Saying that you have good oral hygiene habits doesn’t necessarily mean the same thing to a dentist. Make sure that your “good” oral hygiene routine also meets your dentist’s standards.
It’s not uncommon for a patient to be shocked when their dentist tells them they have a cavity. It’s frustrating because not only do they rarely get cavities, but they brush and floss regularly. So how is it possible to get a cavity when you have good oral hygiene habits?
If you find yourself in this situation, we understand how frustrated you feel. At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we value our patient relationships, making it our priority to deliver the gentle dental care that you deserve from sedation dentists in St. Louis.
Our adult daughter has cerebral palsy and requires being fully sedated when having anything done. The DAC was such a positive experience. Dr Hoffmann and his staff were kind and did great explaining things. As a mom, I had a lot of questions about how certain things would be done as usually she’s in her chair when getting examined at her local dentist and they had everything under control including transferring from her chair to the dentist chair and keeping her secured in the dentist chair as well as keeping her neck and legs comfortable. Many thanks to them!
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words. We’re grateful for your trust and happy to hear that you had such a positive experience with our team. Our goal is always to provide compassionate, attentive care in a safe and comfortable environment. We truly appreciate you taking the time to share your experience.
TWENTY YEARS! That is how long our special needs son has been seeing Dr Hoffman and his dedicated team! Our son suffers from an intellectual disability, is non-verbal, and is unable to cooperate for dental cleaning, x-rays, or other routine dental work. He requires general anesthesia. It is such a blessing to avoid a hospital setting just for dental work.
The team is always well staffed, friendly, personable and very professional. Every single year we have been supported by a deeply caring team who are dedicated to patients with a very wide range of disabilities and needs. They have shared useful dental advice and tools (3 sided toothbrushes, blocks to hold open their mouth for daily at-home care, etc.) which improved our son’s daily dental care. We always receive a call back the day after to check his recovery-even on weekends!
Highly recommended and so appreciative to have this team supporting our ever long road of raising a special needs son.
Response from the owner:Wow — thank you for sharing such a heartfelt review! We are so grateful for your trust and for allowing our team to be part of your family’s journey over the years. It means so much to us to know that our care and support have made a difference. We truly appreciate your kind words and recommendation!
We've been coming to Dr.Hoffman for twenty years. There's a reason we keep coming back! He's great. His staff is great. He's double boarded as an MD (Anesthesia) and DDS!!! Our son with special needs needs sedation for even a cleaning. You get what you pay for. He's expensive and... we know he's getting the best care!
Response from the owner:Thank you for trusting our team over the years and for your kind words about Dr. Hoffmann and our staff. We truly value your confidence in the care we provide!
Omg!! This place is Amazing! The people who work here are so very nice and understanding. I love this team
Response from the owner:Thank you so much for your kind words! We truly appreciate your support and are grateful to have such wonderful patients.
Searching for a new dental clinic is challenging for someone who has
dental anxiety, fear, and traumatic experiences in a dental chair. The staff and doctors at the Dental Anesthesia Center were immediately very welcoming. Dr. Thoms put together a very detailed plan to repair and replace the previous work that I had in the past that was now causing problems. Putting my faith in him was the best thing that I could have done for my situation. I am more than completely satisfied with all of the extensive dental work that I’ve had with Dr.Thoms. I had my fourth sleep dentistry experience yesterday and I’m very happy with my results. I highly recommend this practice and truly want to give them more than five stars! Thank you for giving me back my health and confidence.
Response from the owner:We know it isn’t always easy to find a dental office where you feel at ease, so your words mean the world to us. We’re so glad you feel comfortable with our team and truly appreciate your trust and recommendation!
What is Good Oral Hygiene?
Saying that you have good oral hygiene habits don’t necessarily mean the same thing to a dentist. You may brush your teeth twice a day and assume that is good oral health. While brushing your teeth is obviously necessary, there is definitely more to it.
Good oral hygiene includes these five essential habits:
- Brush teeth at least twice a day
- Floss at least once a day
- Avoid sugary drinks and snacks
- Drink plenty of water with meals
- Get dental checkups twice a year
In addition to the basics, there are several other things you should do or avoid to prevent cavities. For instance, how regularly do you go to the dentist for checkups and teeth cleanings? Less than once or twice a year? How about your drinking habits? Some eating and drinking habits can have an immediate effect on our teeth. Do you sip on soda all day long at work? If so, bacteria is growing and causing damage; therefore, brushing twice a day is likely not enough.
How Do Cavities Form?
Our teeth are made up of minerals. When we eat or drink sugary or starchy foods, bacteria in the plaque on our teeth begin producing acid. This acid eats away at the enamel. When the pH in our mouths becomes more acidic, our teeth start losing the natural minerals on our teeth.
When these acids erode the enamel, a cavity, or hole, begins to form. Tooth decay can affect all layers of a tooth. It can take years for a cavity to develop in the solid outer layer of the enamel. However, a cavity forms more quickly as the middle and innermost layers of tooth decay. It can eventually erode to the root, which can cause severe pain and sensitivity.
How to Prevent Cavities
We’re glad you brush your teeth twice a day – that’s a good habit. However, if you’re lacking in some of these other areas, you may be told you have a cavity at your next dental visit. Make sure that your “good” oral hygiene routine also meets your dentist’s standards. Regular brushing, especially after meals, and flossing once a day, are the best combination. Further, avoid sugary and starchy foods that linger on your teeth and cause bacteria to multiply. Finally, get to the dentist at least twice a year for a routine checkup and cleaning.
If you continue to have issues with your teeth, you might have an underlying condition that needs to be identified and addressed. Be sure to discuss this with your dentist at your next visit!
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The first two board-certified Dentist Anesthesiologists in the state of Missouri.
