General Procedures and Tips
Signs You Should See a Dentist
- Your teeth are sensitive to heat or cold.
- You have persistent bad breath.
- Your gums are puffy.
- Your gums bleed when you brush or floss.
- You have pain or swelling in your mouth, face, or neck.
- You already have fillings, crowns, dental implants, dentures or other dental work.
- You don’t like the way your smile or teeth look.
- You have a family history of gum disease or tooth decay.
- You have a medical condition such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, or an eating disorder.
- You suffer from a dry mouth.
- You are undergoing medical treatment such as radiation, chemotherapy or hormone replacement therapy.
- Your jaw pops or is painful when chewing or when you first wake up.
- You have an uneven bite.
Proper Care: Getting the Basics Right
Part of being able to bring you the best dental care is getting the basics right. Our core dental treatments include the most advanced techniques, tools and services:
- Intraoral Camera
- Digital X-Rays
- Preventative & Periodontal Gum Treatment
- Routine Cleanings & Checkups
- Deep Cleaning
Intraoral Camera Examination
An advanced intraoral camera about the size of a pen helps us to diagnose decay or other troubles. This kind of dental tool shows a 105°view that gives us the ability to see even hard-to-reach spaces while providing you complete comfort.
The high-fidelity images are available right away to assist us as we confirm a diagnosis and give you treatment options. Images can be easily referred to and stored enabling us to watch progress and document successful treatments.
Digital X-Rays
Digital imaging is environmentally friendly and reduces a patient’s exposure to radiation. In our dental office, intraoral and panoramic X-ray images are saved to a computer. They can be instantly viewed, enlarged, or enhanced to aid in patient education and treatment.
These types of digital images can also be easily transferred in the event of an emergency or if one of our patients must move to another city and needs their records transferred right away.
Preventative & Periodontal Gum Treatment
Our ultimate goal is to help you maintain your complete oral health through preventative behaviors and treatments. Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is the major cause of tooth loss in adults. Because it is relatively painless, many people don’t know they are suffering from it. Gum disease infects the tissue that supports and surrounds your teeth. It is also caused by plaque build-up.
Some warning signs to watch for include:
- gums that are swollen, red and bleed easily
- gums that are pulling away from your teeth
- persistent bad breath or a continuous bad taste in your mouth
- a change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
- a change in the way your dentures fit
The early stage of gum disease is called gingivitis. Gingivitis usually causes your gums to become swollen and red; and they will bleed easily. At this stage, the disease is still reversible and can usually be eliminated by a professional cleaning at your dental office, followed by proper dental care at home.
Advanced gum disease is called periodontitis. It can lead to the loss of tissue and bone that support the teeth and it may become more severe over time. While research is on-going, some studies indicate that severe gum disease may be associated with several other health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease or stroke.
It is possible for you to be suffering from gum disease and yet have no warning signs. That’s why regular dental checkups are so important.
Routine Cleanings & Checkups
One of the best ways to achieve and maintain good oral health is by having your teeth cleaned at regular intervals. At our office we take great effort to schedule plenty of time for each patient. We strive to give each and every person the attention and care they deserve.
All of our hygienists are trained and licensed to give you thorough, quality, comfortable care!
Deep Cleaning
The best way to prevent gum disease is with effective brushing and flossing on a daily basis, as well as regular professional examinations and cleanings. On occasion, however, even with the most diligent home dental care, people can still develop some form of periodontal disease. Once this disease starts, professional intervention is necessary to prevent its progress.
Periodontal disease is a chronic, painless, and communicable bacterial infection that if undetected will cause severe gum and bone destruction. Left untreated, gum disease can cause tooth loss and is even implicated in a number of systemic illnesses.
Proper periodontal therapy involves disinfecting the diseased tissues around the tooth and inside the gum pocket. This treatment, or “deep cleaning”, interrupts the bacterial destruction of the tissues and bone, giving the pocket a chance to heal. Systematic, repeated visits, usually every three months initially, keep the pocket disease-free and sometimes allow tissues to reattach to the tooth at a near-normal depth.
Our Registered Dental Hygienists are fully capable of providing whatever therapy is necessary in a comfortable and cheerful manner.
Healthy Habits
The key to a healthy smile is having healthy habits. Brush twice a day for two minutes. Floss your teeth daily. Establish a long-term relationship with a dentist who can detect and solve problems early. Confidently communicate any unusual changes in your mouth or around your teeth. We love having happy, healthy patients with happy, healthy smiles!