General & Preventative Care

The greatest thing our experienced and knowledgeable dental team could ever teach you is that prevention matters a lot in dental care. Know what else matters? Consistency. Prevention isn’t possible without it.

The small habits of eating well, brushing regularly, and visiting your local dentist every six months leads to big dental results. When it’s time for those bi-annual visits, here’s what we’ll do to help support your daily efforts:

Cleanings (Prophylaxis)

Visiting your dental hygienist a minimum of 2-4 times a year will keep your oral health on track. Your dental hygienist has tools and know-how to remove plaque and tartar from your teeth — something brushing alone can’t do. Done regularly, this simple procedure prevents a multitude of unwanted dental issues later on.

Gum Treatment

Gum disease is also referred to as periodontal disease. Whichever name you use, it must be addressed and the sooner the better. An infection and inflammation of the tissues and bone that support your teeth, gum disease can lead to tooth loss and is common among people with diabetes or heart disease.

Signs of Gum Disease

• Gums that bleed easily, including while brushing your teeth, flossing, or eating
• Tender gums that are red or swollen
• Sustained bad breath
• Persistent bad taste in your mouth
• Gums that are pulling away from your teeth and are receding
• Pockets between your teeth and gums
• Loose teeth

Gum Disease Phases

Gum disease generally progressed through three distinct phases.

• Gingivitis: Tooth retention and long term oral health stability are most possible during this early stage and can usually be accomplished by routine cleanings every six months.
• Advanced: If the initial cleanings don’t help and gingivitis continues to advance, a more specialized cleaning called a deep scaling and root planing (SRP) is needed. Scaling removes all subgingival debris (plaque and tartar) to the base of the periodontal pockets. Then, root planing smooths and cleans the root surfaces of your teeth. This process promotes healing and strengthens the attachment between the tooth root surface and the surrounding tissue.
• Re-Care: Next, we complete a 30-day post-SRP evaluation to check your progress and address areas that may require extra attention. If further interventions are needed, periodontal surgery will be required.

Periodontal Maintenance

If you have been diagnosed with and treated for periodontal disease, it is important to continue your routine cleaning schedule in 3, 4, or 6-month increments. Periodontal maintenance addresses more than just the area above the gumline; it also cares for the entire root and bone around all your teeth affected by periodontal disease.

Exams

Routine dental exams are vital to your long term oral health. Our dentist and dental hygienists are experts at detecting potential problems before they start, and one of the things they look for during your exam is oral cancer. Make sure you are having routine exams to prevent dental decay, infections, and pain!

Digital X-rays

Routine digital x-rays give your dentist a look between and inside your teeth. They can also view the end of your roots and bone underneath your gums, all places where problems can hide undetected.

The frequency of x-rays vary by patients and, as a result, our dentist and hygienist will evaluate your tooth care needs and determine the best timing for x-rays. If you’re a new patient, it’s likely that we’ll advise taking a full series of x-rays or a panoramic image to establish a comparative baseline going forward. As you establish your checkup routine with us, fewer x-rays are typically needed.

Fluoride Treatments

Fluoride varnish is a dental treatment that can help prevent tooth decay, slow it down, or stop it from getting worse. Fluoride varnish is made with fluoride, a mineral that can strengthen the enamel of teeth. It’s most commonly applied as a preventative measure to patients ages 1-18 and is almost always covered by most dental insurances.

Dental Sealants

Protective dental sealants recommended for children, teens, and adults with high-risk dental decay. Sealant is applied as a thin coating to the grooves on the chewing surfaces of your molars as they are most likely to decay because of  the food particles and germs that get stuck in the grooves of these teeth. Most dental insurances cover sealants for children under the age of 15 as part of regular preventive dental care.