Naples pediatric dentists

5 Benefits of Visiting a Pediatric Dentist

The Difference

Let’s face it – for some in past years visiting the dentist wasn’t the most fairy tale experience.  Put your mind to ease by selecting a multi award winning practice and the most loved pediatric dentist in Southwest Florida, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD & Associates who are specially trained and board certified for treating pediatric patients.

While general dentists can perform the same work, visiting a pediatric dentist provides a slew of extra benefits:

Office Decor 

We’ve got fun just about everywhere you look! From video games, to community initiatives and educational lobby experiences for children of all ages to enjoy!

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Better Training

Kids aren’t always the most cooperative of patients.  A pediatric dentist has at least two additional years of training beyond dental school solely focused on treating young patients.

In the additional training, the focus is on child psychology, growth/development, and learning all of the tips and tricks of the trade for examining and treating children.

Specialized Treatment

In the circumstance that your child needs more comprehensive dental treatment, pediatric dentists are specially trained to handle special needs and to children with extensive dental treatment needs.

Oral Health Care Education

Since Pediatric Dentistry of Florida’s staff work solely with kids,  we know how to engage in educational learning.  Even more, we have props and teaching tools that are appropriate for all ages. To become part of our dental family, please fill out the form below and we will contact you immediately as possible. Thank you and we look forward to serving you!

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    Procrastinating a Dental Visit?

    Whether being busy, or having anxiety about going to the dentist, procrastinating a visit can have serious consequences.

    When we see a patient due to pain or sensitivity, often this pain and the treatment they consequently have to receive could have been prevented. In some cases, the issued could have been avoided by maintaining proper oral hygiene and dental checkups every six months.

    Checkups allow dentist to help you prevent issues or catch issues early. Early detection, before symptoms of pain appear, is often extremely important and can dramatically reduce the amount of treatment needed.

    There is a higher chance of cavities forming, gum disease, or a number of other oral issues in the duration of a dental absence. This can lead to tons of dreadful side effects, including root damage, severe tooth aches, and even tooth loss.

    If your little one hasn’t been to the dentist in over six months, they’re due for a visit! We recommend you schedule an appointment as soon as possible and continue to schedule regular visits every six months. In addition, if you experience any discomfort or pain, do not delay seeing a dentist. Making time for a visit will provide healthy and pain-free smiles to last a lifetime!

    Is a Pediatric Dentist Right For Your Child?

    What exactly is a pediatric dentist? A pediatric dentist treats children from infancy through teenage years. A pediatric dentist is just like a general dentist when it comes to preventative dentistry, regular cleanings, and treatments. Although they are both similar, we have a few general differences that are present between the two in order to get a better idea of what works for you and the family.

    Common Dentist

    1. Caters to the entire family
    2. Provides cleanings twice a year along with X-rays
    3. Repair tooth cavities
    4. Treat oral conditions that are related to any diseases

     

    Pediatric Dentist

    1. Acquired two to three additional years of training with emphasis on child psychology, growth and development
    2. Caters to a certain age group (1-18)
    3. Provides habit counseling (pacifier and thumb sucking)
    4. Handle dental development difficulties
    5. Contain orthodontics

     

    There is no right or wrong practice when it comes to using a general dentist or a pediatric dentist. However, there are benefits to using a pediatric dentist and then switching to a general when the time comes. It all depends on personal preference! So whichever dentist you may choose, either one will be just fine for the youngins.

    Plaque vs. Tartar: What’s The Difference?

    fun fYou’ve probably heard of these two troublemakers before. As we all strive to keep these guys away and off our teeth, we want to establish exactly what they are, how they affect your oral hygiene, and how to tell the difference if you’ve been slacking on your teeth-cleaning program.

    First, lets talk plaque. It builds up around the gum line and takes form of a sticky, colorless, soft substance. It is made up of food particles and saliva that form into a film of bacteria.This is the culprit for cavities due to the acid it contains. Plaque also causes the gums to bleed if you are brushing or flossing! So it is best to keep an eye out for this pest and have it stay clear from any buildup on your teeth. If not, it can eventually harden into tartar if it isn’t removed each day.

    Now, let’s talk tartar. Tartar, which is hardened plaque, takes form of a yellow, yellowish-brown color and is hard, porous, and crusty. It is hard because it comes from the mineral deposits in saliva. This bad guy can not only cause cavities, but also gum disease and tooth loss. So you’d most definitely want to avoid tartar buildup at all times!

    So now how do you actually remove these burdens from your precious chompers? Plaque can simply be removed by brushing, flossing, and rinsing on a daily basis. Tartar, on the other hand, is a little more difficult to get rid of. You would need surgery to remove any if it has has formed below the gum line. To prevent any of this from happening, the best solution would be to use tartar-control toothpaste while brushing and flossing vigilantly.

    Common Mistakes When Using An Electric Toothbrush

    Electric toothbrushes are known to clean teeth more effectively than regular toothbrushes. However, if you aren’t using the electric toothbrush properly, you won’t receive the maximum benefits it brings to the table for your teeth. Here are some common mistakes to watch out for before taking home and using your supercharged cleaning buddy.

    Making the wrong purchasing decision

    It can be tricky when shopping for the proper electric toothbrush that is the most suitable for you.  Make sure it fits in the hand comfortably, with the size of the electric head suited for the size of your mouth.  Also keep in mind that if you have a heavy hand with brushing, you might want to purchase an electric brush with soft bristles to avoid irritating your gums.

    Not brushing for the appropriate duration of time

    It is known and recommended to brush for a full two minutes about 2 times a day.  Although some electric toothbrushes may have a timer, it is always beneficial to make sure you are getting the proper amount of time when fighting away those germs and bacteria.

    Heavy-handed overbrushing

    You should brush only 2 times a day for 2 minutes. No more or no less. Brushing more than 3 times a day wears down tooth enamel (which is something your teeth need) and may hurt your gums if you brush too hard.

    Not replacing your toothbrush head when needed

    It is time to replace your toothbrush head after 3 months of use, especially if you are noticing frayed or broken bristles. Brushing with overused toothbrush heads wont give you the optimal results you are looking for. Keep in mind that you should also replace your toothbrush head if you have been sick.

    Dr. Verwest voted Hulafrog’s ‘most loved ‘pediatric dentist

    HulaFrog awarded Pediatric Dentistry of Florida, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD & Associates the most loved pediatric dentist for 2018. Hulafrog is a local site featuring all kid-friendly businesses and events around town. Readers voted for their favorite businesses in each category over the month of January. For more of the ‘most loved’ list, click here.

    This is Pediatric Dentistry of Florida, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD, & associates second straight year winning the ‘most loved’ award from Hulafrog. For more information, visit www.DrVerwest.com or (239) 482-2722.

    Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD collects 930 lbs. of food for Harry Chapin Food Bank

    Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD collected 930 lbs. of can-food donations during their “Touch-a-Truck’ event. All food collected will benefit the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida.

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    Dr. Verwest Presents – Touch-a-Truck Fort Myers 2018


    Pediatric Dentistry of Florida, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD & associates is hosting the second annual family-friendly ‘Touch-a-Truck’ Fort Myers on Saturday, April 21, from 11 am to 2 pm.

    Touch-a-Truck is a hands-on experience where children will be able to learn about their favorite trucks and vehicles, plus interact with those who drive them.

    (Click above to share touch-a-truck on  Facebook)

    Featured vehicles will include emergency service, law enforcement, military, public service, and commercial businesses.

    Other activities include trackless train rides, pony rides, and face painting,  photo booth, costume character meet & greet, and food trucks. Please bring can food donations benefiting the Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida for entry.

    There will be a special ‘horn-free’ hour from 11 am to 12 pm for children with special needs and sensitive ears. Touch-a-Truck is free to the general public and is located at Pediatric Dentistry of Florida, 8016 Summerlin Lakes Dr, Fort Myers, FL 33907.

     

    Dr. Verwest receives 2017 Spectrum Award

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    The City Beat News (CBN) awarded Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers, Dr. Tim M. Verwest, DMD the 2017 Spectrum Award of Excellence in Customer Satisfaction. This is the second consecutive year Dr. Verwest has received the Spectrum Award honor. The Spectrum Award was established to spotlight companies providing exceptional service and experiences to their customers. Research is done annually and is independent and unbiased. Spectrum Award winners are rated using exclusive research and proprietary algorithms.

    CBN draws upon many information sources and weighs and distills them into a single score for the year to identify top companies across the country. Only those businesses earning CBN’s highest ratings are honored with the City Beat News Spectrum Award for Excellence in Customer Service.

    Pediatric Dentistry of Ft Myers, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD, continues to provide pediatric dental care to children for the last 26 years. Areas of service include comprehensive dental exams, cleanings, composite fillings, dental hygiene education, extractions, fluoride treatments, sealants, sedation dentistry, space maintainers, x-rays and tooth nerve treatment. For more information, visit www.DrVerwest.com or (239) 482-2722.

    Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers sponsors Future of Art

    The Future of Art – Alliance for the Arts

    Pediatric Dentistry of Ft. Myers, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD will be the exhibit sponsor for the 25th annual Alliance for the Arts Future of Art. Various works of art created by elementary and middle school students across Lee County will be on display from April 4 to April 29 with an opening reception on Tuesday, April 4 from 5-7PM. Work created by high school students will then be exhibited with a second opening reception on Thursday, April 20 from 5-7PM

    “The talented kids of the community are all on display, it’s a great exhibit for those of all ages,” said Dr. Verwest.

    This is the 25th year the Alliance has partnered with the Lee Arts Educators Association (LAEA) to provide students with an opportunity to display their artwork in a formal exhibit. This annual show features more than forty schools and hundreds of pieces of art in a wide variety of mediums.  Judges will select winners in several categories and award a Best in Show.

    Pediatric Dentistry of Ft Myers, Dr. Tim Verwest, DMD, continues to provide pediatric dental care to children for over 26 years. Areas of service include comprehensive dental exams, cleanings, composite fillings, dental hygiene education, extractions, fluoride treatments, sealants, sedation dentistry, space maintainers, x-rays and tooth nerve treatment. For more information, visit www.DrVerwest.com or (239) 482-2722.