Choosing the Best Dentist in St. Petersburg FL

choosing the best dentist in St Petersburg FL

Choosing the Best Dentist in St. Petersburg FL

If the thought of going to the dentist makes you nervous, you’re not alone. However, your dentist is your oral health partner. Routine dental examinations and treatment by your St. Petersburg FL dentist can help keep your teeth, mouth, and gums healthy and prevent dental disease. Furthermore, poor oral health can contribute to other health risks, such as cardiovascular disease. How do you go about choosing the best dentist in St. Petersburg FL for you? Here are some important considerations to bear in mind.

1. Obtain Referrals

Begin by compiling a list of potential dentists in St Pete. To do so, seek advice from family, friends, and other healthcare providers. Investigate the dentists’ credentials and experience on Healthgrades.com. As you narrow down your options, contact each dentist’s office and request a consultation appointment to meet and interview the dentist.

2. Examine the Dentist’s Credentials

When selecting a dentist, one of the most important factors to consider is board certification. It certifies that the dentist has the necessary training, skills, and experience to provide general dentistry care. Also, ensure that the dentist has no prior malpractice claims or disciplinary actions. 

3.Think about the Dentist’s Experience 

When it comes to oral health, experience counts. The more experience a dentist has with a condition or procedure, the better the outcome. Additional education is required for dental specialties such as orthodontics and endodontics. Inquire about the dentist’s experience treating patients with your specific condition. If you have dental anxiety, speak with your dentist about successful approaches he or she has used with other anxious patients. If you know you need a specific procedure, find out how many the dentist has performed and learn about complication rates—both the complications the dentist has encountered and your own risk of complications.

4. Capabilities of the best dentist in St. Petersburg FL

Dentists can use telecommunications technology, such as two-way video, smartphones, and email, to diagnose and treat some patients; this is known as telehealth explains the best dental camera manufacturer, Digital Doc. Inquire if the dentist provides telehealth services. Telehealth does not replace hands-on in-person office visits, but it does mean fewer trips to the dentist for many patients. Some conditions can be managed by sending symptoms and vital signs collected at home, as well as having a “virtual visit” with your provider. Telehealth is also useful for routine check-ups and minor complaints, making it a convenient option. Check to see if your health insurance covers telehealth services.

5. Assess Communication Style

Choose a dentist with whom you feel at ease talking and who understands your information needs. When you meet the dentist for the first time, ask a question and observe how he or she responds. Is he or she open to your questions and does he or she respond in a way that you can understand? Did you feel rushed or engaged when you left? Choose a St Petersburg dentist who is interested in getting to know you, will take your treatment preferences into account, and will respect your decision-making process.

7. Examine Patient Feedback

Reading what other people have to say about a dentist can give you an idea of how he or she practices general dentistry and runs his or her dental practice. Patient reviews typically reflect people’s experiences with scheduling appointments, wait times, the office environment, and the friendliness of the office staff. You can find out how well patients trust the dentist, how much time he or she spends with patients, and how well he or she answers questions.

Have you decided that 4th Street Family Dentistry is the right place for you? Contact us to schedule your appointment!

Most Common Dental Problems & Solutions

common dental problems St. Petersburg FL

4 Common Dental Problems 

Dental problems are never fun. However, the good news is that you can prevent most problems. Many dental problems can be solved by brushing twice a day, flossing daily, eating properly, and regular dental check-ups with Dr. Brian Leeson, the best dentist in St. Petersburg FL. Educating yourself about common dental problems and their causes can also go a long way towards prevention. Here’s a list of some of them: 

Bad Breath 

Bad breath, also called halitosis, can be quite embarrassing. According to the Journal of Natural Science, Biology, and Medicine, about 85% of people with persistent bad breath have a dental condition that is to blame.These dental conditions include: 

  • Gum disease
  • Cavities
  • Oral cancer 
  • Dry mouth
  • Tongue bacteria

Using mouthwash to cover up bad breath when there is a dental problem will only mask the smell and not cure it. If you have a chronic bad breath, please visit your St. Pete dentist to rule out any of these problems.

Decay of the tooth

Tooth decay, also known as cavities, is second only to common cold as the most prevalent disease in the United States. Tooth decay occurs when plaque, the sticky substance that forms on the teeth, is combined with sugars and/or starches in the food you eat. This combination produces acids that attack the enamel tooth.

You can get cavities at any age.  As you age, you can develop cavities as your tooth enamel erupts. Dry mouth due to age or medication may also lead to cavities, explains our friend and the best dentist in Shreveport LA, Dr. Ben Kacos. 

The best way to prevent tooth decay is by brushing twice a day, flossing every day, and going to your regular dental check-ups.

Eating healthy foods and avoiding high-sugar snacks and drinks are also ways to prevent decay. Your dentist may recommend additional treatments that may help to reduce your risk.

Gum Disease (Periodontal)

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a gum infection that surrounds the teeth. It is also one of the main causes of tooth loss amongst adults.

Everyone is at risk for gum disease, but it usually occurs after 30 years of age. Risk factors include smoking, diabetes, and dry mouth. Symptoms include bad breath, red, swollen, tender or bleeding gums, sensitive teeth, and painful chewing.

If you have any signs of gum disease, you should see your dentist and possibly get a deep cleaning St. Pete dentist, Dr. Leeson says. Gingivitis and periodontitis are two major stages of gum disease. Regular dental check-ups with at least twice daily brushing and flossing play an important role in the prevention of gum disease.

Toothache and St. Pete Emergency Dentist 

While many toothaches and dental emergencies can easily be avoided through regular visits to the dentist, accidents can and do occur. It can be very painful and scary to have a dental emergency.

Common problems that require an emergency visit to your dentist include a broken or cracked tooth, abscessed tooth, or an accident tooth.

If you have a fractured or dislocated jaw or severe cuts to your tongue, lips, or mouth, go to the hospital for trauma treatment. If you have a tooth abscess that causes difficulty swallowing, or if you have developed a fever or facial swelling, take emergency care as well.

Contact 4th St Family Dentistry

If you are experiencing any of these four dental problems, it may be time to visit us. Please schedule an appointment with Dr. Leeson so he can get your oral health back on track.

Celebrating National Brush Day

National Brush Day - 4th street family dentistry

Celebrating National Brush Day

Is it really a coincidence that National Brush Day is on November 1, right after Halloween? Definitely not! Halloween comes with candy, lots and lots of candy. Many parents tend to get a little obsessed with ensuring that their children’s teeth get back in shape. This is where brushing comes in. While it is the most effective way to clean our teeth and keep them free from plaque and bacteria, brushing too much can also be a problem. 

The following are a few good practices the best dentist in St. Petersburg, FL, recommends for children and grownups to keep in mind when brushing their teeth. We’ve also added some bad practices to avoid while brushing your teeth.

Good Dental Hygiene Practices

Brushing Teeth the Proper Way

Dr. Chris Green, the best dentist in Parker, CO, emphasizes that brushing your teeth involves a lot more than a few up-down and right-left motions using your toothbrush. First, you need to hold your toothbrush at a 45-degree angle against your gums. Follow this up with back and forth strokes on your teeth, making sure you clean the chewing surfaces as well as the inner and outer surfaces of your teeth with the same series of gentle motions. 

Focusing on the Invisible Sufaces

After you’re done brushing the tooth surfaces that are visible, you can now attend to the inside surfaces on the back of your front teeth. It should be noted that some dental complications, such as dental caries, originate from the back surface of your front teeth. Dentists in St. Petersburg state that it’s important to ensure that you remember to clean that area. Effectively but gently brushing your teeth using the proper technique two times a day, every day is good for your gums and teeth and tough on plaque and bacteria, which ensures optimal oral health. 

Choosing the Right Brush Size

When choosing a toothbrush for your child, you should remember that the one size fits all rule does not apply here. Your child’s toothbrush must not be too big or too small for their mouths. Making sure you choose the right size ensures your child does not experience discomfort while brushing. Moreover, using the right size toothbrush makes it easy to clean your child’s teeth properly as it reaches all the parts of the mouth. 

Family dentists in St. Pete also recommend investing in a toothpaste that has fluoride in it, as it’s good for your teeth. This is because fluoride prevents cavities from developing and also prevents tooth decay. Use a pea-sized amount of toothpaste to brush.

Flossing Your Teeth

Emergency dentists St. Pete adds that flossing rids your mouth of the plaque that is on your teeth. This prevents plaque buildup. In addition to this, flossing also helps prevent gum disease and takes care of both your gums and teeth.

Visiting Your Dentist, Dr. Brian Leeson, After or Before National Brush Day

Making a trip to your dentist 33704 for your annual checkup at least twice a year ensures that any issues or problems you might have with your teeth are well taken care of. They may also provide you with extra tips to help keep your teeth healthy.

Bad Dental Practices to Avoid

Brushing Immediately After Eating

Brushing your teeth after eating candy or consuming a meal may end up causing more harm to your teeth. This is because when we eat, the enamel of your teeth tends to soften and stay like that for about half an hour after you’re done eating. During this time, your enamel is weak, which means that if you brush your teeth, it may be scraped away together with plaque and bacteria. 

This National Brush Day, refrain from rushing your children to brush their teeth immediately when they are done eating. Waiting half an hour will give their enamel time to sufficiently harden before they brush, thus protecting their teeth.

Using Toothbrushes with Hard Bristles

Hard-bristled toothbrushes not only cause bleeding of your gums and pain, but they also damage your teeth enamel. Damaged gums may loosen their teeth grip, which may result in loss of teeth. It is, therefore, important to avoid getting hard bristled toothbrushes for your kids or using them yourself.

Not Brushing for the Proper Amount of Time

Effectively brushing your teeth requires at least two minutes. The two minutes ensure that your teeth are properly exposed to the toothbrush’s cleaning action. 

Using an Old Toothbrush

Frayed toothbrush bristles can damage your gums and teeth. If your toothbrush is more than three months old, then you need to get a new one to help you remove all that plaque buildup from your Halloween candy that’s on your teeth. This National Brush Day, contact 4th Street Family Dentistry to keep your smile bright and your teeth right!