Personalized Hygiene Care in Hermitage, PA

Do you feel like every visit to your Dentist's you are being informed to floss more? Do you floss frequently but your gums still seem to bleed? Flossing seems simple, but there is a trick to the technique that will give you the best results for your gums. Here's how we do it-

Technique is Key in Flossing. Follow this Step by Step:

1. Grab a long strand of floss the length of your forearm
2. Wrap the floss around your middle finger so you can use your pointer finger and thumb to grab and control the floss
3. Place the floss through the contact of the two teeth and wrap the floss completely around the back tooth first
4. Gently move the floss up and down 3-4 times, assuring you get below the gumline until you feel pressure
5. Move the floss forward to wrap around the other tooth, and repeat step 4.
6. Repeat for all contacts between all teeth

Tips and Tricks for Flossing:

• Start in the same place each time- this allows you to create a habit, ultimately making you quicker with each use!
• Can't reach the back? Try the floss piks, interdental piks, soft piks, etc.
  • These can be found at Walmart, any drug store, Dollar General, etc.
• Water piks can be used in conjunction with traditional floss, but should not be used solely. 
• Only floss the teeth you want to keep!

Preventative Care Could Save Your Life

Over 28,000 cases of oral cancer are diagnosed annually according to the American Cancer Society. 

Many people assume that your dental visits are solely for your teeth and gums, but dental professionals are explicitly trained from the head and neck, up! The most common location for oral cancer to appear is the lateral border of the tongue. With that being said who, better than your dentist, to check for oral cancer? Not to mention, this is a location that is commonly overlooked in other medical settings. For these reasons, we make it a point to perform an oral cancer screening at each checkup. 

Contact Us

An oral cancer screening only requires a few moments to complete. We will palpate your glands and lymph nodes, check all oral tissues for any lesions, check both sides of the tongue and the floor of the mouth. Contact us today to schedule your consultation and oral cancer screening. 

At Thomas Family Dentistry, our goal is to make your first visit easy and as comfortable as possible. When you call to make your new patient appointment, you will be asked to provide basic information, dental insurance information, complete the new patient registration form and have previous records forwarded. It is helpful if you provide information to our staff over the phone about your dentition such as: date of last exam/cleaning, if you have any removable appliances (partials or dentures), if you have been previously diagnosed with periodontal disease or if you have been referred by another office.

To help us make your visit flow smoothly we ask that you have the information below prior to your visit:

• New Patient Registration Form Completed
  • Medical History filled out thoroughly
  • Dental Insurance information completed (if you have it) 
• Previous Dental Information and X rays forwarded
• Medication List
• Verified with Dental Insurance that we are a participating provider

We look forward to your first visit with us! If you have any questions prior to your appointment text or call (724)347-2722 and one of our staff members will be more than happy to help you. Remember at Thomas Family Dentistry we LOVE to see you SMILE!

We See Children At Any Age

If you have a specific concern, we’re happy to see children at any age. In general, however, we usually like to start seeing them around age 2-3. At this age they often have most of their baby teeth, making it the ideal time to begin monitoring their dental development

Every child reacts differently to dental visits, so it’s essential for us to take things slowly, giving them plenty of time to adapt to the new experience. It’s crucial that their first few trips to our office are entirely free of stress. Too many adults still avoid dental visits because of a negative experience as a child.

Start With A Slow Introduction

We’ve found it’s a good idea to have your little ones accompany their older siblings to dental appointments. This introduction is a perfect low-stress way to allow them to get to know us and get used to the new sights and sounds of a dental office.

If you don’t have older kids, we encourage you to make an appointment for a “happy visit.” This visit serves the same purpose – your child comes in to meet us and get used to the new faces, sights, and sounds of a dental office. We may take a look at their teeth if they’re receptive, but we don’t usually plan on doing any dental work during these early visits.

Schedule Your Child's First Appointment

Is it time for your child’s first dental visit? Please call Thomas Family Dentistry, and we’ll be happy to arrange a time for you to bring your child in to meet us!