Beyond the Brush: Innovative Techniques and Tools for Optimal Dental Care

Often, the best dental care includes simply brushing your teeth and performing regular upkeep on them. However, there’s also a new wave of innovations sweeping the world of dentistry that might make a huge impact on your oral health and provide you with the latest tools for optimal dental care. Understanding these upcoming revolutions is important and could prepare you for their release in your town.

Tele-Dentistry

Tele-dentistry, a concept accelerated by the global pandemic, enables individuals to consult with dental professionals remotely. Through video calls and virtual appointments, patients can receive advice, treatment plans, and even prescriptions, making dental care more accessible and convenient, especially for those in remote or underserved areas.

Smart Toothbrush and Water Flossers

One remarkable innovation is the development of electric toothbrushes equipped with advanced features. These toothbrushes incorporate oscillating, rotating, or sonic technology that can remove plaque more effectively than manual brushing. Some models are even equipped with pressure sensors to prevent overzealous brushing, which can damage tooth enamel and gums. Additionally, smart toothbrushes that connect to mobile apps provide real-time feedback, ensuring that users brush for the recommended two minutes, and target all areas of the mouth.

Innovative tools like water flossers have gained popularity as an alternative to traditional string floss. Water flossers use a pressurized stream of water to clean between teeth and along the gum line, effectively removing debris and reducing the risk of gum disease. Their ease of use and efficiency make them a valuable addition to one’s oral hygiene routine.

Robotics

While it might seem unlikely that robots could provide the best dental care, a test in China in 2017 found a robot successfully performing dental surgery without human interaction. Could this become commonplace? Potentially but, for now, robots are likely to help and not replace dentists.

Regrowing Teeth

It might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but it’s true: new technology can regrow teeth! These devices stimulate cells in tooth roots to motivate them to grow. As these teeth grow via stimulation, they can fill in damaged areas and ensure that the tooth is stronger.

Anyone who wants the best dental care needs to find these and other high-quality cleaning techniques near them. Thankfully, a growing number of dental professionals are using them to provide the high-quality support their clients need. Please contact us to learn more about optimal dental care! Our team of experts will work with you to find a high-quality process that makes sense for your oral healthcare needs.

Child visit dentist surgery with mother

Fear No More: Overcoming Dental Anxiety and Making Your Dental Visits Stress-Free

If you’re afraid to visit a dental office, your teeth might be in rough shape. According to BioMed Central, over 9 million people get orthodontic treatment every year. Without this care, your teeth might be crooked or even damaged. So, it’s important to not skip your routine dental appointments out of fear or anxiety. Thankfully, it’s possible to manage dental anxiety with these simple steps.

Talk With Your Dentist First

Before you go to the dental office for treatment, reach out to your dentist and talk with them about your concerns. They’re here for you and will do whatever they can to help you. Ask as many questions as you need, listen to what they have to say, and take steps to manage your concerns. Doing so will reduce your anxiety and make treatment far easier to manage.

Meditation and Relaxation Techniques

Careful meditation and relaxation techniques may make going to the dentist easier. Deep breathing, yoga, and even guided meditation can calm your mind and identify the source of your anxiety. The purpose of this process is to help you better understand your mind and what’s affecting it. In this way, you can feel more comfortable going to the dentist without serious anxiety affecting you.

Sedation

Many people manage dental anxiety by taking a sedative before their treatment. Often, conscious sedation is smart for this problem because you’ll be awake but not in pain as your dentist works on you. As a result, you’ll experience this process and see what it’s like without the pain that makes it troubling. When done properly, this might reduce your severe anxiety.

While it might take a while for you to manage your fear of the dental office, it’s more than worth it if you can get your anxiety under control and feel better about visiting. Just as importantly, you need to get dental care ASAP if it’s been a long time since you’ve gone. Thankfully, you can call our team to get the help that you need to manage your oral healthcare.

family dentist

Unveiling the Hidden Dangers: The Surprising Ways Your Oral Health Affects Your Overall Wellness

Many people approach their oral health issues as if they were only minor annoyances. They are quick to seek treatment from a physician whenever they feel ill but drag their feet when scheduling an appointment with the family dentist. Treating your oral health that way is a mistake. As you’ll learn in this article, your oral health can significantly impact your overall wellness.

Poor Oral Health Can Lead to Serious Diseases

1 in 4 adults aged 20 to 64 have a cavity. Cavities are fairly common, so it’s not surprising to learn that they affect a sizable segment of the population. The cavity itself is not the reason why you should be concerned. The real reason for worry is the potential cause of the cavity.

People with untreated periodontitis, otherwise known as gum disease, are likely to suffer from cavities if they let the condition persist. That’s a major issue because gum disease has been linked to various life-threatening conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and pneumonia. Gum disease has even been linked to osteoporosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Why is periodontitis so troublesome? The bacteria responsible for causing periodontitis are to blame. According to WebMD, the bacteria that cause gum disease can enter your bloodstream and adversely affect different parts of your body. More specifically, the inflammation caused by the bacteria is a real threat to your health.

Poor Oral Health Can Adversely Affect Your Appetite

You should also consult a family dentist when dealing with oral health issues because they can affect your eating habits. The pain that accompanies gum disease can be quite intense. Occasionally, it may be intense enough to discourage you from eating.

Poor eating habits can catch up to you quickly. They can deprive you of the necessary nutrients to lead a healthy lifestyle. In the long run, you may develop more severe health issues because of those poor eating habits.

Poor Oral Health Can Cause Self-Esteem Issues

Lastly, bad oral health has a huge impact on a person’s self-esteem. Among the main symptoms of gum disease are bad breath and tooth loss. While experiencing those symptoms, you may have difficulty feeling comfortable around your friends and family. You may end up constantly worrying about your smile or the smell of your breath.

A lack of self-confidence can lead to isolation and depression. No one should have to endure those issues because of poor oral health. Protect your loved ones from those potential problems by scheduling regular appointments with a family dentist.

Oral health is not something you can take lightly. Ignoring your oral health will only lead to long-term health problems. Take action to avoid those potentially life-threatening consequences. Contact us today, and we’ll keep your oral health in good condition!

best dental care

3 Proper Dental Care Tips That Can Help You Maintain Good Oral Health

Proper dental care is an important part of your overall health and wellness. If you want to keep your teeth for as long as possible, these tips can help. According to Statista, in 2020 there were 40.99 million Americans who wore dentures. If you’d like to delay this for as long as possible, be sure to follow proper oral hygiene and receive the best dental care. Here are our top three dental care tips to keep your smile healthy.

1. Visit Your Dentist Regularly

No matter how healthy your teeth and gums seem, it’s still important to see your dentist at least twice a year. These dental appointments will include a cleaning, x-rays when necessary, and a full dental exam. When you visit your dentist on a regular basis, you’ll enjoy better dental health. When your dentist knows about your previous dental health and issues, they’re better able to spot potential problems.

2. Avoid Sweets and Sugary Drinks

Sugar is best avoided if you want to take care of your teeth. In addition to sodas and sweet treats, remember that many fruit juices also contain a high level of sugar. This is a lifestyle habit that’s important to instill in your children from a young age. When sweets and sodas are treated as once-in-a-while snacks, it’s easier to maintain good dental health. Your dentist can review a list of best-avoided foods, snacks, and drinks with you. Following their guidance is an effective way to protect your dental health for the long term. Think of your dentist as a resource that’s happy to help you with your oral care.

3. Brush and Floss Twice a Day

In addition to dental visits and healthy eating habits, the basics are also important. Be sure to brush and floss your teeth at least twice a day. The best dental care includes the steps you take at home, too. If you’ve gotten out of the habit of brushing and flossing twice a day, now’s an ideal time to start doing so again. Your dental hygienist can answer any questions that you might have about good flossing and brushing habits. Don’t be afraid to ask questions to gain clarification about good dental habits.

If you want the best dental care, it’s time to visit our dental practice. We’re proud to provide comprehensive dental care for families in our local area. Give us a call today to schedule your introductory appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon!

5 Simple Ways to Improve Your Oral Health

How Do Dental Sealants Work?

When choosing different types of dental care, you need to have a good idea of how the type of care works. Dental sealants are one type of dental care that might be recommended to you. This quick guide will provide you with some information on this topic, so that you can make smart dental health decisions.

Cavity Prevention

Dental sealants are a type of dental care you receive that help to prevent cavities. According to the CDC, it is estimated that dental sealants help to prevent 80% of cavities in a 2-year span. They are especially useful for the back teeth. 9 out of 10 cavities occur in the back teeth. You need all the help you can get to prevent these vulnerable teeth from developing cavities. If you are concerned about cavities, you can talk to our dentist about sealants.

How Do Sealants Work?

When your dentist puts a sealant on your teeth, they will coat the teeth with a clear liquid. This liquid dries, creating a solid covering for the tooth. This covering protects the tooth underneath from developing cavities.

Is It Painful To Get Sealants?

No, there is no pain involved in getting sealants. You will simply plan a visit with your dentist and have the clear coatings applied.

Will Sealants Change the Appearance of My Teeth?

No, sealants are made of clear coating. This coating does not change the appearance of your teeth at all. In most cases, sealants are applied to the back teeth only, since these are the teeth most vulnerable to cavities. The sealants are not visible on the back teeth and are clear. The appearance of your teeth will not be change at all.

Can Children Have Sealants Put On Their Teeth?

Yes, children can have sealants put on their back molars. Your dentist will recommend when a child should have this procedure done. Sealants are usually put on the back molars, so obviously you would need to wait until your child’s back molars are in before having the sealants applied.

If you are concerned about cavities, you can talk to our dentistry professional about the possibility of having sealants applied to your teeth. This is a great way to fight cavities. Our office offers all dental services under one roof, so you can ensure your entire smile is healthy. Contact us today for more information on dental sealants.

Lowell Dental Arts