Angstadt Dental Lancaster

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How to Care for Your Teeth with Preventive Dentistry

September 24, 2023 by Jonathan Angstadt Leave a Comment

In today’s world of dentistry, there are countless advancements in dental technology and materials: digital imaging, use of dental lasers and 3D milling of crowns, as well as many others. Our office in Lancaster uses the latest techniques to ensure the highest level of clinical care while also providing a comfortable, pain-free experience for our patients.

Even with all of this, prevention is still the best thing you can do to live a healthier and happier life. Since there is no “one size fits all” solution, it’s important to have a relationship with a current dentist who takes the time to understand your unique needs and has the technology to make the process as painless and easy as possible. From home care to the dental office and everything in between, here are useful preventative dentistry tips to keep your smile glowing and your teeth healthy!

Why Prevention Matters

One key reason to maintain good oral hygiene is the benefits it can provide to your overall health. Although your genetics play an influential role in the development of cavities, at-home oral hygiene can keep your teeth free of decay and protect your gums from infection. A visit to Angstadt Dental Lancaster can reveal more than just cavities by examining your mouth and surrounding areas. Some issues that our dentists can detect via an oral examination and digital x-rays include: 

  • Vitamin Deficiencies
  • Signs of Acid Reflux 
  • Tooth Grinding
  • Signs of Sleep Apnea
  • Oral Cancers

In addition, general health issues often initially manifest in your mouth. Gingivitis, the earliest stage of gum disease, is a common inflammation of the gums. If not treated, it can develop into periodontitis, an advanced infection that can cause tooth loss. Oral infections that start in your mouth have also been linked to several, severe general health conditions, including: 

  • Heart Disease
  • Stroke
  • Complications of diabetes
  • Respiratory issues
  • Alzheimer’s Disease

Catching oral health issues early helps preserve more of your natural teeth and gums. You can also reduce the pain, discomfort, and complications of oral diseases, significantly improving your quality of life and reducing the amount you ultimately have to pay to maintain your oral health.

Preventative Dentistry Tips

At Angstadt Dental Lancaster, we regularly inform our patients about these helpful tips, and now we’re passing them onto the rest of the community so you can save time and money, all with a healthy and beautiful smile. Here are some of the most important:

  • Home Care: Flossing, brushing and using an antibacterial and fluoride-containing mouth rinse are a great start. An electric toothbrush and/or water flosser work wonders, too!
  • Regular Checkups: Plan on getting a checkups 2-4 times a year, so your dentist can help get anything you may have missed. They are vital to find small issues before they are big (potentially costly) problems. Remember, the earlier it's taken care of, the easier it is to fix!
  • Non-Invasive Sealants: Sealants prevent cavities where 80% of cavities start! They're used for adults and children alike, but crucial for children as they grow.
  • Fluoride: Remember this one? Topical fluoride treatment, especially for kids and young people, helps strengthen teeth and helps prevent dental decay in the long-term.
  • Diet: Snacks in between meals should be limited, and keep sugary/acidic drinks like juices, teas, sodas and coffee to a minimum. Drinking a lot of water can help neutralize acids and is also beneficial to general health.
  • Sugar-Free Gum: Chewing gum can help prevent decay by helping to clean your teeth between meals. Sugar-free mints can improve salivary flow and decrease dry mouth, which is a major contributor to dental decay and gum disease.
  • Mouthguards and Nightguards: These are very helpful to adults and children. Teeth should always be protected when playing sports or even things like bike riding or skiing. Nightguards protect teeth from grinding and clenching and can reduce jaw joint or TMJ pain.
  • Find the Right Dentist For You: Choose a dentist with new and improved technology that is current and can help detect tooth decay or cavities (like the diagnodent or digital x-rays) or complete restorations as minimally invasive as possible (like the Biolase Waterlase).
  • Do Your Research: Find a dentist you can trust and feel comfortable with, one who wants the best for you and your family.

Preventive dental care is of the utmost importance for all people who wish to have a healthy and happy smile as well as preserve function. The best preventive care starts before the problems occur but even after improving current issues and correcting specific problems, prevention is key. Our doctors are consistent in telling our patients that “Prevention is KEY to dental care.” This is because without prevention, no amount of received care can be preserved.

Patients must learn for themselves with our hygienists and doctors, in collaboration, what is the best preventive plan for them. No two people are the same and no plan should be either! Contact us at our office in Lancaster today to start your oral health journey. We will help you develop a preventive care plan alongside our hygienists and/or doctors that is right for you!

 

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Filed Under: Preventative Dentistry Tagged With: dental tips, home dental care, preventative dentistry

Six Factors To Consider When Choosing A Dentist

June 8, 2023 by Jonathan Angstadt 1 Comment

When it comes to choosing a new dentist there are a number of critical factors for patients to consider. Chief among them is whether you are looking for a general dentist for ongoing care, maintenance, and checkups, or whether you are looking for a dental specialist equipped to provide a specific treatment (be it restorative or cosmetic). You might even need an emergency dentist to deal with an issue such as cracked teeth, broken previous restorations, and trauma – most of which rarely occurs on a weekday between 9am and 5pm.

Each of these dental needs might call for a different solution (or it might not). For example, at Angstadt Dental Lancaster, we have a wider breadth of training and tools at our disposal than the typical family practice, allowing us to cover a wider assortment of treatment needs. In addition to this foundational question as to the type of dental practice you need, there are a variety of other things to consider when it comes to selecting a dentist. Here are six key factors for you and your family to think about:

1. Quality of Care

Consider whether you are satisfied with the quality of care you are receiving from your current dentist. Thorough cleanings, comprehensive exams, and prompt treatment of dental issues can all impact your long-term dental health. Quality dental care should at the very least include comprehensive exams that assess the overall health of your mouth, teeth, and gums. From there, the basics of general dentistry should include thorough cleanings that remove plaque and tartar, helping to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. You also deserve prompt treatment of any dental issues, such as cavities or gum disease, to prevent further damage and promote oral health. Finally, quality dental care demands professionals who are knowledgeable, skilled, and pay close attention to detail, helping to ensure that your dental treatments are effective and successful.

2. Communication

Evaluate whether your dentist is effective at communicating with you about your oral health and any treatment options. Your dentist should provide regular updates, including the results of any exams or tests, to help you stay informed and proactive about your oral health. He or she should take the time to explain any treatments or procedures you may need, including what to expect during and after the treatment. Your dentist should also provide clear and concise instructions for any follow-up care you may need after a treatment, such as brushing and flossing, to help ensure the best possible outcomes.

Your dentist should use clear and concise language to explain your oral health status and any treatments you may need, helping you to understand what’s going on in your mouth. If they use terminology with which you’re not familiar, speak up! To those ends, does your dentist give you time for questions? Your dentist should provide time for you to ask any questions you may have and address any concerns you have about your oral health or treatment options. In total, by ensuring that your dentist communicates with you effectively, you can feel more confident in your dental care and better understand how to maintain good oral health and hygiene over time.

3. Availability

Consider whether your dentist’s office hours and appointment availability meet your needs. A dentist who can accommodate your schedule and provide appointments in a timely manner can help you stay on top of your oral health. This includes office hours and wait times, ensuring that they are convenient for your schedule and allowing you to attend appointments without having to take a prohibitive amount of time away from work.

You should also look for a dentist who is flexible and able to accommodate your schedule, especially in the case of an emergency or last-minute appointment. The availability of emergency appointments, particularly, ensures that you can receive prompt treatment in the event of a dental emergency. Be certain you will have access to quality dental care when you need it, and minimize the impact that dental appointments have on your daily life and schedule.

4. Cost

Obviously, this is a big one for many prospective patients. 3-in-4 dentists plan to raise their fees in 2023, citing higher wages needed for quality, trained staff, insurance reimbursement rates, and skyrocketing overhead costs due to inflation. With dental costs rising, be sure to evaluate whether the cost of your dental care is reasonable and fits within your budget. Consider factors such as insurance coverage, fees for treatments, and payment options.

If dental insurance coverage is a key component of your plan, stick to dentists who are in-network, helping to minimize the costs of treatment. Also consider the out-of-pocket fees for different services, including routine checkups, cleanings, and any treatments or procedures you may need, to help ensure that you can afford any required dental care.

Finally, you will also want to look for a dentist who offers a variety of payment options, including the use of insurance, financing options, and payment plans, to help make dental care more affordable. The final cost of your dental treatment will vary depending on your individual needs and your treatment plan. Good dental practices will be happy to discuss with you the potential cost of care and your available payment options before you begin treatment.

5. Technology

Don’t overlook this factor (as many do) since a dentist who invests in modern equipment and training can provide you with the highest-quality dental care. Often, this might mean a little bit more in terms of up-front payment but will also mean a more pain free experience, faster recovery, and better long-term results. Advanced technology in the dentist’s practice could include digital X-rays, intraoral cameras, and computer-aided design and manufacturing, to help provide you with the most advanced and effective dental treatments.

Perhaps one of the most significant advances that dentistry has made is associated with dental lasers, specifically the Biolase Waterlase iPlus. At our practice location in Lancaster, we work hard to always bring top-level technology for our patients that makes life easier, painless, and more efficient. Laser treatment is a more conservative treatment option as the process only removes what is needed – tooth decay – saving more of the tooth structure. Due to the multi-functionality of the laser, we do not need to tissue scalpel making the experience pain-free for patients. 

Finally, consider the availability of sedation options, including nitrous oxide or oral conscious sedation, to help ensure that you are relaxed and pain-free during dental treatments. Which brings us to our sixth and final factor to consider when selecting a dentist…

6. Comfort

Evaluate whether you feel comfortable with your dentist and their staff. A dentist who creates a welcoming and supportive environment can help you feel more at ease during dental appointments. Consider the comfort and cleanliness of the dental office so that you feel relaxed and at ease when visiting the dentist. Also consider the demeanor and professionalism of the dental staff, ensuring that you feel comfortable and confident in their care and that your questions are answered in a respectful and knowledgeable manner.

Patients should never feel down or distraught about their care and they should feel at ease with the dentist who will be seeing them. Feel free to take the doctors up on their offer to meet with patients at the office for a free and no stress consult appointment to gain confidence and trust. For example, at Angstadt Dental Lancaster, we want patients to know that we have their best interests in mind and that we can take care of just about all of their dental needs in our practice without timely and costly referrals. That mental aspect of “comfort” is as important to dentistry as the physical benefits gained via the latest treatment technologies.

Final Thoughts On Factors To Consider When Choosing A Dentist

Remember, your oral health is an important part of your overall health and well-being. By carefully evaluating your dental care needs and choosing a dentist who can meet those needs, you can help ensure that you receive the highest quality dental care possible.

Start each day with a rewarding smile!

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Filed Under: Preventative Dentistry

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Angstadt Dental Lancaster
1670 Lincoln Highway East
Lancaster, PA 17602

  • 717.394.1067
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  • Monday | 8 AM – 7 PM
  • Tuesday | 8 AM – 7 PM
  • Wednesday | 8 AM – 7 PM
  • Thursday | 9 AM – 5 PM
  • Friday | Closed

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We know dental emergencies happen at the most inopportune times, and we are committed to our patients’ health no matter the time. If you are having a dental emergency after regular office hours, please call us at (717) 394-1067. There will be after hours contact information on the answering machine message.

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