Just as you get flu shots and vaccinations to prevent illness throughout your life, a preventive dental treatment schedule can keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime. Numerous studies show that good oral health helps promote good systemic health, too.
Preventive Treatments
Professional teeth cleaning- Most patients need to have their teeth cleaned by a registered dental hygienist every six months to maintain good oral health. Patients who have periodontal disease may benefit from more frequent cleanings. At these routine cleaning appointments, your hygienist removes surface stains, plaque and tartar from tooth surfaces. Your gums and teeth are visually inspected for signs of disease and decay, and your mouth is inspected for signs of oral cancer. Teeth also are polished and flossed.
Dental X-rays- These invaluable diagnostic tools enable us to see parts of your teeth that cannot be seen with the naked eye, in an effort to identify disease and decay at their earliest stages. The earlier a problem is identified, the more conservative the treatment. We use digital X-ray technology, which emits less radiation than conventional X-rays and provides instant images that are shown on computer screens in the exam room.
Dental sealants- The deep grooves in children’s molars can harbor food particles that are difficult to remove with routine brushing. Sealants are thin, plastic coatings that can be applied to the biting surfaces of teeth to create a barrier against decay. Although primarily used on children’s teeth, sealants can be used for adults, too. Once applied, we inspect the sealants at each appointment to ensure they remain intact. They can be reapplied if necessary.
Fluoride treatments- This preventive treatment is ideal for children and adults. Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay, and can even reverse the earliest stages of decay.
Home care instruction- It takes much more than twice-a-year professional cleanings to keep your teeth and gums healthy. We offer instruction and advice so that your home care regimen keeps your mouth healthy between appointments.
Patient education- There are lots of dental products out there, and our team wants to make sure you know how to use the ones that will best address your individual oral health needs. Whether it’s showing you how to properly floss or use a proxy brush, or recommending a particular mouthwash, we are here to empower you with knowledge. We keep you apprised of special areas of concern in your mouth, such as possible areas of gum disease and bone loss. We also educate you on how certain medications may interact with your teeth, gums and bone.
General Dental Treatments
Try as you may, sometimes dental issues cannot be prevented. The following are common dental treatments available in our office.
Fillings-This restoration repairs teeth that are decayed, cracked or fractured. We remove the damaged portion and fill it with composite or other materials. These materials can be matched to your natural tooth color to create a restoration that isn’t readily noticeable.
Crowns- A tooth that is significantly damaged sometimes requires a crown, which caps the entire tooth to restore strength. We offer tooth-colored crowns that blend in with your natural teeth.
Tooth Extractions- A tooth that has suffered significant trauma or decay may require removal. We offer a variety of options for replacing missing teeth, which you can learn more about on our Restorative Dentistry page.
Schedule an Appointment
We make it easy for patients to stay current with their dental cleanings and examinations by sending text reminders, email reminders and postcards. Call today to schedule an appointment, or you can request an appointment via our online form.