Preventive Care
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TEETH CLEANING
Maintaining regular care of your teeth and gums is one of the most important facets of good dental care. At our dental office, we encourage at least two regular dental visits per year so that we can keep track of your dental health.
A professional teeth cleaning is recommended every six months, so you may want to combine your checkup and cleaning appointments for the sake of convenience. Your hygienist will begin your cleaning by removing tartar buildup with an instrument called a scaler to help prevent gum disease. After scaling, your hygienist will polish your teeth with a paste that contains mild abrasives to remove plaque and surface stains, leaving your teeth smooth and less likely to collect oral bacteria. If indicated, you may also receive a fluoride treatment that helps remineralize your tooth enamel and reduce your risk of developing cavities.
A regular dental exam allows us to determine the health of your teeth, gums, tongue, and other oral tissues. During the exam, we will ask if you have any questions regarding your oral health and care.
SEALANTS
The first step in tooth maintenance and a healthy, happy smile is prevention. A sealant can offer major protection against cavities. This thin, plastic coating is applied to the tooth and fills in narrow grooves in the teeth that cannot be properly reached and cleaned by brushing. Sealants are an effective way to protect these susceptible grooves..
The teeth that will be sealed are first thoroughly cleaned and a special solution is applied to help the sealant bond to the teeth. Teeth are then carefully painted with the sealant, where it immediately bonds and hardens on the tooth. It is simple and effective at protecting your teeth from future costly and unpleasant damage.
The potential for developing pit and fissure decay starts early in life, making people of all ages obvious candidates to benefit from sealants.
ORAL HYGIENE CARE
Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things you can do for your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth not only enable you to look and feel good, they make it possible to eat and speak properly. Good oral health is important to your overall well-being..
Daily preventive care, including proper brushing and flossing, will help stop problems before they develop. In between regular visits to the dentist, there are simple steps that each of us can take to greatly decrease the risk of developing tooth decay, gum disease and other dental problems. These include:.
- Brush thoroughly twice a day and floss daily
- Eat a balanced diet and limit snacks between meals
- Use dental products that contain fluoride, including toothpaste
- Rinse with a fluoride mouth rinse if your dentist advises you to
- Make sure that your children under 12 drink fluoridated water or take a fluoride supplement if they live in a non-fluoridated areas.
NIGHTGUARDS / MOUTHGUARDS
Custom designed mouthguards and nightguards are made of flexible plastic and molded to fit the shape of your teeth. Mouthguards are recommended to protect the jaw and teeth during physical activity and sports such as boxing, football, basketball, or other activities where your mouth may get hit. In addition, these guards protect the soft tissues of your tongue, lips and cheek lining. Nightguards are also recommended for patients who clench or grind their teeth at night as a way to protect their teeth and bite..
If you have decided a guard is right for you, the dentist will take an impression of your teeth which will then be sent to a lab to make a custom fit guard for you. In most cases you can choose from a variety of colors and styles for your guard. On average, guards last between 3 and 10 years.