Thompson Advanced Dentistry is your family dental home in Greeley, CO for complete general dental care under one roof. From dental cleanings and fillings to tooth replacement options, our team is committed to the oral health needs of you and your family. Dr. Thompson and our team believe in the value and success of relationship dentistry, taking the time to get to know you as an individual so that we can provide the best possible patient experience and personalized care for your needs.
Children’s Dental Services in Greeley
The enjoyment of a lifetime of healthy smiles begins early. We recommend that parents and caregivers bring young children in for their first visit when the primary teeth begin to erupt or by their first birthday. Pediatric dental care can lay the foundation for optimal oral development and healthy habits that carry into adulthood.
The Thompson Advanced Dentistry team provides complete care for maintaining your child’s growing smile and works with you to support a healthy oral hygiene routine at home. We will monitor the development of a growing smile and recommend any dental treatments that would address concerns early to avoid more complex problems down the road.
Children’s dental care includes:
- Dental exams and cleanings
- Teeth fillings
- Dental sealants
- Short-term orthodontics
- Tooth extractions
Preventing Tooth Decay in Children
Tooth decay can occur in patients of all ages, including young children with only primary teeth. We focus on disease prevention at Thompson Advanced Dentistry, starting at an early age. A leading childhood disease, tooth decay is largely preventable with routine dental care and healthy habits between visits.
Our team takes time with your child or teen when they visit to thoroughly evaluate the condition and development of their oral health. We provide personalized, age-appropriate care and advice so that they can enjoy a healthy, comfortable, and beautiful smile that supports their self-confidence.
Help prevent tooth decay with healthy habits:
- Visit the dentist twice a year for a professional dental exam and tooth cleaning
- Brush twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and floss daily between all teeth
- Minimize added sugars in your daily diet, which also supports a healthy body weight
- Drink plenty of water, especially after meals, to rinse the mouth
- Eat a varied diet that includes fruits, vegetables, and sources of calcium for healthy tooth enamel development
- Chew sugarless gum between meals to satisfy a sweet tooth and reduce bacteria in the mouth
The Importance of Primary Teeth
The primary teeth, or “baby teeth,” begin in the latter part of a child’s first year. These first teeth play an important role in your child’s overall development, and maintaining their health and stability is a key reason for regular visits to the dentist.
Primary teeth serve several purposes in both oral and overall development:
- Placeholders for permanent teeth
- Supports the ability to enjoy a varied, healthy diet
- Plays a role in speech development
- Supports normal jaw function and development
Dealing With Wisdom Teeth
The wisdom teeth erupt as children enter their late teens and early twenties. Our mouths usually don’t have room for this extra set of molars. Sometimes, the teeth are stuck in the bone, causing impaction. Your teeth are shifting and moving so that they’re crooked or overlapping. There’s nowhere for the extra teeth to go. Almost always, we recommend removing wisdom teeth.
Using digital x-rays and advanced dental technology, the dentist monitors the state of your wisdom teeth as they develop. Our goal is to stop problems with wisdom teeth before they start. We can avoid the bigger issues wisdom teeth can cause with early detection.
Age-Specific Dentistry
Each stage of life encounters different dental problems. You still need specific dental care after your wisdom teeth stage. Dental needs in the middle stage of life vary depending on how well you take care of your oral health and the quality of dentistry you’ve received in the past. As we age, we’re more likely to have teeth that are worn down or damaged. Gum disease is also more prevalent in adults.
Dental bonding and porcelain veneers can take years off your smile’s appearance. The natural aging process wears your teeth, which become discolored due to staining diet, lifestyle habits, and enamel erosion. Not only can this be unseemly, but it can make your teeth sensitive and painful.
When we’re seniors, different health problems arise. Underlying medical conditions and the medications you take impact your oral health. One of the most common oral health concerns with seniors is dry mouth. While it may not seem serious, your saliva is very important to oral health. It helps to neutralize the pH in the mouth to counteract acidity and rinses away bacteria and food particles from your smile.
Dry mouth contributes to problems like gum disease and tooth loss. Seniors are the most likely group to be missing teeth. Regular preventative care is essential to keeping your smile healthy. We may recommend more frequent cleanings and checkups depending on your oral health. Our office also provides multiple solutions to replace missing teeth, including dentures and dental implants.
Continuity of Care
When you continue to go to the same dentist office throughout your lifetime, you get unmatched continuity of care. Our office understands your oral health history and your needs and concerns about your smile. This allows us to personalize your experience further. We treat our patients as a family and ensure you’re in the best hands possible. We aim to ensure you’re comfortable in our office and get the exact care you need.
With an established relationship, it’s easier for us to teach and communicate with our patients. We share our knowledge so patients can stay proactive with their oral healthcare. Practicing preventative care makes you less likely to experience more serious oral health problems. If there are things you can do at home that can ensure better oral health, we’ll let you know. It’s our duty to ensure our patients have the best oral health possible.
Schedule a Dental Exam Today
If a primary tooth becomes damaged or decayed, it is important to have it examined by Dr. Thompson to recommend appropriate care. Any dental treatment is designed to preserve your growing child’s oral structure to avoid future bite problems. Schedule your preventative dental care visit today.