FAQ

Q:

1. What is the best toothbrush to use?

The best toothbrush to use is one that effectively cleans your teeth and is the appropriate size and softness for your mouth, making it comfortable for you to brush. Your toothbrush should make it easy for you to get to the hard-to-reach areas of your mouth. If it causes your gums and teeth to bleed easily, you may need a softer brush. The same applies for both electric and manual toothbrushes.

The most important thing about your toothbrush is that you brush twice a day with a fluoride toothpaste and clean your brush with warm water after you’re done. You also need to replace your brush about every 3 or 4 months, when the bristles begin to lose their shape and effectiveness.

If you have questions about your or your child’s toothbrush, don’t hesitate to ask one of our hygienists or Dr. Barfield for a recommendation.

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2. What’s the best way to care for my teeth?

There are two ways to care for your teeth: good at-home oral hygiene and regular exams and cleanings at our office.

For proper at-home care, you should brush your teeth thoroughly twice a day for 2-3 minutes each time with fluoride toothpaste and floss once a day. If you have young kids, brush their teeth and teach them good brushing habits, and then monitor them when they are ready to brush by themselves.

It’s also important to drink plenty of water and limit sugary food and drinks, especially carbonated sodas. These contribute to tooth decay (cavities) and gum disease, as do alcohol and tobacco.

Be careful with your teeth – do not use them in place of tools or scissors to open bottles or food packages, for example. You also need to protect your mouth with a mouthguard if you or your child plays sports.

When you come into our office twice a year for exams and cleanings, our skilled staff will professionally clean your teeth and check for early signs or symptoms of problems such as gum disease and tooth decay.

If you have questions about your oral health or need to come in for a cleaning, we’re happy to see you. Call us at 972-905-9266 or contact us using our easy online form.

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3. What is gum disease?

Gum disease is a common yet preventable oral disease that is caused by bacteria building up in between your teeth, leading to inflammation, redness, sensitivity, and bleeding of your gums. In its early stages, it’s easy to control with good oral hygiene and professional cleanings in our office. In its later stages, it may require more invasive or expensive treatments and lead to bigger oral health problems. Advanced gum disease is even linked to serious health conditions, like heart attack and diabetes.

Read more about gum disease and our treatments on our Gum Disease Treatment page.

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4. What is the fastest way to whiten teeth?

1st In Smiles offers an incredible in-office teeth whitening treatment that gives you whiter results in just one hour! Our custom-fit Opalescence Boost whitening system will make your teeth shades whiter under the care of Dr. Barfield. We’ll also give you whitening gel to take home for touch ups.

To get whiter teeth in time for an upcoming wedding or social event, give us a call to set up a convenient appointment. Don’t forget to ask us about our Free Whitening for Life offer!

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5. How does Invisalign work?

Invisalign is a revolutionary way to straighten your teeth in half the time of traditional wire braces without anyone noticing! Invisalign’s clear, comfortable acrylic aligners are custom made for your teeth for optimal straightening and are removable so that you can eat and brush like you would without braces.

Contact us today if you’re interested in discretely getting the straight smile you’ve always wanted. You can read more on our website about Invisalign’s benefits by following this link.

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6. What’s the best tooth filling material?

1st In Smiles offers the latest dental technology to help improve your smile and your oral health. One area in which we’ve embraced technology is tooth-colored fillings. These strong fillings are made of composite resin that binds to your tooth, and they contain no mercury, which may be considered unsafe and possibly even dangerous for those with metal allergies. Not only are tooth-colored fillings safe, but they also match the color of your teeth so that you don’t have to show any dark silver fillings when you smile.

Explore the advantages of our natural-looking tooth-colored fillings over mercury fillings on our site and let us know if you’d like to replace your mercury fillings with our safe alternative.

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7. What is the best dental implant?

1st In Smiles is your source for dental implants. We offer several types of implants depending on your health, your needs, your smile goals, and your budget, including traditional implants for one or more missing teeth, mini implants, All on 4 implants and All on 6 implants, and even implant-supported dentures. Read more about the different types of implants here.

Dr. Barfield works closely with you and an experienced periodontist, who has years of advanced training in implant placement, to create the best plan to restore your missing teeth with implants. If you are anxious about the procedure, we offer sedation dentistry to relax you so that the procedure is a breeze.

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8. What is TMJ?

TMJ stands for temporomandibular joint, the joint in your face that connects your jawbone to your skull. Some people have problems with their TMJ that may fall under the diagnosis of TMJ disorder, or TMD. TMD sufferers often have chronic headaches or migraines, tooth sensitivity, jaw pain and tiredness, trouble opening their mouth without pain, clicking and popping in their jaw, and sore muscles in their neck and shoulders.

Dr. Barfield works with a skilled TMJ specialist to diagnose TMD and offers several therapies to relieve your TMJ pain. Read about them here.

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9. Do You See Patients of All Ages?

Yes! Dr. Barfield and his team enjoy working with every age group. Each member of your family is welcome in our office and can expect the same high level of care from our team.

The best time for a first dental appointment is around the age of two years old. Until then, be sure to brush and floss your child’s teeth each day!

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10. Can Cosmetic Dentistry Help My Tobacco-Stained Teeth?

Absolutely! Keep in mind that if you have not yet left your nicotine habit behind, you are jeopardizing your overall oral health. That said, we can at least make your smile look more beautiful in the meantime. In fact, here at 1st In Smiles, we can set you up with dental veneers that are designed to cover up any deep-seated stains, cracks, chips, and other dental damage. Alternatively, we have a great professional teeth whitening solution just for you! Contact us now to find out more about Dr. Barfield’s cosmetic dentistry solutions in Plano, TX!

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11. Do You Have Orthodontic Treatments For Adults?

Of Course! Our Plano, TX dentist’s office has an adult orthodontic treatment program that utilizes a series of clear, virtually invisible plastic aligners to correct crooked, crowded or gapped teeth, without attracting any unwanted attention. Whether you are interested in Invisalign for boosting your oral health or just the appearance of your smile, all you have to do is get in touch to schedule an orthodontic consultation with Dr. Barfield to begin your transformational journey!

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12. Is 1st In Smiles A Comprehensive Dentist’s Office?

Yes! Dr. Barfield offers the wide range of dental care you deserve, all under one convenient roof (our location at 1300 Village Creek Drive). In fact, our Plano, TX comprehensive dentist’s office provides everything from preventive dental exams and teeth cleanings to complex cosmetic makeovers. Our team also has the tools and the training to help you restore your oral health and great-looking smile following gum disease or tooth loss. To find out more, contact us right away!

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13. Can you help relieve my dental anxiety??

Dr. Rick Barfield and the rest of our 1st in Smiles team have lots of experience in calming nerves. Their gentle chairside manner is enough to relax most patients. If you’re still nervous about a procedure, we offer three kinds of safe dental sedation: inhaled sedation (“laughing gas”), oral sedation in the form of a prescription pill, or intravenous (IV) sedation. IV sedation is especially useful if you need a long procedure or want to get multiple procedures in a single appointment.

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14. What Are All-on-4 Dental Implants??

Dental implants are the closest thing to your natural teeth that you can get. They’re an excellent investment in your smile and your happiness. However, the main factor in deciding whether implants are right for you is the thickness and strength of the bone that will support the implants.

All-on-4 dental implants allow many people whose bone isn’t right for traditional implants to replace their missing teeth. The two rear implants are angled to provide more contact with, and support from, the surrounding bone. Dr. Barfield will perform a thorough examination, including detailed imaging, and determine the best approach to replacing your missing teeth.

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15. How Often Should I See You for Dental Exams??

We recommend scheduling dental exams and dental cleanings every six months. Cleanings help keep your teeth cavity-free because we remove plaque that can be missed during home brushing sessions. In addition, Dr. Barfield checks your mouth for signs of potentially serious problems like teeth grinding, gum disease, and oral cancer. Your exams are also a great chance for us to get to know each other, so we can make personalized treatment recommendations.

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16. Can you help me stop snoring??

Yes! We can suggest lifestyle changes like losing weight or adjusting sleep positions that may help. We can also provide you with a custom-made mouthguard you wear at night that moves your jaw into a position that helps you breathe easily and prevents snoring. We’ll help determine if your snoring is caused by sleep apnea and, if so, work with a sleep specialist to treat it.