Frequently Asked Questions
If You Have Questions? We've Got Answers!
Brushing and flossing daily are essential for removing plaque, bacteria, and food particles from the teeth and gums. This helps prevent tooth decay, gum disease, bad breath and nerve pain. Getting your kids into a brushing and flossing routine is one of the most important things you can do to ensure a lifetime of dental health.
Use a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste. Soft bristles are gentle on the gums and tooth enamel, while fluoride toothpaste helps strengthen tooth enamel and prevent cavities. Modern electric toothbrushes are great too!
When you first arrive and meet our staff, you’ll fill out your new patient paperwork. This helps our team get to know you better.We have an area with toys and several things to do for children of all ages. We ask that you arrive 15 minutes early to complete your paperwork. Or, you can get a head start by filling out your patient forms now. Download New Patient Forms.
If your child experiences a dental emergency such as a broken tooth, or injury to the mouth, call our office as soon as possible for guidance and treatment. We utilize a service that will get the details of the issue so we can connect with you and discuss care options.
This depends on several things. We try to minimize the number of X-rays and the exposure when one is done. We usually take X-rays once a year or if an emergency arises and an immediate X-ray is needed to survey the situation.
The digital X-rays we use today are generally equivalent to just one-tenth of the exposure of the X-rays that were done when Dr. Sellers was a child!
Sealants are a resin material similar in appearance to the natural look found on a tooth. They are used to seal deep pits or fissures in molars to prevent cavities from forming. We recommend this procedure pretty soon after the first permanent molars appear around age 6, and then again when second molars appear around age 12.
We understand the inherent anxiety that comes along with the word “shot.” We prefer to use nitrous oxide (laughing gas), and this will help with the nervousness as well as dull the pain receptors enough that numbing shots aren’t usually needed for fillings.
Some treatments and individuals might require numbing shots, or “sleepy juice,” but we deal with this on a case-by-case basis. Shots are not our first choice for pain management.
Yes, tooth-colored fillings are our preferred choice for fillings. They not only look better, but they also wear more naturally and can be repaired more easily than other options.