Regular Checkups

Preventative Dentistry

Preventative dentistry relies on good oral hygiene and regular dental care and is Important throughout your life, whatever your age. By practicing good oral hygiene at home and visiting the doctor regularly, you will help prevent dental problems and save time and money. In the process, you can save your teeth and gums.

Dentistry for Children

Getting young children enthused about their dental health care is important to us. My staff has been specially trained to work with little ones to help make their visit a pleasant learning experience.

Preventing Tooth Decay

Tooth decay (cavities or caries) can develop on any surface of any tooth. Because cavities grow, they are much easier and less expensive to treat when they are small. A decaying tooth may not hurt, so you may have a cavity and not realize it. The dentist treats tooth decay by cleaning out the cavity and placing a restoration (filling) in the tooth.

Fighting Plaque

Good oral hygiene requires an understanding of plaque. Plaque is a sticky, colorless layer of bacteria. When you eat carbohydrates (foods made of sugar or starch) you feed this plaque, which in turn produces acids that attack tooth enamel, cause cavities, and develop a hard substance called calculus (tartar). Uninterrupted, the acid attacks can result in tooth decay and gum disease (also known as periodontal disease). If left untreated, gum disease can cause loss of teeth and bone.

At any age, you can begin the fight with plaque and keep your teeth and gums healthy. It's really quite easy. Simply:

1. Brush your teeth twice a day with a soft-bristled toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste to remove food particles and plaque from the tooth surfaces. While you're at it, brush the top surface of your tongue to eliminate bad breath and bacteria buildup.
2. Clean between your teeth daily with floss or an interdental cleaner. Decay-causing bacteria can linger between teeth where toothbrush bristles can't reach. Flossing removes plaque and food particles from between the teeth and under the gum line.
3. Eat a balanced diet and limit between-meal snacks. If a snack is needed, nutritious foods such as raw vegetables, plain yogurt, cheese or a piece of fruit should be chosen.
4. Schedule regular check-ups. Visit the doctor regularly (every six months) for professional cleanings and oral exams.
5. Ask the doctor about dental sealants, a protective plastic coating that can be applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth where decay often starts.
6. Wear mouth protection such as a mouthguard when you play contact sports or extreme sports.

Sealants

A sealant is a plastic material that is usually applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth (premolars and molars). This plastic resin bonds into the depressions and grooves (pits and fissures) of the chewing surfaces of back teeth. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting enamel from plaque and acids. Sealants are most effective on primary teeth because these teeth will be replaced by age eleven.

Thorough brushing and flossing help remove food particles and plaque from smooth surfaces of teeth. But toothbrush bristles cannot reach all the way into the depressions and grooves to extract food and plaque, so sealants are used to protect these vulnerable areas by "sealing out" plaque and food.

Sealants work well for all ages. Because the likelihood of developing pit and fissure decay begins early in life, children and teenagers are obvious candidates. But, adults can benefit from sealants, as well.

Sealants are easy for your dentist to apply. It takes only a few minutes to seal each tooth. First, the tooth is cleaned. Next, the chewing surfaces are roughened with an acid solution to help the sealant adhere to the tooth. Then the sealant is "painted" onto the tooth enamel, where it bonds directly to the tooth and hardens. Sometimes a special curing light is used to help the sealant harden.

As long as the sealant remains intact, the tooth surface will be protected from decay. Sealants hold up well under the force of normal chewing and usually last several years before a reapplication is needed. During your regular dental visits, your dentist will check the condition of the sealants and reapply them when necessary.

Ask your dentist about whether sealants can put extra power behind your prevention program.

What to expect

Regular checkups include a thorough cleaning and an oral exam by the doctor. During the oral exam, the doctor checks the health of your mouth, teeth, gums, cheeks and tongue. At each visit, the doctor also checks old fillings and restorations because constant pressure from chewing, grinding or clenching can cause them to wear away, chip or crack.

Initial Visits

The initial visit also involves getting your medical history. When you share your medical history with the doctor, be sure to provide complete, up-to-date information on your health. Inform your dentist if you have experienced recent hospitalization or surgery or if you have recently been ill. Also tell the doctor the names, doses and frequency of any medications you are taking — whether prescription or over-the-counter products — and the name of your physician. Inform the doctor of any changes in your health or medications. This information will help the doctor to select the most safe and effective method of treatment for you.