What You Can Expect From our Family Dentistry Office

In our family dentistry office, our goal is to keep you, our patient, in the best possible oral health. We do this by examining and cleaning your teeth on a regular basis. We would prefer to do so twice a year but at a minimum, once a year. This way we can identify small health issues like cavities before they can spread and create an uncomfortable situation. This ongoing care is your best defense against early tooth loss or even the occasional toothache.

What we do in our family dentistry office.

When looking for a family dentist, it is important to select someone that is passionate about oral health and an expert in their trade. We are exactly that. We realize that dentistry is a combination of both science and art. Through both education and experience, we have honed our craft to ensure that each patient we treat receives the best possible dental care and beautiful results.

When visiting our office, patients can expect to receive comprehensive dental care. We focus on preventing oral health issues and are more than capable of treating a health issue that is already in the advanced stages. but if a health problem arises, we are more than capable of treating it and restoring the mouth to perfect health. Many of the solutions we use to do so can serve a dual purpose of improving a patient's oral health and appearance. Take, for example, dental bonding, which can help to decrease the sensitivity one is feeling in the teeth while also covering up stains.

Simultaneously, a dental crown can be used to restore a cracked tooth but it can also improve the overall size and shape of it. By addressing both the form and function of teeth during our procedures, we can help a patient to love his or her smile again. In fact, when a patient schedules a dental exam to discuss sensitivity or a toothache, the patient needs to let us know what he or she does not like about his or her smile. We might be able to correct both at the same time.

Tips for selecting a family dentistry office.

When a patient is looking for a family dentistry office, there are several things that he or she needs to be aware of. First, they need to be centrally located to where the patient lives, works or goes to school. This way, it is easy to schedule an appointment for a professional teeth cleaning procedure or for emergency dental work. We are conveniently located and would be happy to treat the patient and his or her entire family.

We also recommend that you read patient reviews. We are pleased that our patients have taken the time to review our practice and would be happy to share those reviews with you. The best way to learn what a dental office is really like is to hear what other patients have to say and to visit the office for yourself. We invite you to stop by Art of Dental Care: Ellen Rado DDS, meet our staff, and have a consultation so that you can learn more about our philosophy of care and the approach that we take to keeping you and your family healthy - both now and as you age.

The Scoop About Fluoride From a Dentist

As a dentist office in Green Brook, we use fluoride to help strengthen teeth. You may even see ads for toothpaste containing fluoride and wonder if it even works; let alone, how it works. Fluorine is a naturally occurring substance that is most commonly found in the air, food, and dirt. Now, fluoride is also found in public water throughout the country. Fluoride is easily absorbed by the body and the enamel (outer layer of the teeth). When your enamel absorbs the fluoride, it will strengthen your teeth and decrease your risk for cavities.

Why it works

In our dentist office, we also recommend using toothpaste that contains fluoride as a method of strengthening teeth in between dental visits. While this is not as effective as drinking it or having a professional treatment, it can be helpful in reducing the occurrence of cavities.

When absorbed by the enamel, fluoride helps to remineralize teeth. This is important because over time demineralization naturally occurs due to diet, oral hygiene, and age. As this happens, the hard enamel on the outside of the teeth becomes weaker, and the teeth can feel more sensitive. They can also become more susceptible to cavities.

By remineralizing and strengthening teeth, fluoride can reduce the risk for cavities. In fact, research has found that fluoride can reduce the effect of tooth decay and even reverse the damage before it reaches the point of becoming a traditional cavity. We find that this treatment is incredibly effective.

The application of fluoride

We typically recommend an annual fluoride treatment for children and teens. The fluoride comes in a simple varnish that is mostly odor and taste-free, making it an easy treatment option for children. We simply apply it to the teeth and leave it there for around four minutes. Once complete, the treatment will strengthen the teeth and reduce the risk of cavities.

Adults typically do not receive in-office fluoride treatments, and this is why drinking tap water and using a fluoride toothpaste is so important. In our dentist office, we have had many patients express that their teeth feel less sensitive after starting a regimen of brushing with this type of paste. Given how easy this is to do, there is no reason not to brush with a fluoride toothpaste. Additionally, there are mouth rinses that children can use at home.

In rare cases, if teeth are prone to cavities we may recommend a more aggressive at-home treatment. We can provide special trays so that you can apply a fluoride gel at home in order to help prevent cavities. Again, the trays are only in rare cases but we can discuss it with you during your dental exam. To find out how fluoride can help you, visit our Green Brookoffice for a teeth cleaning and exam today.