Dentist Blog

When it comes to dental care, everyone needs it and everyone deserves it. Despite this fact, certain sections of our population seem to miss out on the oral hygiene care that they need to continue leading healthy, functional lives. One group that is particularly hard hit is the growing senior citizen community. Despite their years of caring for their children, grandchildren, and community- these aging individuals are often disregarded when it comes to dental care. Kentucky lawmakers who were appalled after finding out that a nursing home resident in the state almost died after contracting an oral infection after not having her dentures removed for six months, have recently paved the way for a new bill that would require all assisted living communities to keep a caregiver on staff to tend to oral hygiene needs.

As a Springfield dentist, I fully support the need to bring awareness to this critical situation. The elderly, who are already at higher risk for a number of serious conditions, often find themselves facing even more problems when the lack proper dental care. Many people seem to falsely believe the misnomer that the elderly do not need to worry about oral hygiene due to a lack of teeth. In reality, well over half of today's senior citizen population have at least part of their natural teeth. Even those who have prosthetic teeth generally need to be seeing their Springfield dentist on occasion.

Getting adequate prenatal healthcare beginning early in your pregnancy is critical to having a positive, healthy experience. It can also help to increase health for the mother and baby in the long term. Although most people are aware of the need for adequate physical care from a physician or midwife, many are grossly unaware of the need for proper prenatal dental care from a qualified Springfield dentist.

Women who fail to receive adequate prenatal care from their Springfield dentist are putting themselves and their baby at risk. Incidents of miscarriage, premature birth, and other complications are far greater in pregnant women who do not regularly visit their dentist in Springfield for cleaning and checkups. Virtually all common dental treatments are safe for pregnancy. Mothers should try to see the dentist in Springfield before they conceive if at all possible and continue to see them at least every six months from that point forward. Routine deep cleanings should also continue throughout the duration of the pregnancy.

Dental visits could be an economic indicator that the U.S. economy is on a rebound, according to CNBC. After many dentist offices saw their patients dwindle during the recession, some dentists are reporting an uptick in business. A dentist in Manhattan reported seeing an average of three patients per day, compared to one or two patients a day on average last year.

Sales in dentistry rose by 3.9% in 2011, the largest increase in three years, according to data firm Sageworks. Increased visits to the dentist could be the result of more patients finding full-time jobs, which would be a positive signal for the struggling U.S. economy. A dental practice in Atlanta also reported increased spending on discretionary items such as cosmetic dentistry, which would indicate people have more money to spend on non-essential items this year.

A dental emergency can happen at any time and is almost always stressful. It can also become nerve-wracking and you are confused about what to do and how to handle the situation. That is why you need a reliable dentist who is willing to help you at a moment’s notice. In our office we understand how difficult it is to handle dental emergencies in Springfield on your own and will do all we can to help our patients when they need us most.

The best way to handle any dental emergency is to remain calm and assess the damage before making any hasty moves. This will ensure your safety and help you to feel confident in your efforts. Also, it is common practice to have a first aid kit in your home, but do you have proper dental supplies in there to handle common dental emergencies? If you are prepared then you will be better able to handle life’s little accidents.