Many patients ask what age is the best to bring your child in for their first dental visit, which toothpaste is the best toothpaste, when should they be losing their baby teeth, among many other questions. This blog will answer many common questions that parents have regarding the oral health of their child.

A first visit is recommended for a child at about the age of 2 years old. The procedures completed at this visit will depend on the cooperation of each individual child. Some 2 year olds will have a full cleaning, exam and x-rays while others may only be ready for a “happy visit”. This would include counting the teeth, taking a ride in our dental chair and learning about the different instruments. Our goal is to make the first visit as pleasant as possible so as to create fond memories that will set the stage for future appointments.

What type of toothbrush and toothpaste should my child be using? Toothbrushes are labeled and sold according to age groups starting at the age a tooth first erupts. See the packaging label to find the correct brush. A small brush head with soft or extra soft bristles is best. Be sure to replace the brush every 3 months or after any illnesses. Younger children should use toothpaste with little to no fluoride content. Ingesting too much fluoride could cause an upset stomach. As soon as your child can spit after brushing, fluoridated toothpaste approved by the ADA can be used to help prevent tooth decay. Brushing should be performed twice daily. Adult assistance may be necessary as motor skills are still developing. Don’t forget to floss! Floss once daily. Floss aids may be a big help until adolescence.

Children begin to lose their baby teeth and grow their adult teeth around the age of 6 years old and will continue that cycle through the age of 13. Each persons teeth erupt at different times. Regular dental visits will allow your dentist and hygienist to monitor their progress.

Juice and milk consumption should be limited and not sipped before bed or over longer periods of time. Keeping juice and milk in the mouth creates the perfect environment for cavities to form. Rinse with or drink water after meals, snacks, fruit juice and milk to help rinse cavity causing bacteria away. Baby teeth can get cavities too! Do your best to keep them healthy.

For any questions regarding your childs dental health, be sure to call your friendly team at Elmbrook Family Dental.

In many cases, dental implants are a great alternative to dentures and bridges to replace missing teeth. What are they and how do they work? This blog will give you the detailed information you need to make the best decision for you.

Contrary to what some may think, most missing teeth do need to be replaced. Replacing missing teeth with an implant, bridge or denture will stop the surrounding teeth from shifting into that space and altering your natural bite. It also restores the ability to chew food and maintains a beautiful smile! Here is how an implant works: A titanium anchor or screw is placed into the healthy bone where there is a missing tooth. This can be placed by an oral surgeon or dentist who has been certified in this type of practice. The anchor serves the same purpose as the roots of your natural teeth, creating a strong base within bone for a crown to be placed onto. After implant placement, your bone and tissues are allowed to heal and integrate for 3 to 6 months. At this point, a successful implant is stable enough to place a crown onto.

Not everyone is a candidate to receive an implant. The best patient will have adequate bone structure surrounding the missing tooth area. The best candidate will be in good health and good oral health. Smokers and patients with uncontrolled systemic diseases may not be the best candidate for this procedure. Talk with your Dentist at your next visit to see if a dental implant may be an option for you!

All patients with appointments can enter once for each time they are seen in our office during the month of July.

Patients not scheduled in our office are welcome to stop in to fill out an entry form once during the month of July.

**The winner will have 2 weeks to redeem their tickets or they will be awarded to a second runner up.

Good luck to everyone who enters, and Go Brewers Go!!!  

Regular office hours:                                                                                                   

Monday: 7:30 am-7 pm                                Tuesday: 7:30 am-7 pm                    

Wednesday: 7:30 am- 5 pm                         Thursday: 7:30 am-7 pm

Friday 7:30 am-3:30 pm

 Office Closed:

Wednesday, June 30th

Monday July 5th

Monday September 6th

*In case of a dental emergency, call our office line at 262-784-7201. Forwarding information is available.

 

On May 15th, Nikki and her husband Nick welcomed their son into the world. Quinn Donald was born a beautiful healthy baby at 7lbs 10oz. Mom and baby are doing great! We already miss Nikki here at the office and look forward to having her back in August.

On May 22nd, Amanda and her fiancé flew out to Las Vegas to get married! They celebrated their union with many  family  members  and  friends and had a wonderful ceremony and dinner at Caesars Palace. The couple couldn’t be happier and more excited to spend the rest of their lives together.

We’ve all heard the phrase “Sip all day, get decay”. This is no myth! Sipping soda rather than drinking it quickly can make a big difference in the way it affects the health of your teeth. Did you know that the acid level in your mouth is naturally neutral? When we eat or drink anything, it is normal for the acidity level in our mouths to drop in to an unhealthy level. Cavity causing bacteria thrive in this environment. Once you are done eating or drinking, it still takes an additional 40 minutes for your mouth to return to a neutral level.

Think about it: If you drink a soda in a 10 minute time frame, your mouth will be acidic for 10 minutes + the 40 minutes it takes to return to normal. A total of 50 minutes. If you sip a soda for an hour, your mouth with be acidic for 60 minutes + 40 minutes. A total of 1.6 hours. This is a long period of time for bacteria to grow and attack the enamel on your teeth. No wonder soda sippers have a higher rate of tooth decay!

Some helpful hints for those of you who still like to enjoy a sweet treat: swish your mouth with water after enjoying a soft drink. This will help reduce the amount of time your mouth stays acidic. You can also brush your teeth or chew a piece of sugar free gum. It is important to know that not all sodas are created equal! While Pepsi and Coke are most acidic next to battery acid, Root Beer is less acidic.

Talk with your hygienist about alternative drinks you can enjoy that have a lower risk of causing cavities. A cavity free exam = a happy dental staff!

Check out this blast from the past! Dr. Neuschaefer was cleaning out some old paperwork and came across this old newsletter from 1991. Some of our current staff are in this picture. Can you pick them out?

Having trouble recognizing them? Click here for a closer look.

Post your guesses in the comments!

Elmbrook Family Dental is hosting a March Madness college basketball tournament for our current patients!

To sign up, click here (if you don’t already have a Yahoo! account you will have to register for one) and sign up under group ID# 8843. Our password is ‘elmbrookfamilydental’. Sign in, and create your own bracket using your actual name as your team name (so we know who you are!) and pick who you think will win. Elmbrook Family Dental will be giving prizes for the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th place winners.

1st: Free at home teeth whitening
2nd: Sonicare electric toothbrush
3rd: Waterpik
4th: $15 restaurant gift card

You must sign up and pick your teams by the tip off of the first game on March 18th in order to play. If you have any questions about signing up or how to play, please visit these websites:

Website #1

Website #2

You will not be able to pick your teams until the tournament field is announced on Sunday, March 14.

The contest through Yahoo! is open to anyone, however in order to be eligible for a prize from Elmbrook Family Dental you must be a current patient.

ELMBROOK FAMILY DENTAL is proud to announce the addition of Dr. Kristina Connor to our team of dentists. Dr. Kristina will begin working at our office on Wednesday April 7^th.  We look forward to having her as a part of our practice!

Dr. Kristina Connor was born and raised in Florida. After receiving a biology degree from the University of South Florida, she went on to pursue her passion for Dentistry at Marquette and graduated in 2003. She married her husband Kevin, who is an oral surgeon, in 2005 and together they have two children, Christian and Colin. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, attending Marquette University basketball games, playing tennis and golf and getting involved with her community through local volunteer groups.   For the past 5 years she has been practicing dentistry in Shreveport, Louisiana.  Dr. Connor is excited to return back to the Brookfield area and to her family after practicing out of state for a few years.  She regularly takes continuing education courses to keep up with the latest research, education, and technology of modern dentistry in order to serve her patients better. She takes personal pride in practicing the highest quality dentistry in the most comfortable and gentle way individualized to each patient.  Dr. Connor cares for patients of all ages and looks forward to helping you and your family achieve and maintain excellent oral health.