Cooper Family Dental is dedicated to helping patients of all ages and in all stages of life. Family dentistry is a part of our general dentistry treatments. Our family dental services maintain oral health and prevent future dental issues. Dr. Sang Kwon Seo and Dr. Jennifer Nguyen proudly provide family dentistry in Arlington, TX. If you need dental care for your whole family, we’re here to help.
We will work with your schedule so you and your family can get the care you need. Dr. Seo and Dr. Nguyen tailor treatment to each patient. They will consider your age, dental concerns, and budget to recommend the right treatment for you and your family. Regular dental visits can help keep your teeth and gums healthy regardless of age. Dental care can also lessen the chance of problems worsening over time.
Family Dentistry in Arlington, TX
Our family-friendly dental office works with children, teens, and adults to maintain and improve their dental health. We provide exams and cleanings for every age group to prevent common problems like tooth decay and gum disease.
Early dental visits are especially integral to pediatric dentistry. Dental care for children can prevent common problems like cavities. Cavity prevention is essential to children’s dentistry.
Children are more likely to develop cavities for multiple reasons. Kids eat foods and drink beverages like candy, juice, and soda. Once children learn to brush and floss, they may not thoroughly clean their teeth and gums.
Tooth decay creates cavities, which are holes or pits in the teeth. As sugars and starches stay in the mouth, they attract harmful bacteria. These bacteria feed on food debris, creating digestive acids that break down the natural tooth structure.
Regular dental care and dental visits can help keep harmful bacteria at bay. We use stainless steel tools to scrape bacterial buildup from the teeth and gums during dental cleanings. Then, we polish the teeth and floss between each tooth to remove food debris. In addition to routine dental cleanings, our office provides sealants and fluoride treatment to prevent cavities in children.
Fluoride and Sealants
Sealants are protective coatings we place on the molars and premolars. Food debris can build in the grooves of these back teeth and be difficult to remove. After a dental cleaning, we can apply sealants to the back teeth.
Fluoride is a natural mineral that helps strengthen the tooth enamel or outer layer of teeth. We can apply a fluoride varnish to the teeth after dental cleaning to keep the teeth strong. Our office recommends that you wait thirty minutes after we apply the treatment to eat or drink. This will help the fluoride enter the tooth enamel.
Making a Kid-Friendly Dental Office
Routine dental visits are essential to maintain the teeth and gums. We recommend that patients visit our office twice yearly for a cleaning and exam. Our dental office understands that children can fear pain or the unknown if they’ve never been to the dentist. When younger patients visit our office, we will explain what happens during treatment.
During these exams and cleanings, we will ask questions to help distract them from treatment. If needed, we will pause treatment. We encourage your child to bring their favorite blanket or toy to their appointment. You will also be in the exam room with them so they can feel more comfortable in the dental chair.
Caring for Smiles As They Age
Family dentistry in our Arlington, TX office isn’t just about dental care for children. Dental problems can change over time and may require more intensive treatment.
As we age, we can develop problems that we haven’t had before. Medications and medical conditions can change the teeth and gums. Hormonal changes, diabetes, and heart problems are connected to problems like gum disease and decay. Gum sensitivity and inflammation are common early signs of gum disease. If you notice gum problems, we can provide deep cleanings to minimize gum pain and discomfort.
Additionally, certain medications or tooth wear over time can discolor teeth. Tooth bonding and porcelain veneers can cover these stains, as whitening cannot lift deep tooth stains. Dental injuries, including small chips and cracks in the teeth, can create bite problems. Tooth infections, gum disease, or accidents can lead to missing teeth.
We recommend fixing dental injuries with crowns, bonding, and veneers or replacing missing teeth with dental implants. In addition to regular dental appointments, cosmetic and restorative dentistry help patients regain their smiles.
Family Dentistry FAQs
Learn more about family dentistry in Arlington, TX, with answers to these common questions:
What is the difference between a family dentist and a general dentist?
A family dentist treats patients of all ages. General dentists focus on dental care for teens and adults. Family and general dentists focus on maintaining oral health and preventing future dental problems.
What is baby bottle tooth decay?
Baby bottle tooth decay is a problem that occurs when children are put to bed with a bottle of formula. As the bottle stays in the baby’s mouth, the sugars in the formula coat their teeth. As harmful bacteria feed on these sugars, they eat away at the teeth, leading to tooth decay.
How often should my child visit the dentist?
We recommend that your child visits our office every six months. These regular dental appointments will help maintain their dental health and allow us to keep track of their oral development. Early dental visits also help young patients get used to visiting the dentist and help them learn how to care for their dental health.
How do you clean baby teeth?
Once your child’s baby teeth grow, you must clean them with an infant-sized toothbrush and a pea-sized amount of toothpaste. We recommend cleaning your child’s mouth after every meal. You can continue to wipe food from your child’s gums with a clean cloth. Then, you can clean their baby teeth with a toothbrush and toothpaste.
How do you prevent dental problems as you age?
Many patients encounter more dental problems as they grow older. Follow these tips to keep your mouth healthy:
- Brush and floss twice a day
- Quit smoking or using tobacco products
- Drink water and eat a healthy diet
- Tell your dentist of any medication changes
At what age do the gums begin to recede?
Many patients over 65 are likely to experience gum recession. Gum recession occurs when the gums begin to pull away from the teeth. Common causes of gum recession include brushing too hard and developing gum disease. Older patients are more prone to gum recession because of continual bad habits or gum damage.
Contact Cooper Family Dental
We are your family dental office in Arlington. Call us for dental care today at 817-646-1217. You can also schedule a dental appointment online with Dr. Nguyen or Dr. Seo.