September 2018 - Allyson K Hurley, DDS

Keeping Our Patients Safe

Dear Friends:
I am excited to announce that we are accepting new patients again. To insure that our patients and staff stay safe myself and the full staff have received the Covid-19 vaccination . We would like to ease your concerns about coming to the office.

Click here for our new office safety protocol

Head-and-shoulders of a young brunette girl, approximately 6 yrs old, smiling. She has a lavender headband on her hair, and she is wearing a lavender shirt; for information on Chatham NJ pediatric dentistry. Finding the best pediatric dentist to meet your child’s oral health care needs isn’t easy. But it can be done. With a little homework, time, and patience, you can find an understanding, talented dentist to keep your child’s teeth healthy and attractive. We’ll discuss six ways to do it.

1. Know Your Child’s Needs

Know your child’s needs and make a list of them. Is he or she comfortable in a dental chair or anxious and nervous? If anxiety is an issue, the best pediatric dentist is one who is gentle and understanding. It may be helpful to find a dentist who offers some form of mild sedation to help your child relax during appointments.

Also, consider the condition of your child’s teeth. Are they healthy and aligned, or will orthodontic treatment be needed in the future? Does your child have TMJ issues, or any problems with swollen, irritated, or bleeding gums? A more experienced dentist will be alert to those issues and refer your child to a specialist as needed.

2. Ask for Referrals

Ask friends, family members, neighbors, or co-workers if they know a good dentist for children. If you receive a referral, ask the person making the recommendation how long their children have been patients of this particular dentist. Ask the family (including the kids) what they do or don’t like about the dentist. Ask questions about the dental hygienists and how well they clean teeth. A person may love his or her dentist, but not be so pleased with the hygienist, or vice versa. The best dentist for someone else might not be the right dentist for your child. Consider what is important to you, including the dentist’s fees for services.

3. Consider a Family Dentist

Family dentists treat both children and adults. Usually, a specialist isn’t needed to care for a child’s basic dental needs. So consider finding a family dentist who is willing to provide services for your entire family. Many families find it more convenient to choose a family dentist because they only have to visit one location for everyone’s dental needs.

4. Look for the Dentist’s Credentials

Look for pediatric or family dentists who show a real interest in dentistry and in children. Does the dentist’s website indicate how frequently he or she participates in continuing education? Does the dentist only meet the minimum requirement or more? Is the dentist a member of certain dental organizations?

The best dentists for children are serious about continuing education, and their education, training, and credentials show it. A dentist’s credentials provide you with information on his or her skill, experience, and interest in healthy smiles.

5. Look for the Dentist’s Reviews

Dentists often have reviews or testimonials on their websites. Also look for Google+, Yelp, or other reviews. Reviews are not always positive. Pay attention to each review and whether or not parents give details about what they like or dislike about a dentist’s services. Do the reviews really indicate that this might be one of the best dentists for children in your area?

6. Schedule Consultations

Once you identify a few dentists that might be right for you, it’s not necessary for your child to become a patient right away. Schedule a consultation with each dentist and take your child with you. It will be brief, but it will give you a chance to see the office, get a feel for the environment and the staff, and briefly chat with the dentist. A consultation can reveal how your child will be treated as a patient, and whether or not this is the best dentist for your child’s needs.

Don’t Be Afraid to Switch Until You Find the Right Dentist for Your Child

Your child’s oral health and smile are important. If you’ve done everything you can to find the best pediatric or family dentist only to find out that it’s not the right fit, don’t be afraid to switch. Save your list of possibilities for a dentist and move on to the next one. Your child’s dental records can be transferred to another dentist. If you decide to switch, ensure that it’s to a dentist with whom you have some familiarity through a consultation or a recommendation that gives you great confidence.

This post is sponsored by Chatham, NJ family dentist Dr. Allyson Hurley. For nine consecutive times, NJ Monthly magazine has named Dr. Hurley as top NJ dentist.

Three Reasons Dentures Float

Poor fit – Dentures should be well designed to provide the best fit possible. This requires accurate impressions of your mouth, high-quality denture material, and proper lining. If any of these details are overlooked, your dentures can fit poorly and are more likely to float around in your mouth.

Old dentures – How old are your dentures? Depending on the quality of your dentures, they should at least last five years. But if your dentures haven’t been maintained or regularly relined, with time they will loosen. If you’ve had your dentures for years and years, it’s probably time for a new set.

Bone shrinkage – When all of your teeth are missing, your jawbone starts to shrink. That’s because tooth roots stimulate bone and keep it intact. Over the years, your bone will progressively shrink. A jawbone that is smaller than when you first received dentures will cause the dentures to slip around in your mouth.

What’s the Solution to Floating Dentures?

Diagram of an arch of lower teeth being secured to four dental implants that are in the jawbone, for information on how to stop floating dentures; from the office of Dr. Allyson Hurley in Chatham, NJ.

Dental implants prevent dentures from floating

In short, dental implants will stop the floating. There are several reasons that implants are the solution.

Surgically implanted – Dental implants are artificial roots, usually made of titanium. If you have metal allergies or sensitivities, you can find an implant dentist who uses zirconia implants. The fixtures are surgically placed in your jawbone. Three to four months after surgery, your jawbone and implants will fuse together, providing a solid anchor for your dentures.

Denture base is made for implants – The base of dentures can be made to snap on or screw onto dental implants. Your dentures will be secure, and it will be impossible for them to float, completely lift up, or fall out of your mouth.

Jawbone stimulation – Dental implants act like tooth roots and stimulate your jawbone. In the areas of the implants, jawbone shrinkage will stop. Although as few as two implants can be used, more implants will stimulate a wider area of the bone. Adequate jawbone density ensures your facial muscles are properly supported and helps prevent facial sagging.

Successful implant placement depends on the skill of the dentist or specialist, the quality of fixtures used, and your diligent cooperation during the healing phase. If you’ve experienced significant bone shrinkage, you’ll also need bone grafting to support the implants.

Before choosing an implant dentist to stabilize your floating dentures, check his or her training, experiencing, and credentials. Look for an accredited cosmetic dentist to provide natural-looking dentures that will be secured to the implants.

Archives for September 2018