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Tips for Dealing with Dental Anxiety

Posted on by Dr. Vu Kong

Dental anxiety can get in the way of having healthy teeth if we let it. Although it’s very common to have some nervousness when visiting the dentist, it’s important to attend regularly scheduled dental visits. If you’re dealing with some nerves, we want to help. Here are a few tips for what you can do, and a bit of information of what we’re doing to combat this problem.

dark haired girl with anxiety

Visit a Dentist You Trust

At High Point Dentistry, we do everything we can to ensure our patients feel comfortable and cared for from the moment they step into our office. We employ state-of-the-art technology to help ease discomfort and reduce appointment times. We use intraoral cameras and digital x-rays to help you see what we see when we’re looking at your teeth. We have systems that reduce discomfort like the Isolate® comfort system, which helps reduce jaw tension during longer procedures. We also offer DentalVibe® technology, which eliminates pain upon injection. Finally, we offer gentle sedation like nitrous oxide (laughing gas) for our adult and child patients.

Practice Relaxation Techniques

Relaxation techniques can work wonders before a dental appointment if you’re nervous. Reading a book or magazine can help, as can aromatherapy, or simply drinking a cup of herbal tea. That’s why we offer all of these in our waiting room, to help you feel soothed each time you visit. Practice deep breathing, relax, and know you’re in good hands with us.

Distract Yourself

One feature our patients love is television in each treatment room, complete with Netflix so you can binge watch your favorite show. Children love it because their favorite cartoon is a great distraction. Each appointment flies by when you have a little something to take your focus off of the dental tools.

Talk About It

If you or your child is anxious about dental visits, talk to us. If your child is nervous, feel free to tell them about your positive experience with dentists and the importance of having healthy teeth. We are always here to answer questions about how we can conquer dental anxiety together. You’ve got this!

Contact us today if it’s time to schedule an appointment. We are ready to help you overcome your fears and keep your beautiful smile!

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Help the Environment While You Brush

Posted on by Dr. Vu Kong

At High Point Family Dentistry, our team is committed to helping the environment by encouraging recycling and cutting down on waste. By conserving resources and using sustainable products, we can do our part in working toward a more sustainable future. You can do the same at home by making a few small changes to your brushing routine.

water faucets dripping water

1. Turn off the Tap

If you leave the water running while you brush, you may be wasting as much as four gallons each time you brush your teeth. If you’re following our advice and brushing twice daily for two minutes each time, that can add up to over 200 wasted gallons of water per month! Turn off the faucet while you brush to conserve water and save some on your utility bill.

2. Use a Cup

If you fill your hands with water to rinse your mouth after brushing, you’re not alone! However, this practice wastes water. Instead, keep a cup by the sink – it’s much more efficient! If you have kids, consider designating each child a cup in a different color to ensure brushing harmony.

3. Aerate Your Faucet

To cut down on your water usage, consider installing an aerator to your bathroom faucet. These nifty gadgets can cut your water usage by up to 60 percent. If an aerator isn’t an option, an alternative is to lower your home’s water pressure.

4. Use Sustainable Dental Products

In addition to conserving water, using dental products made from sustainable materials is a great way to help the environment. Dental floss made from silk and toothbrushes made from bamboo provide the same cleaning power without creating more plastic waste.

Do you and your family take any steps to help the environment while practicing good oral hygiene? If so, let our team know! To ask us any questions or to schedule your next visit, don’t hesitate contacting us.

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Giving Back for the Holidays

Posted on by Practice Cafe

At High Point Family Dentistry, we are always looking for new ways to give back to our community and the residents of Elgin. This year, we organized our very own Toys for Tots drive. The holiday season is the perfect time to share with those in need and we felt the Toys for Tots drive would be an easy way for our patients to get involved as well!

About Toys for Tots

Toys for Tots is directed by the U.S. Marine Corps and is designed to collect new, unwrapped toys to distribute to children in need during the holiday season. Campaigns usually run from the beginning of October through mid to late December. This provides community members with ample time to save and contribute to the cause. A coordinator will then pick up the donations and take them to a central location where toys are sorted. Once Christmas arrives, coordinators and local community groups work together to distribute the toys.

stuffed toy bear wearing a christmas has

How to Get Involved

You can find your closest drop-off location on the Toys for Tots website. If you’d like to make a monetary donation, you may mail a check to their headquarters or make a donation via credit card on their website. If you’re a business owner and you’d like to set up a donation box at your location, use the Toys for Tots website to find your local campaign and get in touch with its coordinator.

Our Contribution

In our office, we set up a donation box where patients could drop off new and unwrapped toys. We also welcomed monetary donations at our front desk, for those who did not have time to go gift shopping or were unsure what to purchase. Our donation box was overflowing with new toys!

We would like to thank everyone who donated to our drive and made this event such a success. Thanks to you, we’re certain there will be several happy kiddos on Christmas morning! To keep up with our future community involvement, please visit our community events page. For events you’d like our team to get involved in, please speak with a member of our team. We look forward to seeing you around the community and at your next routine dental appointment!

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How Can I Encourage My Kids to Brush?

Posted on by Dr. Vu Kong

“NO!”

Despite how well behaved your child is most of the time, the word “no” seems to be among the first that most children start saying. Though it usually starts in that ‘terrible-two’ range, whenever kids start saying ‘no,’ it starts a pattern of resistance behavior that lasts through childhood, adolescence, and some would say even through most of life!

Children’s Dentistry in Elgin, IL

At High Point Family Dentistry, we know the importance of good oral hygiene habits and we like to help your kids start those good habits early. Children who brush their teeth carefully and thoroughly for 2 full minutes each time grow into adults who have strong and healthy smiles for life!
toy from holding a toothbrush next to tube of toothpaste

Ways to Encourage Your Kids to Brush

Telling your children about the importance of good tooth brushing isn’t usually enough to get them to do it, but the team at High Point Family Dentistry has compiled a list of ways to help encourage your kids to brush.

1. Let Them Pick Out Their Own Toothbrush & Toothpaste:

Toothbrushes come in a wide variety of fun colors and some even feature your kids’ favorite TV or movie character. There are also children’s toothpastes that come in fun flavors like cotton candy or bubble gum and ones that feature their favorite characters, like the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles or the characters from Frozen. By giving your little ones the option to pick the tools of brushing, you help motivate them to use them.

2. Make the Time Count:

To do a good job, the American Dental Association recommends that teeth be brushed for at least two minutes. It’s important that your children brush carefully for the whole two minutes. You can help make the time count in the following ways:

  • Rather than just setting a timer, crank up your kid’s favorite song and make an event of it! Switch things up and keep it interesting by alternating between watching a two-minute long video (for younger kids, click here for some ideas!), choosing different songs, or read a two-minute long story.
  • Lead by example! By brushing your teeth with your kids, you show them how important it is. Kids love to imitate their parents, so why not take advantage of that “monkey see, monkey do” tendency by teaching them to emulate your good oral hygiene habits!

    • 3. Reward Good Oral Hygiene:

    Turn brushing into a game and incentivize it with prizes for good behavior. Consider creating a sticker chart and add a sticker to the chart every time they brush their teeth. Or offer a prize after a month’s worth of brushing their teeth twice each day. Be careful that you don’t use sugary treats as a reward in this situation – that defeats the purpose! Try extra screen time or toys.

    Even it your kids are star brushers, it’s still important that they visit us at High Point Family Dentistry twice every year. This allows us to perform professional cleanings and examinations to keep up with their growth and stay on top of any problems before they become major headaches. Contact our office today to schedule an appointment!

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    Dentistry From the Heart

    Posted on by Dr. Vu Kong

    We’re excited to announce that on November 3rd, we’re partnering with Dentistry from the Heart to provide FREE dental care to adults ages 18 and up in the Elgin community. As a team, we truly believe that everyone deserves access to high-quality dentistry.

    ABOUT OUR DENTISTRY FROM THE HEART EVENT


    This event aims at helping those that have been avoiding the dentist due to cost concerns, lack of dental insurance, fear, or any other reason. In addition to our free dental services, we hope that this event will show the community that visiting the dentist doesn’t have to be a nerve-wracking, scary experience. Our friendly, gentle team always has your best interest at heart and goes above and beyond to make your dental appointment comfortable and stress-free!

  • Date: November 3rd (Sábado 3 de Noviembre)
  • Address: 1350 E. Chicago St., Elgin, IL 60120
  • Registration: 7:30 AM — early arrival highly suggested (sugerimos llegar temprano)
  • Ages: 18+ (adultos mayores de 18 años)
  • Serving: Snacks and drinks
  • Veterans: We are reserving 10 spots for veterans. Please call us to reserve yours!
  • FREE extractions, fillings, and cleanings (extracción, relleno, o limpieza 100% gratis)

    • SPREAD THE WORD

    We are encouraging people to share this blog post or the flyer on our Facebook page. We want to make this a big event and provide dental treatments to as many people as possible—in order to do so, we need your help getting the word out. Whether you’re in need of a dental treatment of your own or just want to come in and get to know our great team, we hope to see you there!

    If you would like to donate to or volunteer at the event, please get in touch with us as soon as possible. Questions? Please visit our Facebook page or contact our office at 847-760-6100! ¡Visita nuetra página de facebook para más información!

    thank you in blocks from the heart

    Help Us Make Dentistry From the Heart a Success!

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    Do I Need Antibiotics for Oral Surgery?

    Posted on by Dr. Vu Kong

    Looking up into the faces of oral surgeons wearing teal masks covering their mouths as they hold surgical instruments

    Some of our patients wonder if antibiotics will be needed around the time of their oral surgery. Read on to learn when antibiotics may be necessary for oral surgery; we also offer tips to prevent infection after your extraction.

    Will I Need to Take Antibiotics for Oral Surgery?

    Be sure to disclose your full medical history with us before your surgery so we can adequately help you prepare. Together with your primary care physician, we can help you know if you need to take antibiotics before your procedure. Although the answer is no for most, there are a few exceptions. For example, you may need antibiotic treatment before your surgery if you have:

    ● A congenital heart defect (from birth)
    ● Cirrhosis of the liver
    ● An artificial or damaged heart valve
    ● A weakened immune system
    ● A hip replacement or other artificial joints
    ● Ever had bacterial endocarditis

    How Do I Prevent Infection Post-Surgery?

    Even if you have none of the conditions mentioned above, you’ll need to care for your mouth after extraction to prevent infection. If you do get an infection, you may end up needing antibiotics so we’d like to help you avoid that. Be sure to take the following precautions:

    ● Rest for 24 hours after your surgery & wait to resume vigorous activities
    ● Eat soft foods and drink plenty of water
    ● Don’t drink from a straw
    ● Take pain medication only as prescribed
    ● Follow instructions for care and cleaning to avoid dry socket
    ● Don’t smoke or use tobacco products

    Your Comfort & Safety Is Important to Us

    If you know you’re due to have a tooth extracted, please know that you will be in excellent hands at High Point Family Dentistry! Our team is skilled in performing this procedure and will strive to make your experience as comfortable as possible. Although we perform many successful procedures every day, it’s normal for patients to feel a little nervous. We want you to feel at ease, so let us know if you have any concerns or questions about your surgery and the healing process. Our team of friendly experts is ready to help you.

    Reach out to us if you feel concerned about an upcoming dental procedure!

    Contact Us Today

    5 Things You Didn’t Know About Toothpaste

    Posted on by Dr. Vu Kong

    toothbrush with paste

    We all use toothpaste twice a day (even astronauts in space!), but we don’t often think much more about it. Here are five interesting facts about toothpaste that you probably didn’t know:

    1. Who invented toothpaste?

    The first recipe for toothpaste was found in archeological research of ancient Egypt. In 5000 BC, before the invention of the toothbrush (which occurred sometime during the years 3000 and 35000 BC), the ancient Egyptians were using ox hoof ash and burnt eggshells to clean their teeth. That first toothpaste recipe also lists ingredients of fried iris flower, mint, salt, and a pinch of salt to whiten and perfect teeth.

    2. What is in toothpaste?

    The part of toothpaste that does the work of wearing away plaque and food particles from the teeth is known as the abrasive. The abrasive, combined with the circular scrubbing motion of your toothbrush, physically helps to clean the surface of your teeth. Calcium carbonate is a common abrasive used in toothpastes; it’s rough enough to remove plaque, also gentle enough to avoid damaging the teeth’s enamel.

    3. When should you brush your teeth?

    Your alarm clock goes off and you rise from bed with morning breath. Do you brush now, before your breakfast and coffee? Or wait until after? Common sense tells you that brushing after is the way to go, in order to remove all the gunk from your breakfast, but time is actually an important factor here, and so is your meal. If you’re consuming food or drink that it very acidic (Orange juice, I’m looking at you), it’s important to wait at least 30 minutes before you brush your teeth to avoid damaging the teeth’s enamel.

    4. When was modern toothpaste developed?

    The toothpaste you have in your house is very different than the stuff the ancient Egyptians used. Early toothpaste was usually a powder formula, but in the 1850’s, ingredients were added to create a smooth paste texture. The first commercially available toothpaste was created by Crest and was sold in a jar!

    5. Why would there be seaweed in my toothpaste?

    Do you know what helps to give toothpaste its consistency? Although it sounds unbelievable, the answer is often seaweed! Seaweed functions as a thickening agent and it stabilizes toothpaste so it can be squeezed from a tube.

    Brushing your teeth is an important part of keeping your teeth healthy and strong, but it’s not all: you also must floss and come visit the friendly team at High Point Family Dentistry every six months! Call or use our online appointment request form today!

    Brush your teeth twice a day & schedule your routine checkup at High Point Family Dentistry!

    Contact Us Today

    Do Gums Grow Back?

    Posted on by Dr. Vu Kong

    Brunette woman wearing a black hoodie covers her mouth with her hands due to embarrassing receding gums

    Are you experiencing tooth sensitivity or noticing that your teeth are getting longer? You could be one of many who suffer from a receding gum line. Damage to your gums can become a serious issue if not monitored closely. While your gums do not grow back, there are preventive measures and corrective treatments available to protect them from further damage. We’ve provided an overview of the cause of gum recession and a few ways to make it more manageable.

    What Is a Receding Gum Line?

    Gum recession occurs when the tissue around your tooth begins to pull away and eventually expose your root. An indication of recession is sensitivity to hot, cold, and sweet food or drinks. A receding gum line will not correct itself and needs immediate attention.

    What Causes Gum Recession?

    There are a number of factors that play a role in gum recession. Brushing too forcefully is one of the self-inflicted causes. Genetics are also a key factor in gum recession. Inadequate brushing or cleaning can lead to gum recession by allowing plaque to turn into tartar. Use of tobacco products, misalignment, and grinding your teeth are a few more causes.

    Can I Treat Gum Recession?

    Our expert High Point Family Dentistry team can perform a deep cleaning of the problem area in order to prevent further recession. During this cleaning, any plaque will be removed from the tooth and exposed root. It may also be necessary to smooth the tooth and root in order to make the attachment of bacteria more difficult. If the recession is too advanced, surgical treatment may be your best alternative. Tissue graft, regeneration, and root planing are a few of the surgical options.

    What Preventive Actions Can I Take?

    The most important act of prevention is to maintain good oral hygiene. Brushing, flossing, and our dental practice twice per year can help you achieve this. Investing in a soft-bristled toothbrush can also decrease your chances of gum recession. Eating a clean diet and stopping any use of tobacco products can be tools in prevention as well.

    Follow our preventive tips & schedule your routine appointment at High Point Family Dentistry!

    Contact Us Today

    Can Stem Cells Be Used to Fix Teeth?

    Posted on by Dr. Vu Kong

    Brunette woman wearing a hat, denim jacket, and large necklace smiles and laughs outside

    For the past couple of years, scientists have made progress in learning all of the benefits stem cells have to offer. From curing cancer to healing muscles, stem cells are breaking the mold of medicine. Now, researchers may have even found a way to fix teeth with stem cells!

    Where Are Stem Cells Found in Teeth?

    The discovery of stem cells in teeth pulp opens up the door to an abundant source of stem cells! Although research is still developing, doctors are beginning to keep extracted teeth to harvest the live stem cells for future use.

    When Is the Best Time to Start Stem Cell Recovery?

    To ensure the stem cells are healthy and viable, dentists would take the stem cells during an extraction of baby teeth, permanent teeth, or wisdom teeth. The process of cryopreservation is not expensive and could save you money long-term.

    Will Stem Cells Change Dental Implants?

    Stem cells could change the way dentists look at dental implants! Currently, dental implants are an excellent permanent solution for replacing missing teeth. Whether you are missing one tooth or many teeth, dental implants can make your smile look fresh and new. They are small titanium posts that are placed into your jawbone that act as a base for an artificial tooth restoration on top. They’re easy to take care of and can last a lifetime if you keep up a good oral hygiene routine. However, with stem cells, instead of creating a mold of fake teeth, doctors could regrow your REAL teeth and attach it to the titanium post instead of an artificial restoration! Dental implant procedures can take up to six months to complete, but stem cell treatment would take only one-third of that time. Wow!

    Is Stem Cell Treatment Available Now?

    Although you may hear of some dental practices offering services to preserve stem cells from viable teeth, it is still very new to the industry. Tests are still being done and techniques are being perfected. However, medicine and research are constantly improving, so it’s only a matter of time until stem cell treatment becomes the “norm” in dental practices!

    Reach Out to Our Friendly Team!

    Want to talk more about this fascinating research? Or, since teeth can’t be regrown quite yet, are you looking to replace missing teeth? We offer many restorative dentistry services that deliver fabulous function and appearance. Contact High Point Family Dentistry to schedule your FREE consultation!

    We can’t regrow your smile yet, but we can restore it!

    Contact Us Today!