Is an Orthodontist a "General Dentist"?

By Dr. James M. Abraham and Dr Sean A. Gill

An orthodontist is a qualified dentist who has gone on to further training after graduating dental school. This specialized schooling, which can take two to three years to complete, equips the dentist to straighten teeth and align jaws. Orthodontist can treat all different types of malocclussions in children, teens, and adults. By choosing an orthodontist who is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists you can be sure he or she has had an advanced education in orthodontics.

At my son's first dental visit, the dentist would not clean his teeth because he has a heart murmur. I was told to check with his medical doctor to see if my child needs to take a anti-biotic prior to getting his teeth cleaned? Why?

Some people with certain types of heart murmurs or heart conditions must take pre-medicate with an antibiotic before a dental cleaning. During a cleaning, quite a bit of bacteria is introduced into the bloodstream. This extra bacteria is not usually a problem for most healthy people, however it could cause a serious heart infection in patients with these concerns. It is always better to check with your child's physician and to keep the dentist and staff informed about your child's medical history.

I just started to put bottled water with fluoride in my children's lunch boxes? Will the extra fluoride make a big difference in reducing the amount of cavities that my kids get?
First of all , it is important to know whether or not you have fluoridated water, or if you are giving the children fluoride supplements. If your drinking water has fluoride in it, your child doesn't need additional fluoride supplementation. On the other hand, if you children are taking fluoride supplements, and they are also drinking fluoridated water they can be getting too much .

If fact, too much fluoride can cause a serious problem called fluorosis, which harms the permanent teeth. Another important thing to remember is that fluoride taken by mouth helps to strengthen permanent teeth that are developing under the gums so they are stronger and more resistant to decay. Once the permanent teeth are fully formed this type of fluoride is no longer needed. However, the fluoride that is in toothpaste and dental rinses, and is applied in the dental office is a topical fluoride that strengthens the teeth currently in the mouth. It is absorbed through the outer layer of the tooth called enamel. The use of fluoride in toothpaste is important for children and adults.