Dr. Sarah Brent DDS and the team at KC Family Dental are pleased to provide professional and caring dental services to their patients from Fairway KS, Kansas City, Roeland Park, Prairie Village, Mission, The Plaza, Mission Hills, Shawnee and the surrounding communities. Our dental services include: adult, children's, cosmetic, family, general, implant, laser, orthodontic, preventive, restorative and sedation dentistry.
Plaque is a sticky, gooey substance, and while regular brushing can usually eliminate most of it, any that remains can harden into tartar. A typical toothbrush and floss don’t stand a chance against tartar. So tartar continues to accumulate below the gumline as well as on the surface of your teeth. Soon, you risk more serious problems – the potential development of gum disease. Recent research shows a clear link between untreated gum disease and other, more serious conditions like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Which means having your teeth cleaned by a professional hygienist is one of the best reasons to visit your dentist. In fact, having your teeth cleaned regularly is one of the easiest things you can do to stay healthy! KC Family Dental Sarah Brent, DDS 4034 Shawnee Mission Parkway Fairway, KS 66205 Kansas City (913) 220-2209 KCFamilyDental.com
You know your dentist is looking for cavities during regular check-ups, but you may not realize your dentist can check for cancer at the same time. It’s estimated that approximately 51,540 people will be diagnosed with oral cancer and cancers of the throat, tonsils and back of the tongue in 2018. Regular visits to your dentist can help you detect such cancers early, and changing a few potentially harmful habits may help reduce your chances of developing them. Read on to find out the top risk factors. Gender Men are twice more likely to get oral cancer. The American Cancer Society attributes this to higher rates of alcohol and tobacco use by men, but says more men of a younger age are being diagnosed with HPV-related forms of oral cancer.
Age Most people who are diagnosed with oral cancer are 55 or older, according to the American Cancer Society. HPV-related oral cancers, however, are often diagnosed in people who are younger. To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.
Introducing Soft and Hard Tissue Laser Dental Procedures
FDA-approved dental lasers offer an alternative to standard treatment typically performed with scalpels or incisions. The less invasive the treatment, the better the results and healing times. We can cosmetically treat uneven gummy smile lines, clean and re-contour swollen tissue around crowns, halt gum disease, and heal painful canker sores and mouth ulcers with instant relief. The results are incredible!
There are some “clear” advantages to the Invisalign system. For example, no one will know you’re straightening your teeth because the clarity of the aligners makes them almost invisible! People would have to know you’re wearing aligners, or look very closely, to be able to see them. This will be a real confidence booster when it comes to your smile all through your active treatment.
Don’t forget comfort! There are no braces, wires, or headgear to cause mouth irritation. The aligners are a single unit, with no metal or wires to be checked and adjusted, so you even get to spend less time in Dr. Brent’s chair.
Then there’s the convenience factor. Though you wear the aligners 24 hours a day, they are simple to remove for eating and brushing, which means no food restrictions. Keeping your teeth clean and plaque free is just as stress-free as it was before treatment, because there are no braces to get in your way. KC Family Dental Sarah Brent, DDS 4034 Shawnee Mission Parkway Fairway, KS 66205 Kansas City (913) 220-2209 KCFamilyDental.com
Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org Your mouth, teeth, and gums are more than just tools for eating. They’re essential for chewing and swallowing-the first steps in the digestion process. Your mouth is your body’s initial point of contact with the nutrients you consume. So what you put in your mouth impacts not only your general health but also that of your teeth and gums. In fact, if your nutrition is poor, the first signs often show up in your mouth. Here are a few helpful things to know about how what you eat can impact your dental health. Diet and Tooth Decay
The foods you eat and the beverages you drink can have a direct influence on the incidence and progression of tooth decay, depending upon:
The form of the food-whether it’s liquid, solid, sticky or slow to dissolve makes a difference.
How often you eat sugary foods and beverages and how often you eat or drink acidic foods and beverages.
The nutritional makeup of the food.
The combination of the foods you eat and the order in which you eat them.
Medical conditions you may have, such as gastrointestinal reflux and eating disorders, which can increase risk of cavities and weaken teeth.
How Snacking Affects Your Dental Health For dental health, it’s recommended that people limit eating and drinking between meals. Of course, sometimes eating between meals must happen. Unfortunately, most people choose foods like sweets and chips for snacks; foods that harm teeth by promoting tooth decay. If you do snack, make it a nutritious choice-such as cheese, yogurt, fruits, vegetables or nuts-for your overall health and the health of your teeth. Did you know that certain foods can put you at risk for cavities and other dental health problems? Here are some MouthHealthy tips. To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org. The remainder of the article details the following:
Below is an excerpt from an article found on MouthHealthy.org The right smile can leave you laughing, fill you with joy or make you melt with emotion. But, ultimately, the best smile is one that is healthy and strong. Here are some of the “tooth truths” about how tough your teeth really are ñ and how to keep them that way. 1. Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in the body. The shiny, white enamel that covers your teeth is even stronger than bone. This resilient surface is 96 percent mineral, the highest percentage of any tissue in your body - making it durable and damage-resistant. 2. Your bite is powerful! Did you know your teeth can exert an average of 200 pounds of pressure when you bite down? That’s probably what tempts us to use our teeth as tools from time to time ñ but as your dentist will remind you, that’s one of the worst habits when it comes to preserving healthy teeth. To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org. The remainder of the article details the following:
Teeth can last for hundreds of years
Strong as they are, teeth can't heal on their own
Healthy teeth have the power to resist decay, but they need our help
The number of teeth knocked out in America every year is staggering – nearly 5 million! Even sports you wouldn’t normally think of as dangerous present a hazard for your teeth without the proper protection. Unfortunately, the one-size-fits-all mouthguards found in stores don’t always fit very well, so using these can hamper proper breathing while running during sports. On the other hand, custom-made sports mouthguards fit well, protect well, and can be worn for any sport. The American Dental Association advocates wearing custom mouthguards for all sports ranging from acrobatics to wrestling. We can do a mouthguard in the colors of your team. Team discount or team mouthguard fitting party available. KC Family Dental Sarah Brent, DDS 4034 Shawnee Mission Parkway Fairway, KS 66205 Kansas City (913) 220-2209 KCFamilyDental.com
Plaque is a sticky, gooey substance, and while regular brushing can usually eliminate most of it, any that remains can harden into tartar. A typical toothbrush and floss don’t stand a chance against tartar. So tartar continues to accumulate below the gumline as well as on the surface of your teeth. Soon, you risk more serious problems – the potential development of gum disease. Recent research shows a clear link between untreated gum disease and other, more serious conditions like heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. Which means having your teeth cleaned by a professional hygienist is one of the best reasons to visit your dentist. In fact, having your teeth cleaned regularly is one of the easiest things you can do to stay healthy!
