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Friday, March 30, 2018

Fillings Don’t Have to Be Noticeable

Fillings Don’t Have to Be Noticeable

Although parents don’t want to hear that their child needs a dental filling, restorations are often necessary to treat a tooth that has experienced decay. This simple procedure restores your child’s tooth to its normal shape and function.

Today, dentists have options when it comes to selecting what material to use for fillings. While metal amalgam has been used to fill teeth for more than a century, we increasingly use tooth-colored composite resins for this procedure.

The advantages of using composite fillings include the following:
  • Composite fillings blend in well because they match the color of teeth.
  • Composite fillings bond to the teeth, helping to seal them and prevent additional decay.
  • Some composite fillings release fluoride, contributing to the prevention of decay.
  • Composite fillings can usually be placed in a hole smaller than that needed for amalgam fillings.
Composite fillings are durable. Because everyone wants healthy-looking white teeth, composite fillings are usually the material of choice for the front teeth; they can also be used on the back teeth.

One of the difficulties of placing a composite filling in a child’s mouth is that the tooth must be kept clean and dry throughout the procedure. Thus, the process takes a little longer than placing an amalgam filling, but we can keep most children still and comfortable during the procedure.


Of course, the ideal filling is no filling at all. That is why we stress the importance of proper brushing and flossing, as well as regular visits to KiDDS Dental for checkups and cleanings. If your child is due for a dental visit—or if you feel he or she needs some help or encouragement with dental hygiene—call our office for an appointment. We will work with you and your child to improve dental hygiene and reduce the chances that he or she will need any fillings—composite or amalgam—at all.

Click here to schedule an appointment with Dr. Jared. Or give us a call at (509)-891-7070.

Thursday, March 22, 2018

Kentucky Derby Hat Contest 2018


 


Facebook in no way endorses or promotes this contest. It is solely promoted by KiDDS Dental. 

Win a lunch for your team!  Participate in the KiDDS Dental Kentucky Derby Hat Contest!

How to participate . . .

1. Contact Jaymie@GrowUpSmiling.com to reserve your official KiDDS Dental Kentucky Derby Hat.
2. Decorate your hat.
3. Take a digital picture of your hat and email it to Brandie@GrowUpSmiling.com, making sure to note the name of your organization. 
4. Get votes! Each "like" or "love" your hat gets in our "Kentucky Derby Hat" album will earn your organization one vote.


Some ideas to get votes:

  • Make a small sign to display with your hat explaining the contest and directing your patrons to "like" the picture on the KiDDS Dental Facebook page.
  • Post a link to the contest picture, from the KiDDS Dental Facebook page, to your organization's Facebook page and ask your fans to vote.
  • Include a link to the picture of your Kentucky Derby Hat in your company's e-newsletter.
  • Ask your team to share the picture on their personal Facebook pages.


Voting for the KiDDS Dental's "Kentucky Derby Hat" photo contest begins April 30, 2018 and ends at 5:00 pm, May 5 2018.  By submitting a photo, each entrant agrees to the rules and states that they are 18 years or older. 
Who may enter: A member of the staff for invited businesses may enter on behalf of their business.  KiDDS Dental will determine the eligibility of each photo submitted at its sole discretion.
What to enter: A picture of the provided hat that is decorated. 
Photos that violate or infringe upon another person's rights, including to but not limited to copyright, are not eligible. 
By entering the contest, entrants grant KiDDS Dental license to display, distribute, reproduce photographs. 
Judging:  Winner will be chosen by a popular vote.
Prize:  The picture of the hat with the most reactions on Facebook will be the winner. The office that submits the winning photo will earn a catered lunch for the team, up to twenty people. 

Friday, March 16, 2018

Guard Your Child’s Mouth During Sports

Guard Your Child’s Mouth During Sports

Does your child participate in a contact sport such as football, boxing, hockey, lacrosse or rugby? If so, you can greatly reduce the risk of traumatic injury to your child’s mouth by having him or her wear a mouthguard while playing and practicing. In fact, experts recommend mouthguards for youth involved in noncontact sports, such as gymnastics or recreational activities, that might pose a risk of injury to the mouth.

Also known as a gum shield, a mouthguard helps cushion any impact to the mouth, reducing the chances of trauma to the teeth, gums and lips. A participant who does not wear a mouthguard during a contact sport is 60 times more likely to sustain an injury to the teeth than someone who wears one. A coach could—and should—keep your child from playing or practicing without a mouthguard.

Mouthguards come in three varieties:
  • ready-made mouthguards purchased at a drugstore or athletic equipment store
  • boil-and-bite mouthguards that, when softened after heating, conform to the shape of your child’s mouth
  • custom-made mouthguards from impressions we take in the office
Custom-made mouthguards are generally considered the safest, most comfortable option. For some families, however, the cost may be a factor in their choice. If you decide to purchase a mouthguard elsewhere, we will still be happy to talk to you about the other available options. You need to select a mouthguard that is not only resilient and protective but that fits properly so your child is comfortable when wearing it. 

To get the most out of your investment, have your child rinse the mouthguard before and after each use. Caution your child to avoid chewing or biting on it, and don’t let him or her share it with others. Keep the mouthguard out of hot water and direct sunlight, which can distort its shape. Finally, be sure your child wears it every time he or she plays a sport, including during practices.


If your child is involved in a recreational activity or contact sport that involves risk of injury to the mouth, be sure to discuss appropriate safety measures with Dr. Jared at your next appointment. We can review options with you and help you select the best one. Whatever option you choose, be sure to bring your child’s mouthguard to his or her next appointment at KiDDS Dental so we can evaluate its fit and effectiveness.

Give us a call at (509)-891-7070 to schedule today!

Friday, March 2, 2018

Exterminating Sugar Bugs

Exterminating Sugar Bugs

Has your child ever asked you if there are “sugar bugs” in their food? If they have, chances are they have recently been given a lesson on plaque. “Sugar bugs” are a popular teaching tool used by dentists to help children learn about the dangers of plaque. Children are easily confused by discussions of “invisible films of food particles and bacteria that latch on their teeth,” but they are certainly aware of bugs and that they don’t want them in their mouths.

The image of “sugar bugs” eating away at their teeth isn’t far from the truth. Deposits of sugar and carbohydrates mix with the bacteria in the mouth to produce a thin layer of film called plaque on the teeth. If that plaque is not cleaned away by brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day, it interacts with further sugar and carbohydrates, creating acids that cause holes in the teeth—cavities. That allows more acids to weaken the tooth from the inside. Weak teeth cause pain and run the risk of literally breaking apart.

So use this fear of sugar bugs to your advantage in helping your children take care of their teeth.
  • Eating healthily will stop the sugar bugs from getting into their mouths.
  • Brushing twice a day and flossing at least once a day will keep those sugar bugs away from their teeth.
  • Coming in to KiDDS Dental twice a year will get rid of whatever sugar bugs they may miss.

When children grow up and learn the truth about what’s going on in their mouths, they might find the idea of sugar bugs a little silly, but their healthy gums and bright smiles will justify the fairy tale.

Give us a call at (509)-891-7070 to schedule an appointment today!