Your Prophy Appointment
The recommendation of the American Dental Association and our office's philosophy is the prevention of oral health diseases through having professional cleanings every 6 months. Even if you have just a few teeth, it’s important for your overall health to keep these teeth as long as possible and through consistent cleanings this can occur. Your prophy will be performed by our experienced hygienist, Sherry Duhon, RDH.
Exams
An exam by a dentist is recommended to be done yearly. This assists the goal in preventing oral health problems before they occur. During an exam your dentist may be able to detect beginning stages of oral health problems that you may not be feeling the effects of quite yet. By catching these problems early, it can save patients additional treatment, time and inconvenient pain. Our office also offers Oral Cancer screenings.
X-Rays
This is a focused beam of X-ray particles which produces an image on special film, showing the inside of the teeth. This gives the familiar black and white images that doctors and dentists use to diagnose problems. X-rays are a necessary part of the diagnostic process, and not to use them could lead to undiagnosed disease. Without an X-ray of the whole tooth, and supporting bone and gum tissues, there is no real way to detect infection or pathology that requires attention. In our office we use digital radiography which allows us to take X-rays using 50-70% less radiation versus conventional X-rays. Coupled with computer monitoring, digital x-ray technology allows us to enhance the images for better diagnosis of any dental concerns.
Non-Surgical Gum Treatments
The gums, ligaments and bone around the teeth form the foundation for ones teeth. All structures are also referred to as the periodontium. When the periodontium is not healthy, it jeopardizes the teeth just as a bad foundation would threaten the stability of a house. Signs of unhealthy periodontium (gum disease) may be as follows: gums that are red and bleed easily, persistent bad breath, gums that are pulled away from the tooth, loose teeth, and changes in the position or bite of the teeth. Any of these signs may mean something is wrong. With the proper care, however, it may be possible to return them to a healthy state. This is where appropriate gum treatments come in. If you're having a problem, come in and see us so we can take care of it right away. The treatment usually involves a deep cleaning or root planing done under a local anesthetic, along with local antibiotic agents. If the gum disease gets too severe it may need to be treated through surgery or extraction. This is why it is important to get it treated at the first sign of a problem.