General Care

What makes the Dodge Dental Office different than any other dental practice I can visit?
For example our Doctors are proficient in General and Cosmetic dentistry as well as Endodontics (root canals) and Oral Surgeries. We also offer Periodontal (gum) therapy and some general Orthodontics (Braces and retainers), as well as Prosthodontic (Dentures and Crowns and Bridges). We have special interests in restoring minor as well as complicated dental implant cases and we can help with TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint) (jaw) pain as well.

We also pride ourselves on being on time. Every effort to minimize your wait is made on our behalf because we feel your time is valuable. Our mission statement reveals our dedication to providing quality dentistry in a manner that makes our patients and us feel great about co-discovering exactly what treatment is best for each individual circumstance.

To sum it up, "We care!" We care about your dental health. We care about your teeth. We care about your appearance and your image. We care about your budget, and more importantly, we care about you.


How do I know when it is time to come in for a checkup?
Most dentists recommend that you come in for a dental checkup at least once every 6 months.

However people with periodontal (Gum) disease may need to seek dental therapy more often depending on the severity of their disease. The reasoning behind a 6-month recare schedule is that most carries (decay) in teeth can progress fairly quickly. In most instances, by returning to your dentist for an exam and recare visit, you can insure that the decay process will not "get away" from you and require much more extensive and sometimes much more expensive treatment.

Another reason to return to the dental clinic every 6 months is that the germs that can cause decay and gum disease need to be removed from your teeth fairly often. Research has shown the initial stages of plaque (groups of germs that can cause gum disease and decay) are evident on teeth virtually immediately after a thorough brushing.

By making the appointments 6 months apart and continuing with good oral hygiene at home between visits, for most healthy individuals, the dentist and hygienist can help you insure a continued run of healthy and positive checkups.


What about my children, at what age do they first see a dentist?
The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that all children have a their first dental visit by their first birthday. While the ADA's recommendation is sound, Dr.'s Ortmeier and Fournier tend to have a slightly different view.

The Doctors recommend that you should be examining your child's teeth every morning and night when you assist your child with their brushing and flossing beginning with the eruption of their first tooth. If you notice anything suspicious about their teeth by all means contact us to have an exam completed.

If however everything looks healthy, usually the age of three is a good age to have a first dental visit. By three years of age most children are able to sit in the dental chair and will allow the Doctors to examine their teeth properly.


My breath needs help and I brush every day. Is it just me, or is there something you can do to help?
There are many causes of "bad breath". Everyone knows the pitfalls of eating onions or garlic. When eating these foods, usually a good breath mint, piece of gum or a quick brush is adequate. However, when your bad breath (Halitosis) is not due directly to the foods that you eat there may be some significant causes.

Sometimes bad breath can be the result of inadequate brushing and flossing i.e. even though you are brushing and flossing, you may not be doing the best job and consequently, some food debris can remain and basically ferment in your mouth. At 98.6 degrees, it doesn't take long and you have an incubator full of foul smells.

Other times bad breath can be an indicator of Gum disease. Persons who notice chronic bad breath even after doing mouth rinses and vigorous brushing and flossing really need to seek treatment from a dental professional. Gum disease left unchecked can lead to bleeding gums, loose teeth and eventually, complete loss of teeth.

If you still have a substantial odor, and you have tried all the previously mentioned remedies you may even have a gastric problem where some of the odors from the stomach are escaping. This, again is a pretty serious problem that your dentist can team up with your physician to help you eliminate.


Do I really have to floss every day?
No. You only need to floss the teeth you want to keep... Every day.


Is there a way I can ask the Doctor questions directly?
Dr.'s Ortmeier and Fournier are more than happy to answer any questions their patients have. You can e-mail us through our contact us page, or phone the Dodge Dental Office at 402-693-2285.


What kind of toothbrush should I use?
Wow, you can go to any major retailer or through the pharmacy/health aisle where the toothbrushes are on display and there had to be two hundred different toothbrushes. It is easy to understand why people get confused.

Keep in mind, Keep It Simple. It is actually the action of the bristles against the tooth and gums that remove the plaque that causes decay and gum disease. Use a soft bristled medium sized head toothbrush for adults and a small sized head brush with soft bristles for children and adolescents. Most of the fancy gadgetry on these toothbrushes today is just gadgetry made to sell you on thinking that their toothbrush is the greatest thing since sliced bread.


Is it bad if my gums bleed after I brush my teeth?
When I am asked this question I remember back to my days at dental school.

I had a patient in the dental clinic that was there for a new patient visit. I had my instructor come over to my operatory to give me a start check so that I could begin and my patient asked my instructor that very question. My instructor looked at the patient quite calmly and said, "Does your hair bleed when you brush it?" I thought hmm, I guess that makes quite a little sense.

Healthy gums do not bleed. Gums that bleed bleed because there is either some trauma to the area or there is an extensive array of bacteria reproducing between the tooth and the gums. This bacteria causes an inflammatory response to the gums and the tissue (gums) become swollen and any abrasion (from the toothbrush and floss) causes the gums to bleed. Usually, brushing two times a day for two minutes and flossing every day can clean those areas well enough to stop the bleeding within one to two weeks.

However, if improving the frequency of your brushing and improving your technique do not help chances are you have some tartar below the gums that needs to be removed. Tartar is the hard deposit plaque leaves behind after it has been allowed to stay on your teeth for an extended period of time. That tartar can act a sliver under your skin and get inflamed and sore causing much the same reaction that an infection can have on other parts of your body within your mouth. Until you have that tartar removed by your dentist or hygienist your problems will probably continue.


Crowns, veneers, onlays, inlays, and partials…. Where can I learn more about dental treatments?
The American Dental Association (ADA) has a web site that has a lot of helpful information.

The American Academy of General Dentistry also can be helpful.

However, you can always ask us we will be glad to share any information that we can about different procedures and terminology in the dental office.