- 417-781-6700
- [email protected]
- Mon - Thurs: 7:00am - 4:00pm
Dr. Renger and your dental hygienist will include the following:
Essential for detection of decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss. X-rays also help determine tooth and root positions.
Check the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer.
Check the gums and bone around the teeth for any signs of periodontal disease.
All tooth surfaces will be checked for decay with special dental instruments.
Check current fillings, crowns, etc.
Check all anatomy for abnormalities that may be affecting your oral and systemic health.
The key to staying on top of your health is coming in routinely for a dental cleaning. At Shine Modern Dentistry, we provide preventative services to help our patients maintain good oral hygiene, prevent dental diseases, and keep their gums healthy.
This is a non-surgical treatment option for gum disease. In this treatment, Dr Renger or a dental hygienist removes plaque and tartar down to the bottom of each diseased gum pocket or space. This treatment may be done in one visit or several, depending on your individual needs.
Root canal therapy is needed when the nerve of a tooth is affected by decay or infection. In order to save the tooth, the pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth), nerves, bacteria, and any decay are removed and the resulting space is filled with special, medicated, dental materials, which restore the tooth to its full function. Having a root canal done on a tooth is the treatment of choice to save a tooth that otherwise would die and have to be removed. Many patients believe that removing a tooth that has problems is the solution, but what is not realized is that extracting (pulling) a tooth will ultimately be more costly and cause significant problems for adjacent teeth. Root canal treatment is highly successful and usually lasts a lifetime, although on occasion, a tooth will have to be retreated due to new infections.
• An abscess (or pimple) on the gums.
• Sensitivity to hot and cold.
• Severe toothache pain.
• Sometimes no symptoms are present.
• Swelling and/or tenderness.
• Decay has reached the tooth pulp (the living tissue inside the tooth).
• Infection or abscess have developed inside the tooth or at the root tip.
• Injury or trauma to the tooth.
Teeth extractions are not recommended unless absolutely necessary. Unfortunately, there are times that a tooth or teeth cannot be reasonably saved and it is in the best interest of the patient that removal is necessary. When this occurs, Dr. Renger makes every possible effort to ensure the removal process is painless and atraumatic. Tooth/teeth replacement options and recommendations will be made based on a patients individual needs and medical/dental history.
We are a family dental practice in Joplin and that includes your children! We see patients for their first visit as early as their first tooth and continuously throughout the lifetime of your dentistry needs. As soon as your child’s first tooth appears, schedule their first visit to our office.
There are several goals for the first dental visit. First, Dr. Renger and the child need to get properly acquainted. Second, Dr. Renger needs to monitor tooth and jaw development to get an idea of the child’s overall health history. Third, Dr. Renger needs to evaluate the health of the existing teeth and gums. Finally, Dr. Renger aims to answer questions and advise parents on how to implement a good oral care regimen.
1. Our caring team will greet the child and parents.
2. The infant/family health history will be reviewed (this may include questionnaires).
3. Dr.Renger will address parental questions and concerns.
4. More questions will be asked, generally pertaining to the child’s oral habits, pacifier use, general development, tooth alignment, tooth development, and diet.
5. Dr.Renger will provide advice on good oral care, how to prevent oral injury, fluoride intake, and sippy cup use.
6. The infant’s teeth will be examined. Generally, Dr.Renger and parent sit facing each other. The infant is positioned so that his or her head is cradled in Dr. Renger’s lap. This position allows the infant to look at the parent during the examination.
7. Good brushing and flossing demonstrations will be provided by our caring hygienist.
8. The state of the child’s oral health will be described in detail, and specific recommendations will be made. Recommendations usually relate to oral habits, appropriate toothpastes and toothbrushes for the child, orthodontically correct pacifiers, and diet.
9. Dr.Renger or a hygienist will detail which teeth may appear in the following months.
10. Our team will outline an appointment schedule and describe what will happen during the next appointment.
If you have questions or concerns about your child’s first dental visit, please contact Shine Modern Dentistry at 417-781-6700.
Sleep bruxism, also known as nocturnal tooth grinding, is the medical term for clenching or grinding teeth during sleep. A type of movement disorder that occurs during sleep, bruxism is a common condition. Occasional bruxism may not be harmful but when it occurs regularly, it may be associated with moderate to severe dental damage, facial pain, and disturbed sleep. Although all the causes of bruxism are unknown, one study links it with such factors as anxiety, stress, alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, caffeine, sleep apnea, snoring and fatigue. Importantly, psychiatric or psychological factors do not play a role in most cases. Use of certain medications, including amphetamines, are also associated with episodes of bruxism. Sleep apnea may also be related to sleep bruxism, and evidence suggests that treating sleep apnea can help alleviate sleep bruxism. People who have sleep bruxism can also suffer headaches, earaches, jaw pain, jaw joint disorders and damaged teeth. Sleep bruxism may also be linked with other medical conditions and have an impact on quality of life. The treatment of bruxism varies depending on a patient's personal situation, medical history, and the cause (if one is known or can be found). If you feel you may suffer from sleep bruxism, talk to Dr. Renger about ways to treat it.
