Preventive Care

The old saying goes “An ounce of prevention beats a pound of cure.” Nothing is truer in dental care than this. There are two main goals of our preventative program. The first goal is maintaining optimal oral health of your existing teeth and supporting tissue (gums and bone). The second goal is to catch any problems that arise while they are small and fix them before they become major problems. We recommend regular checkups and cleaning for all of our preventative care patients. Instruction on at home care and diet is also a large part of a good preventative program.

Regular checkup: This visit is a lot more than “just a cleaning”. At a checkup with one of our hygienists you will have and tartar and plaque removed from your teeth as well as having them polished to a high gloss shine. Regular dental x-rays will be taken to check for problems beneath or between the teeth not visible in the mouth. Your hygienist will also go through proper home care and how you can best care for your teeth the other 363 days a year. At this visit the dentist will perform a thorough exam including an oral cancer screening to diagnose any problems that you may have like cavities and/or gum disease and discuss all treatment options.

Sealants: Sealants are a protective barrier placed on newly emerged back teeth to prevent decay from forming at the age when kids are not a likely to keep their teeth squeaky clean. The procedure does not require numbing and takes very little time to perform.

Topical Fluoride: Fluoride is applied to teeth to strengthen the enamel and form a protective barrier around teeth. Fluoride can help to prevent future cavities and also really help with areas of sensitivity like gum recession. Although not for everyone, fluoride is not just for kids anymore.