At Southwest Celebrity Smiles, we receive a lot of common dental questions from our patients. So here are 7 of these frequently asked questions that we get on a regular basis and answers that will help to educate you to the best of our ability.
1. How Often Should I Get a Dental Checkup?
Oral health is as individual and unique from person to person as fingerprints. A good rule is to get an exam and teeth cleaning at least 2 times a year, even if you are not experiencing any problems and you consider your dental health to be good. By visiting twice a year our dentist can check for any dental health problems that go can often go unnoticed and get good teeth cleaning from our hygienist.
Regularly scheduled dental visits help to identify dental health problems early before they become costly or tooth extraction becomes necessary. Dental exams also allow our dentist to spot diseases or medical conditions that are routinely checked for such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and autoimmune disorders.
2. What Are Early Signs of Oral Health Problems?
Early signs of tooth decay and periodontal disease can vary widely. It will be important for you to visit our doctor as soon as possible if you have any of the following issues. Also, if you know or have a loved one complaining of pain or trouble chewing get them to the dentist immediately.
- Mouth sores or redness
- Swollen gums or face
- Tooth Sensitivity
- Broken teeth
- Bleeding gums
- Persistent bad breath or a bad taste in your mouth
Scheduling a dental visit right away will ensure that your oral health problems are addressed early and will not become costly in the future.
3. How Do I Prevent Tooth Decay, Gum Disease, Gingivitis, and Other Problems?
The best way to prevent tooth decay, and gum disease, and ensure a healthy mouth is to brush twice daily, floss once daily, and go to the dentist at least twice a year. Ask our dentist and hygienist a lot of questions and explain any concerns that you are having. They are there to give you the best experience possible while also educating you on the best path to complete oral health.
4. Do I really need to floss every day?
The short answer is, “Yes of course!” Flossing is an essential part of any oral health care regime that will remove bacteria, plaque, and tartar from those hard-to-reach places between your teeth.
This is important because it removes these cavity-causing agents that can’t be reached by a toothbrush and helps prevent gum disease and eventual tooth loss. So make sure you get to flossing at least once a day to achieve optimal oral health.
5. What If I Break My Tooth By Accident?
When a tooth has been broken or completely knocked out time is of the essence and immediate action needs to be taken to try to save that tooth. Find the tooth or teeth immediately even if it has broken into pieces. You will want to transport that tooth immediately to the dentist in a glass of milk or your own saliva. If possible you can also gently place the tooth back in the socket and softly bite down on a gauze or paper towel.
Immediately call us to schedule an appointment and then get yourself and your tooth to our dental office as soon as possible. It’s possible that our dentist might be able to re-implant the tooth and give you a sedative or medication to prevent any further pain.
This is a full-blown dental emergency that needs to be addressed by a doctor, so if this happens outside of our normal business hours you might need to go to the emergency room as soon as you can depending on the level of pain you are experiencing.
6. Do I Need to Arrive Early for My First Dental Appointment?
If it is your first appointment you will need to arrive 10-15 minutes early to fill out the following new patient forms:
- Patient Information Form
- Dental Insurance Card (if applicable)
- Identification such as Driver’s License, Military ID, or State ID
- Patient Health History Form
- HIPAA Consent Form
- Patient Authorization Form
You can find all these New Patient Forms available in the menu above to fill out early that way you will be seen as soon as you enter the dental office. You can also schedule your dental appointment in the menu above on the Book Appointment button.
7. It’s Been a Few Years Since I’ve Been the Dentist. What Should I Do?
You’re actually not alone, a lot of Americans tend to avoid the dental office because of several different reasons including a fear of what they might find. Whether it’s been 6 months or 6 years, it’s never too late to get back into the routine and onto the road to complete oral health.
At our dental office in East El Paso, we can arrange for you to have a thorough and educational exam appointment. Our dental staff is caring and professional, we’ve seen it all so don’t be worried about what we may find. Our dental clinic is comfortable and clean and our staff will provide you with the best options to get you smiling again!
Schedule a Dental Exam and Ask Our Dentist!
We are here to answer all of your questions and give you a comfortable experience tailored made for your specific oral health needs. Call today at 915.595.3333 to schedule your next dental visit or click the Book Appointment button in the menu above!