|
 Dr. Mike Hagley and the dental professionals at Grand Rapids Dental
Care are concerned about your health! Good oral health
care plays a big part in good overall health. With
preventive services such as regular dental exams, dental
cleanings,
fluoridation,
sealants,
good home care, interceptive orthodontics and
patient education, you and your family are on your way
to a lifetime of good oral health.
At your initial visit you can expect a thorough dental
exam
by Dr. Hagley which may include a full mouth series of
x-rays, oral
cancer screening, hard and soft tissue screening,
evaluation of your oral and facial muscles and joints,
intra-oral photos, and in some cases digital
photography. Grand Rapids Dental Care is proud to
offer patients the latest in dental x-ray technology -
the Dexis Digital
X-Ray System. It exposes patients to a
much lower level of radiation than traditional
x-rays, offers immediate high-resolution films for use by the
dentist
 and makes sharing x-rays between referring practitioners easier.
Dexis is a great example of Grand Rapids Dental
Care's commitment to you and your oral health.
Click
Here
to Learn How to Make An Appointment |
An Ounce of
Prevention is Worth A Pound of Cure
Good oral health is vital to overall good health. Your
commitment to an excellent home care regimen combined
with regular visits to your dentist can ensure a
lifetime of healthy smiles. It has been estimated
that preventive dentistry can add ten years
to a person’s lifespan!
Brushing
-
A good home care program is one of the best ways to
ensure healthy teeth and gums. It consists of brushing
upon rising, before going to bed and after every meal
and flossing every day. Regular visits to your
family dentist for check ups and cleanings are also an
important aspect of maintaining optimal oral health.
Proper brushing and flossing are two ways you can make
sure you are doing what you can to protect your mouth.
Proper brushing consists of about
 three
to five minutes of concentrated brushing. While a
quick brush may make your mouth feel fresh, it will do
very little to remove the plaque that develops during
the course of the day. A good brushing - aimed at
plaque removal - covers all areas of the teeth; inside,
outside on the biting surfaces and along the gum line.
Use of a soft, round-bristled toothbrush is best because
it doesn't scrub away the enamel on your teeth or
irritate your gums. Soft bristled brushes also
clean more effectively below the gum line. Because
bacterial colonies (plaque) reform every twelve hours,
 brushing
at least twice a day is very important in order to
prevent gum disease. Without good oral
hygiene, calculus or tartar may begin to form on your
teeth. Calculus is a calcified colony of plaque
bacteria which can be quite damaging to your gum
tissues. Once calculus has formed on the teeth
only your dentist or hygienist can remove it.
Flossing
-
Why be concerned about plaque and calculus? They
are the leading causes of periodontal disease - a
disease that threatens loss of your teeth as well as a
decline in your overall health. Because one of the
most difficult areas from which to remove plaque is in
between the teeth - brushing alone is not enough.
You must also floss at least once daily as an important
part of your home care. Plaque can turn into
calculus quickly so it is very important implement a
regular regimen that includes flossing in order to
maintain healthy teeth and gums. When flossing use
a gentle
 sawing
motion to work the floss between the teeth. When
you reach the gum line curve the floss against the wall
of the tooth and rub up and down to remove the plaque.
If you have not been flossing regularly tenderness and
bleeding after flossing the first several times is
normal. Warm saltwater rinses will help to relieve
this tenderness. Bleeding and tender gums are an
indication of gum disease. If these symptoms
persist after one week of daily flossing be sure to
contact your dentist for proper treatment.
Fluoride
is a nutrient which our bodies need for growth and
development. However, it also helps to reduce the
incidence of tooth decay and is effective in decreasing
tooth sensitivity. If fluoride is taken internally
during childhood when teeth are being formed, it is
incorporated throughout the enamel of the teeth helping
to make them less prone to decay. Once teeth are
erupted into the mouth fluoride taken internally has
little effect on the structure of the tooth. For
that reason use of fluoridated toothpastes and/or mouth
rinses are recommended. The fluoride works with
your saliva on the enamel of the teeth helping to
re-mineralize the enamel and fight decay. Grand
Rapids Dental Care may recommend fluoride in a stronger
form for patients with high rates of tooth decay,
extensive dental work, or sensitive teeth.
Bad Breath
-
Nothing ruins a good first impression more quickly than
bad breath. Oftentimes you don’t even realize that
you have a problem until someone tells you. It is
an embarrassing problem that can signal an underlying
dental problem. Most people think that using a
mouthwash will solve their problem. Generally
speaking, a mouthwash will only freshen your breath for
a very short time. Mouth rinses containing alcohol
may actually make your breath worse because they dry
your mouth. In the majority of cases bad breath is
caused by the presence of bacteria on the teeth, tongue
and soft tissues of the mouth, throat, and sinuses.
Proper dental home care including regular brushing and
flossing will usually help remedy the problem. If
your gums bleed when you brush or floss it could be an
indication of gum disease.
Sensitive
teeth
-
Do you sometimes experience discomfort if you eat or
drink hot or cold foods? When you inhale cold air
do your teeth ache? Those symptoms may indicate a
dental problem. Share your concerns with Dr.
Hagley of Grand Rapids Dental Care and let him determine
whether or not you have a dental problem. In many
cases he can recommend treatment to reduce tooth
sensitivity.
 Sealants
-
An important part of maintaining a healthy mouth is
preventing tooth decay. Sealants can help you do
that by offering major protection against cavities.
A sealant is a plastic material that is usually applied
to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth. Made of
plastic resin, the sealant bonds to grooves of the teeth
and acts as a barrier which protects the tooth's enamel
from plaque and acids. Thorough brushing and
flossing help remove food particles and plaque from
smooth surfaces of teeth but toothbrush bristles cannot
reach all the way into the deep grooves to extract food
and plaque. Sealants protect these vulnerable
areas by "sealing out" plaque and food. Sealants
are easily applied and may be recommended as part of you
or your child’s overall treatment plan.
Mouthguards
-
Dental injuries are the most common type of oro-facial
injury sustained during participation in sports.
The use of custom-fitted mouth guards can significantly
reduce the number and severity of those injuries.
They reduce the possibility of concussion significantly.
In fact, the American Dental Association estimates that
more than 200,000 oral injuries are prevented annually
in the United States through use of sports mouth-guards.
Dental injuries can be significantly reduced if
children, teenagers, and adults wear custom fabricated
mouth-guards while involved in such activities as
hockey, football, basketball, soccer, volleyball,
baseball, softball, rollerblading, skateboarding,
martial arts, boxing, and mountain biking.
Although do-it-yourself, “boil and bite” mouth-guards
can be found in sporting goods stores they are not
nearly as effective as the custom mouth-guards available
from Grand Rapids Dental Care. “Boil and bite”
mouth-guards do not fit as well as custom fabricated
types. Therefore, they are often uncomfortable and
interfere with the athlete’s breathing and speaking
ability. They may also give a false sense of
protection due since their thickness is dramatically
decreased when the athlete "bites" it into place during
its softened state. On the other hand, Pro-form
mouth-guards fitted by Dr. Hagley are more comfortable
to wear since they are custom-fitted to the athlete's
mouth. They are also made of a stronger material
and, therefore, offer more "smile protection."
These are the same mouth-guards worn by professional
athletes. Remember – mouth-guards aren't just for
kids. Weekend athlete's need as much protection from
oral injuries as their younger counterparts!
Make Healthy Choices
-
Smile-friendly foods are naturally high in nutrients and
low in sugar. Some foods good for your dental
health are milk, eggs, yogurt, peanuts and cheese.
Milk acts as an acid inhibitor when combined with
starches like those found in cereal. Other snacks
that are good for your smile include include meat,
seafood, hard-boiled eggs, raw vegetables, plain
popcorn, seeds and nuts. Foods which are
devastating for your smile are high in sugar and lacking
in nutritional value. Examples include: soft
drinks, ice cream, raisins, dried fruits, sweetened
juices, chocolate, candies, gum, jellies and other
beverages high in sugars. Limiting your intake of
these foods whenever possible will help preserve your
healthy smile. In general, common sense should
prevail! Eat sensibly, brush and floss your teeth
daily, and visit your dentist to ensure your smile
remains healthy and beautiful.
Searching
for a Grand Rapids Dentist?
Call
Grand Rapids Dental Care today at 218-326-3438.
Let us partner with you to achieve a lifetime of health,
happy smiles!
 Grand
Rapids Dental Care
220 SE 21st Street
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
Phone: 218-326-3438
Fax: 218-327-1475
Email:
smile@grdental.com |
