Electric Flossers

I've pointed out the importance of flossing in recent blog posts.  Flossing keeps cavities from forming between teeth as we as keeps bone loss and gum inflammation(gingivitis) from occurring.  Some individuals need extra help flossing from lack of ability to clean adequately.  Some people love flossing aides such as Reach's Flosser or Plackers that are very portable.  Electric flossers are used primarily at home in front of your sink.  They use a stream of water to flush debris from between teeth much like a water gun could.  Being either a/c powered or battery powered gives the user the ability to push a button making flossing much easier.  Waterpik is a classic example.  Typically, Waterpiks come with a high pressure and a low pressure tip for the user's preference.  Waterpiks work well under dental bridges or around teeth that have significant bone loss.  If you have any more questions about a Waterpik or about improving your oral health and scheduling a regular checkup, please give us a call 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.

Partial Dentures

Partial Dentures are an affordable way to replace teeth that you are missing.  This is because whether you are missing 1, 2, or 6 teeth, the price of the partial doesn't change.  By definition a partial denture is a denture that replaces as many teeth as needed right short of a complete denture.  I have made partials for people that replace only 1 tooth, and partials that replace most of a person's teeth.  Partials are custom made to fit your mouth and feel as natural as possible.  If you're interested in getting a partial to replace teeth, have further questions about partials, or need to get a dental checkup, please check out our website at the link below or give us a call.

-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.

Tongue-tied and Ankyloglossia

Is your tongue or your child's tongue attached to the floor of their mouth?  Ankyloglossia is a term that explains that a tongue is tongue-tied.  This extra tissue that holds the tongue down tends to affect speech quite a bit.  Sometimes this extra tissue is found connecting the upper lip to the gums above the front 2 teeth.  This causes a separation of the front 2 teeth called a diastema.  A simple procedure called a frenectomy, or frenulectomy, can be done that cuts the extra tissue so that it is not a problem in the future.  Typically it is something insurance pays for as well.  The frenectomy can be done with either a scalpel or a laser.  At my office we have used a laser for this procedure.  There's less pain and healing is easier with a laser.  If you are interested in finding out more about dental health and need more information, please call us 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.

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.

TMJ Pain / Biteguard Therapy

TMJ pain is horrible for those who have it because it keeps you from enjoying eating and functioning as normal.  the TMJ(temporomandibular joint) is the joint that connects your lower jaw with your skull.  You can experience pain in your TMJ if you have hyper-extended it or overused it.  I have had patients tell me they wake up with pain or tenderness around their jaw joint or muscles in the area.  I have had gum chewers tell me symptoms that have i can link directly to overuse of their jaw.  TMJ can be a complicated issue with some if not total resolve.  Treatment in extreme cases may require surgery, but most of the time biteguard therapy and perhaps some muscle relaxers will do the trick.  If you feel you might have TMJ pain please check out our website for further information or give us a call.

-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.

Wisdom Tooth Pain

Wisdom tooth pain can be aggravating to say the least.  Sometimes teething occurs and you have room for them.  Most people I see don't have room for wisdom teeth, so you need them removed.  Generally speaking wisdom teeth are taken out by an oral surgeon, but sometimes general dentists take them out.  Wisdom teeth can start hurting anytime from about age 16 and on.  Some people develop all 4, while others have anywhere from 0-3 develop.  In the end it doesn't matter how many develop as long as they either erupt through the gums, or are taken out.  Wisdom teeth that don't erupt pose a potential for abscess or cyst formation, neither of which sound good.  If you have further questions about wisdom teeth or other dental concerns please link to our website below or give us a call.

-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.