Family Dentistry – Something For All Ages

From baby to grandparent, Foxhall Dental helps families to have healthy and attractive teeth

Our Ipswich dental practice has been here for over 50 years now. In that time, we have treated thousands of patients including some that came to us when they were very young and are still registered with us well into their later life.

As the practice has evolved, we have also increased the number of treatments that are available so that you can not only have healthy teeth, but attractive ones too, thanks to the range of cosmetic dental treatments that we have available.

Although we all need general oral health care throughout our lives, there are some problems that can arise at various ages. In today’s blog, we are going to take a look at some of the problems, and potential treatments for them, as we go through life.

Babies and very young children

We always advise that you bring your children to see one of our child friendly dentists at around the age of one year old. It is unlikely that there will be any problems at this age but it does help them to get used to being in a dental practice. It is thought that this helps to reduce anxiety about visits which will stand them in good stead in the future.

Young children

Once your child’s teeth start to come through, it is important that they are monitored. There can be a tendency to pay less attention to these as they will eventually fall out quite naturally anyway. Good health in ‘milk teeth’ is important though. Apart from not wanting your child to suffer from a painful toothache, premature loss of a first tooth can cause the adult teeth to erupt in a crooked manner. This could then require the use of orthodontics to straighten them.

Later childhood

Once a child has started to get their adult teeth, it is essential that they are looked after as there will be no more teeth to come through if these fall out. We all know that children like sweet things and will probably find a way to get them even if we don’t allow them in the house. Regular monitoring and any minor restorations will hopefully help them to grow up with healthy teeth.

Teenagers

The ‘tricky period’. During this stage we tend to lose at least some control over our child’s life. Given that they will have more control over what they eat as well as possible harmful additions such as smoking and alcohol in their later teens, it is important that they are seen regularly at our Ipswich clinic. Do try your best to encourage them to attend.

Young adults

It is often around this age when our children that are now growing up sometimes regret not looking after their teeth and may become more conscious about their appearance. As their facial features have fully developed by this age, we are able to offer a wide range of procedures that can really improve the way that their teeth look. Orthodontics may be worn to straighten uneven teeth and dental implants can also be used to replace missing teeth at this age.

Middle age

It is usually in this period of our life when we notice that our teeth are no longer as white as they once were. This is due to the dentin part of the tooth darkening in colour and showing through the enamel. This can only be improved by using a whitening treatment that lightens the dentin, helping to restore your smile. Where teeth are badly stained, such as through smoking, porcelain veneers may be a more appropriate and sustainable option.

Late middle age/older age

Society has changed over time and many of us in our 50s, 60s and beyond no longer consider ourselves to be ‘old’. We may accept some restrictions on things that we can do, or even want to do, but many of us will socialise well into our later lives. If we do this, we will want to look our best and teeth whitening is very popular as are dental implants. In fact, many patients who have opted for dentures earlier in life, rather than having teeth implants, often switch so that they are able to eat a wider range of food, something that is important to help us stay healthy as we grow older.

Whether you are young, old or somewhere in between, the Foxhall Dental Practice has something for you. From general family dental care to make sure that your teeth and gums stay healthy, to restorative and cosmetic treatments that enable you to have strong functional teeth and a great looking smile. If you live in the Ipswich area and would like to find out more about us, please call our reception team on 01473 258396.