Frequently Asked Questions
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Smile Vermont
Where can people with special needs obtain dental care?
- Inform the dentist about your special health or financial conditions.
- Ask if the dentist has training and/or experience in treating patients with your specific condition.
- Ask if the dentist has an interest in treating patients with your specific condition.
- Find out if the dentist participates in your dental benefit plan (dental insurance program.)
- Ask if the dental facility is accessible to the disabled.
How do I find a dentist?
- Ask family, friends, neighbors or co-workers for recommendations.
- Ask your family physician or local pharmacist.
- If you’re moving, your current dentist may be able to make a recommendation.
- Call or write your local or state dental society. Your local and state dental societies also may be listed in the telephone directory under “dentists” or “associations.”
- Use American Dental Association's ADA Member Directory to search for dentists in your area.
- You
may want to call or visit more than one dentist before
making your decision. Dental care is a very personalized
service that requires a good relationship between the
dentist and the patient.
What should I look for when choosing a dentist?
- Is the appointment schedule convenient for you?
- Is the office easy to get to from your home or job?
- Does the office appear to be clean, neat and orderly?
- Was your medical and dental history recorded and placed in a permanent file?
- Does the dentist explain techniques that will help you prevent dental health problems? Is dental health instruction provided?
- Are special arrangements made for handling emergencies outside of office hours? (Most dentists make arrangements with a colleague or emergency referral service if they are unable to tend to emergencies.)
- Is information provided about fees and payment plans before treatment is scheduled?
- Is your dentist a member of the American Dental Association? All ADA member dentists voluntarily agree to abide by the high ethical standards reflected in the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct as a condition of their membership.
- You
and your dentist are partners in maintaining your oral
health. Take time to ask questions and take notes if that
will help you remember your dentist’s advice.
Fluoride
How does fluoride work?
When the element fluoride is used in small amounts on a routine basis it helps to prevent tooth decay. It encourages :remineralization,” a strengthening of weak areas on the teeth. These spots are the beginning of cavity formation.
Fluoride occurs naturally in water and in many different foods, as well as in dental products such as toothpaste, mouth rinses, gels, varnish and supplements.
Fluoride is effective when combined with a healthy diet and good oral hygiene.
Will my child need fluoride supplements?
Children between the ages of six months and 16 years may require fluoride supplements. The pediatric dentist considers many different factors before recommending a fluoride supplement.
Your child’s age, risk of developing dental decay and the different liquids your child drinks are important considerations. Bottled, filtered and well waters vary in their fluoride amount, so a water analysis may be necessary to ensure your child is receiving the proper amount.
How safe is fluoride?
Fluoride is documented to be safe and highly effective. Research indicates water fluoridation, the most cost effective method, has decreased the decay rate by over 50 percent.
Only small amounts of fluoride are necessary for the maximum benefit. Proper toothpaste amount must by supervised, and other forms of fluoride supplementations must be carefully monitored in order to prevent a potential overdose and unsightly spots on the developing permanent teeth.
Do not leave toothpaste
tubes where young children can reach them. The flavors that
help encourage them to brush may also encourage them to
eat toothpaste.
What is topical fluoride?
Topical fluoride comes in a number of different forms. Gels and foams are placed in fluoride trays and applied at the dental office after your child’s teeth have been thoroughly cleaned.
Fluoride varnish is one of the newer forms of topical fluoride applied at the dentist office. It has been documented to be safe and effective to fight dental decay through a long history of use in Europe.
The advantages of varnish are:
- Easily and quickly applied to the teeth
- Decreases the potential amount of fluoride digested.
- Continues to “soak” fluoride into the enamel for approximately 24 hours after the original application.
This
method is especially useful in young patients and those
with special needs that may not tolerate fluoride trays
comfortably.
Children who benefit the most from fluoride are those at
highest risk for dental decay. Risk factors include a history
of decay, high sucrose carbohydrate diet, orthodontic appliances
and certain medical conditions such as dry mouth.
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Mouthguards
Does my child need a mouth protector?
Anyone who participates in a sport that carries a significant risk of injury should wear a mouth protector. This includes a wide range of sports like football, hockey, basketball, baseball, gymnastics, and volleyball.
Mouth protectors, which typically cover the upper teeth,
can cushion a blow to the face, minimizing the risk of broken
teeth and injuries to the soft tissues of the mouth. If
you wear braces or another fixed dental appliance on your
lower jaw, your dentist may suggest a mouth protector for
these teeth as well.
What are the advantages of using a mouth protector?
Accidents can happen during any physical activity. A mouth protector can help cushion a blow to the face that otherwise might result in an injury to the mouth. A misdirected elbow in a one-on-one basketball game or a spill off a bicycle can leave you with chipped or broken teeth, nerve damage to a tooth or even tooth loss.
A mouth protector can limit the risk of such injuries as well as protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips and cheek lining.
A properly fitted mouth protector will stay in place while
you are wearing it, making it easy for you to talk and breath.
Are there different types of mouth protectors?
- Stock: Stock mouth protectors are inexpensive and come pre-formed, ready to wear. Unfortunately, they often don’t fit very well. They can be bulky and can make breathing and talking difficult.
- Boil and Bite: Boil and bite mouth protectors also can be bought at many sporting goods stores and may offer a better fit than stock mouth protectors. They should be softened in water, then inserted and allowed to adapt to the shape of your mouth. If you don’t follow the directions carefully you can wind up with a poor-fitting mouth protector.
- Custom-fitted: Custom-fitted mouth protectors are made by your dentist for you personally. They are more expensive than the other version, but because they are customized they can offer a better fit than anything you can buy on the shelf.
My child has braces. Can they use a mouth protector?
A properly fitted mouth protector may be especially important
for people who wear braces or have fixed bridge work. A
blow to the face could damage the brackets or other fixed
orthodontic appliances. A mouth protector also provides
a barrier between the braces and your cheek or lips, limiting
the risk of soft tissue injuries.
Talk to your dentist or orthodontist about selecting a mouth
protector that will provide the best protection. Although
mouth protectors typically only cover the upper teeth, your
dentist or orthodontist may suggest that you use a mouth
protector on the lower teeth if you have braces on these
teeth too.
If you have a retainer or other removable appliance, do
not wear it during any contact sports.