Where are my baby's teeth?

We've all had the moments when a brother, cousin, etc's child gets their first tooth, and we notice that our same aged child either does not have one or got it in a lot earlier.  Well, tooth eruption in babies is not an exact science.  There are basic guidelines, but every child and every family is different.
"Normally", a child's first tooth erupts at 6 months old and is the bottom front tooth or incisor. Then it is typically followed by the upper incisor. They can come in together, separate, with space, and without spacing.
The truth is, there is no normal. These teeth play a vital role in speech, eating and guidance of the adult teeth into their proper position.  Early loss from cavities and trauma can lead to space deficiencies and slowed speech development.  Trust me, I know.  My soon to be 6 year old lost her upper front tooth shortly after her 3rd birthday with a little help from her baby brother.  Who says children don't understand pay back.  Joking of course!  It was an accident.
If you have concerns about lack of eruption or their look and placement, contact us for an evaluation.  We are always ready to meet a new child and start the process of establishing a long and lasting relationship.  I have attached a helpful link to help new parents as well as seasoned veterans in knowing their child's tooth eruption sequences. http://children.webmd.com/primary-baby-teeth-eruption-sequence.
Thanks,
Dr. Josh

CEREC Crowns in 1 day

It's no secret that our office embraces technology.  From intraoral cameras, digital X-rays, to CEREC crowns, we try to stay at the forefront of the ever evolving world of technology. You can see immediately upon arrival that we are not the same old same old dental office you may have been to before.
One of the greatest advances in dentistry is CAD/CAM dentistry.  We embrace the CEREC technology which allows us to digitally image teeth and fabricate your final crown in 1 visit. The material is made of high strength porcelains and is made start to finish in under 2 hours.
Wow!  No physical impression.  No lab time.  No temporary.  Sounds great does it not?  It is backed by 27 years of research and development and the products keep getting stronger and more esthetic.
However, some cases must be sent to our laboratory because of lack of space due to shorter teeth, patients who grind their teeth, teeth requiring bridgework, and a few other exceptions. 
Here at DuBose Family and Cosmetic Dentistry, we try to do as much as possible in our office.  We respect you and your time and know that both are precious.  Call today to schedule your crown appointment and get it in the same day.
Thanks for your time,
Dr. Josh

Why 6 Month Smiles?

I love the following question:  Why should I use 6 Month Smiles instead of traditional bracketted orthodontics?  Well, there are several indications as well as reasons to use 6 Month Smiles (6MS). Traditional adult orthodontics is going to take18-36 months, whereas 6MS will be finished between 4-9 months.  Traditional Ortho will correct all biting or occlusion discrepancies as well as straighten teeth.  With 6MS, we are cosmetically focusing our treatment.  We will correct the smile zone teeth and not worry about back tooth position.  We understand the occlusion is extremely important.  That is why we do consultations to determine if you are a great candidate or not.  If your occlusion is terribly off, we recommend traditional ortho to correct. 
Being cosmetically focused, we can alter the smile zone teeth in a shorter period of time and decrease treatment time.  Adjusting the back teeth is what takes the most time in traditional orthodontics.  Visit www.monroegadentist.com and select 6 Month Smiles to learn more.
Thanks,
Dr. Josh