Anchorage Dentist Explains Importance Of Dental Checkups During Pregnancy

Healthy Smiles Dental, a dental office in Anchorage, Alaska, has announced that they have recently published a blog post that explains the importance of dental checkups during pregnancy. Dr. Terry J. Preece, the dentist at the Anchorage dental office, explains why pregnant women need to go for regular dental checkups.

Dr. Terry J. Preece explains, “From a statistical standpoint, women who are pregnant have a greater risk of developing periodontal disease than women who are not pregnant. Beyond that, periodontal disease can lead to low birth weight and premature births based, according to the National Institute of Health. Thus, in addition to proper brushing and flossing, you should also be scheduling regular dental checkups throughout your pregnancy to help detect problems that could affect not only your health but also the health of your baby.”

With regards to dental procedures, cleanings and fillings can be performed for pregnant women but Dr. Preece advises them to wait until they have delivered their baby before undergoing any major dental procedure, such as dental implants. With regards to dental x-ray, this can be performed for pregnant women because the percentage of radiation used in a standard dental x-ray is small. Furthermore, the dentist will provide the patient with a lead apron as additional protection for the expectant mother and unborn baby.

For pregnant women who are in the first trimester of pregnancy and have a toothache or tooth sensitivity, they are advised to have those problems treated as soon as possible because most dentists, including Dr. Preece, will be reluctant to perform certain dental procedures after the first trimester because of the fear that the procedure may jeopardize the baby’s health.

The Anchorage dentist offers dental services in three categories: cosmetic surgery, comprehensive dentistry, and sedation dentistry. Cosmetic dentistry has the goal of producing a positive change to the patient’s teeth and smile. Dr. Preece has been a member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry since 1999 and he has more than 35 years of experience. His cosmetic dentistry services include: smile design; porcelain crown and bridges; dental implants; teeth whitening; tooth colored fillings; porcelain and composite resin veneers; direct bonding; teeth contouring; gum contouring; restoring chipped teeth; closing spaces and gaps; and premium aesthetic dentures.

Healthy Smiles Dental offers comprehensive full-care dentistry. This means that Dr. Preece will take a long term approach to a patient’s dental care. Thus, the dentistry that a patient receives is designed to last for a very long time and not just for a short while. Long term dentistry takes into consideration the materials used, the patient’s oral habit, the bite forces, the patient’s home care habits, and the patient’s general health. This is the opposite of patch and fill dentistry, which provides a solution for each dental problem as it arises. This is usually costly and inefficient and does not last long.

And finally, Healthy Smiles Dental also makes use of sedation dentistry, which has the goal of putting a patient in a calm, relaxed, peaceful or unconscious state. Dental sedation is available in various forms with each having its own advantages and disadvantages. These are nitrous oxide gas, oral conscious sedation, and IV sedation. The most common form of dental sedation is nitrous oxide gas. Then, there is the oral conscious sedation which makes the patient relaxed. And when deeper sedation is needed, there is the IV or parenteral sedation.

Dr. Preece graduated from the University of Washington School of Dentistry in 1980. It was in August 2010 that Dr. Preece and his family moved to Anchorage, where he established the Healthy Smiles Dental clinic. He remains dedicated to the improvement of his craft by attending extensive continuing education courses. He is an active member of the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry, Alaska Dental Society, Anchorage Dental Society, and American Dental Association.

People who are interested in dental services in Anchorage or who want to schedule an appointment can visit the clinic's website at https://www.anchoragehealthysmiles.com/. They can also be contacted by phone or by email.

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For more information about Healthy Smiles Dental, contact the company here:

Healthy Smiles Dental
Dr. Terry J. Preece
907-341-3139
info@anchoragehealthysmiles.com
12501 Old Seward Hwy Suite C Anchorage, AK 99515

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