"My daughter is turning one. When should I bring her in for a visit?"

Thanks for the question! Our short answer is, "First visit by first birthday."

Dr. Dale Kunkel, Dr. Jennifer Matousek-Ronck and our staff know that cavities know no age boundaries, and that is why we recommend a visit to Four States Dental Care when your child turns one. That also happens to be the opinion of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dental Association agree. The Academy suggests that children who are at risk of early childhood cavities visit a pediatric dentist by their first birthday.

Research has shown that cavities are increasing in preschool-aged children, and that more than one in four kids has had at least one cavity by the time they're four years old. In fact, many children get cavities as early as age two.

The appointment also covers topics such as the importance of baby teeth, nutrition, development and overall concerns you may have with your child. With over 25 years of excellence, our staff makes a practice of using pleasant, non-frightening, simple words to describe your child's first dental visit and treatment, and we want you to feel at ease from the moment your family arrives at our convenient offices in Neosho and Pineville.

Have you scheduled an appointment for your child? We hope to see you soon!

At Four States Dental Care, Zoom® your way to a brighter smile!

We hope you're having a great week so far Today, we thought we'd talk a little about Zoom! whitening at Four States Dental Care, the great way to enhance the appearance of your smile. Zoom is a professional teeth whitening treatment that gets your teeth an average of eight shades whiter — in just one hour at our convenient Neosho or Pineville office! With Drs. Kunkel and Matousek-Ronck, the treatment is safe, simple and relaxing! Not only that, but Zoom is championed by dentists and patients from coast-to-coast as a pain-free process.

To prepare for Zoom! whitening, one of our experienced doctors will examine your teeth and gums to make sure they are healthy. Your lips and gums will be covered with an isolation material to protect them during the treatment. Then, we apply the Zoom! whitening gel, which is activated by the Zoom! light source. The gel and light work together to gently break up the stains on your teeth. After three 15-minute applications within one hour, you rinse and the treatment is complete — leaving you with a brighter, whiter smile.

Give us a call to schedule an appointment for Zoom whitening. Have a wonderful rest of the week!

September is National Gum Care Month!

At Four States Dental Care, we know that gingivitis - the early stage of periodontal disease - can be difficult to recognize. Many people don't recognize the warning signs - bleeding and swollen gums, as a precursor to gum disease. This month, a national campaign is under way to raise awareness about gum health and periodontal disease, and we wanted to help do our part to spread the word here in Neosho, Pineville and surrounding areas!

Dr. Dale Kunkel and Dr. Jennifer Matousek-Ronck will tell you early recognition and action are the most important steps to health gums, and ultimately a health body, too! Studies are published every year linking oral health, including the gums, to the health of other areas of the body, such as your heart. One of the most important steps to improving the care of your gums is recognizing the warning signs for gum disease.

These can include:

• Gums that appear red or swollen
• Gums that feel tender
• Gums that bleed easily (during brushing or flossing)
• Gums that recede or pull away from the teeth
• Persistent halitosis, or bad breath
• Loose teeth
• Any change in the way teeth come together in the biting position

If you happen to notice any of these signs, please schedule an appointment as soon as possible. Our doctors and staff can take proactive steps to prevent gingivitis and gum disease, while showing you how to improve gum care in your daily oral hygiene habits.

We hope you had a great Labor Day weekend!