Blog

Let’s Talk About Fillings

It happens to the best of us ... you’ve been told you or your child has a cavity and that a filling is necessary. After recovering from the surprise, you may wonder how we go about doing a filling, especially on a child. We thought it would be helpful to go through the basic steps of a white resin filling.

One of the questions I’m frequently asked is, “When do I need to take my child to the dentist for their first visit?” 

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentists (AAPD) recommends that a child be brought to the dentist when their first tooth erupts, or by their first birthday, whatever comes first. If you missed this deadline, please don’t worry. We welcome your visit at any age. We also welcome children of all ages who are new to the McCook area!

Plan In Advance

With young children, a doctor’s visit can be an undertaking. I speak from experience. My first piece of advice is to plan in advance. Start by looking for a ...

Let’s Talk About Children’s Dental Health 
 

February is Children’s Dental Health Month! Because we want the kids of McCook, NE to have the brightest, happiest smiles ever, we thought we’d go over the four important aspects of pediatric dental care.

BRUSHING

Creating good dental habits for your children should start as soon as they wake up. Before breakfast, you should brush your teeth with your kiddos. When children learning good habits, modeling the behavior can be beneficial. Let them watch you, and then work with them on their skills. 

To start with, make sure you’re using a soft bristle toothbrush. If your child can spit their toothpaste in the sink, use a ...

Let’s Talk Tooth Whitening

It’s January and winter white is on our minds… so let’s talk about white teeth. Having white teeth can make us feel more confident about our smiles. The same is largely true throughout human history. We’d like to start with saying that we do not recommend teeth whitening for kids under age 14. If your kids do have discoloration, make sure they’re brushing for a full two minutes twice a day, and ...

Let’s Talk Xrays With Dr. Kaitlin Haag 

I thought it would be a good time to talk about X-rays! Someof the most frequent questions I get asked in the office are about X-rays. Do I/my kids really need them? Is it safe? So I thought I’d share some of the basics when it comes to dental radiography and some of my favorite resources.This is a hot topic! Literally! When people are talking about radiation and dosages, they are referring to micro-Sieverts or Sv. Four bitewing X-rays are 5 Sv. To put this in perspective, I’ll share a few other interesting facts. The average person receives a dose of 10 Sv on ...

Let’s Talk Staying Healthy with Dr. Kaitlin Haag 

Did you know that saliva is one of your body’s defenses against viruses and bacteria? Keeping your mouth healthy helps keep your whole body healthy. Brushing, flossing, staying hydrated, and visiting the best dentist in Nebraska twice a year helps your saliva do its germ fighting job! In addition to keeping your mouth healthy, here are some little things with big impact to keep the bugs at bay. 

Good hygiene habits like washing your hands often can help stop germs from spreading. If soap and water aren’t available, use an alcohol based hand sanitizer. Washing your hands regularly reduces the chance of ...