Dental Gum Disease

Here are some Frequently Asked Questions about gum disease:

What’s the best way to prevent gum disease?

The best way is to maintain healthy dental habits throughout your lifetime, including brushing and flossing, making healthy food and beverage choices, and seeing the dentist regularly. But don’t worry. Effective treatment exists for every stage of gum disease, too.

Will getting my teeth cleaned hurt? 

Our goal is to make sure every patient is completely comfortable throughout their care. Dr. Brent and our hygienists have a very gentle touch, and they communicate with you and listen to you every step of the way as they remove plaque and tartar, polish your teeth, and floss between your teeth.

How do I know if I have gum disease?

The American Dental Association has reported that nearly 80% of Americans have some form of periodontal (gum) disease; evaluation by dental professionals will help you find out if you’re one of them! Early gum disease may not be obvious to you, but common symptoms may include swollen or bleeding gums, bad breath, loose teeth, or dark buildup between teeth.

How is gum disease treated?

Dr. Brent will evaluate your gum health and help choose the right treatment for you. Mild gum disease, known as gingivitis, can be treated and even reversed with regular routine cleanings. The longer you may have gone without addressing the condition, the harder we may have to work to treat it, but we have the techniques and expertise to do so and get you healthy again. More advanced periodontal disease may call for scaling and root planing with more regular maintenance visits. In some cases, a laser may be used or an antibiotic therapy called ARESTIN™, which eradicates the bacteria that cause gum disease. And it works painlessly!

KC Family Dental 
Sarah Brent, DDS
4034 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Fairway, KS 66205
Kansas City
(913) 220-2209
KCFamilyDental.com 

Toothache: Home Remedies, Causes, Relief for Sore Teeth

Below is an excerpt from an article found on Crest.com

Common Toothache Causes
Are you wondering why your teeth hurt? If you have aching teeth, it may be due to a dental problem such as cavities, gum disease, bruxism, TMJ or a non-dental problem, such as a sinus infection or even stress.

1. Sensitive Teeth: Some types of toothache pain occur if you are using dental care products like peroxide-based whitening agents that penetrate into your teeth causing tooth sensitivity.
2. Bruxism: If you have aching teeth with no signs of tooth decay or gum disease, you may be experiencing bruxism. Bruxism is the technical term for grinding your teeth. Bruxism is a common cause of aching teeth that affects millions of people of all ages in the United States. If you experience aching teeth and other symptoms of bruxism, see a dental professional as soon as possible. If left untreated, chronic tooth grinding can damage crowns and fillings, and wear away tooth enamel, putting your teeth at increased risk for infection or decay. Causes of bruxism that lead to aching teeth include crooked teeth, poor jaw alignment, and stress or anxiety. If bruxism is due to misaligned teeth, straightening your bite with orthodontia could help solve the problem. But if bruxism is due to chronic stress, stress management techniques may be needed to help relieve your aching teeth. Your dental professional may recommend a mouth guard to wear at night to help prevent tooth pain associated with bruxism.
3. Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ) Dysfunction: If you're stressed to the point of clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth, you can develop tooth pain associated with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The TMJ is the joint that hinges the lower jaw to the skull, enabling you to eat and talk. Clenching your jaw and grinding your teeth put additional stress on the muscles of the jaw, which can cause tooth pain. If your tooth pain is caused by TMJ syndrome, your dentist may recommend a TMJ dental splint to reposition the lower jaw. But in less serious cases, warm compresses applied to the jaw, eating soft foods, and taking measures to reduce stress can help.
4. Damaged Teeth: Your toothache pain could be caused by a cracked or broken tooth. If this is the cause of your pain, see your dentist as soon as possible. A broken tooth can contribute to tooth decay.
5. Decayed Teeth: Tooth decay is one of the most common causes of toothache pain. Tooth decay occurs when acids from plaque bacteria penetrate into the tooth enamel causing a loss of tooth mineral which, if it progresses, can ultimately cause pain in the tooth’s inner layer, the pulp.

To read the entire article visit Crest.com.

The remainder of the article details the following:

• Home Remedies for Toothache
• How to Stop a Toothache
• Toothache Relief

KC Family Dental 
Sarah Brent, DDS
4034 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Fairway, KS 66205
Kansas City
(913) 220-2209
KCFamilyDental.com 

Dental Hygienist

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about the role played by your Dental Hygienist!

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

KC Family Dental 
Sarah Brent, DDS
4034 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Fairway, KS 66205
Kansas City
(913) 220-2209
KCFamilyDental.com 

Improve your Dental Health with a Intra Oral Camera

Intra-Oral Camera Makes You a Part of the Team

You want to make the most informed decisions possible in order to improve your dental health. Dr. Brent is making this easier with the intra-oral camera. This high-tech device is a small-scale video camera that presents a close-up picture of the interior of your mouth. You can now see for yourself what work needs to be accomplished and which teeth are in great shape. You’ll love how this works to make you an active participant in every dental decision.

KC Family Dental 
Sarah Brent, DDS
4034 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Fairway, KS 66205
Kansas City
(913) 220-2209
KCFamilyDental.com 

Dentist: Doctors of Oral Health

Learn more about what the American Dental Association has to say about the role played by Dentists!

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

KC Family Dental 
Sarah Brent, DDS
4034 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Fairway, KS 66205
Kansas City
(913) 220-2209
KCFamilyDental.com 

Cosmetic Dentistry for Imperfect Smiles

Quick Fixes for Imperfect Smiles

Perhaps you already have a great smile, but don’t like a small imperfection like a discolored tooth or a chip. Dr. Brent can use composite bonding to quickly and easily improve your smile! This material can be made to match your natural tooth color, so it looks great. It can fill gaps, too!

KC Family Dental 
Sarah Brent, DDS
4034 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Fairway, KS 66205
Kansas City
(913) 220-2209
KCFamilyDental.com 

Choosing Wisely: 5 Things Every Family Should Know About Dental Health (Part 3 of 3)

Don’t replace fillings just because they’re old 

When you have a cavity, the dentist removes it and puts in a filling. These fillings can last for many years, but some people get silver fillings removed because they don’t like the color. However, the process of removing a filling can weaken the tooth. Additionally, insurance may not cover the removal. 

To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.

KC Family Dental 
Sarah Brent, DDS
4034 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Fairway, KS 66205
Kansas City
(913) 220-2209
KCFamilyDental.com 

Choosing Wisely: 5 Things Every Family Should Know About Dental Health (Part 2 of 3)

Ask about all the options for calming your child during dental procedures 












Dental work can be scary for some kids. Talk with your dentist about ways to help your child stay calm. Tips for a successful dental visit can include making sure your child is not hungry before their dental appointment and scheduling an appointment at the proper time of day.

For jaw pain, try conservative treatments first 












Jaw pain can be caused by stress, arthritis or an injury. A treatment plan for jaw pain should first consist of actions like exercises and anti-inflammatory drugs.

To read the entire article visit MouthHealthy.org.

KC Family Dental 
Sarah Brent, DDS
4034 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Fairway, KS 66205
Kansas City
(913) 220-2209
KCFamilyDental.com 

Diet & Your Teeth

Learn more about the connection between your teeth and what you eat.

The above video is found on the American Dental Association YouTube Channel.

KC Family Dental 
Sarah Brent, DDS
4034 Shawnee Mission Parkway
Fairway, KS 66205
Kansas City
(913) 220-2209
KCFamilyDental.com