Dental Health

At Coastal Cosmetic Family Dentistry, education is paramount in our mission to help our Bolivia and Oak Island friends and neighbors improve and maintain their oral health. For this reason, we try to avoid using dental jargon when we’re speaking with our valued patient’s family.  However, some terms can’t be broken down as easily; in… (Read More)

Oral cancer is a serious condition that develops in mouth tissues and affects thousands of people each year. At Coastal Cosmetic Family Dentistry in Bolivia & Oak Island, we offer oral cancer screening as a proactive measure taken to identify signs of oral cancer or precancerous conditions at an early stage. It involves a visual… (Read More)

You may think of our team at Coastal Cosmetic Family Dentistry as part of your child’s defensive line keeping them safe from gum disease and tooth decay, but we’re also myth busters! You’ve probably heard one of the most common misconceptions we have to challenge: dentistry isn’t important until after children lose their baby teeth. … (Read More)

Today, Coastal Cosmetic Family Dentistry would like to discuss the unique dental characteristics of those with Down Syndrome. First teeth may arrive later. Children who have Down syndrome can get their first teeth anywhere from 12 to 24 months of age; they may not have a complete set of baby teeth until age 4 or… (Read More)

Today, Coastal Cosmetic Family Dentistry wants to give teens the bottom line about tobacco use: there is no such thing as a “safe” or “safer” tobacco product. Every tobacco product contains nicotine in varying amounts—and not only is nicotine addictive, but it can also harm the brain. (Many people don’t realize the brain continues developing… (Read More)

The upper teeth formed along the maxillary jawbone are called “maxillary teeth” and include the top incisors, molars, premolars, and canines. Coastal Cosmetic Family Dentistry shares more information about maxillary teeth below. Understanding the role of the upper teeth and caring for them properly is important in the fight against bacteria and infection in gum… (Read More)

The Americans with Disabilities Act defines disability as a “physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities.” (Specific examples of major life activities addressed by the ADA include functions such as caring for one’s self, performing manual tasks, walking, seeing, hearing, speaking, breathing and learning.)  Disabilities may be congenital (present… (Read More)

What are mamelons teeth? If you’re a new parent, whether your babe’s teeth are just emerging or they’re starting to fall out, you might wonder, “What are those bumps on their front teeth?”  Mamelons teeth appear in the front of the mouth (the incisors) both on top and bottom and are characterized by bumpy ridges…. (Read More)

Today’s families seem to be busier than they were in the past—lots of homework, extracurricular activities, and hopefully, some quality time spent with the family. Here are a few ideas from the Doctors at Coastal Cosmetic Family Dentistry to make consistent oral hygiene a little more convenient: Brushing teeth in the shower: As hard as it… (Read More)

A child’s happy, healthy smile is a source of pride and joy for parents—and dentists, too! For this reason, you’ll likely spend a good deal of time helping them develop superb oral hygiene routines to ensure they keep their teeth for life.  When you’re just getting started, you may have a lot of questions. We… (Read More)