Preventative Procedures

Frequent exams and oral hygiene are essential to help prevent problems before they begin. Dental hygiene services, nutritional counseling, hygiene instruction, sports guards, intraoral photos and diagnostic radiographs are some of the common services offered to help with prevention of dental issues.

Your teeth are cleaned using special instruments to remove plaque from above and below the gumline. Afterwards, your teeth are polished. Tooth polishing makes your teeth look and feel great. It also smoothes tooth surfaces so plaque is less likely to accumulate.

Flossing: 

This is one of the most important things you can do to protect your teeth and save yourself significant cost. Tight teeth trap food, hence that is why most decay starts between your teeth.

Fluoride:

 (Some confusion arises on this topic.) Basically, fluoride makes the enamel very very hard and much more resistant to tooth decay. There are two approaches to fluoride usage. Topical and Systemic

Topical

fluoride can be obtained in toothpaste, certain mouthwashes and most effectively at the dental office. The strengths vary greatly. The dental office applications consist of a higher concentrated product. Using all three forms of topical produce the greatest protection.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
  • Do I need to floss my child’s teeth?

    If the childs teeth are not spaced, then food will stick in between where a brush is unable to reach. These teeth need to be flossed to prevent decay between the teeth.

    Spaced teeth, especially when the new deciduous teeth are first erupting, do not pose food traps, hence flossing may not be required. That gradually changes as more new teeth enter the mouth, especially when the new permanent molars erupt at about six years of age.

  • Is fluoride safe?

    Like anything, with the proper usage and dose, it is very safe and can make a HUGE difference in oral health.

  • I brush twice a day and floss, so why would I need a cleaning?

    The minerals in our saliva attach to our teeth. With time, they build up into a deposit that we call tartar.  Two of your salivary ducts exit close to your lower anterior teeth. Take note that we normally find significant accumulation of tartar in this lower anterior area. Once formed, the tartar will not brush or floss off. This accumulation can and most likely will lead to bone loss.

  • How often should I have my teeth cleaned?

    Typically every 6 months, however, no two people are the same and our professional hygienist will tailor a plan to your specific needs. Some patients actually require three-month cleanings.

RESOURCES