Back to School Dental Check

Every year our family has a huge adjustment with starting school.  The kids need physicals, get school supplies, backpacks, and clothing.  A dental visit before school starts is a good idea to add to the list of things to do in July or Early August.  A little prevention goes a long way.  A visit to the dentist may help find decay and gum disease that can be dealt with before the crazy times that come with starting the school year.  If you need to get yourself or your child in to see a dentist we are here to help and answer any questions you may have.  Please feel free to call us at the number below or link to the website to discovery more about who we are.

-Dr. Cooper

859-266-2570

Cooper Family Dentistry

Cooper Family Dentistry is a dental office located in the Lansdowne Shopping Center on Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY dedicated to helping you and your family achieve the best oral care.

Braces and Brushing

Many more kids are sporting braces these days than when I was growing up.  I'm pretty sure that my parents would say the same thing about their childhood.  Braces are a great tool for bringing the teeth into ideal alignment.  I've seen increased incidence of cavities when teeth aren't ideally aligned, so I encourage braces.  But, with during the period of wearing braces comes the hassle of increased chance of decalcification of teeth and subsequent cavities.  It is important to brush and floss at home.  I advocate use of an electric brush and air flosser.  Both of these make oral care much easier on children.  I also believe it's important to get to the dentist regularly for cleanings and checkups.  With braces gums get inflamed and teeth harbor food.  If you have concerns about your child's teeth and want to get them in for a dental cleaning, please visit our website listed below or call our office for an appointment.

-Dr. Cooper

859-266-2570

Cooper Family Dentistry

Cooper Family Dentistry is a dental office located in the Lansdowne Shopping Center on Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY dedicated to helping you and your family achieve the best oral care.

Tooth Pain From a Heavy Bite

Lately I've seen a number of patients that seem to have tooth pain related to their bite being "off".  The history of a patient's tooth pain is just as important as the objective testing I do such as taking an x-ray and tapping on the tooth.  The story I usually get is one that includes a history of a filling done within the last 6 months.  I typically test the tooth with cold air, pressure, and checking the bite.  I've found that a tooth that is heavy in occlusion(the bite is high) will lead to a pain in that very tooth or the one opposing it.  If you have issues with your bite or merely have questions about your dental health in general or want a cleaning, please give our office a call or follow the link below to our website to schedule an appointment.

-Dr. Cooper

859-266-2570

Cooper Family Dentistry

Cooper Family Dentistry is a dental office located in the Lansdowne Shopping Center on Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY dedicated to helping you and your family achieve the best oral care.

Dental Insurance

Dental insurance can be both helpful and frustrating to deal with.  Like all insurance dental coverage assists patients in getting work done with less expense to themselves.  It can be frustrating because it differs from medical insurance in the way insurance providers limit reimbursement.  Dental insurance has deductibles to be met, co-pays, and fee schedules just like traditional medical insurance.  There are many different insurance companies out there each with a variety of plan options.  Most dental insurance plans I have seen cover dental cleanings and xrays during a visit. If you have any questions about dental insurance and whether you're covered please visit our website below or call us for more information so we can help you care for your dental health.

-Dr. Cooper

859-309-6052

Cooper Family Dentistry

Cooper Family Dentistry is a dental office located in the Lansdowne Shopping Center on Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY dedicated to helping you and your family achieve the best oral care.

Choosing a Toothpaste

There are many choices of toothpaste on the market.  Some claim to whiten, some desensitize, some take care of gingivitis, and some take care of all your dental needs.  I give out samples in my office of several brands.  I have a hard time advocating one toothpaste over another, except for sensitivity protection and personal preference.  What I have found is that some toothpaste works better for certain people than others.  I grew up using Crest toothpaste which does an overall excellent job.  Crest tends to be a bit grittier than Colgate as far as the paste.  Some people advocate Colgate.  I have found Colgate not to be a smoother texture than Crest.  I will say many people who come to see me with sensitivity issues seem to use Colgate Tartar Control toothpaste.  Thus, I tend to ask about Colgate Tartar Control usage when I see sensitivity or at least toothbrush abrasion.  Sensodyne is a great toothpaste for sensitivity.  It comes in different variants but the overall effect is the same.  This concise blog post about toothpaste is just that -- concise.  If you have any more questions about your dental hygiene or are interested in a dental cleaning visit our website at the link below, or call our office.

-Dr. Cooper

859-309-6052

Cooper Family Dentistry

Cooper Family Dentistry is a dental office located in the Lansdowne Shopping Center on Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY dedicated to helping you and your family achieve the best oral care.

Electric ToothBrushes

As I have posted in other blogs, it is important to brush and floss to keep cavities and bone loss from running rampant.  Several companies make electric toothbrushes including Oralb and Sonicare.  Price on these brushes range from $6-$200+.  You may ask what the difference is and will get different answers.  I believe the $6 spinbrushes that you see on the shelf at walmart are a good starter brush.  Those who aren't sure whether an electric brush will be any better than a manual brush should start there.  After experimenting with that brush you can step up to a better electric brush with more 'bells and whistles'.  The more expensive toothbrushes track your time spent on brushing, and have different brushing modes.  If you have further questions about electric toothbrushes call our office or visit our website at the link below.

-Dr. Cooper

859-309-6052

Cooper Family Dentistry

Cooper Family Dentistry is a dental office located in the Lansdowne Shopping Center on Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY dedicated to helping you and your family achieve the best oral care.

Better Home Care

Better home care refers to better brushing and more effective flossing.  I consistently see individuals who are collecting plaque and calculus behind their lower front teeth.  The importance of brushing well is important for long-term tooth and gum health.  Keeping debris off your teeth will help keep cavities from forming.  Keeping debris away from your gums will keep inflammation and subsequent gum recession from occurring.  It's important to use a good toothbrush and floss.  I typically recommend a soft bristle brush and good sturdy floss.  Some people have a hard time getting things cleaned adequately, possibly due to extra space between teeth or decreased dexterity.  For those people I commonly recommend electric brushes or electric flossers.  In my up-coming posts I will be talking more about electric brushes and flossers available on the market.  If you have more questions about improving your oral care, please call our office or visit our website by clicking on the hyperlink below.

-Dr. Cooper

859-309-6052

Cooper Family Dentistry

Cooper Family Dentistry is a dental office located in the Lansdowne Shopping Center on Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY dedicated to helping you and your family achieve the best oral care.

Flossing

Flossing is something you'll hear from your dentist and hygienist that you need to do more of.  Floss comes in several shapes and sizes.  The important thing is to floss regularly.  Some studies are showing that a Waterpik can replace the use of floss.  Whether using a Waterpik or traditional floss, the idea is to remove debris from between teeth.  The longer debris remains interproximal the more damage and inflammation it causes the bone and gum(periodontitis and gingivitis).  I recommend flossing daily.  Some patients complain that they can't get their hands all the way back to the back teeth.  We have tested methods and tools to help you get the task done.  If you have further questions about flossing technique, types of floss, or just need a regular dentist please give us a call or visit our website for more information.

 

-Dr. Cooper

859-309-6052

Cooper Family Dentistry

Cooper Family Dentistry is a dental office located in the Lansdowne Shopping Center on Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY dedicated to helping you and your family achieve the best oral care.

Regular Checkups

New patients are a toss-up.  Sometimes they are quite regular with getting cleanings.  Sometimes they haven't been in years due to a bad experience or maybe getting out of the routine.  It is important to get regular checkups because cavities, gingivitis, and bone loss all develop over time, but sometimes faster than other times.  We see patients either on 3, 4, or 6 month intervals and is dependent on a number of factors.  Those factors could be dry mouth(which leads to cavities), gum loss, bone loss, ability to care for their teeth, and other factors.  Whether young or old, rich or poor, lots of teeth or few teeth, it's important to stay regular.  If you need a checkup and cleaning give us a call or visit our website for more information.

-Dr. Cooper

859-266-2570

Cooper Family Dentistry

Cooper Family Dentistry is a dental office located in the Lansdowne Shopping Center on Tates Creek Rd. in Lexington, KY dedicated to helping you and your family achieve the best oral care.