subject: Wonderful Fort Collins Pediatric Dentistry [print this page] Happy August everybody! I recently had the pleasure of buying school supplies for my children. Target was not too bad at 8pm; we most likely would have been out by then but thats where my daughter decided to get sick and camp in the bathroom! With school starting, we are graduating a lot of our 16 year olds from our Fort Collins pediatric dentistry office onto the adult DDS. With that age comes time to take a look at wisdom teeth and gum health and get a new set of x-rays. I find this is a good time to have the talk with my older patients. This is bittersweet for me and some of them have been with me in Fort Collins for a decade or longer. It has been a pleasure to watch these youngsters grow and mature and gives me hope for our future. Here is a letter I give to those kids; maybe it will help you in a similar situation or start thinking about the future beyond pediatric dentistry:
Transitioning to a General Dentist
Congratulations! You have made it to Graduation! Graduation from Fort Collins pediatric dentistry, that is. Change is always somewhat scary, but hopefully we've prepared you properly for oral well being as an adult. Here are a couple of things to think about as you transition.
Appraise where you are: Together with the support of Dr. Greg, take a truthful and important look at your state of oral wellness. Fix in your mind what you need to keep working on and what exactly is exclusive to you. You'll shortly introduce yourself to an adult dentist. Don't do that blindly. Oral health is really a two way street so you have to approach it as an active participant, not a passive recipient.
Oral hygiene skills.
Are there things you'll need to work on, is brushing and flossing an established habit? How is your breath? Is your tongue clean? Do you have any retainers you need to take care of or work to clean? These teeth are your final teeth.
Caries Risk Assessment.
What exactly is your risk for future cavities? Cavities that have been within the past two years, bleeding on flossing, plaque score, saliva quality, damaging habits, piercings all can make you far more prone to cavities and gum disease. Don't forget that cavities or caries is a CHRONIC BACTERIAL INFECTION. That indicates the bacteria are always waiting to grow and trigger difficulties.
Your Caries Threat will establish how often you will require to seek a dentistry Fort Collins specialist, get in-office fluoride therapy and x rays. All these cost dollars, your dollars, so you will need to consider it with regards to expenses and rewards.
Low Caries risk
Medium Caries risk
High Caries risk
Active Caries
X rays every 18-24mo
Xrays every 6-12mo
Xrays every 6 mo
As advised.
Office fluoride never
Office fluoride 6-12m
Office fluoride 3-6mo
As advised
Cleanings 6-18mo
Cleanings 6-18mo
Cleanings 6 mo
Cleanings 3-6mo
Special Needs.
If you have circumstances that limit your ability to clean your personal teeth, you're almost automatically a greater Caries risk. Uneven wear of the teeth, inability to obtain braces, reflux, ability to cooperate in a routine dental office all impact therapy. Luckily, Fort Collins is leading the nation in providing adult solutions for special needs adults. The Health District has lately made strides to supply dentistry under General Anesthesia at Harmony Ambulatory Surgery Center. They're going to become a regional leader in adult, special needs dentistry.
Select a General Dentist:
Most adolescents will transition to the Dentist of their parents. Parents have normally accomplished the groundwork to establish a relationship with someone they trust. Frequently, this connection is vital in finding a general dentist to treat special needs adults. The reality is most dentists struggle with special needs and are hesitant to accept new patients; accepting a family member who the dentist knows (and knows the household will help with) makes transition much easier. If parents are lukewarm about their dentist or the dentist is fine for them, but you might be in search of a younger individual, shop around! Dr. Greg knows numerous younger dentists you are able to trust and begin your own personal connection with. Trust will be the most important part of a doctor- patient relationship so stick to your instincts. Here are some other guidelines.
Your new dentist needs to treat you as an individual person. They should really listen and be interested in your previous experiences. They ought to see you as a person, not a number. If they do not cater to your specific requirements or caries level, find somebody else. For example, are they comfortable carrying out X-rays to match your caries risk?
Are they pushy? Unless something hurts, you ought to always have time to think dental care over. Plenty of elective treatment comes off sounding like necessary, immediate therapy. Ask questions and get answers you'll be able to fully grasp. You're smart! When you can't comprehend a purpose for doing anything, probabilities are there isn't a good purpose.
Get a second opinion or ask for a specialist referral. Plenty of dentists in Fort Collins and elsewhere will offer you a second opinion for free or not a lot. For those who have a history of great dental well being and suddenly something is wrong, it may be time to take a step back. Dr. Greg is always available to talk issues over too. Residence is 970 204 4004, cell 970 481 6728.
Do you like the Hygienist? Probabilities are you will get your teeth cleaned by an expert teeth cleaner. It ought to be fairly relaxing and not horribly unpleasant. If it hurts, say so and count on changes. If you begin to dread your cleanings, you may search for another office.
I wish you the best of luck with your dentistry and your life. Unless I've crossed out this sentence and booted you in the keester, it has been my pleasure to serve you as your Fort Collins pediatric dentistry specialist. I hope you may have learned tips on how to look after your teeth, and far more importantly, look after yourself. You will be always your greatest advocate, so don't be afraid to speak up and out for your own well being. You're going to have a blast out there!
