Life is full of firsts: the first day of school, the first kiss, the first child. “Firsts” come with their own set of anxieties. And so it likely will be the first time your child comes into the office.

Schedule your child’s first dental visit when your child is 6 months to 1-year old. It is extremely important to check those erupting teeth. They are prey for decay as soon as they pop through the gums.

Childhood tooth decay statistics are discouraging. More than 40 percent of children have tooth decay by the time they begin kindergarten.

We will tell you what to expect the first dental visit. In turn, you need to let your child know what we will do in the office. Then, your child won’t be surprised or startled.

Show excitement as you explain different things that happen during the exam. Then, consider what you will need to do if your child is apprehensive in the office. The key is for you to show patience and remain calm. This way your child won’t pick up on and react to your own anxiety. Sometimes our best-laid plans don’t work out and the child is too frightened or apprehensive. Then, we will simply reschedule the appointment.

We may need to schedule more than one short appointment to help build your child’s confidence and trust. We like to schedule their appointments early in the day before they become tired and restless.

Depending on how old your child is, we will examine the teeth, oral tissues, jaw and bite. We look for issues with bite or bone growth. Then, we might do a gentle cleaning to remove any plaque or stains. We’ll also polish the teeth.

In some situations, we might need to take x-rays.

We will also consider whether it is time to perform fluoride treatment.

Lastly, your hygienist will show you and your child how to take care of those teeth at home. It is important to begin a regular oral care routine early. We don’t want your child becoming one of those 40 percent children with decay.

Use a clean, damp cloth to clean your child’s gums after each feeding or meal. Once the teeth begin erupting, brush them with a soft toothbrush and water.

If you have an older child, let the child brush his/her teeth. Then, you brush the teeth. This helps the child gain confidence in doing the routine alone some day. With consistent instruction, your child should be able to brush alone by 5 years of age.

Also, let your child watch while you brush your teeth. This helps to reinforce the importance of brushing. Your good example will pay off in the future.

Give us a call and schedule an appointment. You can rest assured that we will try to make your child’s first visit to our office pleasant and UNEVENTFUL.

Have you noticed that food seems to look more pleasing in the restaurant than it does when you prepare the same meal at home? Any chef will tell you, it’s all in the presentation.

How well received you are by a stranger is also about presentation. And the foremost facial element of your presentation is your smile. Studies show that numerous, snap judgments are made about you based on your smile. Are you successful? Interesting? Wealthy?

It used to be that you were stuck with whatever smile you were born with, but today, cosmetic dentistry has wondrous new materials and techniques that are changing the face of society.

There are several factors we consider to design an attractive, natural-looking smile for you. For example, we look at the shape of your face as well as the proportions and symmetry of your facial features. Maybe one eyebrow is slightly higher than the other, or the distance between the tips of your nose and chin are out of proportion to the rest of your face. Typically, no one’s face is perfectly symmetrical.

Just like selecting your meal from a menu, you can choose elements of your smile. We call this “smile design.” You can select one of three smile types and what they say about you.

Sexy — You know a sexy smile when you see one, but what makes that smile smokin’ hot? The two front teeth are significantly longer than the other front teeth.

Sophisticated — The front teeth are in a straight line, all the same length. This smile says you are mature, wise and intelligent.

Sporty — This smile combines sexy and sophisticated. The front teeth are slightly longer than the rest of the front teeth. This smile says you are casual and informal.

Once you decide on a smile type, we need to match your goals and desires with the shape of your face and teeth. Then we see how your lips frame your teeth, your natural smile line and many other factors.

If you want to improve your smile presentation, invest in your future and call us to schedule a consultation. We can discuss your options and develop a smile that best suites you.

We will help you put your best foot—and smile—forward!

A current complex dental issue is the concern about osteoporosis medications causing healthy bone to die. There are things you need to know if you are taking these medications. Please ask your Bonham Family Dentist about this and he will help educate you on what you need to know.

There are studies indicating the bisphosphonates in osteoporosis medications can cause a serious dental condition called “osteonecrosis,” a rare condition in which healthy jawbone dies.

Early research shows that certain cancer patients who take an intravenous bisphosphonate are more likely to develop osteonecrosis than other patients.

Here is what is important for you to know if you are taking a bisphosphonate.

Tell us if you take an osteoporosis medication. Having your current medical history is critical when we plan your dental treatments.

You need regular check-ups, especially if you will undergo cancer treatments. Regular exams will help us to identify any unusual oral changes while they are in their early and most treatable stage.

Before you begin any medical treatment, tell your physician and oncologist about dental issues. This will help your medical team plan your treatments and monitor any effects from dental procedures we perform.

Tell your doctors if anything out of the ordinary occurs in your mouth. This includes bleeding gums, pain, an infection or an unusual sensation in your mouth.

Update your dental and medical history with your medical team. When your medical and dental teams have the same information, we will all be aware of anything that could affect your dental and overall health.

Provide phone numbers. Your physician, oncologist and I may need to confer about your health or care and coordinate our treatment plans.

Because we know so little about the bisphosphonate effect on the body, we should proceed with caution, for today is not as simple as we wish it were.

As always, please call our office if you notice anything out of the ordinary in your mouth. We can examine you and intercede early.