Dental Exam and Cleaning

You don’t have to floss all your teeth, just the ones you want to keep! Remember, be true to your teeth or they will be false to you. The American Dental Association (ADA) advocates yearly check-ups and cleanings, and daily flossing and brushings. These measures go a long way toward preventing cavities and more serious dental problems, such as gingivitis, a gum disease that can lead to tooth loss. Routine exams also allow dentists to screen patients for oral cancers.

The two major causes of tooth loss are decay and gum disease. The better we prevent or deal with these two problems, the more chance people have of keeping their teeth for life. The joint efforts of the dentist, hygienist, and the patient can help to prevent the need for treatment, fillings, extractions or any other intervention.

A course of treatment may be recommended to get your mouth into good condition, and a maintenance plan will be worked out to help you keep it that way

Sealants

Dental sealants are most often used with children to prevent cavities on the molars. These are hard to reach areas for young kids and sealants provide a protective shield that blocks out germs and food. Once applied, they can protect against 80% of cavities for up to 2 years.

Fluoride Treatment

Fluoride prevents tooth decay by strengthening enamel. Fluoride is also used to prevent tooth decay in people who undergo radiation of the head and/or neck, which may cause dryness of the mouth and an increased incidence of tooth decay.

Treatment of Gingivitis

Gingivitis is an inflammation of the gums surrounding the teeth. Gingivitis is one of many periodontal diseases that affect the health of the periodontium (those tissues that surround the teeth and include the gums, soft tissues, and bone).

Periodontal diseases are often classified according to their severity. They range from mild gingivitis, to more severe periodontitis, and finally acute necrotizing ulcerative gingivitis, which can be life threatening. Bacteria can cause inflammation of the gums. Although bacteria are normally found in our bodies and provide protective effects most of the time, bacteria can be harmful.

The mouth is a great place for bacteria to live. The warm, moist environment and constant food supply are everything bacteria need to thrive. If not for a healthy immune system, bacteria in the mouth would rapidly reproduce out of control overwhelming the body’s defense system. An infection begins when the body’s immune system is overwhelmed. Gingivitis is an infection that occurs when bacteria invade soft tissues, bone, and other places that bacteria should not be. At the moment of infection, bacteria no longer help us, they begin to harm us. Infections, like other diseases, range from mild to severe or life threatening.