With Pediatric Dental Partners, 24/7 access to your account

At Pediatric Dental Partners, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the cutting edge orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern Louisiana offices.

Did you know that patients at our office have access to their account 24 hours a day, seven days a week—all through our website? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages!

Take a look at a few patient reviews about this service:

"I like being able to sign on from New York and check my daughter's ex-ray's and also check our account information."

"I'm able to check appointments and balances. I can tell what the insurance paid and what my balance is."

"I love all of the information it gives me."

"I can never seem to find time to make all the important phone calls and the website is accessible after hours and at a time convenient to me."

You, too, can sign up for this convenient service on our website by clicking on the "Patient Login" button at the top of our homepage. Please give us a call if you have any questions about getting started!

Smile wider, live longer, from Pediatric Dental Partners

Folks with big smiles may actually live than those who don’t, according to a March 2010 study at Michigan’s Wayne State University. We have known for quite some time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from big smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. The researchers then took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old.

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often and you might just live longer!

Count the Qtips To Win at Pediatric Dental Partners

Every week, our Bossier City office holds a contest- guess the correct number of Qtips for a chance to win an Oral B electric toothbrush! Congratulations to Katherine V. for being our most recent winner. Stop by the Bossier City Office for your chance to win!

--The Pediatric Dental Partners of Bossier City and Shreveport

The importance of mouth guards, from Pediatric Dental Partners

With summer rapidly approaching, the team at Pediatric Dental Partners understands the importance of being outside. So we are starting a series on outdoor activities and how to be safe while having fun in the sun. This week we talk about mouth guards, what they are, when to use them, the works. If you have any additional questions, give us a call). We'd love to hear from you!

Q: What are athletic mouth protectors?

A: Athletic mouth protectors, or mouth guards, are made of soft plastic. They are adapted to fit comfortably to the shape of the upper teeth.

Q: Why are mouth guards important?

A: Mouth guards hold top priority as sports equipment. They protect not just the teeth, but the lips, cheeks, and tongue. They help protect children from such head and neck injuries as concussions and jaw fractures. Increasingly, organized sports are requiring mouth guards to prevent injury to their athletes. Research shows that most oral injuries occur when athletes are not wearing mouth protection.

Q: When should my child wear a mouth guard?

A: Whenever he or she is in an activity with a risk of falls or of head contact with other players or equipment. This includes football, baseball, basketball, soccer, hockey, skateboarding, even gymnastics. We usually think of football and hockey as the most dangerous to the teeth, but nearly half of sports-related mouth injuries occur in basketball and baseball.

Q: How do I choose a mouth guard for my child?

A: Any mouth guard works better than no mouth guard. So, choose a mouth guard that your child can wear comfortably. If a mouth guard feels bulky or interferes with speech, it will be left in the locker room.

You can select from several options in mouth guards. First, preformed or "boil-to-fit" mouth guards are found in sports stores. Different types and brands vary in terms of comfort, protection, and cost. Second, customized mouth guards can also be created for your child. These can be more comfortable and more effective in preventing injuries. Any of our doctors or team at the Pediatric Dental Partners can advise you on what type of mouth guard is best for your child. Give us a call today!

Pediatric Dental Partners, supporting National Smile Month

Now that we’re in June, our staff at Pediatric Dental Partners thought we’d tell you June is National Smile Month, and a good time to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to see us!

Below are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health so that you may celebrate National Smile Month for many, many years to come:

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth.
* Limit your intake of sugary foods and drinks.
* Visit us regularly!

If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call. We hope you enjoyed the long holiday weekend!