Children Dental Care

Is it safe to see the dentist during COVID-19? Yes!

The coronavirus pandemic has altered the world around us. Preventive protocols like physical distancing and covering mouth are now important to avoid the risk of Covid-19 infection. But, it is also important to maintain oral health. A cleaner and healthy mouth contribute to minimizing the chances of viral infections as it is well known that a healthy body is less prone to any infections. The pandemic has pushed many to neglect their oral health concerns and as the world starts to unlock, the question still persists- Is it safe to see the dentist during COVID-19?

Dentist-Covid19

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC), there has not been one single reported case of COVID-19 transmission associated with dental offices so far. Just like any of us using masks on daily basis, washing hands, using sanitizers, disinfecting surfaces, the dentists to have already put all preventive protocols in action to ensure safety for their staff and patients. All safe dental offices have geared the patient & staff interaction to be straightforward and predictable by minimizing contact wherever possible, by using PPE kits and minimizing chairside adjustments, etc. Efficiency in all aspects of treatment and operations has now become critical. So, why neglect oral health when all the infection control procedures are in place! The dental community has been issued safety guidelines to follow, but here are a few things you can do to overcome the hesitation of seeing your dentists during the pandemic.

Yes, Please.

Before you make an appointment, here are a few questions you may ask to overcome the apprehension:
If patients are screened over the phone before their visit.
If the practice limits the number of people allowed in the waiting room at one time.
If they disinfect all surfaces including telephones, the EFTPOS machine, door handles, etc.

If all instruments/tools are sterilized after each patient.

If the staff have enough personal protective equipment?
If both staff and patients wear masks at all times?
If they have removed high contact items in the reception area like, magazines & toys.
If they have adjusted seating in the reception area to facilitate social distancing.

If the answer to all of these questions is “yes,” it means the dental office is doing everything to provide a safe environment & hence, you can feel at ease going to the dentist’s office.

Your Call
A safe dental practice puts infection control measures in action and you can see it for yourself in the initial visit. It’s then your choice to go ahead or not. So, here’s a list of everything you need to observe before you make an informed decision.

A safe dental practice:

● Records your detailed travel history and medical history.
● Sterilizes instruments for each and every patient.
● Uses disposable suction tips and instruments.
● Disinfects the dental chair, instrument panels, dental light unit and benchtops between every appointment.
● Places protective barriers over surfaces such as a headrest, x-ray units, etc.
● Uses Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
● Requests patients to undertake a 30-second preoperational antimicrobial mouth rinse with a 0.1% hydrogen peroxide solution before treatment
● Uses high-speed suction that reduces aerosols by 95% whenever possible.
● Uses rubber dam that reduces aerosol by 70% whenever possible.

We know it is not easy right now. Post lockdown, many businesses have reopened, including dental practices. Pandemic or not, dentists are trained to regularly disinfect and will continue to do so. Returning to your dentist is purely a personal decision, but making an informed choice by assessing the hygiene protocols will save you from neglect that can cost more than just money.

Come to Expressions Dental for all your Dental Needs!

Our team of dental professionals follow stringent safety protocols and are always here to help you get the expert dental care you need in Calgary even during the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. Do you have questions about our safety procedures? Need more information? Interested in an appointment? You can contact us online or give us a call. See you soon!
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Read more about the article Dental Care for Your Child before Heading Back To School

Dental Care for Your Child before Heading Back To School

You might feel the rush of getting your child back to school as the date nears. While you are busy checking off things from the long list of to-dos, make sure your child does not miss out on a back-to-school dental check-up! Getting your child checked for dental ailments before he/she heads back to school is an integral part of his/her entire school year. Even if your child’s teeth look clean, white and shiny on the outside, there can be dental decay lurking around on the inside!

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Read more about the article Five Ways To Get Your Kids Excited About Their Dental Care

Five Ways To Get Your Kids Excited About Their Dental Care

Usually, it is critical in maintaining routine dental appointments of our health, especially for kids. However, it is essential that parents instill this habit in their children at an early age, as a lot of children have dental cavities by the time they reach kindergarten.

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Read more about the article Healthy Snacks for Children’s Teeth

Healthy Snacks for Children’s Teeth

Good dental care for children goes beyond brushing and flossing. It also demands a balanced diet that is rich in nutritional value, which helps in keeping the teeth healthy and maintaining a healthy smile. Proper oral hygiene begins right from an early age. That is why it is important for you to encourage your kids to eat healthy snacks to keep their teeth healthy and strong.

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Read more about the article Some Facts About Cavities

Some Facts About Cavities

The most common oral disease in the world is tooth decay. So, here it is, an insight to what happens in your mouth when your teeth start to decay. This post will be helpful for you to know what’s in your mouth naturally and the causes and prevention of tooth decay.

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Read more about the article Teaching Kids about Better Dental Habits

Teaching Kids about Better Dental Habits

It is very important to get our kids started the right way as far as their dental habits are concerned and we have to ensure that their dental health is strong at a young age. We obviously don’t want them to suffer from periodontal disease, oral cancer, or other significant dental problems.

Here are a few strategies you may want to try to ensure that your kids grow up with healthy teeth and gums.

  • Kids are more likely to imitate what they see from adults. In addition to talking to them about the importance of good dental habits, show them how you brush twice a day & floss daily, especially before going to bed at night.
  • Make brushing time a “together” time. Let your child “help” you with brushing, as you help him.
  • Let the kids choose their own toothbrush and make brushing fun. If they love the design on the toothbrush, they will love brushing too. You can even pick toothbrushes with lights, sounds and vibration to make brushing activity more exciting!
  • You can make brushing time a story time, so that kids will look forward to it. You can also make up a tooth brushing song and sing it for your kids, while they are brushing their teeth.
  • Hard to reach areas of our teeth may have food debris left even after brushing. Show your child how to floss early on to address this problem. Use plaque disclosing products to highlight areas of build-up they may have missed.
  • Kids love sugary food, which is a common culprit of tooth decay. Make it a point to have them rinse food from their mouth by drinking water, after having sweets.
  • Teach them to use a pea size amount of toothpaste on their brush and make sure they don’t swallow it.
  • Teach them to also brush their tongue while brushing. If the tongue is not clean, it can cause bad breath and tooth decay. Give small rewards like stickers after they brush, floss and swish every day.
  • Ensure with the help of a dental professional that your kids have good dental health. Work with your general dentist to make the experience fun and relaxing for your kids.
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Read more about the article Effect of Acidic Drinks on Kids’ Teeth

Effect of Acidic Drinks on Kids’ Teeth

Fizzy drinks make fuzzy teeth! Keeping teeth healthy for a lifetime means preventing tooth decay and erosion. Though fluoride in community drinking water dramatically reduces the amount of decay in all age groups, tooth erosion is a newer phenomenon and one that is preventable.

What is erosion?
Erosion is the chemical loss of enamel due to acid. Acid is found primarily in soft drinks, sports drinks, juices and acidic foods. Acid reflux, vomiting and other illnesses that produce stomach acid in the mouth can also erode tooth enamel.

How do fizzy drinks make fuzzy teeth?
When acid continuously attacks teeth, they cannot repair themselves and will gradually begin to turn fuzzy and dissolve. Dentists consider every sip of a low pH drink an acid attack. Even one bottle of soda or a single sports drink, if sipped over hours, can do extensive, irreversible damage to tooth enamel. If high acidity drinks are consumed, it is not simply a matter of having a child clean their teeth an hour or 30 minutes later and hoping they’ll be okay – the damage is already done. Normally, there’s a balance between acids and protective mechanisms in a healthy mouth. But, once that balance is shifted in favor of the acids, regardless of the type of acid, teeth become damaged.

Often, children and adolescents grind their teeth at night, and they can have undiagnosed reflux, which brings with it acidity from the stomach. Combined with drinks high in acidity, this creates a triple threat to young people’s teeth which can cause long-term damage.

What can I do to prevent fuzzy teeth?
STOP the continuous acid and sugar attack on your teeth by limiting the quantity of soft drinks and sports drinks and instead choosing healthy drinks such as milk and water. Reduce the size of the drink and use a straw to draw the damaging liquid away from your teeth. Food consumed with acidic drinks can often help counteract acid attacks. Most important is to brush your teeth with fluoridated toothpaste before bed to reduce bacteria and to help harden your enamel. Wait at least one hour after drinking an acidic drink to brush your teeth to allow your saliva to begin the repair process. Drinking and swishing with water can also help.

Those with orthodontic appliances need to brush as soon as possible to remove food particles and plaque. They are at the greatest risk of decalcification and should limit soft drinks and sports drinks.

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Read more about the article Teeth Cleaning Techniques For Children

Teeth Cleaning Techniques For Children

Our Dental hygienist Mel, explains brushing techniques for your children as they do have limited dexterity.

It is very important for children to have a proper brushing and flossing routine ti ensure healthy teeth for life.

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Emergency Dental Care In Calgary
http://www.expressionsdental.ca
Call: +1 (403) 252 7733

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Read more about the article Make Your Child Love the Dentist

Make Your Child Love the Dentist

Going to the dentist starts long before your child’s first appointment. If you have hesitation about going to the dentist, he/she will sense this and be apprehensive as well. Believe it or not, some children actually look forward to going to the dentist, but this takes preparation and teamwork to make this happen.

You can prepare your kids by reading books about visiting the dentist. Books explain why we need to visit the dentist and what happens at the dental clinic, from arrival to the waiting room to the equipment used and what the dentist will do. One of the main reasons children might fear the dentist is the unknown – if they have an idea of what to expect it makes it easier for them. Secondly, be a positive role model. Visit the dentist regularly yourself and brush your teeth with them.

Children may have any number of dental health problems over the years. For instance, they may require braces to help with straightening their teeth. They could need to have fillings put in to prevent worsening of cavities and further damage to their teeth. Very young children will need to be taught good oral hygiene practices, and the dentist’s office is the perfect place to reinforce what they are learning at home.

 

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