Don’t Suffer From Dental Anxiety

Some people don’t look forward to dental appointments any more than they look forward to paying bills. In fact, 20% of patients experience enough anxiety that they will only go to the dentist when absolutely necessary. Fortunately, Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS has a team of health-centered professionals that are dedicated to making you feel most comfortable in the dentist’s chair.

People develop dental anxieties for many different reasons. Pain, feelings of helplessness and loss of control, embarrassment, and negative past experiences only name a few. Everyone has fears and concerns and copes with them in different ways. However, the prospect of dental work doesn’t need to fill you with fright. At the office of Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS we want to help you greatly reduce your anxiety and provide you with dental treatment in a way that feels calm and safe. After all, in order to counteract past bad experiences, you need to have new positive experiences which lead to the development of improved feelings and attitudes.

If you have a case of dental anxiety, please inform us when scheduling your appointment. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

Types of Teeth and Their Functions

Have you ever wondered why all of your teeth look different? That’s because they are all designed to do different things. At the dental practice of Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS it is our job to take care of your teeth, but it is up to you to learn more about them. Teeth not only help you chew your food, they also play an important role in speech, and impact our health overall.  Each type of tooth has a slightly different shape and performs a different job.

The types of teeth and their functions are:

• Incisors – located at the front of the mouth, these teeth have a sharp biting surface and are used for cutting or shearing food into small chewable pieces.


• Canines – located at the ‘corners’ of the dental arches, these teeth have a sharp pointed biting surface. Their function is to grip and tear food.


• Premolars – Unlike incisors and canines, these teeth have a flat biting surface. Their function is to tear and crush food.


• Molars – The molars are the largest teeth in the mouth and they too have a large flat biting surface. The function of these is perhaps the strongest of all as they chew, crush, and grind food.

If you have further questions about your pearly whites, don’t hesitate to give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.

Dental Health and Fluoride

Fluoride is a natural occurring mineral that helps prevent cavities in children and adults by making the enamel more resistant to the acid attacks that cause tooth decay. It is naturally found in most water sources, including rivers, lakes, wells, and even in the oceans. If you are prone to developing cavities, Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS, can apply fluoride directly to your teeth during your dental visit.

As mentioned, fluoride is found in water, but it can also be found in food. The fluoride we consume from foods and beverages continues to provide a topical benefit because it becomes part of our saliva, constantly bathing the teeth with tiny amounts of fluoride that help rebuild weakened tooth enamel. It can also be applied to the teeth through fluoridated toothpaste and mouth rinses. However, fluoride treatments that Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS provides in-office contain a much higher level than the amount found in toothpaste and mouth rinses.

If you have questions about fluoride treatments, please give us a call. To learn more about services provided at the practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information.  To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213. 

Invest In a Tongue Cleaner

Bad breath can have a negative impact on a person’s life, relationships, and self-esteem. It can also be an underlying cause for more serious oral health issues, such as gum disease. Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS recommends scheduling professional cleanings and oral exams twice a year as a preventive measure against serious gum conditions, however, in addition to using a toothbrush to clean your teeth, you can improve your mouth’s freshness by using a tongue cleaner.

Do yourself a favor and step in front of a mirror. Do you spot a coated tongue? If you do, tongue scraping may be helpful. Tongue scrapers, which are available in most drugstores in various shapes and sizes, have been deemed a way to reduce or eliminate bad breath. To use it, all you need to do is place the tongue scraper at the back of your tongue and gently bring it forward along your tongue, repeating as often as needed. Although there’s no harm in trying a tongue scraper to treat bad breath, you should remember that it’s just as important to practice good dental hygiene overall. Brush your teeth and tongue at least twice a day, floss in between your teeth at least once a day, and rinse or gargle with mouthwash to help keep your breath fresh.

If you are due for a dental checkup, please give us a call. To learn more about services we provide at the practice, visit www.eniddentalcare.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dennis Morehart, DDS in Enid, OK, call 580-237-2213.