PREVENTIVE CARE

The most common reason to see the dentist is to have your teeth cleaned, also known as a prophylaxis. There are many benefits to these twice-a-year appointments other than just having the teeth cleaned. Click below to find out the many benefits of these appointments.

Dental cleanings, commonly scheduled every 6 months, have many benefits other than keeping the teeth clean and keeping smiles nice and bright.

X-rays are commonly taken once a year, and it is at the dental cleaning appointment we are able to take these x-rays and review them. X-rays are an essential tool to help us definitively diagnose any issues such as decay, infections, gum disease, and cracked teeth. Often times, early diagnosis is the best way to prevent the need for extensive dental work in the future.

Part of the oral exam during a cleaning appointment includes a screening for oral cancer. Dentists and dental hygienists are highly trained in identifying abnormalities in the oral cavity, and if anything looks suspicious enough to warrant further investigation, we will refer our patients to the proper specialist to make sure our patients remain in good health.

During the dental cleaning appointment, hygienists are able to identify any deficiencies in brushing and/or flossing technique and will work to educate patients on how to improve. It might not seem like much, but a few tips each time a patient comes to the office can go long way in making sure our patients achieve optimal oral health.

The American Dental Association recommends professional fluoride treatment at the dental office every 3, 6, or 12 months, depending on your personal needs and oral health. Everybody has different eating and drinking habits, and an extra boost of fluoride has been proven to improve the strength of enamel and protect teeth from breakdown and decay.

Fluoride treatments are quick, pain-free and are given to the patient in multiple ways for maximum comfort and efficiency.

Sealants are thin, protective coatings that are placed directly onto the chewing surfaces of molars and premolars. They aid in filling the tiny grooves and pits in these teeth that may be hard to clean while brushing. Recent studies show that sealants can even reduce the risk of decay by up to 80% in molars. Placing sealants is a quick and pain free way to prevent cavities and to keep your teeth cavity-free and healthy.

Although not commonly known, periodontal disease (gum disease) affects almost 50% of the population to some degree. After diagnosis, a patient’s gums need a special therapy called Scaling and Root Planing, also known as a deep cleaning. If you are patient with gum disease, this is the first step to getting you back to health and our hygienists are highly skilled in this procedure and will make sure you are comfortable for the whole process.

The period after a deep cleaning is very important for gum healing. In most situations, we will have to closely monitor the healing process by having patient’s come back for maintenance procedures up to 4 times a year. As the gums heal and regain their firm attachments to the teeth, we can slowly scale back the frequency of these maintenance appointments and create a schedule that is catered to each patient for optimal gum health and maintenance.