Healthy Mouths, Healthy Kids!

First Visit By Age 1

In August of 2012, the Ad Council joined with The Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives, a coalition of more than 35 leading dental health organizations, to debut Kids’ Healthy Mouths. Dental decay is the most common chronic childhood disease with more than 16 million kids suffering from untreated tooth decay in the U.S., oral disease is estimated to cause kids to miss 51 million school hours and their parents to lose 25 million work hours annually, and disproportionately affects children from low-income families. 

At South Coast Family Dentistry, we recommend children have their first dental visit by age 1 as recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry and maintain regular 6 month cleaning appointments for exams. Parents and their children can visit 2min2x.org to watch entertaining videos and listen to music, while children are brushing their teeth. Make oral health part of your New Year’s Resolution!

To schedule your child's appointment with Dr. Bailey or Dr. Bacon, call us at (541) 982-2175 or request your appointment online!

Use Your Dental Insurance Before 2013!

Toward the end of the year, our office typically gets an increase in phone calls from patients looking to schedule an end of year cleaning or restorative appointment and use their insurance benefits before they lapse December 31st.

Many patients sometimes don't realize that they can't carry over benefit maximums from year to year (with limited exceptions - check with your plan administrator to see if your plan qualifies for a rollover.) With premiums increasing in cost from year to year, it's important that you use the monies that you've been allotted - otherwise you've just given the insurance company back a chunk of free cash.

We still have appointments available in our Coos Bay, OR dental office, and we'd love to see you! Please call our office today at (541) 982-2175 to schedule your appointment before time runs out. South Coast Family Dentistry also serves patients and the community of North Bend, OR.

Season of Thanksgiving

As we approach Thanksgiving and live in this season of thankfulness, we want to send our thanks and appreciation to our patients and community. Without your patronage and service, we would not exist! Dr. Bacon, Dr. Bailey, and the staff of South Coast Family Dentistry in Coos Bay, OR and North Bend, OR strive for meeting your individual needs; not seeing people in terms of their teeth, but treating the whole person and helping them on a road to longer living in a healthy way.

We also thank the military personnel that have served in the past for our country and those that are serving now, away from family and friends. Dr. Bacon's service in the military gives him a unique perspective in the service that our troops give to their country.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday - to you and yours!

The Staff of South Coast Family Dentistry

Can You Afford to Skimp on Dental Care?



Dr. Bailey and a patient discuss
hygiene needs at a preventive visit
in Coos Bay, OR.
 

We all know life can be busy, and n the current economic crunch, it may be tempting to skimp on dental care. But don’t neglect your oral health. Your dental care is just as important now as it was when you were a kid. Untreated dental disease can lead to serious health problems such as infection, damage to bone or nerve and tooth loss. Brush your teeth twice a day, floss once a day and see your Coos Bay & North Bend, OR dentist regularly.

We want to help you keep more of your money for other essentials and that is why we encourage you to get regular dental checkups. Insurance companies know that prevention is far less costly than cures and that is why most policies cover routine dental checkup and cleanings.

The best way to avoid more expensive dental procedures is to follow a home dental hygiene program and maintain regular checkups to identify issues before they become full-blown problems needing costly intervention.

Fact Check:
Did you know that the average adult between the ages of 20 and 64 has three or more decayed or missing teeth? If you are missing one or more teeth, there are plenty of reasons to correct the problem. Dr. Damion Gilday has many treatments to restore your smile.

The ADA website has many great resources for kids and adults of all ages - and Dr. Gilday recommends that you visit the pages often for great information on keeping mouth healthy all year long!

To learn more, visit MouthHealthy.org.

Ready to Schedule Your Appointment With Dr. Bacon and Dr. Bailey?
We look forward to welcoming new and returning patients! Has it been a few years since we've seen your family? We still consider you our patient and we would love to see you back in the office to check up on your dental health and assist you in getting back on a healthy track. Call our office today!

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month

Since people with diabetes are at a greater risk of developing some oral health problems, this is a good reminder of the importance of staying. Some of the common oral health problems associated with diabetes are: gum disease, fungal infections, infections and delayed healing. Periodontal (gum disease) is no laughing matter; it's also connected to heart disease and other health-related issues.

Our friends at www.perio.org tell us:

Diabetic patients are more likely to develop periodontal disease, which in turn can increase blood sugar and diabetic complications.

People with diabetes are more likely to have periodontal disease than people without diabetes, probably because people with diabetes are more susceptible to contracting infections. In fact, periodontal disease is often considered a complication of diabetes. Those people who don't have their diabetes under control are especially at risk.

Research has suggested that the relationship between periodontal disease and diabetes goes both ways - periodontal disease may make it more difficult for people who have diabetes to control their blood sugar.

Severe periodontal disease can increase blood sugar, contributing to increased periods of time when the body functions with a high blood sugar. This puts people with diabetes at increased risk for diabetic complications

For more information and to watch a video on how diabetes can impact your oral health, visit the MouthHealthy A-Z page on Diabetes.

Ready to learn more and schedule your appointment?
We are accepting new patients, and both of our doctors at South Coast Family Dentistry have experience in treating patients with gum disease. Give us a call today at (541) 982-2175 or visit our website for more information.

FDA Alert from the American Dental Association

FDA warns against using benzocaine products in children under 2

When a baby is teething, mom and dad want to help stop the pain. For this reason, gel and spray products are available that contain benzocaine, a topical anesthetic. However, the Food and Drug Administration has warned that these products should not be used for children under 2, except under the advice and supervision of a health care professional. The reason? Benzocaine has been associated with a rare but serious, and sometimes fatal, condition called methemoglobinemia.

What is methemoglobinemia? In simple terms, it’s a disorder in which the amount of oxygen that the blood can carry is greatly reduced. Although it can occur in older children and adults, children under 2 appear to be particularly at risk. That’s because since 2006, the FDA has received 29 reports of benzocaine gel-related cases of methemoglobinemia, and 15 of these have been in children under 2.

According to the FDA’s consumer update, here are some of the symptoms of methemoglobinemia:

• pale, gray, or blue colored skin, lips and nails
• shortness of breath
• fatigue
• confusion
• headache
• light-headedness
• rapid heart rate

The ADA’s Seal of Acceptance Program currently has two topical benzocaine-containing pain relief products that bear the ADA Seal, neither intended for children under 2. These products are Benzodent Dental Pain Relieving Cream by Chattem, and Professional Strength Kanka Mouth Pain Liquid by Blistex. Both products contain 20 percent benzocaine and contain the following label statements:

• For the temporary relief of pain due to minor irritations of the mouth and gums caused by dentures or orthodontic appliances or minor injury to mouth and gums. Kanka also says that it can be used to help relieve pain from canker sores.
• Children under 2 years of age: consult a dentist or physician.
• Children under 12 years of age should be supervised in the use of this product.
• Keep out of reach of children.

For more information on these and other oral care products that carry the ADA Seal, visit the ADA Seal page on MouthHealthy. Products that bear the ADA Seal have undergone a rigorous, independent, scientific review to ensure that they meet ADA criteria for safety and effectiveness.

Information provided is from mouthhealthy.org - a site developed by the American Dental Association.

Dental Emergencies

Accidents happen, and knowing what to do when one occurs can mean the difference between saving and losing a tooth. There are many common dental emergencies and learning how to deal with them is important. For all dental emergencies, it’s important to visit your dentist as soon as possible. Most dentists, like Drs Bailey & Bacon at South Coast Family Dentistry, reserve time in their daily schedules for emergency patients so be sure to call your dentist and provide as much detail as you can about your condition. If the accident occurs when your dental office is not open, visit your local emergency room, but be sure to keep excellent notes so that the dentist the ER refers you to can appropriately bill your insurance.

At South Coast Family Dentistry, serving patients in Coos Bay and North Bend, OR, we always reserve time for emergency patients and welcome your call. Remember that the best prevention against a dental emergency is having a regular dental home that you seek preventive care with. A little bit of prevention can go a long way! Contact us today to learn more about the services our dentists provide to the Coos Bay and North Bend, OR community.

To learn more about what to do in case of an emergency, visit mouthhealthy.org.

Dangers of X-Ray Radiation?

A study published in Cancer, the peer-viewed journal of the American Cancer Society, found that people diagnosed with meningioma, a generally non-cancerous tumor, are more likely to report that they’ve received certain types of dental X-rays in the past.

There are several important things to understand about this study:

• This finding doesn’t mean that dental X-rays cause these tumors; much more research is needed.
• The results rely on the individuals’ memories of having dental X-rays taken years earlier. The ability to recall information is often imperfect. Therefore, the results of studies that use this design can be unreliable because they are affected by what scientists call “recall bias.”
• The study acknowledges that some of the subjects received dental X-rays decades ago when radiation exposure was greater. Radiation doses were higher in the past due to the use of old X-ray technology and slower speed film.

The American Dental Association's long-standing position is that dentists should order dental X-rays for patients only when necessary for diagnosis and treatment. Since 1989, the ADA has published recommendations to help dentists ensure that radiation exposure is as low as reasonably achievable. As precautions against radiation, ADA encourages the use of abdominal shielding (e.g., protective aprons) and thyroid collars on all patients. In addition, the ADA recommends that dentists use E or F speed film, the two fastest film speeds available, or a digital X -ray.

Dental X-rays are a valuable part of detecting oral health problems at an early stage. Many oral diseases can’t be detected with a physical examination alone. Dental X-rays help provide information about a patient’s oral health such as early-stage cavities, gum diseases, infections and some types of tumors. How often dental X-rays should be taken depends on the patient’s oral health condition, age, risk for disease and any signs and symptoms of oral disease that the patient might be experiencing. If you have concerns the ADA encourages you to talk to your dentist, but eliminating X-rays altogether could be detrimental to your oral health.

At South Coast Family Dentistry, serving patients in Coos Bay, OR and North Bend, OR, your family's safety and health is our greatest concern. Our doctors follow the standards for dental x-rays as prescribed by the ADA and state organizations for frequency and use. Better yet, our doctors use digital x-rays, which in some cases have a lower occurrence of radiation than standing in front of a microwave provides. If you have concerns about x-rays, please contact our office. Remember, improving your health is our primary goal!

Information in this blog article provided by mouthhealthy.org, a site developed and maintained by the American Dental Association. Visit mouthhealthy.org for more great patient tips and information.

 

Advantages of Digital X-Rays

At South Coast Family Dentistry we embrace new technology that gives significant advantages over traditional dentistry equipment.

X-rays (Radiographs)
X-rays are a primary tool for early identification of dental problems. Detecting issues with X-rays before they become problems can save you money in the long run by preventing the need for more extensive, expensive procedures or surgeries. X-rays are primarily used to detect:

• Internal tooth decay
• Cysts (fluid filled sacks at the base of your teeth)
• Tumors, both cancerous and non-cancerous
• Impacted teeth
• Teeth that are still coming in

Digital X-rays Advantages
Digital X-rays have several advantages over traditional film based X-rays:

• They emit up to 90% less radiation
• They are ready for examination nearly instantly
• They can be viewed on a computer screen
• Their image can be refined and enlarged
• They are greener; no chemicals are needed for processing

To learn more about the digital technologies we offer to our Coos Bay, OR and North Bend, OR patients, please call us today.

No More Dental Anxiety!

At South Coast Family Dentistry, we want you to have a comfortable experience. We offer several levels of sedation for anxious or fearful patients

Nitrous Oxide- laughing gas helps patients feel less anxiety and less discomfort in their mouths during procedures. The effects of the gas wear off within a few minutes of breathing oxygen.

Oral Conscious Sedation- Patients are prescribed an pill to take before coming to their appointment. The medication relieves anxiety and often can be combined with the effects of nitrous oxide once the patient is in our office.

IV Conscious Sedation- For these patients a medication is administered to take them to a deeper level of sedation than can be safely accomplished with pills. Patients undergoing this type of sedation usually do not recall anything from their procedures. In order to be licensed to perform this type of sedation Dr. Bailey, your North Bend, OR dentist, received extensive training in a dental residency including a rotation in the operating room of a hospital to administer general anesthesia to patients. Patients are carefully monitored to ensure their safety and comfort.

We are currently accepting new patients in the Coos Bay, OR and North Bend, OR areas; call us today at 541.269.5353 to make an appointment for an exam. Dr. Bacon and Dr. Bailey invite you to learn more about our Dental Services and Team Members. If you are having pain or have broken a tooth we would be happy to get you in to address your problem today. We look forward to serving you and meeting your family!

What are Mini Dental Implants?

Have you been considering dental implants? There are a wide variety of implant options, depending on your treatment needs. One of the options available to our patients at South Coast Family Dentistry are Mini Dental Implants or MDI.

Mini Dental Implants (MDI) are very similar to a traditional dental implants, except the titanium post used is much smaller. Mini dental implants take the place of a tooth root and are anchored into the jawbone. They were originally designed to retain dentures, but as the technology evolved so have the dental uses. Mini Dental Implant Advantages • Significantly lower cost • Smaller implant size • Greatly reduced post-implantation recovery time • Dentures or other appliances can be installed and removed easily due to design Unlike a traditional dental implant, which consists of two pieces, a mini dental implant is a single piece fitting with a ball end. The ball end snaps into a socket that is attached to a dental appliance such as a denture. In addition to retaining dentures, mini dental implants have been used instead of traditional dental implants for a single tooth replacement, if the biting stresses are not too great. If you are looking for more information regarding dental implants in North Bend, OR or dental implants in Coos Bay, OR, give our dentists a call today!

Why Do I Need A "Deep Cleaning"?

Some patients will need more than a professional cleaning (prophy) for their dental care. Patients with signs of gum disease (periodontal disease) may require more therapeutic types of cleanings to remove harmful plaque and bacteria from below the gumline and on the roots. Your doctor and hygienist will work together to properly diagnose the extremity of your Periodontal Disease and recommend a proper course of treatment.

Gum Disease (Periodontal Disease)
The American Association of Periodontists state that gum disease accounts for approximately 70% of all tooth loss in adults. Early signs of gum disease include bleeding gums when flossing or brushing and gums that are red, inflamed, or swollen.

Gum disease and tooth decay are caused by the same bacteria. These bacteria form plaque beneath the gum-line, which eats away at the bond between tooth and gum. If deterioration is allowed to continue, "pockets" form in between the teeth and the gums. Pockets deeper than 3ml may require special treatment to remove the bacteria and plaque. Without treatment and continuous maintenance, gum disease will eventually weaken the bonds that hold the teeth in place.

There is no permanent treatment for gum disease. However, it can be kept under control with proper personal hygiene and regular visits to a trained dentist or hygienist.

For more information on whether you need a deep cleaning, or to schedule your next cleaning appointment with our Coos Bay, OR and North Bend, OR dentists at South Coast Family Dentistry, give us a call!

Dental Implants in Coos Bay, OR

Dental implants truly are the wave of the future. The premier option when replacing or restoring a damaged natural tooth, implants help to preserve the look and feel of your natural occlusion (bite) and are a much less invasive option for patients diagnosed with crown or bridgework.

Technology has allowed patients who traditionally have worn ill-fitting and uncomfortable dentures to enjoy a better experience with implants to stabilize partial and full dentures. At South Coast Family Dentistry, Dr. Ryan Bailey and Dr. William Bacon are proficient in the following implant services:

• Dental Implant Placement
• Implants to replace missing teeth
• Implants to stabilize dentures
• Mini Implants
• Bone Grafting Procedures

 

We serve patients in Coos Bay, OR and North Bend, OR and the surrounding areas. To learn more about our dental implant and restorative services, contact us today!

ADA Ad Council Campaign Launches

At South Coast Family Dentistry we understand the importance of early childhood oral care. More children lose school days due to cavities and oral pain than any other cause. Dr. Ryan Bailey and Dr. William Bacon are honored to support the latest ADA public service campaign.

Kids’ Healthy Mouths, is a public service campaign designed to teach parents, caregivers and children about the importance of oral health, kicks off today nationwide.

The American Dental Association and 35 other groups in the dental community formed the Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives and partnered with the Ad Council to produce this campaign. ADA members and staff were sent an email to today alerting them of the launch.
“Today is an exciting day for oral health,” ADA President William Calnon said. “Through the great work of the Ad Council and the Partnership for Healthy Mouths, Healthy Lives, the nation gets to be exposed to a series of informational messages about the importance of brushing your teeth for two minutes, twice a day. The ADA is proud to be a part of this significant work to prevent tooth decay in our nation’s children.”

The English and Spanish-language TV, radio, print, outdoor and digital PSAs poke fun at the myriad of inane things children spend their time doing and highlight that it only takes two minutes, twice a day to help maintain a healthy mouth and prevent future oral pain.

Read more at www.ada.org
Article attributed to Kelly Soderlund, ADA News staff

Welcome to South Coast Family Dentistry

The dental staff at South Coast Family Dentistry are committed to our patient's care and dental well-being. Through continued educational studies, our dental assistants and front office staff learn new technologies and techniques to make your time comfortable and provide the highest level of customer service. We invite you to meet Dr. Ryan Bailey and Dr. William Bacon and their staff and see for yourself the excellent care we provide!

Our front office staff are here to answer your questions about dental insurance benefits, treatment costs, and all financial matters. From scheduling your initial appointment with our doctors, greeting you as you arrive, to sitting down with you to discuss your treatment options, you will feel comfortable and in experienced hands.
Our caring and highly-trained dental assistants and hygienists will be with you every step of the way during your appointments with Dr. Bailey and Dr. Bacon. We understand that many patients feel anxiety during dentistry, and we know that with superior care and a comforting environment, that anxiety can be greatly reduced. Come and see why our patients have made South Coast Family Dentistry their dental home.

We serve patients in Coos Bay, OR and North Bend, OR, and the surrounding communities. We look forward to meeting you, and scheduling your first appointment!