Category: Dental Health Examinations

How To: Make Tooth Brushing Enjoyable For Children!

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Do you find tooth brushing time is difficult with your child/ren? Gaining cooperation with children can be difficult and it can be stressful for a parent. Here are some top tips to make tooth brushing time easier for the little ones!

Tooth brushing can be made fun, right?

Children may find tooth brushing boring which will lead to a loss in interest. Meaning they quickly become uncooperative. Children feed off energy and enjoy being surrounded in a positive environment. A child would be more open to spend time on toothbrushing if it was enjoyable for them. Praising a child for doing well is key to move them into continuous routine, but the question is, how? Encouraging good dental hygiene habits from an early age can help make tooth brushing a natural part of their routine, promoting better gum health treatments and preventing future dental issues.

How can I praise my child?

  • Sticker charts – This shows they are doing well so they are rewarded.
  • Treats – e.g. brush twice a day for 2 weeks and have a small treat. As time goes on children will fit into a routine you can extend the time period to monthly. Soon this will become second nature to them.
  • Allowing them to pick their own toothbrush and toothpaste. This will make children feel independent and excited to use their new toothbrush which they have picked. Flovaoured tooth paste will also ensure that the flavour is not a reason to be put off at brushing time!

Gaining Trust.

Brushing you child’s teeth has to be made enjoyable for them. Brushing twice a day for 2 minutes is ideal. So maybe try brushing to their favourite song, a flavoured toothpaste, a character toothbrush of their choice or brushing with a cuddly toy. Children like to teach and be in charge, so allow your child to teach you or their toy th best ways to brush!

Also Read: Interdental Brushes Or Floss. Which Works Best For Me?

Children are influenced!

Children trust their parents and are influenced by their actions. Have you ever noticed your child copying something you do? That’s because they know your actions are right so they are influenced by them. Why not brush your teeth as you little one do there’s! This will get them into a routine and will try copying your techniques.

Interacting with children.

Let them brushing your teeth! and then you can brush theres. This is something a lot of parents do to ensure the teeth are getting cleaned as well as possible. Youtube have some fantastic videos with characters, songs and ryhmes children will enjoy. The videos are designed to last as long as toothbrushing should, this is so children get into a routine of brushing for 2 minutes twice a day and still find it fun and exciting. Only play the video at brushing times, so they relate the song to brusing their teeth.

It is important that children are engaging from a young age so as soon as you see a little tooth come through, introduce a toothbrush to them!

If your little one is over 12 months old, get them booked in with the dentist so they can get used to the dental environment!

Tel – 01274 633 406

4 Ways Your Dental Care is More Affordable Than You Think

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When was the last time you visited the dentist for a regular dental health check and hygiene appointment? You’re probably busy worrying about your family, work, finances, and array of other concerns and stresses. You might consider a trip to the dentist as more of a luxury, or something you’ll get to when your life (and your finances) settle down a bit. Does this sound familiar?

Unfortunately, good dental health isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. A recent UK survey found that 54% of adults over the age of 16 had moderate signs of periodontal (gum) disease, the leading cause of tooth loss. The only available treatment (which believe it or not, reduces the need for more costly procedures later down the line) is regular trips to your dentist/hygienist. Like most people, you may know these things, but you still hesitate to pick up the phone to book an appointment. Why? You expect those dental visits to be costlier than you can afford.

At Eccleshill Dental, your dental health could be more affordable than you think. We’ve compiled a list of important things to consider:

How much do you value your smile?

When it comes to your health and appearance, the value you place upon them is a very personal decision. Most of us take these things for granted, and what we don’t stop to consider is how we will feel in the longer-term, when our health and appearance start to deteriorate. It is quite often at this late stage (where procedures are much more expensive), that people choose to take action.

Also Read: How To Find The Right Dental Practice For You

What is the cost?

Consider that the average British household spends 6.5% of their annual income on coffee, 3.7% on clothes, and 1.4% on alcohol. The cost of your routine dental care (based on two dental health checks and two hygiene appointments per year) is only 0.6% of an average household budget. That’s less than 1%!

Find out if you have insurance

Surprising as it might seem, there are many of us that don’t realise we have access to dental insurance, perhaps through an employer or through a policy we have taken out in the past. If you have dental insurance that is not being used, then you will be missing out on an array of benefits. Many insurance companies allow you to claim back 50-100% of the cost of your dental bill (dependent on the treatment type). Many insurance policies cover routine dental care and treatment, which allow you to plan for your future dental needs. Policies which offer emergency and worldwide cover allow you to plan for any unexpected dental accidents at home or abroad. If you don’t yet have dental insurance, take some time to shop around online. There are many different insurance schemes available, each with different benefits.

No insurance? We’ve got you covered!

At Eccleshill Dental, we offer a variety of different payment methods to suit your needs, from 0% finance, to tailored payment plans. Many of our patients opt to join one of our affordable membership plans, which for a small monthly fee, offer a range of fantastic benefits.

We believe that everyone should be able to afford excellent dental care, which is why we pride ourselves on delivering fantastic services at affordable prices. If you would like any further information on our practice, services, fees, or payment methods, why not give us a call on 01274 633406.

 

A Practical Guide To Overcoming Dental Anxiety

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‘Dentophobia’, or a fear of the dentist, is extremely common. Statistics suggest that around 12% of us suffer from extreme dental anxiety. The British Dental Association says that 25% of the UK population suffer from some sort of anxiety before visiting the dentist. We suspect that number is a lot higher.

The most common thing we encounter in our nervous patients is shame and embarrassment. Your phobia is nothing to feel ashamed and embarrassed about. It is a very rational reaction to fear, pain, or a previous bad experience, and it much more common than you think.

Nonetheless, this can have a very damaging effect on your long-term health. Dental phobics tend to live with toothache, infections, bleeding gums, and bad breath. Many people are so embarrassed about the appearance of their teeth, that they go several years without smiling. Only when the pain/appearance of the teeth becomes unbearable, do they realise that a trip to the dentist is unavoidable.

Also Read: The Magic In Your Smile: 10 Ways Smiling Benefits Your Health and Happiness

Across dentistry as a whole, phobias are now being treated as a manageable condition. There are structured methods in place to help you get through your dental appointment with minimal discomfort, both physically and emotionally. At Eccleshill Dental, we take this very seriously. Here are the practical steps we encourage you to take, to make your visits more manageable:

  1. Talk to us

As with any phobia, the most important step to overcoming your fear is to identify the source of the problem. It may have been a bad experience at the school dentist, an uncomfortable injection, or even a horror story that you heard elsewhere. Whatever the reason, the most important step is to identify this. At Eccleshill Dental, we encourage you to talk to us about your fears and feelings. All new patients are invited to meet with our patient care coordinator, who will have a relaxed discussion with you in a comfortable setting. We take the time to get to know you and understand your fears. We will take whatever steps we need to help you overcome your anxieties, and our patient coordinator is available to support you through each of your appointments.

  1. Headphones

Plenty of patients report that their biggest fear is the sound of the dental drill. Many people choose to bring in some music and their headphones, which they listen to throughout their treatment. This is a simple and easy method to reduce your anxiety, and get you through your dental appointment.

  1. Topical anaesthetic gel

For those of you who are scared of the dental needle, did you know we offer topical anaesthetic gel? Topical gel is applied to the gum before your injection is administered, making it much more comfortable.

Also Read: How To Find The Right Dental Practice For You

  1. Stagger your treatment

We understand for many phobic patients, a bigger treatment plan can be quite overwhelming (if not downright off-putting). We encourage patients to stage their treatment in a way that best suits their needs. Starting out with easier, simpler treatments and working your way up to more comprehensive treatment can be a great way to ease yourself into your dental care.

  1. Sedation

Sedation treatment is an option for patients who are simply unable to cope with treatment, or may be struggling with the idea of something such as an extraction. Speak to your dentist about your sedation options. This may be available at your practice, or your dentist may be able to facilitate your referral to a sedation dentist for treatment.

  1. Trust us

We will do the hard work. All you need to focus on is getting yourself through the door. This is the hardest step. Once you have done that, we will take care of the rest.  We pride ourselves on taking every step we can to ensure your visit is as comfortable as possible.

At Eccleshill Dental, patients are encouraged to relax and feel a part of the family from the moment they step through the door. We are proud to have helped many of our patients overcome a life-long dental phobia, and we hope to help many more people on that journey. Don’t let your anxiety be a barrier to a happier, healthier smile – let us help you today.

To book your complimentary consultation with our patient care coordinator (or for some free, friendly advice) email rachel@eccleshilldental.com.

 

How To Find The Right Dental Practice For You

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Bradford and Leeds are fortunate enough to have many dental practices. But with so many dentists and options,

how do you know which Bradford and Leeds dental practice is right for you?

There is no definitive answer to this question, and as individuals, we all have different needs. A cosmetic dental practice might be a great option for someone looking for a Hollywood smile, but is this dental practice suitable for an anxious patient who is concerned about a broken tooth?

We have put together a list of useful tips on how to find the best dentist for you. Whilst there is no magic solution to this question, these tools will help you narrow the list and make an informed decision.

Tips for choosing the best Bradford and Leeds dentist for you:

  1. Set Priorities

Before selecting your dentist, think about what you want out of the experience, and what matters most to you. What is an absolute priority to one patient, is not necessarily to the next. Things you might want to consider might be proximity, opening times and appointment availability. Consider what treatments you are interested in: are you looking for cosmetic treatment, or a family friendly practice for you and your children? Many practices combine a variety of services, but working out exactly what you want to gain from your dental experience is an excellent starting point.

  1. Cost and Payment Options

For many people, the deciding factor in selecting a dental practice is affordability. With limited access to NHS dental places, and an ever increasing number of people turning to private dentistry, a large majority us opt for the most affordable option. What many patients don’t realise, is both the affordability and value available in private dentistry. Some practices offer membership plans which create huge savings, and allow you to plan for your future dental needs. At Eccleshill Dental, we offer membership plans for as little as £12.99 per month. Our plans give you access to 17-point dental health checks, plaque control, prevention and hygiene appointments, priority appointments, and worldwide dental emergency assistance (along with an additional 20% discount from any required treatment). 0% finance options, and tailored payment plans are also available for patients wishing to undertake larger treatment plans, but wanting to spread the cost of their treatment into more affordable monthly repayments.

  1. See What Other People Are Saying

Reviews matter. Nearly 90% of internet users say they use online reviews before choosing a business or service. The majority of us rarely book a holiday without first checking Trip Advisor. Dentistry is no different. Read Google reviews, and see what other people are saying about their experiences at a practice you are thinking of joining. Don’t limit your research to reviews alone, use social media to take a look at your potential new practice. This is a great way to see what exciting things are happening within the business, and see how the practice interacts with its patients online.

  1. Try It Out

The best way to assess whether or not a dental practice is right for you, is to try it out for yourself. Many practices offer free consultations, which is a great opportunity to see whether or not the practice is a fit for your needs. A good dental practice will respect your desire to make an informed decision, and there should be no obligation or pressure to come back. At Eccleshill Dental, we offer complimentary consultations with our patient care coordinator, Rachel. This is a relaxed appointment in a comfortable setting, where we learn more about what we can do to help you. You will have the opportunity to look around the practice and learn about the many services available at Eccleshill Dental.


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To book your complimentary consultation, telephone the practice on 01274 633406.