Weston family dentist : Kids : Anxiety

How to Lessen Anxiety Over your Kid's First Visit to the Family Dentist

As a Weston family dentist office we treat a large and growing number of kids at our practice. From time to time we think it is a good idea to remind parents just how important getting children started with good dental hygiene habits is and how important their part as role models are. 

Getting your child ready for their first visit to the dentist (a new and therefor unpredictable experience) can be made easier if you take the time to familiarize him or her with what to expect (in general terms). Rule number one is not to mention anything that can be associated with pain.

Easing the anxiety kids have about dentists

When your child asks what the dentist is going to do answer in very general (but truthful) terms like he's going to ask you to say "ahh" and then he's going to count your teeth and check your smile.  You may even want to role play at that point. Have your child sit down, say ahh and then use a tooth brush and count his or her teeth. If you hold up a mirror they can see what's going on and the experience is no longer totally unpredictable.

If you have no personal anxiety about visiting the dentist, you may want to bring your child with you on your next appointment. This way they can become familiar with the surroundings and sample the toys, blankets, TV and aquarium that we keep just for kids.

Dr. Pyle has been treating kids for over 25 years and is an expert in managing their anxiety and concerns. Leave the "explaining" to him and don't attempt to explain x-rays, cavities or any other procedures. Just tell your kids that the dentist is the person who keeps their teeth strong and healthy.

If you have any questions about scheduling your child's first appointment, please don't hesitate to give us a call. Read more:

Family dentist : Mouth Guard : Youth Sports

What Youth Sport Has the Most Dental Injuries?

You might think that youth football or hockey generates the most injuries involving the mouth. After all they are both heavy contact sports both with other players and the ground or ice. But if you guessed either of those sports you would be wrong. What you may find surprising is that the sports with the most mouth injuries include baseball, basketball, soccer, field hockey, softball and gymnastics. Most pros in those sports don't wear mouth guards and as a result kids don't wear them either. That's not good news.

Mouth guards, even cheap stock models can help prevent broken, cracked and lost teeth as well as jaw and joint fractures. Any of those injuries can be extremely painful and all of them are expensive to fix. Protecting your active kid from mouth injuries by insisting they wear a mouth guard while playing sports is an easy, inexpensive way to guard your kid from injury.

There are Mouth Guards and then there are Mouth Guards

Like all pieces of sporting equipment mouth guards come in different grades of quality and features. Here are the three most common:

• Stock mouth guards. These are plastic and come in small, medium and large. They are cheap but if your kid won't wear them because they hurt you don't get any protection.
• Boil and Bite. This is an attempt to customize a plastic guard. It's an improvement but it is still not customized to the child's mouth.
• Customized sports guards. These are what Dr. Pyle provides at our Weston dental practice. These guards are not only customized to the child's teeth but to the width and shape of the mouth. They are by far the most durable and most comfortable. If your child has braces this is the way to go.

If you have an active child you want to make sure he/she has a mouth guard. If you want the most comfortable and most durable mouth guard, call us at our Weston dentist office and make an appointment for a fitting. Read more:

Kids Weston : Child Dentistry : Dental Office

Kids Dentistry Weston – That All Important First Visit

Kids' dentistry is as much about child psychology as it is about the health of their teeth. At our Weston dental practice we treat kids from age 3 and up and we have developed a system and environment that can take the fear out of a trip to the dentist office but it requires your assistance in order for it to be totally effective.

That first visit to the dentist can have a lasting impression about dental visits and dental care. If it is at all possible we recommend that you take your child with you when it's time for your dental appointment. This gives the child an opportunity to visit the office, meet the nice people, play with the games we have for children, gaze at the aquarium and in general form a favorable, non-threatening opinion of the nice people at Dr. Pyle's office. If you can do this a couple of times before your child's first exam it will less stressful when it's the child's turn.

Starting a Health Habit of a Lifetime

We've been treating kids age 3 and up for over a quarter century. Our child dentistry services include regular checkups, cleanings, sealants, fillings, Carifree cavity prevention, sports guards, orthodontic evaluations and digital X-rays. We use laser guided dentistry which can reduce the need for anesthesia and make the experience less stressful for the child.

If you have any questions just give us a call at our Weston dental office and we will be happy to help. Read more:

Cosmetic Dentistry Weston : Teeth Whitening : Restorative

In Weston Cosmetic Dentistry is About More Than Great Smiles

We've found that most of our Weston patients believe that cosmetic dentistry is a purely elective procedure designed for esthetic purposes only. While some cosmetic dentistry does focus on perfecting a smile, there are many procedures that are classified as cosmetic that actually have a restorative function.

For example composite fillings, crowns and bridges are all classified as cosmetic dentistry but the all play an important restorative role. The procedures improve the look of the teeth but they also bring the teeth back to a healthy condition that allows them to function more efficiently.

Composite fillings replace decayed areas of the tooth with a material that is tooth colored rather than silver. Yes this makes the tooth appear more natural so you can call it cosmetic but it also performs the same restorative function as a traditional filling. Crowns strengthen cracked teeth and bridges replace missing teeth both important restorative procedures.

Speaking of Smiles – Cosmetic Dentistry Options

A beautiful smile is not only attractive it builds self-confidence. To get that perfect smile cosmetic dentistry offers teeth whitening, bonding and veneers to brighten a smile and cover imperfections.

Cosmetic dentistry is a special dental practice and you only want it performed by an experienced and qualified dentist. For over 25 years Dr. Pyle has been on the cutting edge of cosmetic dentistry and is up to date on the latest technologies. Our office provides the latest in porcelain materials, tooth colored fillings and the ZOOM! teeth whitening system, a non-invasive technology that brightens teeth quickly and painlessly.

If you have questions about cosmetic dentistry, give us a call or ask Dr. Pyle on your next visit to our Weston dental office. Read More:

Exercise and Oral Health- dentistry: Weston FL

Exercise and Oral Health

Exercise has long been recognized as one of the most important ways to keep your entire body healthy and fit. However, over the last several years, researchers have found evidence that exercise can actually lead to poorer oral health, so we wanted to be sure our Weston area dental patients were provided with the latest information on this topic.

How do researchers know that exercise can hurt oral health?

An initial survey of Olympic athletes showed that their oral health was significantly poorer than those of ordinary people. In order to further study this, a recent study was conducted at a dental school in Germany. A group of highly active athletes were compared against a group of healthy non-athletes. Researchers then examined their lifestyles, and took measurements before, during, and after exercise. Although researchers had initially suspected that athletes might consume more sugary sports bars and drinks, the athletes’ diet could not account for their poor oral health. Instead, researchers noticed the longer an athlete exercised, the more cavities they were likely to have.

How can exercising more lead to cavities?

Researchers found that during exercise, the mouth becomes drier as it produces less saliva. The saliva that was produced also became more basic (the opposite of acidic). A moist mouth with balanced saliva is important to protect enamel and prevent bacterial growth, leading to the athletes developing much more tartar and plaque. The longer an athlete exercised, the drier and more alkaline their mouth became, even if they drank often.

How can I exercise and still have good Oral Health?

Read More:

Family Dentistry : Services : Weston

Family Dentistry at Stephen J Pyle, DDS serves as the first line of defense and detection for serious health problems like gum disease and oral cancer. A dental exam typically includes periodic x-rays where these problems can be spotted and appropriate action taken. Serious gum disease can contribute to heart disease and stroke making the dental exam even that much more important to a family member's overall health.

Family Dentistry…Did You Know?

When people think of family dentistry they most likely think dental exams, digital x-rays, teeth cleaning, extractions and teeth polishing. However today, a trained dentist like Dr. Pyle can offer can offer additional services that might surprise you:

• NTI Tension Suppression System. This is a custom fit dental appliance that patients can wear at night to significantly reduce migraine headaches and migraine associated stress headaches. Dr. Pyle was the first to offer this non-surgical, no-drug, no side effects therapy in Weston.
• Customized sports guards. If you or your children play a contact sport or a sport that could potentially result in a dental injury (like tennis or racquetball) Dr. Pyle can create a custom mouth guard for protection.
• Tooth colored fillings. This filling material looks and feels more natural and is an excellent alternative to traditional silver filling material.
• Dental hypnosis. Certified by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis Dr. Pyle can put anxious patients at ease using dental hypnosis making the dental treatment process less stressful.
• Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances.  If you have been diagnosed with mild to moderate Sleep Apnea, Dr. Pyle can custom fit you for an oral appliance to treat your sleep apnea ( rather than using a CPAP - Continuous Positive Airway Pressure – device.)

Family dentistry is an important part of your family's overall health care program. Regular dental examinations and maintenance can prevent major (and expensive) dental issues later on: read more

Cosmetic dentistry : Weston FL

Improving Your Quality of Life Through Cosmetic Dentistry

If you think cosmetic dentistry is a luxury, think again. How you perceive the appearance of your teeth can have a major impact on your self-confidence, self-image and how you interact with others. If you are completely confident in your smile…you'll smile more often and that can change the way people think about you.

Imagine having the confidence of a perfect smile when interacting with business associates or clients. You will engage in conversations more freely and you won't have that nagging worry about how you appear to others. Cosmetic dentistry is not a luxury; it is not an exclusive service for the rich and famous, it is a means to improve the quality of your life.

With Cosmetic Dentistry You Have Options

Over the years there have been significant advances both in the techniques and materials used in cosmetic dentistry. At our practice we have been providing cosmetic dentistry and bringing brighter smiles to patients in Weston, Sunrise and Plantation for over 25 years. The advances made during that time are absolutely stunning.

Here is a short list of the options available when creating a more attractive smile:

• Porcelain Veneers. An excellent alternative to crowns.
• Teeth Whitening. There are a variety of new products available for whitening teeth at home.
• Tooth Colored Fillings. You can eliminate the mouth full of silver look with tooth colored fillings that look natural.

Cosmetic dentistry is a specialty and you don't want to receive cosmetic dentistry care from any dentist other than one who has the training and experience to practice it.

If you have questions regarding the benefits of cosmetic dentistry or how it is performed, please contact our office and we will be happy to answer them: read more