Teeth Cleaning

As a Dentist or Hygienist, we will clean your teeth to remove soft and hard deposits from your teeth. The primary purpose of having your teeth cleaned is to prevent or delay the progression of periodontal disease. Professional dental care alone; however, is inadequate to prevent periodontal disease. Smoking has been implicated in approximately 50% of periodontal disease cases in adult. Abstaining from tobacco use, maintaining good oral hygiene, and having your teeth cleaned professionally are the most effective ways to prevent periodontal diseases.

As with routine dental examinations, the frequency of professional teeth cleaning will depend on the health of your teeth and gums. Healthy children and adults should have their teeth cleaned at least once every six months. If you are at risk of periodontal diseases because of age, tobacco use, rate of accumulation of deposits, personal oral hygiene practices or medical conditions, such as diabetes or HIV infection, your teeth may need to be cleaned more often. We can help you determine how often you should have your teeth cleaned.

Intraoral photography is an advancing technology that allows us to share with our patients what it is that we see when examining the mouth.

The intraoral camera allows us to capture an image inside of the mouth and slightly magnify it to be presented on a TV screen, as well as printing out a hard copy.

This technology is especially useful for detecting fracture lines in teeth, and also for patient education with other types of treatment that may be recommended.
 

Stages of Periodontal Disease

Gingivitis is the inflammation of gum tissue. It starts as red inflammation and most frequently develops in the gum tissue between the teeth.

As the condition progresses, the gums swell and recede from the teeth. This creates more places for the plaque to accumulate. Untreated gingivitis can spread below the gum line causing Periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a more advanced stage of periodontal disease that affects the bone and other supporting structures of the teeth and can only be treated by a dental professional.

As gingivitis progresses, the gums begin to pull away and recede from the teeth. Pockets of bacteria form deeper, gradually reaching and destroying the bone that anchors the teeth.

In this stage, teeth may be lost without prompt treatment through us.

• Gums bleeding when you brush
• Red, swollen or tender gums
• Detachment of the gums from the teeth
• Pus appearing from the gum line when the gums are pressed

• Loose teeth, teeth shifting/changing position
• Any change in the way your teeth fit together when you bite
• Any change in the fit of partial dentures
• Chronic bad breath or bad taste

Fluoride helps prevent tooth decay by slowing the breakdown of enamel and speeding up the re-mineralization process. The new enamel crystals that form are harder, larger, and more resistant to acid. Common sources of fluoride are fluoridated drinking water, toothpaste, and mouth rinse. Let us know if your water is not fluoridated, and we will recommend what you should use.

PerioMed - Fighting Gingivitis, Periodontitis and Tooth Decay

With research pointing to links between periodontal disease and overall health, good oral hygiene has never been more important. PerioMed, combined with a professional treatment program, is an essential part of your overall care. Daily use of PerioMed, along with the treatment provided to you will help reduce gum inflammation, control bleeding gums, help reduce sensitivity, aid in re-mineralization and provide protection from tooth decay.

Root Planing

The purpose of scaling your teeth is to remove debris whereas with root planing the purpose is to smooth the root surface. In definition, root planing is a continuation of scaling combined with more refined and thorough techniques. The benefits you can expect following root planing include a more favorable environment for your gum tissues to heal, your gum tissue color will return, along with less bleeding and plaque control measurers will be easier.

Prior to your appointment, you should start a good home care routine, including daily flossing, gum brushing with a soft toothbrush and a prescription mouth rinse, if we recommend this for you.

Following your appointment, you may have some tenderness. Daily brushing and flossing will help promote healing, so any discomfort will be for a very short time. You may also find it helpful to gargle with salt water two to three (2-3) times a day for the first three days.

Sealants are a safe, painless, and low cost way to help protect your child's back teeth from decay. A thin plastic coating is bonded to the chewing surfaces of the molars and premolars. The sealant forms a hard shield that keeps food and bacteria from getting into the tiny grooves in the teeth and causing decay which the bristles of the toothbrush can't get down into these grooves.

Sealants should be applied as soon as the first permanent molars (six-year molars) come in, between five and seven years of age. The second molars (12-year molars) and the premolars should be sealed as soon as they come in, between 11 and 14 years of age. The baby molars often don't need to be sealed. However, we may recommend sealing the baby molars, if there is a high risk of decay.  Sealants can last for many years. If they chip or come off, they can easily be replaced. Just remember, sealants don't take the place of brushing and other steps to prevent decay.