Pediatric Sealants

Did you know that cavities are common in kids ages five to fourteen? With baby teeth falling out and adult teeth coming in, deep grooves and gaps make it difficult for kids to brush their teeth thoroughly. We at Bayberry Dental Care take pride in educating our young patients about proper oral hygiene. Sometimes, though, certain procedures are required to help young patients prevent cavities. Sealants prevent food from getting stuck in grooves and gaps, which ultimately prevents the process of tooth decay. Your Tinley Park dentist is committed to helping your child stay cavity-free!

In addition to regular brushing and flossing, dental sealants are applied in an effort to keep out tooth decay. Sealants are plastic coatings placed on the chewing surfaces of your child’s back teeth. Your Tinley Park dentist fills in the grooves that are hard to reach while brushing, with the thin plastic material. This added layer of protection greatly lowers your child’s chances of developing a cavity.

When you help your child prevent cavities at an early age, they are less likely to have oral health problems as an adult. The way they take care of their baby teeth directly affects how taking care of their adult teeth will be. Solidify good dental hygiene habits now by encouraging your child to take care of their teeth properly, and they will be rewarded with a lifetime of good oral health.

Do you think your child could benefit from dental sealants? We are happy to answer any questions or address any concerns you may have! For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit bayberrydentalcare.com or call 708-802-8300. Bayberry Dental Care is located at 8014 W 171st St. in Tinley Park, IL 60477.

 

Oral Cancer Screenings

Bayberry Dental Care is dedicated to catching a potential problem in the mouth before it manifests into something worse. This is why we offer oral cancer screenings to check for any precancerous or cancerous conditions in the mouth. With the advances in modern technology, dentists are now able to treat a problem prior to it becoming irreversible. 

An oral cancer screening is completed with an ultraviolet light that allows your Tinley Park dentist to view issues that cannot be detected with the naked eye. Precancerous lesions identified under this light are much easier to be removed and are more likely to be cured.

Causes of oral precancer/cancer include:

- Tobacco use of any kind, such as cigarettes, cigars, pipes, chewing tobacco, snuff, dip and vaping

- Heavy alcohol consumption

- Family history of cancer

- Human papillomavirus (HPV)

- Significant sun exposure

Are you interested in getting an oral cancer screening? For more information or to schedule an appointment, please visit bayberrydentalcare.com or call 708-802-8300. Bayberry Dental Care is located at 8014 W 171st St. in Tinley Park, IL 60477.

 

Proper Flossing Technique

Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS provides the best dental care for patients, and encourages them to continue a great routine of care at home.  Regular flossing is essential to maintaining oral health and you should floss once a day, either before or after brushing. Remember these tips to help you floss effectively:

• A strand of dental floss about 18 inches long allows you to wrap the ends of the floss around a finger on each hand. This gives you excellent control over the portion of floss you are using.


• The proper technique to flossing is sliding the floss between the teeth and rubbing the floss back and forth up until you reach your gums.


• Pushing at your gums too hard with floss can damage your gum line, and isn’t necessary to floss effectively. Think of a small swooping motion as you rub the floss up to one gum, then down and back up towards the other.


• As you move on to the next tooth, adjust the floss to expose an unused portion. Repeat this rubbing motion between each tooth and dispose of the floss once you are finished.

To learn more about flossing, oral hygiene, and all the services we provide at our practice, visit www.bayberrydentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Kathleen Falsey, DDS in our Tinley Park, IL office, call Bayberry Dental Care at 708-802-8300.