A Place Where the Whole Family will Smile

We’re your neighborhood family dentist, combining the latest dental innovations and treatments with an old-fashioned emphasis on long-lasting relationships. Located in Dallas, call us today!

8940 Garland Rd Suite 200 Dallas, TX 75218 214.321.6441 drdenarobinson.com

Dena T. Robinson

essary, but here again technology has improved the experience for patients. Dr. Greg Greenberg of Lake Highlands explains, “The bracket systems that are available now are lower friction, so that the discomfort level is considerably lower than what it was back in the seventies when I was going through treatment. The wires we’re using with those low-friction brackets elicit lighter forces, so you don’t have issues with patients who can’t eat for months after they get their braces put on, or hurt for a week after the tightening.”

Many parents believe they need to wait until a child has all his or her permanent teeth before consulting an orthodontist, but doctors today encourage earlier appointments. Dr. Greenberg says, “I like to see kids around 7 or 8, to make sure there’s not any functional or skeletal issues that need to be addressed while they’re growing. Given that’s fine, most adolescents right now are getting their adult teeth at 11 or 12, as opposed to 13 or 14.”

If orthodontic treatment is necessary, it can begin as soon as the permanent teeth are in place, which can allow kids to complete their treatment earlier than in the past. “It’s very rare to see someone in high school these days with braces,” says Dr. Greenberg. “Most people are finished by junior high now.”

Even today, people are in the habit of thinking about dental care as elective health care that can be put off until it’s convenient. Yet, in addition to studies that show a direct correlation between dental health and overall health, poor dental hygiene can also impact a person’s social and economic well-being. The health practitioners interviewed for this article all expressed a desire to see their patients through over the long term. “I like to help people keep their teeth in their head,” Dr. Robinson said. “It’s not easy for me to see somebody once and not see them again.”

Dr. Beadle feels similarly about his practice at Lakewood Family Dental. “I’ve been a patient in this office since I was five years old,” he said. “My grandparents were patients here.”