Tooth Knocked Out

Partial or total avulsion (tooth dislodged or completely knocked out) is a traumatic experience for a child as well as the parent. It is important to remain calm and reassure your child that they will be fine. As far as the tooth is concerned, should the tooth be completely dislodged, time is critical. Teeth have a special membrane around the roots that will begin to die within 30 minutes. If time will not permit a dentist to see your child within 30 minutes, the tooth needs to either be reinserted by the parent or placed in a glass of milk. Again time is of great importance. Once seen by the dentist, the tooth will be evaluated and likely stabilized to allow healing to take place.

Payment Plans

Our business office staff is trained to assist patients who need options regarding payment plans. We except all major credit cards as well as checks and cash.

For those needing extended monthly payments, Care Credit™ is a great resource that directly coordinates with our office.  Please call our office for details 318-251-9600

Sedation Methods

Our office has Nitrous Oxide available for those patients whom anxiety and dental phobia is a deterrent to being treated. Other medications may be considered after a thorough health history and consultation.

Cell Phones

Yes! We encourage any number of personal portable listening devices that provide music or audio books as a distraction to the procedure at hand.   But please put the ringer on silent and do not answer calls or respond to text messages.

Tooth Brush

The issue of what toothbrush to use can be compared to what type of shoes a person should wear. While there are some guidelines, it is more a matter of fit and personal preference. A soft bristle nylon is preferable because toothbrushes may accidentally cause damage if the bristles are too hard or stiff. Generally, the head of the brush should be small enough to comfortably fit in the back of the mouth enabling the back teeth to be cleaned. Ideally, a person should have multiple tooth brushes that are “stored” upright allowing them to air dry between times of use.  A similar question may be asked about the use of electric or “sonic” assisted tooth brushes. These are excellent devices that are especially helpful for the disabled, elderly or young. Most adults with adequate hand coordination who have had proper training can brush effectively with a traditional manual toothbrush.

Routine Cleanings

This question is best answered by a rule of thumb: the easier it is for your teeth to collect tartar and plaque, the more frequent your visits should be. For some this could mean 3-4 times per year. For others, it could mean once a year. Ask our hygienist about your personal plaque accumulation factor.

Eating

This is a very routine question that we welcome. Normally, a person leaving after a visit with the hygienist will want to delay eating because of that “fresh clean” feeling! Generally, within 30 minutes after your routine cleaning visit, you are free to eat.

Memberships

Dr. Ward is a member of the American Dental Association as well as the Academy of General Dentistry. In addition, he holds Alumni status with the Pankey Institute for Advanced Dental Education, and completed all the continuums in 2007.