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Treatment Questions
It’s important to us that you have answers to all of your questions. We have listed
a few of our commonly asked questions. However, if you need some additional information,
don’t hesitate to contact us. Thanks for visiting us at Bonham Dental Arts!
1) When should a child have his or her first dental appointment?
At Bonham Dental Arts, we have created an appointment we call the “happy visit”
for parents and their child to meet the dentist, and become familiar with the dental office
experience. Do not wait until your child has a toothache or a dental emergency to take him/her
to the dentist for the first time. The experience may be very traumatic and one the child will
probably remember for many years to come. As a result, the child may develop a fear of the
dentist and that fear is sometimes very hard to overcome. The American Academy of Pediatric
Dentistry and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend that a child have his or her first
oral health care appointment around age one. ADHA suggests an oral health visit as soon as a
baby’s first tooth erupts.
2) My child has had an accident and his tooth has been entirely knocked out.
What do I do?
If your child’s tooth is knocked out, please contact us immediately. Describe the
situation over the phone, and our office staff will determine the safest and most appropriate
plan of action. We also recommend that you locate, rinse off, and put the tooth back into its
socket. If this isn’t possible, place the tooth in a glass of milk until you can get to
our office. If your child experiences a medical emergency, such as uncontrolled bleeding,
unconsciousness, or bodily injury, please go to your nearest hospital
emergency room.
3) What is a dry socket?
When a tooth is extracted, a blood clot forms in the hole where the tooth once was. This
blood clot is very important because it protects the bone tissue underneath as well as
supplies the surrounding tissue with nutrients to help the healing process. If this blood
clot fails to form properly or becomes dislodged, the bone tissue is exposed to air and
debris. When the bone is exposed to air, it will begin to dry out. This is what the
term “dry socket” refers to. A dry socket is very painful and must be treated
immediately in order for proper healing to take place and reduce the risk of other
complications. When a dry socket occurs, the dentist will clean out the socket and pack
it with a medicated dressing. The medicine will ease the pain as well as promote proper
healing of the extraction site.
If you are a new patient, if you have had a full set of x-rays taken within the past year,
ask to have your x-rays transferred to your new dentist. If you have not had x-rays taken
within a year, a full set of x-rays may be taken on your first visit. Depending on your
health and oral health, you may only need x-rays once every year. Other people will require
more frequent x-rays due to continued treatment, diet, oral hygiene, and/or health related
issues. Consult with your dentist or hygienist and together come up with an x-ray schedule
that is right for you.
4) I want my front teeth to look better, but I don’t want to wear braces,
what can you do to help?
We offer many ways to improve the look of teeth without applying traditional braces. You
may be surprised at the results of a little moving and straightening. No one has to know
that you’re wearing braces! Ask us about Invisalign! Additionally, we can discuss the
impact of cosmetic bonding, snap on smile, porcelain veneers or lumineers and or crowns to
give your teeth a shapely, bright, uniform appearance. Schedule a consultation, and together
we will determine the best path to your ideal smile.
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