Front Row- Debbie, Andrea, Troyann

Second Row- Deann, Roni, Nicole, Barb, Toni

Third Row- Dr Kent Johnson, Regina, Laura, Dr Carl Liebhart

Mackenzie Cullifer is shown with Dr Kent Johnson after being selected as the
winner of the Smile Dental Orthodontic T-shirt Design Contest.  She was awarded an I-pod nano.  Her design was selected from the many great creations submitted by patients that see Dr Johnson  for their orthodontic care.  The contest called for patients to use creativity and maintaining the theme of the contest.  Dr. Kent Johnson has provided general  and orthodontic care for over 25 years in the Moberly area.

Carl R. Liebhart, D.D.S will be joining Dr. Kent Johnson And the Smile Dental Team in Moberly, MO in July of 2011.  Dr. Liebhart graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Dentistry with a Doctorate of Dental Surgery.  He is a member of the American Dental Association and the Missouri Dental Association.  In 2006 he graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with Honors in Microbiology, while participating in undergraduate cell biology research. 

Dr. Liebhart is excited to return to mid-Missouri where he enjoys the many benefits of the outdoors and agriculture.  He enjoys hunting, fishing, and working on his family farm in rural Macon County.  Dr. Liebhart was born and raised in northeast Missouri and attended Kirksville High School.

 Dr. Liebhart is looking forward to providing high quality oral health care to all ages.  As a recent graduate, Dr. Liebhart is well educated in modern dental techniques, and makes every effort to provide them in the most comfortable means.  He is looking forward to making Moberly his new home, and getting involved in the many community opportunities Moberly has to offer.

Dental decay is one of the most common, chronic, infectious diseases affecting children in the United States today, though in most instances, can be easily prevented. As a result of the Preventive Services Program, schools across the state of Missouri are recognizing the need for greater involvement in the prevention of dental diseases by taking part in overseeing the oral health of the children they serve. Moberly Public Schools participate in this program. This past fall, Dr Kent Johnson, along with his staff, provided dental screenings, fluoride varnish and referrals for the children at North Park, South Park and Gratz Brown Elementary Schools. This Spring the children received their second application of fluoride varnish, completing their participation in PSP for the 2010-2011 school-year.

Dental Care for Children
Passing on good oral habits to your child is one of the most important health lessons you can teach them. This means helping him or her brush twice a day, showing the proper way to floss, and seeing your dentist regularly.

Dr Johnson recommends that children start their dental visits at the age of 4. In addition to giving your dentist a chance to monitor your child’s dental growth and development, this is your chance to learn about tooth development, the need for fluoride, how to help your child maintain proper oral hygiene, how to deal with your child’s oral habits (such as pacifier use), diet and nutrition, and how to prevent oral injuries.

What’s the Proper Way to Brush My Toddler’s Teeth?
It’s a good idea to supervise your child’s brushing. Use a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. Make sure your child doesn’t swallow the paste. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles, brush inside surfaces of all teeth first, where plaque accumulates most. Angle bristles toward the gumline. Clean all outside surfaces of teeth. Brush gently in a circular motion. Place brush so bristles are on the chewing surface of the teeth. Brush gently back and forth.

Flossing
Once any two of your child’s teeth touch each other, it’s time to start flossing. Flossing helps prevent cavities by removing plaque and food particles caught between teeth. It should be an important part of your child’s dental routine. Your child should be able to floss his or her own teeth by the time he or she is 10 years old. To floss your child’s teeth:
1. Take about 18 inches of dental floss and wrap one end around each of your middle fingers.
2. Using your thumbs and index fingers as guides, gently slide the floss between two teeth, using a saw-like motion.
3. Once at the gum line, wrap the floss in a C shape against one tooth. Pull the floss tightly and move it up and down against one tooth.
4. Pull the floss against the other tooth and repeat the motion.
5. Repeat this for all of the teeth.

Is Thumb or Finger Sucking a Problem and How Can I Treat it?
The sucking reflex is normal and healthy in babies. However, a thumb or finger sucking habit can cause problems with the growth of the mouth and jaw, and position of teeth, if it continues after permanent teeth have erupted, between four and seven years of age. Sucking on pacifiers after permanent teeth have erupted may cause similar problems.
The best way to deal with thumb or finger sucking is through positive reinforcement. You can remind your child of the habit by bandaging the thumb/finger, or putting on a sock over his hand at night. Bitter-tasting medication to coat the thumb can also be prescribed by your dentist or pediatrician.

Remember, good oral hygiene is an important part of your child’s overall health. Your child can get off to a good start by:
· Seeing a dentist regularly
· Brushing twice a day and flossing at night before bedtime at home
· Using fluoride
· Eating a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables and limiting sugars

Cleaning your Dentures

The steps needed for effective denture cleaning are twofold. The first involves mechanical removal of debris, the second chemical cleaning and disinfection

Mechanical Cleaning (Denture brushing)

The term “mechanical cleaning,” as used here, simply refers to scrubbing a denture’s surface in order to remove any accumulated debris. Ideally, false teeth should be removed and cleaned after every meal.
Denture scrubbing can be performed with a toothbrush, nailbrush, denture brush or any other type of brush that you have that can navigate the curves and contours of your false teeth. In most cases a denture brush is probably the best choice. As their name implies, these brushes have a bristle stiffness and shape specially designed for cleaning dentures. If you do choose to use a toothbrush, it should be dedicated to just denture cleaning. Residual particles of toothpaste on a brush may scratch your denture’s surface.

A) Denture brushing technique

When you brush your denture you should follow a routine similar to the one outlined below.

• Before you begin brushing your denture, you should fi rst rinse it off so to wash away any loose debris.

• Before you begin brushing your denture, you should first rinse it off so to wash away any loose debris.

• In the presence of water, scrub your denture’s surface with your chosen brush both inside and out. Cleaning both the inner and outer aspects of your denture are equally important.
  You may choose to apply a commercial denture toothpaste or cream to your brush when you clean. Other options include hand soap or a mild dishwashing liquid. Don’t feel that you need to use any of these products. By far the most important factor with this type of cleaning is the friction of the brush on the denture, not the type of cleaner that’s applied. Toothpaste is not the best choice for cleaning false teeth. It often contains abrasives and these could scratch your denture, thus making it easier for it to collect debris and stain.

• When you have finished cleaning your false teeth, rinse them off thoroughly.

• Dentures (partial or complete) should be brushed after every meal both inside and out.

• Don’t forget to clean your mouth. Teeth, when present, should be brushed and flossed. Especially in the case of complete dentures, a person should gently brush their gums and palate. The tongue should be brushed or scraped.

• Any denture adhesive that is present needs to be brushed off. If it is not, as each new layer of adhesive is added a hard, thick layer can form that can be very stubborn to remove. This is most likely to occur in those situations where a person’s dentures are allowed to air-dry when stored, as opposed to being placed in a water bath.

Ultrasonic Denture Cleaning Units

Electron microscope images have demonstrated that even the most diligent denture brushing session will miss a significant percentage of the microorganisms that have become attached to a denture’s surface. This is at least in part due to the porous nature of denture acrylic (plastic) that can provide locations of safe harbor for them. Because of this, it is typically considered that denture care that involves a combination of brushing and the use of an ultrasonic cleaner is significantly more effective than just brushing alone.
It’s easy enough to find sources selling small ultrasonic cleaners. The are usually sold as either a cleaner for false teeth or a cleaning device for jewelry (the same unit can be used for both). Some people may find that the cost of these units is prohibitive ($50 to $150). Of course, in those environments where more than one denture wearer can utilize the apparatus (husband and wife, nursing home patients) the overall expense becomes more affordable. In the latter case, the denture of each individual using the unit can be placed into a baggie partially filled with water or cleaning solution. This way there is no cross-contamination between dentures.

False teeth can be very delicate. They may break or otherwise become damaged if they are dropped, even from a height of just a few inches. As a way of making an accident less likely to happen, you should consider employing one of the following two safety measures when you brush your dentures.

• Hold your dentures over a sink or dishpan that has been filled with several inches of water.

• Hold your dentures over a towel that has been folded over once or twice.

Brushing and flossing regularly doesn’t always guarantee a bright, picture-perfect smile. Many cosmetic and general dentists offer teeth whitening treatments that help to wipe out stains and bleach the teeth to a natural white or off-white shade. Teeth whitening procedures are now readily available at many cosmetic dental offices, medical spas and even some salons around the United States, but there are some important things you should know about this procedure. Read on to learn how teeth whitening works, and what to expect from your treatment:

Types of Teeth Whitening Treatments

There are two main types of teeth whitening treatments available – laser teeth whitening and power bleaching treatments. Both of these procedure take up to 45 minutes to perform, but may require up to two hours in some cases depending on how many teeth are being whitened. The most common types of teeth whitening treatments available include:

• Brite Smile
• Zoom! Teeth Whitening
• Opalescence
• At-home teeth whitening kits

Some of these treatments offer instant results, while others offer more gradual improvements. Bleaching treatments can also be applied on just a single tooth using a “walking bleach” procedure. The bleach is changed about once per week so that the tooth can resume its natural color.

How Teeth Whitening is Performed

To begin the teeth whitening procedure, the dentist applies a protective material to the gums and lips so that the teeth are completely isolated. This helps manage a more targeted treatment. Hydrogen peroxide is applied to the teeth to begin the bleaching process, and a high-intensity laser beam is then administered to the teeth to enhance the bleaching process. The teeth are whitened instantly and results can last for several weeks.

Many cosmetic dentists also offer teeth whitening kits that you can use at home. These work primarily to maintain the results of your in-office treatments and can help to progressively improve your smile over the following weeks and months.

Preparing for Teeth Whitening Treatments

If you are having your teeth professionally whitened for the first time, you will need to set up a consultation with your cosmetic dentist or general dentist so that they can review your dental records and make sure you are a good candidate for the procedure. Your dentist may take x-rays, complete a brief dental exam and address any large cavities in your teeth that may interfere with the treatment. They can also go over all the pros and cons of the procedure so that you know what you expect.

Teeth whitening procedures are typically not covered by dental insurance plans and costs can range from $150 to $500+ per treatment plan. Some dentists do offer patient financing options and private payment plans so that you can enjoy the benefits of the procedure on any budget. Over-the-counter tooth whitening products such as tooth whitening strips, whitening toothpaste and whitening paint can work in the short-term, but may not offer the same results as a professional treatment.