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Oral Health

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You probably already know how important it is to maintain your oral health with the help of a dentist to avoid tooth decay and for early disease detection. But which dentist should you trust with this responsibility?

There are number of factors to consider when choosing a family dentist such as Shirer Family Dentistry, Aiken, SC. It comes down to more than just know-how – you have to be comfortable in their chair. Furthermore, if you’re not comfortable during check ups, the dentist should find ways to make that visit easier on you.

Of course, your dentist should be more than competent and know how to handle a range of oral health issues, but there is more to dentistry than that. Here are some other things to look for when it comes to selecting a dentist that you can form a long-term professional relationship with.

It’s About Personal Connection

A good dentist shouldn’t make you dread your up coming appointment. Going to the dentist doesn’t always have to fit the definition of fun, but the dental team should do what it can to make you feel welcome and comfortable in their practice.

It’s more than just how you feel while you’re in the dentist’s chair. When you enter a dental office, you should be greeted warmly – and by name if it’s not your first visit. That’s something Shirer Family Dentistry takes very seriously. As one patient said about their experience at this particular dental office, “From the moment you walk in the door you feel welcomed and comfortable.”

Some dentists may take a clinical approach to dentistry, meaning they’re focused on quickly diagnosing the problem and applying a solution. While this isn’t a bad approach, it can also leave you feeling a bit cold. Dentists that love what they’re doing not only apply their technical skills, but their social skills as well. You should feel like you’re having a conversation with a friend during a procedure! As another patient pointed out about Shirer Family Dentistry, “Found a new home for all my dental services and I am excited to now have a dentist that is sociable, friendly, outgoing and truly loves interacting with patients.”

Speaking of connection, Shirer Family Dentistry, has a husband and wife dentist team that brings their unique personalities and skills to each patient. They consult with one another about the best approaches and what’s best for patients.

Having a male and female dentist on staff also allows patients to choose one based on their own comfort and preferences.

Aside from personable dentists and hygienists, you should also choose a dentist that has a helpful front desk team. They should be able to clearly communicate when your appointments are and work around your schedule, while also making payment easy and helping you file an insurance claim if need be.

Shirer Family Dentistry in Aiken, SC prides themselves on their amazing team members. From their front office to the hygienist and assistants, Drs. Michael and Susannah Shirer have often said they are blessed to be surrounded by such an amazing and competent group of people. The patients love seeing their friendly faces and it makes the office a fun place hearing the team joke with each other and the dentists laughing and having fun while working. It’s good to see so many smiles in a dental office – in this one, it’s not only the patients who are smiling, it’s the team. They truly love what they do!

Choose a Dentist That Explains Procedures

When you know more about something, you’re less likely to be afraid of it. That’s no different for dentists and dental procedures. You should choose a dentist that not only knows how to perform complicated dental procedures but can also inform you beforehand about why it’s needed and what you can expect during your procedure.

Just like you will find at Shirer Family Dentistry, many dentists now use digital on-screen displays so they can show you detailed results of x-rays and where any problem areas are. That way, you know they’re handling your personal oral care properly and not just delivering a prescribed treatment without rationale.

Whether it’s simply a cavity that needs to be filled or you need a complete reconstruction, you should know the work will be explained to you and any of your questions answered. This is one thing that sets Shirer Family Dentistry apart from the rest. They take copious amounts of time to get to know their patients, what they want from their dental visit, and how to best approach their unique dental situation to give them the best outcome. Patients feel comfortable discussing things with the doctors at Shirer Family Dentistry because they are approachable and connect with their patients.

They Should Help Ease Dental Anxiety

You might be avoiding the dentist altogether, as the case is for many people. In fact, some estimates say that almost 75 percent of Americans have some level of discomfort in the dental chair. You might even have a dental phobia that makes it very uncomfortable during even simple procedures, even when the dental team is friendly and gentle. Or you may have a pronounced gag reflex that brands some procedures significantly harder to deal with.

While staying with the same dentist over a long-term period can help build some trust and help you feel more relaxed during visits, sometimes other measures need to be taken to ensure you’re comfortable. That’s where sedation dentistry comes in.

Some dental offices like Shirer Family Dentistry offer you the option of being sedated during a procedure to ease your nerves. There are a few ways a dentist can offer this including nitrous oxide and oral sedation. The first option is a gas that wears off quickly when the mask is removed. Oral sedation means you take medication to help you relax, but the effects can last much longer than nitrous oxide.

With the right sedation technique, visits to the dentist will become less scary (and you may even find yourself falling asleep in the chair).

“I used to have a lot of dental anxiety, and I don’t have that problem anymore since I’ve been going to this office,” said a patient about Shirer Family Dentistry.

Shirer Family Dentistry, Aiken, SC – Focuses on Prevention

There are a few more points to consider when you’re choosing your dentist. How thoroughly do they clean your teeth? How much education do they give you to maintain your oral health at home between visits? How early do they detect potential issues?

Prevention means you’ll likely avoid more complicated procedures, and you’ll have less chance of a dental emergency. (Your dentist should be able to book you in promptly.)

Make sure your dentist is comfortable with all age groups including children and seniors and can even provide orthodontic care and dentures if necessary. All of this is the case at Shirer Family Dentistry in Aiken, SC.

One thing is for sure – you should leave feeling like you’ve just had a positive experience that’s beneficial for your health.

To find out more about finding the right dentist or to book an appointment with the professionals at Shirer Family Dentistry, contact the office today.

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Image source Pixabay

If you want good overall health, you need to take care of your teeth. Unhealthy teeth can cause serious health issues. For that reason, you need to take your oral health seriously. Follow these five tips for looking after your teeth and you can maintain your overall health.

  1. Brush and Floss Frequently

Brushing and flossing frequently is one of the keys to great oral health. After you eat food, some food particles remain in your mouth. The only way to prevent them from accumulating is to brush and floss your teeth frequently.

You should brush your teeth at least two times every day. For the best results, do so after your meals. Make sure that you take your time to brush and reach all the hard-to-reach areas. If it’s not taking you between two and three minutes to brush, you’re not doing your job.

  1. Avoid Acidic Foods and Drinks

Acid wears at your teeth. When you eat or drink acidic food, the enamel of your teeth starts to wear away. The acid tears down the minerals that protect your teeth. Because the enamel protects your teeth from harmful bacteria, this makes your teeth likely to start decaying. It also can lead to tooth sensitivity.

To avoid damaging your tooth enamel, limit your intake of acidic food and drinks. Stay away from foods like citrus fruits and sour candies. You should also avoid lemonade, lime juices, and cordials.

  1. Only Use Your Teeth for Chewing

Some people use their teeth as versatile tools. For example, you might use your teeth to crack nuts, open plastic packaging, an open bottle caps. Although you might like the multi-purpose nature of your teeth, they aren’t meant for anything but chewing.

When you use your teeth for other purposes, you place more wear on them. You also risk chipping your teeth. In any case, you should do what you can to protect them.

  1. Use the Right Tools

If you want to keep your teeth healthy, you need the right tools. First, you need an appropriate toothbrush. It should have a small head that can reach your back teeth. To avoid unnecessary wear and gum damage, you should buy a brush with soft bristles.

Even your toothpaste should be up for the job. Fluoridated toothpaste strengthens your teeth and helps prevent tooth decay.

For some extra protection, you can splurge and get tools like an electric toothbrush or water pick. They can be expensive, but they can also save you money on dental procedures.

  1. Get Regular Check-Ups

Preventative dentistry is one of the best ways to look after your oral health. When you visit a dentist for a check-up, they can examine your mouth. If you have any signs of trouble, they can advise you on what to do. You might be able to prevent a major procedure.

If you want to maintain your oral health, you should visit your dentist at least twice each year. You check-up should also include a teeth cleaning, which gets rid of any lingering plaque. With a little preventative care, you can avoid issues like cavities and root canals.

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Image source Pixabay

Many people only see a dentist when experiencing a big health issue like a severe toothache or tooth loss. Are you one of them? If so, remember that regular dental checkups play a critical role in preserving oral health. It lets your dentist identify and treat a problem in the initial stage before it becomes more serious and costly.

If you’re wondering about the real state of oral health and hygiene of the nation, we will provide you with data and statistics related to dental trends.

How Often We Visit the Dentist?

It’s impossible to give a universal answer because this widely varies from country to country and person to person. Generally speaking, those having a healthy mouth need to see a dentist every six months.

However, this doesn’t apply to people at high risk for some dental problems. They are advised to visit the dentist more frequently, preferably every three months. Those people can fall into any of these categories:

  • Pregnant women
  • Smokers
  • Diabetics
  • People with gum diseases
  • People who often suffer from cavities or plaque buildup
  • People with a weak immunity to bacteria

The good news is that more and more people visit the dentist on a regular basis. A growing number of people give high priority to oral health, so it’s a little wonder that nearly 40% of adults visit the dentist twice a year for preventive services and cleanings.

A recent study conducted by the ADA Health Policy Institute has revealed that the vast majority of Americans highly value good oral health. Even 95% regard their oral health as a critical factor of overall wellness, while 93% said that regular dental visits help them keep healthy.

Why We Visit the Dentist?

As already stated, most of us only go to the dentist in an extreme case. The most common dental problem is caries or cavity. In fact, this is why most adults and kids visit the dentist. Additionally, we also see a dentist due to the following oral health issues:

  • Tooth or root decay
  • Bone disease
  • Gum disease and infection (periodontitis or gingivitis)
  • Facial or jaw pain
  • Tooth loss
  • Oral cancer

The factors like genetics and age play a role in the severity and susceptibility of these conditions. Whatever the case may be, the dentist can detect just about any sign of a dental problem that should be closely monitored or addressed as soon as possible.

How Do We Maintain Oral Health Routine?

Even though there are numerous tips for improving dental routine, we don’t care enough about oral health and often avoid receiving dental exams. Unfortunately, many people maintain a very simple dental routine. That said, most adults merely rely on a toothpaste and toothbrush for their oral health routine. It’s estimated that every fourth person incorporates mouthwash into his/her daily routine, whereas less than 20 percent use dental floss. This is definitely not enough.

Despite being a very important aspect of a general health, oral health is often underrated or overlooked. Let’s improve the current state. Be sure to regularly make dentist appointments to get proper dental care in a timely manner. Prevention is better than cure.

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The mission of the company is to provide dental care to underserved communities to help strengthen the dental health all over the nation. While the United States is the wealthiest country in the world, dental health is the most neglected healthcare category. Children between the ages of 5 and 9 can be found to have a cavity over fifty percent of the time. This percentage increases with age and at age 17, nearly 78% of young adults can be found to have a cavity. This company has set out to improve these statistics in children and family oral care. Oral healthcare is vital for overall health in children and adults. It can even improve self-esteem and help children perform better in school. It begins with good practice in children and with the vision to help improve this statistic, the dental organization has made its mission to improve oral healthcare at the start.

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Photo Source: tlevit-dds.com

What Is Happening to Repair This?

No one enjoys going to the dentist but it is necessary if you want to maintain dental health. It is one of those things in life that must be done. Unfortunately, many people put it off until they have no option but to make an appointment at a local dentist in order to fix a big problem. Luckily, there are many dental offices that make dentist appointments as painless and quick as possible. One of those dental offices is Kool Smiles, headquartered in Marietta, Ga.

Where Can You Find an Office?

The dental company has offices in 16 states including Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Maryland, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia, and Washington. They service patients all of over the country and have thousands of employees that can help change your view on dentistry. You can find an office close to you by going to their website and you can easy make your appointment online! It is extremely easy to get started with the company and begin your journey to dental health.

A Dental Practice That Accepts Medicaid

The company was founded in 2002 and has grown exponentially in recent years. It is a privately held company with a strong desire to offer aide to children and families. Not only did they set out to improve oral care in underserved areas, they now offer dental services to those seeking a State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) or Medicaid dentist. Because of this, they can help families who would not normally have the funds to pay for dental care. The majority of other dental practices do not accept Medicaid but this practice has paved the way to begin this trend. For now, this company has practices all across the country that can assist needy families.

What Can You Do To Improve Your Oral Health?

Even if you cannot find an office near you, it is extremely important to find a local dentist office in your area and begin a path to oral health. The main goal is to improve oral care and create a better world for the future. It can lead to other health benefits as well as a heightened self-esteem. It is easier to maintain oral care than to deal with a major issues once it arises.