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Happy 2021 from Simsbury Pediatric and Adolescent Dentistry! We are ready for a new year, new goals, and exciting times ahead. On today’s blog, we look ahead to the months to come and share with you our goals and hopes for what the new year will bring.

As we enter into the new year our team will continue to adhere to strict health and safety protocols in order to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19. The health and safety of our patients, their families, and our team is our top priority. For this, we will continue to monitor local statistics, follow state and federal guidelines and mandates, promote good oral hygiene, especially for those who are unable or not yet ready to visit the dentist, and be good role models for mask-wearing and handwashing with our little patients. With the availability of the vaccine on the horizon, it won’t be much longer until we have a return to normalcy. Until then, let’s all do our part to stay safe and healthy!

We are so pleased to announce that our team will receive our COVID-19 vaccines this month! It is the next big step in the fight to get control over this virus that has dominated our lives for too long. We will still need to wear PPE and maintain all of our safety and sanitation protocols, however.

As for our team’s personal goals in the new year, we would all like to focus on our health and stay physically active as much as possible. We want to get off the couch and move more! 2020 was a very sedentary year for many of us and with the cold weather, it makes it harder to get out and exercise. Through the remaining winter months, we are going to incorporate more indoor activity with our families, even if it means just taking more laps around the house!

We, as a business, would like to do more community outreach in the year new. While we can't visit area preschools or daycares to promote good oral hygiene like we normally do, we created a video they can show to their students in February for Children's Dental Health Month. Other office goals include keeping our appointment calendar full, staying on top of potential cancellations, continuing office training, and trying our best to anticipate issues before they arise and become problems.

On this month’s blog, we’d love to highlight Kay and Alison from our amazing hygiene team! These two fantastic hygienists really know how to keep their patients laughing and we so appreciate them! Our patients are so happy to see them and they always leave with a huge smile on their faces!

Be on the lookout for our next quarterly promotion! The prize will be $500 to RidgeLine Bikes. To enter, write a review and get 1 entry, refer a friend, and get 2. The drawing will be held on April 1, 2021, just in time to get out and enjoy the warmer weather.

We hope you’re all having a phenomenal start to the year and we can’t wait to see you in the office!

Great question! Yes, in fact, tooth decay is preventable! Decay, which is caused by sugars left in your child’s mouth, can turn into an acid, which in turn can break down his or her teeth. Children are at high risk for tooth decay for a simple reason: many children and adolescents tend to be lax in their oral hygiene habits.

So, how can your child prevent tooth decay?

• Start early. After the age of two, brush your child’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day. And, if possible, clean between the teeth with dental floss at least once a day, preferably before they go to bed.
• Don’t allow your little ones to eat after cleaning teeth at bedtime, as salivary flow decreases while they sleep and their teeth become vulnerable to cavities.
• Do not allow your little ones to nibble food or sip drinks continuously, and keep in mind that a low-sugar diet also helps keep tooth decay at bay. Allow time between meals for saliva to neutralize acids and repair the teeth.
• Drinking water frequently throughout the day can also reduce the possibility of new cavities forming.
• Dental sealants can also protect your children’s teeth from cavities. Sealants, which are applied to the chewing surfaces of molars, act as a shield between the tooth and harmful bacteria.

Finally, make sure your child visits Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry approximately every six months for a checkup and routine cleaning! Please give us a call at our Simsbury, CT office.

Sealants offer many benefits, but the best is their ability to protect your molars. Molars are full of small caverns that can be the perfect breeding ground for tooth decay and plaque buildup.

Use of protective sealants prevents this buildup from happening. Although children often receive sealants for routine preventive care, they aren’t the only ones who can benefit from this treatment. Sealants can also help adults who have deep canyons or grooves in their teeth.

They are commonly placed on the rear molars that tend to suffer the most decay. Because your molars are used substantially as grinding surfaces, food is more likely to be trapped among them.

Sealant solution consists a composite material that contains bonding agents that seal the top of your teeth. The process is quick and painless, which makes it a great solution for both children and adults who have had trouble with cavities and tooth decay. Sealants also last for several years, and repair is a simple process that can be completed by Dr. Maryam Azadpur.

The process of putting sealants on teeth starts with the tooth getting cleaned. We clean it with a type of baking soda spray called sodium bicarbonate. Then acid is etched onto the teeth to rough up the surface.

We apply an alcohol-based liquid to dry the area where the sealant is supposed to go. After it completely covers the surface of the treated teeth, the sealant is cured with a light that makes it hard and long-lasting.

Getting sealants can prevent the possible restorative costs that come from cavities. Sealants help to protect your tooth’s enamel from harmful acids and prevent decay, which can be an investment in itself. The whole process is quick, so it should be easy to schedule an appointment at Simsbury Pediatric & Adolescent Dentistry.

Feel free to call our Simsbury, CT location and we can answer any questions you have about this service.

Hand-foot-and-mouth disease, or HFMD, is a type of contagious viral illness that causes a rash in the mouth and on the hands and feet of infants and young children, and, while rare, adults. Characterized by sores in the mouth and a rash on the hands and feet, hand-foot-and-mouth disease is most commonly caused by a coxsackievirus, a bacterium that lives in the human digestive tract. HFMD can spread from person to person, typically via unwashed hands.

What are the symptoms of HFMD?

Symptoms of HFMD usually begin with a fever, sore throat, poor appetite, or general malaise. A couple of days after the fever starts, kids may develop painful sores in the mouth. A skin rash characterized by red spots may also develop, usually on the palms of your child’s hands and soles of their feet. It’s important to note some children may only experience a rash while others may only have mouth sores.

Is HFMD serious? Should we be concerned?

Usually not. Nearly all children infected recover anywhere between seven to ten days without medical treatment. Rarely, however, a child can develop viral meningitis and may need to be hospitalized. Other rare complications of HFMD can include encephalitis (brain inflammation), which can be fatal.

How can my child prevent HFMD?

There is no known vaccine to defend your child against HFMD. However, the risk of your child contracting the disease can be reduced by:

• Making sure your child washes his or her hands often
• Thoroughly cleaning objects and surfaces (these include doorknobs and toys)
• Making sure your child avoids close contact with those who are infected

To learn more about hand-foot-and-mouth disease or to schedule an appointment for your child, please give us a call at our Simsbury, CT office!