Preventative dentistry consists of proactive treatments that preserve natural teeth to keep them shining and healthy. Patients are most familiar with cleanings and checkups with their dentist, but we use a wide variety of tools and treatments for better overall oral health. Our trusted team provides comprehensive cleanings and exams to monitor your oral health, diagnose and treat issues in their earliest stages, and keep your teeth and gums healthy for a lifetime of brilliant smiles.
A thorough cleaning from your dentist goes beyond what’s possible with at-home oral care. With specialized tools, we gently remove plaque and tartar buildup to prevent tooth and gum disease. Extra preventative treatments, such as dental sealants or fluoride treatments, may be suggested to further help fight off cavities and bacteria. Dental cleanings are finished by polishing teeth for a fresh shine out the door.
Digital dental imaging through x-rays allows us to see more than what’s just on the surface. X-rays help us monitor the health of the inner dental pulp of teeth, assess jaw health, and determine the extent of tooth decay damage. We only use x-rays when necessary to diagnose underlying issues and provide the most accurate treatment plans to enhance your overall oral health.
During an exam, the dentist will perform an in-depth visual examination to assess the health of your teeth, gums, and jaw. This examination supplements x-ray imaging and your medical history to design a comprehensive and personalized treatment plan. Our team is committed to conservative treatments to preserve your natural teeth and educating you on the most effective path forward to better health.
Belonging to our dental family means more than just cleanings in the dental chair. We’re at your side to patiently explain potential procedures and answer any questions you may have. We’ll provide support for best at-home care between visits, and are more than happy to help with financing, maximizing insurance benefits, and scheduling follow-up visits that meet your budget and dental needs.
Dental cleanings and checkups are an essential part of maintaining good oral health. During a cleaning, a dental hygienist will remove plaque and tartar buildup on your teeth and around your gumline. They'll also polish your teeth to make them feel smooth and clean. During a checkup, your dentist will examine your teeth and gums to check for any signs of decay, gum disease, or other oral health issues. They may also take x-rays to get a better understanding of your oral health. All of this helps ensure your teeth and gums stay healthy and strong.
Routine dental cleanings and checkups offer many benefits. First and foremost, they help prevent serious oral health problems from developing. By catching issues early on, they can be treated before they turn into larger and more costly problems. Dental cleanings also remove stains from your teeth, leaving them looking brighter and cleaner. Regular checkups can identify risk factors for future oral health issues, such as genetics, diet, and lifestyle choices, allowing you to make any necessary changes. Finally, routine dental cleanings and checkups can give you peace of mind, knowing that you are doing everything you can to maintain a healthy smile.
Digital x-rays are safe, quick, and comfortable. Using the latest technology, we can create crisp, high-resolution images of your mouth’s structure, so we can make accurate diagnoses and treatment plans. Digital x-rays use only a fraction of the radiation as traditional film x-rays, so you can rest easy. Most patients receive one or two full sets of x-rays every year, but we may recommend additional imaging in the case of a dental emergency, or if we find an oral health issue that we need to investigate further.
Fluoride treatments are amazing tools for reinforcing teeth against bacteria that cause cavities and tooth decay. Best of all, they’re quick and effective treatments that can be completed during your routine cleaning & exam visit. Although some level of fluoride is included in commercial toothpastes and local tap water supplies, the medical-grade products used by your family dentist feature a higher concentration for more cavity-fighting benefits.
We apply fluoride using a varnish or gel directly to the teeth. The product is given a short period of time to permeate through the surface enamel and strengthen their mineral structure. Fluoride treatments build resistance against destructive bacteria and acids while encouraging teeth to remineralize. This process is proven to prevent tooth decay and can even reverse minor instances of decay to build smiles back to full health.
Dental sealants are protective barriers that prevent bacteria from causing decay in a tooth’s hard to reach areas. They’re non-invasive, painless, simple to apply, and effective. Although dental sealants are most often recommended to children with growing teeth, they have cavity-fighting benefits that support the oral health of all ages.
Sealants are applied at the end of a dental cleaning to offer lasting protection. They target the deep fissures in back molars that are more difficult to clean at home. Dental sealant resin is carefully brushed onto these back teeth and then dried with a UV curing light. This protective barrier supports tooth health by preventing acids, bacteria, and plaque from nestling into the grooves of the molars between dental visits.
Gum disease is extremely common, and can result in an array of oral health problems if left untreated, including bone resorption and even tooth loss over time. Gingivitis is the first stage of gum disease. It's also the only stage that can be truly reversed with deep cleanings and good at-home hygiene. If you are diagnosed with gingivitis, it is still possible to regain control of your oral health by staying on top of your regular cleanings, checkups, and at-home care.
More advanced stages of gum disease, called periodontitis, have irreversible effects on your oral health, such as gum recession and bone loss. While the effects of periodontitis cannot be reversed, we can stop it in its tracks with more advanced and frequent cleanings. Most patients will require deep cleaning sessions every three to four months. Treatments can include deep cleanings, scaling and root planing, and laser therapy, and can help preserve your oral health.
Oral cancer screenings are one of the most important aspects of preventative general dentistry. Detecting the early stages of cancer increases the chance of successful treatment before the disease has a chance to spread further. Routine oral cancer screenings, even if you haven’t noticed any symptoms on your own, can be lifesaving.
During your dental appointment, our team will perform a thorough screening of your teeth, gums, and soft tissue for early signs of oral cancer. Symptoms include white or reddish patches on the inside of the mouth, lip and mouth sores that don’t heal over time, and growths or lumps around the mouth or gums. We’ll share any findings with you that require further treatment and help design a plan to get the most effective care possible.
For patients that suffer from nighttime teeth clenching or grinding, known as bruxism, dental night guards are perfect solutions. Our night guards are custom-fitted for improved comfort and long-lasting benefits without obstructing breathing. They provide a protective barrier between the teeth during sleep to prevent teeth from wearing down and minimize excess stress to the jaw from clenching or grinding.
Digital scans and impressions are taken of the teeth during an initial visit. These are then sent to a dental lab to create a custom-fitted dental mouth guard that matches the wearer’s exact bite. A comfortable night guard helps to relieve tooth and jaw pain, preserve the health and appearance of teeth, and improve sleep and overall health.
Almost all sports carry an inherent risk of injury. That doesn’t mean players are powerless to increase their personal safety. We offer custom-fitted mouth guards to help prevent unnecessary injury to the teeth, jaw, gums, mouth, and head. Our sports guards are fitted to the unique bite of the wearer for increased comfort and durability to make it through the season in safety.
Dental sports-guards are created from a dental impression taken in-office. The impressions are then sent to a dental lab to create a sports guard that fits the wearer’s bite pattern. A better fit supports a comfortable, shock-absorbent fit without sacrificing breathing or speech during use. For any athlete that participates in sports or activities that put their oral health at risk, a custom-fitted dental sports guard is an essential piece of equipment.
Many dental insurance plans offer full or partial coverage of preventative procedures. This typically includes cleanings, exams, and necessary x-rays. Some plans will further include fluoride treatments and dental sealants. Get in touch with your insurance provider directly for more information about your policy, or reach out to our friendly team. We’ll be glad to look at your policy and help make the most of your yearly benefits.
Proper at-home oral care, regular cleanings with the dentist every six months, and a healthy diet are the best ways to prevent bacteria from spreading and causing cavities in teeth. Brush for two minutes and floss between teeth at least twice a day, and avoid sugary foods and drinks that bacteria feed off to prevent plaque and tartar from forming. Dental sealants and fluoride treatments may be recommended to protect and strengthen teeth against harmful bacteria during your dental cleanings as well.
A deep cleaning, also known as a periodontal cleaning, is different from a routine cleaning with your dentist. During a routine cleaning, plaque and tartar is removed from the surfaces of teeth up to the gumline. A periodontal cleaning is focused on bacteria below the gumline and between the teeth. These are performed for patients who are at risk of gum disease, and can halt progression before it can get worse. Your dentist may suggest a deep cleaning if you show early signs of gum disease, such as reddened, inflamed, or bleeding gums.
Fluoride is a safe, natural mineral used to strengthen the enamel of teeth. It’s completely safe with years of research to promote the effectiveness of dental fluoride treatments. Your dentist will ask questions about your fluoride in-take at home, and may suggest fluoride toothpastes or more frequent fluoride treatments for teeth that are at a higher risk of tooth decay and cavities to promote healthier teeth.
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