Preventive dentistry
Keep your teeth healthy and bright with regular dental checkups and professional cleanings. Prevent cavities, gum disease, and maintain long-term oral health.
Regular dental cleanings performed by a registered dental hygienist are a crucial part of preventive care. By removing plaque and tartar, your oral health improves and your risk of gingivitis and periodontal disease is reduced.
Your hygienist may use hand instruments for moderate buildup or an ultrasonic device for heavier deposits. The visit is finished with polishing to clean the tooth surfaces, remove stains, and leave your mouth feeling refreshed.
No matter how consistent your home care is, dental exams and cleanings at least twice per year are still essential. Routine exams help us catch small problems early, making treatment easier, less expensive, and more successful.
Plaque begins building up quickly after eating and drinking. If it is not brushed away at least twice each day, it can lead to tooth decay and periodontal disease.
If plaque is not removed, it hardens into calculus, also called tartar. Tartar cannot be removed with routine brushing and requires professional instruments from your hygienist.
Daily flossing cleans areas your toothbrush cannot reach. Use about 18 inches of floss, wrap it around your middle fingers, and guide it gently between each tooth and just below the gumline.
Slide the floss up and down each tooth surface to remove buildup, using a clean section as you move from tooth to tooth.
Over-the-counter mouth rinses can help fight bad breath, remove loose food particles after brushing, and freshen your mouth. They are helpful additions, but they are never a substitute for brushing, flossing, or regular dental examinations.
Gingivitis is the earliest stage of periodontal disease and affects the soft tissues. Plaque buildup can lead to inflamed, irritated, or bleeding gums, but this stage is reversible with professional cleaning and strong home care.
Periodontitis involves the breakdown of bone, gums, and supporting fibers around the teeth. It is a leading cause of tooth loss in adults and requires more aggressive treatment to stop progression.
We look for redness, swelling, bleeding, tartar below the gumline, and pocketing around teeth. X-rays help us evaluate the supporting bone. Smoking and diabetes can increase risk.
Gingivitis is typically treated with a professional cleaning and improved home care. Periodontitis may require scaling and root planing, local anesthesia, follow-up polish visits, slow-release antibiotics, prescription rinses, and more frequent maintenance every 3 to 4 months.
Healthy Habits Start Here
Routine checkups give us the chance to protect your smile before small issues become bigger ones.