Is Thumbsucking Harmful to Your Child’s Teeth?

When children are young, it’s very tempting to let them suck their thumb or a pacifier for comfort. Thumbsucking is a natural reflex for babies and helps them feel secure, while also soothing them and helping them fall asleep. But where do you draw the line?

Many parents don’t realize the negative effects that can occur from thumbsucking or pacifier use past infancy on their child’s permanent teeth and bite. Today, we want to highlight the potential problems that can occur from prolonged thumbsucking, and supply creative solutions to help your child break the habit. Continue reading →

Overcoming Dental Anxiety: How to Silence Your Fear of the Dentist

Recent studies have shown that 15% of Americans have dental anxiety. Perhaps it’s the sound of the drill, or the ultra-sterile look and feel of the waiting room? Maybe it’s the latex-clad hands invading your mouth as you try not to think about what’s about to happen.

Did those sentences make your palms clammy and your heart rate accelerate? If so, you may be one of those unlucky folks who fear going to the dentist. At Susquehanna Dental Arts, we’re committed to making your experience with us comfortable and relaxing. Here are just a few tips to overcome your dental anxiety, and enjoy your time here with us as much as we enjoy serving you. Continue reading →

3 christmas teeth characters

Keep Your Holiday Smile Sparkling This Season!

It’s the holiday season! You know what that means: family and friends coming together, gifts, merriment and joy, and food. One of the best parts of the holidays is all that delicious food, but it can come with a price. It can be difficult to keep your teeth (and dentist!) happy this season with all those tasty temptations.

Fear not! You don’t need to suffer this season. Here’s just a few tricks to maximize your holiday enjoyment while still being kind to your smile. Continue reading →

lady smiling with mirror and dentist hand

5 Things You Didn’t Know Your Dentist Was Doing at Your Checkups

We all go to the dentist, some more frequently than others. You may even have a general idea of what your dentist is doing in there as your smile goes from dull to sparkling. But did you know that your dentist is doing a whole lot more than just cleaning your teeth?

Today, all of us here at Susquehanna Dental Arts want to take you on a deep dive into just how much of your health your dentist is checking during your routine visits. As it turns out, there is much more than meets the eye. Continue reading →

What is Tooth Enamel, and Can it Be Restored?

Tooth enamel is the hardest substance in your body; it’s even harder than bone. However, just because it’s tough doesn’t mean it can’t decay. Much like anything in your body, it requires your time and care to keep it strong. Here’s some useful information that we here at Susquehanna Dental Arts think you should know in order to keep your smile as healthy as possible. Continue reading →

5 Surprising Foods That Are Actually Good for Your Teeth

We’ve all had the dangers of certain foods drilled into our brains; which foods cause cavities, which ones cause staining, and which ones erode enamel away. However, we rarely hear about foods that are not only okay to eat, but healthy for your teeth. Here are a few foods that your dentist will be happy to hear you’re eating regularly. Continue reading →

Replace That Missing Tooth!

missing tooth on a stand

The majority of complaints about missing teeth are for aesthetic purposes, but the truth is that aesthetics is a very minor concern compared to other issues that missing teeth might present.

Today, we want to outline a few more health-related reasons you should be replacing that missing tooth, and what may happen if the issue remains. Continue reading →

So What Happens at a Dental Checkup?

Chris and two dental patientsA routine dental checkup is vital to keeping your mouth in tip-top shape. Since good oral health contributes to overall health, it’s vital to keep up with your dental care. Unfortunately, some patients are fearful of dentists and only visit us when things go wrong, making it more likely that a procedure will be necessary.

To prevent that, we strongly encourage regular visits. No one can get the mouth as clean as a dentist, and we can spot potential issues before they cause you more pain.

To help put your mind at ease, here’s what to expect at a routine dental checkup at Susquehanna Dental Arts. Continue reading →

Mouthguards Prevent Injuries

lacrosseOdds are that if you have kids, they’ve been involved in sports at some point during their childhood. Competitive sports are a part of millions of adolescents’ lives, and we don’t expect this to change anytime soon.

Physical competition leads to injuries, and when it comes to common sports injuries, maxillofacial injuries (injuries of the mouth) are near the top of the list.

Many of these injuries could be avoided simply by using a mouthguard. In this article, we want to highlight some of the benefits of using a mouthguard, the different options available, and other helpful information. Continue reading →