Exams
Regular exams are recommended by the American Dental Association for adults and children who visit the dentist. In addition to addressing any of your dental concerns, having an exam twice a year can help in early detection of dental health problems, such as gingivitis, periodontal disease, tooth decay, prevent complications such as dental infections, tooth loss and you might be able to avoid more complex treatment. Dental x-rays are used to help diagnose disease or damage that is not visible during a clinical examination. The doctor will check your teeth for signs of cavities, fractures, or aging and worn dental work as well as asses the health of your gums and tissues surrounding the teeth. A complementary oral cancer screening is performed at every exam where we will look at the areas around the lips, tongue and throat. These regular dental checkups give us a chance to catch up with you and give you the care that you deserve.
Hygiene Visits
A professional dental cleaning is performed at every hygiene visit in our office and involves the removal of plaque and tartar along with the evaluation of surrounding gums. Specialized instruments like ultrasonic devices that emit vibrations and are cooled by water or hand instruments are used to gently remove these deposits. Once all the tooth surfaces have been cleaned of tartar and plaque, the teeth are polished by the hygienist who will work to floss between each of your teeth and reinforce proper preventive home care techniques.
We strive to help you maintain an optimal oral health and ensure this by checking that the gums fit tightly around your teeth. However gingivitis and periodontal disease can occur when deeper pockets develop between your gums and teeth where plaque and calculus can accumulate. Scaling and root planing which is often known as a “deep cleaning” allows for cleaning of the teeth on and beneath the gum line, as far as the base of the root, enabling the gum tissue to recover from the early effects of disease. Without treatment, the gum disease can progress and further damage can occur. Scaling and root planing is a relatively quick, effective treatment for the beginning stages of the disease.
Sealants
Dental sealants are a safe resin material applied to the surfaces of teeth (commonly permanent molars) to prevent cavities. Sealants fill in the crevices of a tooth and protect them from cavity causing agents like food and plaque. The teeth are prepped for the sealant application and the sealant is painted directly on the chewing surface of the teeth and then hardened. Sealants are applied in one visit.
Dental sealants are known to reduce significantly the risk for caries on permanent molars. They aren’t just for young children. Older kids, teens and adults can benefit from dental sealants