FOR OUR PARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS, there wasn’t much chance that a person could keep his or her natural teeth over an entire lifetime. But today, remarkable technologies and advanced materials, coupled with the artistic vision and the extensive training of Dr. Pitts, means a greatly increased likelihood that you can keep and enjoy your smile for life. Sometimes, while visiting our valued patients, we sense that making decisions about various treatments isn’t very simple. While we know that decisions are always yours to make, we want to be here to help in any way we can. To bring up some basic points, we’ve designed a simple little framework. It’s our hope that this will help bring additional clarity to your decision making.
For purposes of this series of blog posts, we’ve divided “The Lifetime of Your Smile” into four phases:
- 1–20 Year Old Smiles
- 20–40 Year Old Smiles
- 40–65 Year Old Smiles
- 65+ Year Old Smiles
In addition to finding your smile’s current phase, you likely have family members and loved ones in the other phases as well. We invite you to pass the information along!
Must do’s. Should do’s. Could do’s.
Every day—both consciously and subconsciously—we prioritize our decision making in all aspects of our lives using “must do’s,” “should do’s,” and “could do’s.” Dr. Pitts and everyone at our office has a goal to make sure you’re comfortable with every oral health decision you make, and that you see the difference between the “musts,” the “shoulds,” and the “coulds.” Of course, these lists are not exhaustive—there are no right or wrong answers to what you must, should, or could be doing about your oral health and appearance. Everyone has different priorities and different wants and needs. Think of these posts as a starting point! And if you have questions, contact us and we’ll chat. _______________________________________________________
Today’s Post Is About Your 1–20 Year Old Smile
A LIFETIME OF SOUND ORAL HEALTH BEGINS in children with early preventative care and education. Among the best ways to ensure this is to help your child develop a great relationship with Dr. Pitts. There are obvious lessons to be learned about tooth care. Also remember, just like we did at their age, children and teens are becoming increasingly aware and sensitive about their appearance. The condition of their smile can have a tremendous impact on their developing self image.
Must do.
- It’s best to start regular check ups before a child’s third birthday so Dr. Pitts can take care of all their new teeth.
- Continue regular visits through the years; dentists are often the first to see signs of Bulimia or other health problems.
- Sometimes a dentist’s counsel goes farther than parents’ when it comes to subjects like soda pop consumption or tongue piercing.
Should do.
- Extensive orthodontics are sometimes prevented by an alert dentists like Dr. Pitts through use of space retainers or other preventive dental care.
- Dental sealants are a liquid plastic applied to chewing surfaces to help in small crevices and hard to reach areas. These sealants help prevent decay and cavities.
- Help understand the causes of bad breath to ensure a lifetime of prevention and avoided embarrassment.
Could do.
- Your teen’s smile is so important to his or her self image. Even subtle smile enhancements can make a world of difference.
- Whitening is a safe, affordable boost to socially-conscious teens.
- Studies show that athletes who wear custom mouth guards have 60% fewer injuries to their teeth, lips and gums.
Here at Dr. Pitts’ office, our entire team wants to be your oral health partners for life! Be sure to connect with us on Facebook, if you haven’t already.
