Once kids get their first tooth, parents start to wonder how they can help their child establish good dental habits. As a parent, you want to help your children develop good dental hygiene, since poor dental health is all too common and can lead to complications in adulthood such as more serious diseases like heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and cancer. Below are simple tips from Platte Valley Dental Group for helping your children develop and maintain healthy teeth.

Lead By Example

Be a Role Model: Kids love to imitate those around them, so being a good role model is one of the best ways to show children how important dental health is.
Demonstrate Good Oral Health Habits: Brush and floss with your kids, rather than sending them into the bathroom on their own. Make it part of the daily routine.

Keep Dental Appointments

Regular Checkups: Keep a regular routine of going to the dentist for regular checkups.
First Dental Appointment: Your child should have their first dental appointment within 6 months of their first tooth or their first birthday, whichever comes first, and then twice a year after that.

Eat Healthy Foods

Avoid Sugary Drinks and Food: This can help with not only your child’s overall health, but it can also create a conversation about cavities.

Brush and Floss

Brush Twice a Day: Brushing twice a day for at least 2 minutes is one of the best ways to keep your mouth clean and healthy.
Use Tartar Dye: Use a tartar dye if desired to be sure all the teeth surfaces are cleaned and that brushing has happened long enough to be effective at removing plaque.
Utilize Apps: There are also apps available to make brushing and caring for your teeth fun.

These are some great ways to help keep your child’s mouth clean and healthy. Call our Scottsbluff, NE office today at (308) 633-1111 to schedule an appointment with us. We’re always happy to answer any questions you may have!

Dental implants have become many dentists’ go-to procedure for replacing missing teeth. Dental implant surgery replaces tooth roots with metal, screwlike posts and replaces damaged or missing teeth with artificial teeth that look and function much like real ones. Platte Valley Dental Group in Scottsbluff, NE offers implants as a great alternative to dentures when a lack of natural teeth roots don’t allow building denture or bridgework tooth replacements.

What are the risks?

Like any type of surgery, there are a few risks to getting dental implants. However, the problems that come with dental implant surgery are rare and typically minor and very treatable. Risks include: 

• Sinus problems, when dental implants placed in the upper jaw protrude into one of your sinus cavities
• Injury or damage to surrounding structures, such as other teeth or blood vessels
• Nerve damage, which can cause pain, numbness or tingling in your natural teeth, gums, lips or chin
• Infection at the implant site

The advantages of using dental implants. 

Dental implants are one of the most reliable dental procedures with a 95% success. They also offer advantages that other missing teeth solutions do not, such as:

• Appearance – Implants look and feel like your natural teeth.
• Speech – No need to worry about slipping dentures or loose bridges that can cause slurred speech.
• Comfort – Implants are permanent and stable, so no chaffing or discomfort will happen like with dentures.
• Oral health – Implant placement does not require modifying surrounding teeth as a bridge does. Also, implants stop bone deterioration and stimulate healthy bone tissue growth.

Dental Implant Procedure

When considering having a dental implant procedure, a patient will typically go through the following steps: 

1. First, the patient will go through a thorough exam and consultation with the dentist. The dentist will then make an individualized treatment plan. 
2. At the next appointment, the team will place your implant, which acts as a substitute tooth root. 
3. Then, the tooth is given time (about 2-3 months) to heal and integrate with the bone tissue. 
4. Once the implant has bonded to the bone tissue, a small connector called an abutment is attached to the implant.
5. Impressions are taken of your teeth to create either a custom crown to replace one tooth or an implant-supported bridge or denture for multiple missing teeth. Crown restorations are custom tinted, so they blend in beautifully with your natural teeth.
6. The finished crown, bridge, or denture is attached to the implant(s).

Once you get the finished implant, your new teeth are ready to use! If you have any questions or concerns, please reach out to our Scottsbluff, NE office at (308) 633-1111. We want your implants to look and feel like real teeth and you smile looking its best!