composite or Resin Fillings

Composite fillings are a mixture of glass or quartz filler in a resin medium that produces a tooth-colored filling. They are sometimes referred to as composites or filled resins. Composite fillings provide good durability and resistance to fracture in small-to-mid size restorations that need to withstand moderate chewing pressure. Less tooth structure is removed when the dentist prepares the tooth, and this may result in a smaller filling than that of an amalgam. Composites can also be "bonded" or adhesively held in a cavity, often allowing the dentist to make a more conservative repair to the tooth.

The cost is moderate and depends on the size of the filling and the technique used by the dentist to place it in the prepared tooth. It generally takes longer to place a composite filling than what is required for an amalgam filling. Composite fillings require a cavity that can be kept clean and dry during filling and they are subject to stain and discoloration over time.

We use both types of fillings here at Complete Dental Care.

Dr. Caroline Wallace DDS

103 South Colorado Street

Salem, Virginia, 24153

540-387-3844