Klein Family Dental Blog

Have you been surfing the web for a general dentist in Harrisburg that truly embraces their work as a way of life? It can be difficult to find the right fit for you and your family. With just about 200 5-star google reviews, there are countless reasons why patients choose our dental office. Here are just a few that may nudge you to pick up the phone and schedule your next dental appointment with us.

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A common question about pediatric teeth that I often receive is, “When should my child stop using a pacifier?” Pacifiers have been recognized by the Academy of Pediatrics as a key factor in reducing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), so dentists are aware that pacifier use is beneficial, but it should also wrap up before negatively affecting a child’s permanent teeth. We recommend pacifiers should be discontinued by the age of five.

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Baby teeth. Deciduous teeth. Milk teeth. Your child’s first set of teeth will, in most cases, fall out. But while they are not permanent, they are very important.

Baby teeth maintain space for their permanent counterparts. They are essential in function and phonetics and jaw development. So we need to take care of them.

The first step in insuring that your children have healthy mouths is to take them to visit a dentist.

When should you take your child to the dentist?

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As a dentist, the most important thing a patient can do to prevent cavities is use good oral hygiene. This means flossing and brushing twice a day. Literature shows that using an ADA approved toothpaste with fluoride can significantly reduce the amount of cavities in your mouth. But what if you were stranded on a desert island, with no drug-store in sight to purchase toothpaste and floss? What then?

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“I want whiter teeth!” My patients tell me this at least 10 times a day! Whitening your teeth is a simple and effective way to make your smile more aesthetic. So how do I do it? Whitening products may be administered by dentists or purchased over-the-counter (OTC), and can be in the form of peroxide-containing gels or toothpaste.

Carbamide peroxide, used in many bleaching products, breaks down into hydrogen peroxide and urea, with hydrogen peroxide being the active bleaching agent. This is a safe method of whitening your teeth but it does not come with out some minor side-effects. The most commonly observed side effects with these peroxide-based bleaching agents are tooth sensitivity and occasional irritation of soft tissues in the mouth (oral mucosa), particularly the gums. Both tooth sensitivity and tissue irritation are usually temporary and stop after the treatment.

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This year, Klein Family Dentistry, was proud to sponsor Running for Rachel. Dr. Klein and his brother, Dr. Klein, both ran in the race. The event raised more than $50,000!! It was an amazing event in memory of an amazing person. Read more about Rachel here:

http://www.runningforrachel.myevent.com/3/miscellaneous5.htm

Did you know that 20% of adults have obstructive sleep apnea? That makes sleep apnea a more prevalent disease than both diabetes and asthma. And your risk of a myocardial infarction is more likely due to sleep apnea than smoking.

Dr. Klein recently went to a dental sleep course given in Harrisburg and he is now trained in making the Somno-Med appliance to help with mild-moderate cases of obstructive sleep apnea.

Ask Dr. Klein about this next time you are in!

Many patients have voiced their concerns recently about dental radiographs or x-rays. Much of their concern has arisen from a recent study which has been quoted on local and national tv programs.

The American Dental Association has issued the following statement on this study:

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We use digital x-rays in our office along with a thyroid collar to reduce exposure.

But here is a comparison of different types of radiation (note a full series of x-rays is less than atmospheric exposure):

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