Cleanings & Prevention

“Brush and floss the teeth you want to keep”

Our mission is to keep your mouth and smile healthy and beautiful. Through regular cleanings and exams, many dental problems can be prevented. Our hygienists will notify you of any problem areas in your mouth and stress the importance of daily brushing and flossing.

Sealants are often used as a great way to protect your teeth against decay on the biting surface of the teeth.

Sealants are primarily used for our younger patients. For best results, sealants should be applied to the teeth as soon as the permanent back teeth emerge.

Periodontal care is very important for the overall health of your mouth. We offer conservative but thorough periodontal management. We will make every effort to improve the health of your gums. If we cannot meet your periodontal needs, we may need to refer you to a specialist.

Dental Exam

At regular check-up exams, your dentist and hygienist will include the following:

Examination of diagnostic x-rays – X-rays are essential for detection of decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss. and also help determine tooth and root positions.
Oral cancer screening – We examine your neck, face, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer.
Gum disease evaluation – Your gums and the bone around the teeth are checked for any signs of periodontal disease.
Examination of tooth decay – Your teeth are checked for decay with special dental instruments.
Examination of existing restorations – We check current fillings and crowns for any signs of deterioration or leakage.

Dental Cleaning

Cleaning your teeth is very important. Our cleaning appointment includes:

Removal of calculus (tartar) – Calculus is hardened plague which forms above and below the gum line and can only be removed with special dental instruments.
Removal of plaque – Plaque forms on the teeth as a sticky film and should be removed to minimize the chance of gum inflammation.
Teeth polishing – Stain and plaque that are not otherwise removed during tooth brushing and scaling are removed by our polishing procedure.

X Rays

A full mouth series of dental x-rays is recommended for new patients. Bite-wing x-rays (x-rays of top and bottom teeth biting together) are taken at recall (check-up) visits and are recommended once or twice a year to detect new dental problems. Dental x-rays provide valuable information which is not visible during a regular exam. X-rays may reveal cysts, abscesses, bone loss, decay, tumors (both cancerous and non-cancerous) and problems inside the teeth or below the gum line.