Preventative Care

Getting your teeth cleaned may not be the most exciting thing on your to-do list, but coming in on a regular basis (every 6 months) is better than coming in every few years and then having to hear that you have periodontal disease.

Our staff is trained to expose radiographs, screen for oral cancer, record dental probing depths, perform prophylaxis, and recommend any further preventative treatment. We are here to detect anything that can affect your dental and overall health.  We offer fluoride treatment to every client to strengthen their enamel and protect their teeth.  Insurance may not cover this for adults, but it’s the simplest yet most effective preventative measure you can do for yourself.  Just ask us about it!

We ask that you do the following for the best preventative measures at home:

• Brush morning and night for 2 minutes, preferably with an electric toothbrush.  Use light pressure.

• Floss with string floss before bed using a “c” shape technique around your tooth.  Think of it as hugging your tooth with the floss.  Pushing the floss down and pulling it up fast between each tooth is not proper flossing technique.  Flossing before bed is the best time to do it!

• Rinse with a fluoridated mouth rinse and wait 30 minutes to eat or drink.

Exams are also done twice a year with the doctor.  Here are the things the doctor looks for during your exam:

• Decay:  The doctor can use an explorer to check for decay on teeth, under crowns or around fillings, but to have a proper exam radiographs are needed.  Without radiographs, the doctor is unable to detect cavities between the teeth, periapical abscesses at the tips of the roots, abnormalities in the bone, and retained teeth.

• Cracks or chips in the teeth or fillings.

• Loose fillings, crowns, bridges, implants, and ill-fitting or rubbing dentures/partials.

• Oral cancer and any unusual lumps or bumps.

While we only see you twice a year, it’s a good idea that you keep an eye on your mouth at home as well. Oral cancer is not something to mess with. 

Here are some things you should look for:

• Swellings, lumps, unusual patches

• Red or white lesions. If you have a persistent lesion, please come in and we’ll take a look.

• Difficulty swallowing or tenderness.

• Loose teeth when you have a healthy mouth and no bone loss.