Why You Should Get Regular Dental Checkups?

Anxiety, it seems society is becoming increasingly more affected by anxiousness. Or maybe we’ve always been this way but never knew the right terminology. Whatever the reason, anxiety can become a crippling issue when applied to the dental industry. Common knowledge allows us to understand that the dentist is needed when we have a toothache or jaw pain, but what may not as common awareness is how important the dentist is even when there is a prominent reason or pain present. However, if anxiety of the dentist or of the dental drill can cause nervousness, a patient may avoid coming in to schedule a much-needed appointment. Delaying the dentist is never a good solution. A person may say that their teeth are completely fine and that they are not having any signs or symptoms associated with a toothache. "I don’t think I have a cavity, my teeth don’t hurt" or something along those lines is usually what someone who is avoiding the dentist may say. But what about the importance of what is happening beneath the gums? Are the lymph nodes in your neck healthy? A regular dental checkup can help identify and asses all areas of your mouth, gums, jaw, cheeks, neck, and tongue.

Understandably, a trip to the dental office can be distressing for some but most dental offices aim to help you understand the process of a dental cleaning to help ease your mind and better inform you. More often than not, older patients tend to experience dental anxiety possibly due to the lack of technological advances in the dental office when they were younger. Some great news is that there are now solutions to aid in easing that anxiety, one major tool that patients can use is Dental hearing protection also known as dental earplugs. Similar in function to a foam earplug but tremendously better in the design and longevity. Specially designed ear protection for dentists and patients dull the noise of the dental drill to soft background noise while still allowing you to hear the dentists voice and direction.

After attaining a pair of dental earplugs you can set up an appointment for a dental checkup. If you’re still curious about what a checkup entails, listed below is more info on what to expect.

The process:

• X-Rays – The x-rays of your mouth are taken regularly to make sure the dentist or hygienist can see what is going on within the tooth and under the gumline more in-depth.
• Examination – The hygienist looks around your mouth with a small hand mirror and checking for any concerns like gingivitis. If there is a cause for concern, the dentist will make sure it is good to proceed with the treatment.
• Plaque and Tartar – The plaque leads to tartar, a hardened form of plaque that can only be removed with a special tool used by the dentist.
• Brushing – The hygienist will then brush with a special abrasive toothpaste that polishes the surface of the teeth and deep cleans as well.
• Flossing – When properly done it will help to remove the leftover plaque and toothpaste.
• Rinsing – To come full circle in a way, you’ll then rinse with a special fluoridated mouthwash to add extra protection to your clean teeth.
• Fluoride – Finally at the end of your appointment the dentist will apply the fluoride treatment which can be applied in numerous forms. The fluoride protects against cavities until your next cleaning session. 

What is the Perfect Gift for an Anxious Dental Patient?

The wonderful gift of giving, it can be so fulfilling, not only for you but for a dental patient as well. Now we’re not suggesting a brand-new Lamborghini because, we can’t all be Oprah, though that would possibly ease anyone’s anxiety. The perfect gift would have to fit your patient’s needs, in this case it would be to solve their anxiety but where does their anxiety stem from exactly?
 In many cases this anxiety arises from the humble but effective dental drill. Maybe not the drill itself but the high-pitched sound it emits. Many times, this unease will be presented in older patients who have past dental history in which pain management wasn’t as efficient as it is today. This troublesome memory can carry over to every dental appointment they have in the future and make it difficult for that person to book a much-needed appointment or follow through with a set visit. Some patients simply don’t like the noise and it can make them extremely nervous and anxious. So now that we know the problem what is the solution? Dental Earplugs.

    Dental earplugs, also known as dental hearing protection are specially designed earplugs created to not only block out the high-pitched sound but also doubles as hearing protection. A well made dental earplug will primarily function in three ways: converting the pitch of the dental drill to a low emitting decibel which is comparable to a muffled sound in the background, secondly the earplug will at the same time allow the wearer to hear the voice of the dentist which is great when the dentist needs to deliver a direction like “please lift your chin” or to ask how you’re doing, thirdly the earplug functions as protection from hearing loss. Prolonged exposure to loud sounds and noises can cause permanent hearing loss (Sensorineural Hearing Loss).

    In some cases, the patient may not have had past dental trauma associated with the drill but is merely nervous of the sound. The high-speed dental drill emanates sounds up to 100 decibels, that is equivalent to standing by a passing motorcycle. That doesn’t sound too bad until you compare that to hearing that motorcycle pass by for 30 minutes which is the average time of a dental appointment (some are more or less depending upon the procedure). The normal range of sound among people having a conversation is 50 decibels. Starting at 80 decibels and up, exposure to that sound can cause hearing loss over time.

    Dentist Earplugs could be the perfect gift for that anxious patient, allowing them to be more at ease during the visit and leaving more confident in managing their anxiety associated with the dental office. Dental Earplugs are a cost-effective option that can be used over and over. If you have a dental office that provides questionnaires to new patient’s regarding their level of anxiety, this could be a good opportunity to recommend dental earplugs. You could possibly know a friend or family member who has been avoiding the dental office and maybe this product could be the answer.
  

How to Prevent Hearing Loss in Dental Office?

There are a few things in life that we simply cannot control and one of those things is time. Time can be so elusive and with this fast-paced lifestyle many people live, it can be difficult to remember to take care of ourselves and preserve the longevity of our bodily abilities. Of course, many of us try to be conscious of what we eat these days and how many days a week we get to exercise but let’s not be neglectful to the rest of our overall health. From your eyesight, teeth, physical health, and hearing, etc.

Everyday occurrences present opportunities for us to prevent and slow down any deterioration our bodies experience. For example, the times you visit your dental office making the effort to maintain the health of your mouth and teeth is the perfect occasion. Did you know that the dental drill emits a high pitch frequency of up to 100 decibels? That’s about as loud as a clap of thunder from a nearby lightning strike. Now that might not seem like a huge deal considering we’ve heard thunderstorms before and haven’t had any immediate hearing loss however, imagine hearing something that loud continuously over a long period of time. Over time that noise could affect your hearing permanently.

As your sitting in that comfortable dental chair having your dental cleaning procedure, the dental drill is constantly in your ear. Some dentists use dental hearing protection to aid in the prevention of long-term hearing loss. Dental hearing protection can come in the form of dental earplugs.

Simple, convenient, and effective are qualities of a great dental earplug. The option to use a simple foam earplug is available but not as efficient or agreeable in a dental office. Your dentist will want to ask you questions to make sure you are feeling well, or if the bite of your tooth is too high, or to maybe tilt your head to the side. With a foam earplug you would have to constantly remove them to hear your dentists’ voice while on the other hand, a specialized dental earplug will block out the high pitch noise and still allow the voice of the doctor to be heard.


Dental earplugs are a small but incredible investment in preserving the endurance of your hearing.