Preventive Care
Exams
Why get an exam?
A comprehensive dental exam helps your dentist access the overall health of your teeth and gums. These exams help us plan any future care needed to address any issues that may need to be treated. We believe that with the proper education and prevention techniques, this will put you on a path to ensure the longevity of your future dental health.
How often should I get an exam?
The American Dental Association recommends you visit your dentist every 6 months. The frequency of these visits may vary if we find that you are at high risk of certain oral disease or infections that require more attention.
What’s the importance of regular exams?
Dental exams are important because they allow your dentist to catch any issues before they develop into a more serious disease. Regular exams ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy and prevents the need for more costly and invasive treatments to address a problem.
Cleanings
Dental cleanings are important because they ensure your gums and teeth stay healthy. Your gum tissue and underlying bone are essential to your oral health. Because they supply blood and nutrients to your teeth, if your teeth are not cleaned well, they can become susceptible to infections, decay, and tooth loss.
Why do you need your teeth cleaned?
Everyday, bacteria grow on your teeth and gums. Without regular cleaning, these bacteria can build up to form plaque and calculus. Plaque causes inflammation, sensitivity, and bleeding of the gums. If left untreated, this can cause a gum diseases known as periodontitis, which causes irreversible bone loss. This is why it is important to floss and clean your teeth twice a day, but doing so can still cause calculus to build up. Regular dental cleanings thus help remove the build up of this calculus, and prevent any serious diseases from occurring.
How often should you get a cleaning?
It is recommended you get your teeth cleaned at least every 6 months, although it is important to note that each person has a unique immune system and responds to bacteria differently. Some patients may require deeper and more frequent cleanings, but the frequency of these cleanings can be reduced if you follow the proper prevention techniques to keep your teeth and gums healthy.
Sealants
What is a sealant?
A sealant is a protective material that is coated over your teeth and typically is formulated with a resin that penetrates deep into the pits and grooves of your teeth. This prevents bacteria from getting trapped in those grooves.
Why should you get sealants?
The most common places for a cavity to form are the tiny grooves and pits on your tooth. This is because these grooves can be too deep and narrow for your toothbrush to remove any bacteria building there. Although this is no substitute to regular brushing and flossing, sealants can help prevent cavities from forming, and can even stop early stages of decay from becoming a full-blown cavity.
Fluoride
What is fluoride?
Fluoride is a natural mineral in your bones and teeth and can also be found naturally in rivers and lakes. You can also find it in many over-the-counter products like toothpaste and mouthwash.
Why use fluoride?
There are many benefits of fluoride. It can help rebuild weakened tooth enamel, slow down the loss of minerals in the enamel, reverse early signs of tooth decay, and prevent the growth of harmful bacteria. Fluoride can be especially important for kids as they grow, because it binds to the outer layer of their tooth (known as enamel), helping to prevent future tooth decay and cavities. After your dental cleaning, we’ll apply a topical form of fluoride that helps strengthen the enamel.
Digital X-Rays
Why are digital x-rays better?
Digital x-rays use extremely low doses of radiation compared to the conventional alternative. In fact, digital x-rays use the same amount of radiation that the average person gets exposed to each day during their daily activities. You heard that right! Every person gets exposed to radiation each day, but the amount of radiation each person receives depends on where they live, and what they eat or drink. In short, using a digital x-ray machine is much safer and does not expose you to any harmful radiation levels.
Why get x-rays?
X-rays help your dentist find any cavities, infections, or diseases that may not be easily visible on the surface level. This helps your dentist properly diagnose and provide the treatment that you need.