| Preventive
Care
At
Prosper Family Dentistry, we believe the most important part
of our job is to keep your teeth and gums healthy, so that
you can keep them for a lifetime. The best way to keep your
teeth and gums healthy is to prevent dental disease. We offer
the following preventive services to keep your entire family
smiling:
Routine Check-Ups
You should have your teeth examined by a dentist at least
every 6 months. At this visit, Dr. Sentlingar completes
an oral cancer screening, checks the overall health of your
jaw joint, screens for periodontal disease and checks for
tooth decay.
Cleanings
Depending on your dental history, Dr. Sentlingar and your
hygienist will determine a regular cleaning schedule to
fit your needs. This interval is usually 6 months, but Dr.
Sentlingar may recommend a cleaning every 3-4 mo if you
have a history of periodontal disease.
Sealants
A sealant is a “plastic-like” protective coating
that is placed in the grooves of back teeth to prevent dental
decay. Sealants are usually placed around the ages of 6
and 12 years. These ages coordinate with the typical time
of eruption of the permanent first and second molars.
Fluoride
Treatments
Fluoride helps prevent dental decay. Dr. Sentlingar recommends
children receive a topical fluoride treatment every 6 months
and that adults receive fluoride treatments at least once
a year. Fluoride strengthens teeth during formation and
can stop the spread of new cavities after teeth have formed.
Fluoride is also beneficial for adults because it helps
prevent root decay which can occur as the gums recede from
age or from overzealous brushing habits. For more information
of fluoride, please visit the following website. http://www.ada.org/public/topics/fluoride/facts/index.asp
Athletic
Mouthguards
It is important for all athletes no matter how young, how
old or what sport, to protect their teeth, gums and jaws
during sporting activities. The best way to protect an athlete’s
mouth is to have a custom mouthguard fabricated by a dentist.
A custom mouthguard is made from a model of the athlete’s
mouth and will fit closely to the teeth and gums. Custom
mouthguards have been shown to decrease the severity of
a concussion and significantly decrease the incidence of
dental trauma. Children from ages 6-9 are especially at
risk for trauma to the front teeth during athletics because
during this time their front teeth tend to protrude. Custom
mouthguards can be made in a variety of colors and can be
adapted to the specific needs of each sport and position
played. For more information on custom mouthguards and dental
trauma, please visit: http://www.sportsdentistry-asd.org/
Nightguards
Nightguards, or occlusal guards, may be recommended for
patients who have a history of clenching or grinding their
teeth during the day or night. Dr. Sentlingar will determine
is you need an occlusal guard by checking the health of
your jaw joint, looking for wear on your teeth and asking
a few questions about your dental history. Although occlusal
guards do not stop the habits of clenching and grinding,
they protect your teeth from any further damage. There are
many different types of occlusal guards available and Dr.
Sentlingar will determine which type is right for you.
Patient Education
Dr. Sentlingar and her team feel that it is their job to
educate you so that you can make the best decisions when
it comes to your dental health. At each check-up Dr. Sentlingar
and her staff will educate you about any current or future
needs you may have to help you make the best decision possible.
We will always provide options about your care so that you
can decide what is right for you. We always welcome your
questions!
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Cosmetic
Dentistry
Your
smile is one of the first things that people notice about
you. A beautiful smile increases a person’s self confidence
and makes a lasting first impression. With recent technological
advances, modern dental materials and techniques, Dr. Sentlingar
can give you the bright, straight, beautiful smile you deserve.
Dr. Sentlingar will take the time to speak with you, discuss
your concerns, evaluate your current dental problems and design
an individual plan to achieve your goals. Dr. Sentlingar may
recommend one or more of the following cosmetic dental techniques
for your plan:
Veneers
A veneer is a small, thin layer of porcelain which is bonded
to the front of a tooth to change the tooth’s shape,
position and color. Veneers do not stain over time and with
proper care can last a lifetime. Veneers take two dental
appointments to complete. At the first visit, Dr. Sentlingar
will prepare the teeth for the veneers and take an impression
to send to the laboratory. The porcelain veneer is created
in a dental laboratory based on the preparation completed
by Dr. Sentlingar. When you leave your first veneer appointment
your temporary veneers will look very similar to your permanent
veneers. This gives you a great opportunity to see the beautiful
results before the veneers are complete. At the second appointment
the veneers are bonded to your tooth.
Bonding
Bonding is technique where a composite filling material
is bonded to the front of a tooth. This material is shaped
by Dr. Sentlingar at the dental chair. One advantage to
composite bonding is that it only takes one appointment.
A disadvantage to composite bonding is that it may discolor
over time. Dr. Sentlingar uses the most recent cosmetic
composite and polishing instruments to lessen the possibility
of discoloration.
Whitening
Tooth whitening is the most common cosmetic dental procedure
performed today. Prosper Family Dentistry offers three different
types of whitening to allow you to choose the system which
best fits your needs. Each whitening product has advantages
and disadvantages. How often you have to re-whiten your
teeth is based on how much coffee, tea, soda, red wine and
other items you consume each day. Also, smoking and other
tobacco products will stain your teeth. If you have any
questions about which type of whitening is right for you,
please speak with Dr. Sentlingar.
| 1. |
Custom
tray whitening is a system which involves the use of
a flexible plastic tray which is formed to fit your
teeth exactly. These trays must be loaded with the whitening
gel just before use. These trays are worn for 1-2 hours
each time or they can be worn while you sleep. This
type of whitening is best for people who have internal
tooth staining like that caused by ingestion of certain
antibiotics as a child. |
| 2. |
Trés
White is a new type of whitening which is slowly dominating
all types of whitening. This product is worn in a way
very similar to over-the-counter strip products. The
difference of Trés White from other strip products
is that because it is dispensed by a dentist the concentration
of whitening material is much greater and therefore
you can achieve the result you desire much faster. Also,
this product contains a barrier to protect your gums,
has a desensitizing agent incorporated in it and it
is shaped to fit the form of your mouth very closely.
This product works so well that Oprah even included
it on her list of must have items! |
| 3. |
Boost
Whitening is an in office whitening system. This whitening
technique is performed in a 1.5-2 hour visit. During
this procedure a barrier is placed on your gums to protect
them from the powerful gel and then the whitening gel
is applied to your teeth for three to four 15 minute
intervals. During this procedure you can watch a movie
or listen to music with our wireless headphones. |
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Restorative
Dentistry
Prosper
Family Dentistry provides complete family dental care. In
addition to the services already described above, we provide
the following services to correct any dental problems you
may have.
| 1. |
Tooth
Colored Fillings (Composites) |
| 2. |
Crowns
and Bridges |
| 3. |
Implants |
4. |
Root
Canals |
5. |
Extractions |
6. |
Dentures |
7. |
Periodontal
Therapy |
8. |
Children’s
Dentistry |
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Pediatric
Dentistry
Starting
good dental care at a young age is extremely important. Prosper
Family Dentistry was designed with children in mind. Even
our lobby is equipped with a separate waiting room for children.
The children’s waiting room has movies, games, toys,
and a PlayStation2. At Prosper Family Dentistry we see children
of all ages. Below we address a few of the most frequently
asked questions about your child’s dental health.
| 1. |
When
should I bring my child in for his/her first visit?
We recommend that the child’s first dental visit
happen between the age of 1 and 2 years. At this visit
we will get the child acclimated to the dental office,
allow the patient to sit in the dental chair if they please
and attempt to complete what we call a lap exam. This
exam allows the child to remain in the parent’s
lap but lean back on the dentist to allow a screening
exam to be completed. Also at this visit, Dr. Sentlingar
will discuss proper care for your child’s teeth
and answer any questions you may have. |
| 2. |
My
child is over the age of two and has not been to the dentist
yet. What will you do at his/her first visit?
With children between the ages of 3-5, we tailor their
first visit to fit their level of comfort. We will try
to complete a full exam, take one or two radiographs and
clean their teeth. We may only be able to complete one
or two of these items, but that is okay! We will try again
for the full appointment at their next visit. We believe
having a positive first visit is the most important step! |
| 3. |
Do
you refer children to a pediatric dentist? We
rarely refer children to the pediatric dentist. In some
situations, however, a child needs extensive treatment
or is unable to cope with the dental office environment.
In these cases we will need to refer the child to an excellent
local pediatric specialist. This specialist will be able
to offer I.V. sedation or other techniques to help them
relax. Our goal is to ensure that the child has only positive
memories of the dental experience. |
4. |
My
child is nervous about having a filling done. How will
you make sure he/she is comfortable? Our entire
team works together to make each child feel comfortable
in the dental chair. To take the children’s minds
off their worries, we offer them a choice of movie during
their visit. If a child is extremely nervous, we are equipped
to offer nitrous oxide (laughing gas). We also recommend
that the child bring in their favorite stuffed animal
or toy with them to make them feel more at ease. |
5. |
How
can I prepare my child for his/her dental visit?
If this is your child’s first visit to the dentist,
let the child know that the dentist is going to take them
for a ride in a special chair, take pictures of their
teeth, use a tooth-counter to make sure their teeth are
healthy and use a special toothbrush to clean their teeth.
If you child is coming in for a filling, instead of telling
him that the dentist is going to give him a shot, tell
him that the dentist is going to blow a bubble with sleepy
juice next to the tooth to make the tooth take a nap so
that the dentist can wash out the cavity bugs. It is important
not to mislead the child, but it is never a good idea
to scare them before the visit. |
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Emergencies
If
you have a dental emergency please contact our office immediately
at 972-347-1145. It is important to see the dentist as soon
as possible when an emergency occurs. If you are a patient
of record and it is after hours, Dr. Sentlingar can be reached
at 972-832-6101. Leave you name, phone number and a brief
description of the problem and Dr. Sentlingar will get back
to you as soon as possible.
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