Wouldn’t you rather prevent dental issues than treat them? Our goal is to help you do just that through a variety of preventive measures. Maintaining routine dental checkups, staying current on professional teeth cleaning appointments, practicing good home care, and eating a healthy diet go a long way toward making sure your teeth last for life.
We like to keep you with your dentist and hygienist if you’re happy with them. That means you get to pick your own dental team and see them at each appointment.
Dental Exams
Comprehensive dental exams are recommended at least twice annually. This is an opportunity to evaluate the health of your teeth and gums, and to perform an oral cancer screening.
Oral Cancer Screenings
We perform a screening for oral cancer at every periodic and comprehensive exam. During this exam, we palpate the head and neck area, and look for signs of abnormalities in and around the mouth and throat. Screening for oral cancer is important, because it more successfully treated when it is diagnosed early.
Digital X-rays
Dental radiographs are a useful tool in identifying potential issues and assisting in treatment planning. They increase our ability to detect small problems and address them before they become bigger problems.
How often you need dental X-rays often depends on your medical and dental history, and your unique situation. The frequency can vary from six to 18 months. We will offer a recommendation during your comprehensive evaluation and tailor your interval to your needs as they change.
Our office uses digital X-ray technology, which provides instant images on computer screens in each of our exam rooms. This helps us with patient education because we can show you areas of concern.
The benefits of digital X-rays are numerous and include less radiation and the elimination of the chemicals required to develop conventional X-ray film.
Professional Dental Cleanings
We recommend professional dental cleanings at least every six months. If you have periodontal disease, you may benefit from more frequent cleanings.
One of our dental hygienists will use a scaler to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth and from below the gum line. We also will check your gums for signs of periodontal disease by testing pocket depths and taking note of any swelling and redness.
The final touch is to polish and floss your teeth.
Intraoral Photographs
Using a small wand-like camera, we can take photographs of your teeth that will enable you to see decay, fractures and failing restorations as we see them.
Dental Sealants
Dental sealant is a plastic material applied to the biting surfaces of children’s permanent molars, which serves as a barrier to help prevent tooth decay. Sealants are long-lasting, but are checked at each appointment to ensure they continue to function as prescribed.
Fluoride Treatments
Fluoride is a powerful cavity-fighting tool for children and adults. We use fluoride varnish, which is a longer-acting treatment, and there’s no need to wait 30 minutes before you can eat or drink.
Well-Baby Exams
We recommend bringing your baby in for an exam after the first tooth erupts, or by his/her first birthday. This exam is an opportunity for us to anticipate future needs before a problem occurs and to guide parents through the different stages of development. Typically, no treatment is needed at this age.
Dietary Counseling
Your diet plays an important role in your dental health, particularly if you are pregnant, diabetic, or undergoing chemotherapy or radiation treatments. We take a look at your whole body health, evaluate the impacts on your oral health, and work to help you address dietary improvements and changes that can be made.
There is a connection between oral health and systemic health, and your diet often can affect that for better or worse.