Braces And Regular Check-ups: The Dental Connection!

Many patients ask, "If I have braces, do I still need a dental check-up every 6 months?"  The answer is, "Yes!"  In fact, it's even more important that patients receiving orthodontic treatment visit our office regularly.  When you're wearing braces, food may be caught in places that your toothbrush normally can't reach. This causes bacteria to build up and can lead to cavities, gingivitis and even gum disease. Believe it or not, an estimated 80 percent of American adults currently have some form of gum disease.  Recent studies have shown a correlation between gum disease and heart disease, underscoring the importance of good oral health care.  Our team will work closely with your orthodontist to make sure that your teeth stay clean and healthy while you are undergoing orthodontic treatment.  Remember, our goal is straight healthy teeth!

If it has been more than six months since your last dental visit to our office, please give us a call at 918-455-0123 to schedule an appointment.

God Bless,
DRT

Your Team:The Dental Connection!

At Thomas Family Dentistry, we have a team of outstanding professionals that strives to improve your dental health!  Each one of our staff members work hard to make certain that everyone of our valued patients are taken care of to the best of their abilities.

MEET THE TEAM:

• Veronica: Office Manager
• Kathy: Front Desk / Receptionist
• Karla: Registered Dental Hygienist 
• Deidra: Registered Dental Hygienist 
• Connie: Registered Dental Hygienist 
• Debby: Certified Dental Assistant
• Jennifer: Certified Dental Assistant

Our entire team is here to serve you.  If you have any questions or are in need of a dental appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,

DRT

Baby Teeth: The Dental Connection!

It can be easy to underestimate the significance of baby teeth.  Some parents who assume that since their child's baby teeth, also known as primary teeth, eventually fall out and are replaced, they must be less important that the permanent teeth.  But did you know that baby teeth serve purposes other than biting, chewing, and digesting food properly?

Baby teeth are essential not only for your child's language development, but they also serve other important functions, like contributing to the normal development of your child's jaw bones and facial muscles.  Baby teeth also reserve space for your child's future permanent teeth.

A baby tooth is intended to remain in your child's mouth until the permanent tooth underneath is ready to take its place.  Sometimes, either due to a tooth being knocked out accidentally or being removed because of tooth decay, kids lose baby teeth before the permanent teeth are ready to erupt.  If a tooth is lost, the teeth on either side of the open space may possibly push into the open space thereby preventing the permanent tooth from erupting into the correct position when it has fully developed.

If you have any questions about baby teeth and their important long term dental connection or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT

Our Website: Your Dental Connection!

Our website truly is YOUR DENTAL CONNECTION to all things pertaining to Thomas Family Dentistry.   With continually enhanced abilities to communicate with our patients, our website provides the most up-to-date information about our practice.  From many popular social media outlets like Facebook, Twitter, Google+, Instagram and Pinterest, to our constantly updated BLOGS, our website is information central!  Our number one priority is to provide a platform of dental education, highlighting home town events and informing our patients about dental specials that will be featured at our office.

So stay tuned, stay informed and always let us know what you think!  If you have any questions or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT

Ending The Year With A Smile: The Dental Connection!

Although people have been ushering in the New Year for centuries, it did not become an official holiday until 1582 by Pope George XIII.  At midnight, people were instructed to yell, holler, and blow horns to scare away the evil spirits of the previous year so that the New Year would be joyous and filled with opportunity.  Nearly 500 years later, the New Year is still greeted by whooping and hollering but in a celebratory manner instead!

No manner what your New Year's plans may be, remember to be safe as you end the end with a smile!

God Bless,
DRT

Postmenopause: The Dental Connection!

A new study suggests that postmenopausal women are not only at a high risk for broken bones, but are also at an increased risk for gum disease.

The research included almost 200 women, aged 51 to 80.  They had all gone through menopause within the last 10 years, did not smoke and had not taken any hormone replacement therapy, bone loss prevention drugs or diabetes medications for at least five years.

The women's gums were examined and their fracture risk was assessed on a Fracture Assessment Risk Tool (FRAX), which takes into account factors such as weight, height, previous fractures, arthritis, smoking and diabetes.

The researchers noted that many of those factors are also associated with gum disease!

Women with high fracture risk scores also showed the strongest signs of gum disease, a finding that suggests that fracture risk could be a reliable indicator of gum disease, according to the study published in the journal Menopause.

While more investigations are needed, the FRAX tool score can potentially be used as a way to find women at risk for gum disease. Although health insurance does not cover dental procedures, researchers are now suggesting that there should be coverage for gum disease because of its link to a woman's overall health.

If you have any questions or are in need of a dental appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,
DRT

Tannic Acid: The Dental Connection!

Although Coffee and Tea are two of the most common drinks in the world, most people do not realize that they can be very tough on your teeth.  Tannic acid, the substance that makes these popular drinks dark, etches into the pits and grooves of tooth enamel. This is how coffee and tea can transform your teeth from white to tan and in may areas, black!

So, if you can't give up that morning cup o'joe, check out the following tips to reduce their impact on your teeth.

• Rinse with a glass of water after every cup
• Drink iced coffee or tea with a straw

Even if you are not a big coffee or tea drinker, swishing you mouth out with plain water after every meal can help to neutralize the cavity causing acids that are left in your mouth.  If you have any questions or are in need of an appointment, call our office at 918-455-0123!

God Bless,

DRT