Tag Archives: baby teeth

Why Are You Leaving Your Baby Tooth Under Your Pillow? | Indianapolis Dentist

February 28, 2022Dental Health, general dentistry, General Health, Oral Care, Oral Health, Teethbaby teeth, Dental Health, dentist in indianapolis, Dr. George Kirtley, Dr. George Kirtley Indianapolis Indiana, Dr. Kirtley, family dentist, family dentistry, general dentist, General Dentistry, Indianapolis Dentist, Indianapolis IN, National Tooth Fairy Day, Oral care, oral health, oral hygiene, pediatric dentist, pediatric dentistry, Smiles by George, tooth fairyadmin

One of the first rites of passage as a child is losing your first tooth. Not only is it fun to wiggle it around, but tiny humans missing a tooth are officially turning into big kids. The bonus is learning that you tuck it under your pillow for a special surprise from the Tooth Fairy.

But where did this tiny dental nymph come from? Some believe that the story begins with a fairy living under a tree’s roots near a riverbank. One of her favorite things to do was to collect the little objects people lost that washed up on the shore. These tiny treasures were not only toys, but she could also feel the memories associated with it.

The one treasure she always wanted but never washed ashore was a child’s tooth. To her, there was nothing happier than a child about to lose their first tooth and she wanted one very badly.

One day, a little girl found our little fairy while playing with her friends. When the fairy noticed she had a loose tooth, she asked if she could have it. The little girl said yes and that she would put it under her pillow as soon as it fell out.

The fairy couldn’t wait for the little girl’s gift, but then she thought, “Oh, no! She’s going to give me her tooth. I need a gift in return!” So, she rummages through her trinkets and finds a coin.

The next morning, the little girl wakes up and finds the coin gift left by the little fairy, so she tells her friends at school to try it and thus, the Tooth Fairy was created. Happy National Tooth Fairy Day!

Visit Dr. Kirtley today and schedule an appointment to maintain a healthy smile. Call 317-841-1111 or www.smilesbygeorge.com.

Dr. George Kirtley proudly serves Indianapolis and all surrounding areas.

The ABCs of Tooth Extractions | Indianapolis Dentist

November 30, 2021Dental Health, Extractions, general dentistry, General Health, Oral Care, Oral Health, Teeth, Teeth Crowdingbaby teeth, crowded teeth, dental care, dental extractions, Dental Health, dental hygiene, dentist in indianapolis, dentist in indianapolis in, Dr. George Kirtley, Dr. George Kirtley Indianapolis Indiana, Dr. Kirtley, extractions, family dentist, family dentistry, general dentist, General Dentistry, Great Lakes Family Dental, Indianapolis Dentist, Indianapolis IN, infected teeth, Oral care, oral health, oral hygiene, pediatric dentistry, Smiles by George, Tooth Decay, toothaches, wisdom teethadmin

There’s a classic idiom in the English language that compares unpleasant, difficult tasks to pulling teeth. Known as dental extraction, pulling teeth is recommended in situations in which you’ve likely developed a toothache and it hurt enough to visit the dentist. And while it isn’t our idea of a fun day, dental extractions have come a long way, and you shouldn’t have a bad feeling about getting one. Here are some of the reasons your tooth needs to be extracted:

Seriously damaged teeth, either due to injury or decay, unable to be saved
A wisdom tooth (third molar) that may cause crowding, alignment problems, pain, or infection
Teeth blocking another tooth from coming in
Baby tooth that didn’t fall out in time
Crowded teeth may require removal to allow braces to better adjust the remaining teeth
Infected teeth that could potentially be an infection source in high-risk patients such as those undergoing organ transplants or cancer treatment

Extractions typically fall into one of two classes – simple and surgical. Dentists often perform simple extractions, which generally involve a single tooth that is visible in the mouth, with clear alignment – after numbing the area with local anesthetic, the tooth will be loosened using an instrument known as an elevator, and then pulled with an instrument known as forceps. For surgical removal, the surgeon may use local anesthetic, moderate sedation, or general anesthesia, and likely use a combination of tools and techniques to remove teeth that may be difficult to see (or still within the gums).

If your dentist recommends an extraction, it’s likely that you have a potentially serious problem. While it’s unlikely you’ll celebrate the news, you need not fear – there are worse problems to have than pulling teeth.

Visit Dr. Kirtley today and schedule an appointment to maintain a healthy smile. Call 317-841-1111 or www.smilesbygeorge.com.

Dr. George Kirtley proudly serves Indianapolis and all surrounding areas.

It Shouldn’t Be Like Pulling Teeth | Indianapolis Dentist

November 30, 2019Dental Health, general dentistry, General Health, Oral Care, Oral Health, Teeth, Teeth Crowdingbaby teeth, Cosmetic Dentist, Cosmetic Dentistry, cosmetic digital imaging, crowding, dental care, dental extractions, Dental Health, Dr. George Kirtley Indianapolis Indiana, Dr. Kirtley, General Dentistry, Indianapolis Cosmetic Dentist, Indianapolis Dentist, Indianapolis IN, infections, Oral care, oral health, pulling teeth, Teeth, teeth crowding, tooth crowding, wisdom teethadmin

Have you ever heard the phrase “it’s like pulling teeth”? It is generally used to describe something unfun. And if you think about it, they’re right – having a tooth pulled is no fun. But there are lots of reason a tooth needs to be pulled.

Your dentist may recommend extraction if you tooth is…

Seriously damaged, either due to injury or decay, and cannot be saved
A wisdom tooth (third molar), it may cause crowding, alignment problems, pain, or infection
Blocking another tooth from coming in
A baby tooth that didn’t fall out in time
Causing crowding, a dentist or orthodontist may recommend removing some teeth to allow braces to better adjust the remaining teeth
Infected, or could potentially be an infection source in high risk patients such as those undergoing organ transplants or cancer treatment

Extractions typically fall into one of two classes – simple and surgical. Dentists often perform simple extractions, where oral surgeons often perform surgical extractions. Simple extractions generally involve a single tooth that is visible in the mouth, with clear alignment – after numbing the area with local anesthetic, the tooth will be loosened using an instrument known as an elevator, and then pulled with an instrument known as forceps. For surgical removal, the surgeon may use local anesthetic, moderate sedation, or general anesthesia, and likely use a combination of tools and techniques to remove teeth that may be difficult to see (or still within the gums).

If your dentist recommends an extraction, it’s likely that you have a potentially serious problem. While it’s unlikely you’ll celebrate the news, you need not fear; pulling teeth today isn’t as painful as the saying makes it out to be.

Visit Dr. Kirtley today and schedule an appointment to maintain a healthy smile. Call 317-841-1111 or www.smilesbygeorge.com.

Dr. George Kirtley proudly serves Indianapolis and all surrounding areas.