Preventative Dentistry
Cleanings & Exams
Healthy gums and teeth can be easily maintained by your hygienist who will thoroughly and gently remove plaque and calculus (tartar). Plaque is a sticky film of bacteria that constantly forms on your teeth. It’s normal to produce plaque as it contains bacteria, leftover food particles and saliva. If you don’t remove plaque regularly, it eventually binds with calcium ions that float around in your saliva. This bond of acidic plaque and calcium creates calculus but is more commonly known as tartar. At that point only a dentist of Hygienist can remove it. It may be off white or yellowish at first, but after a while it will take on the color of whatever foods you consume.
During your visit with the dental hygienist they will perform medical and dental history reviews, undertake appropriate and patient-specific diagnostic testing, such as X-rays. You will then receive a cleaning where they will scale your teeth to remove any plaque or tartar buildup. Next, they will perform a clean a polish to remove any surface stains on your tooth. Please note that this process isn’t teeth whitening and for any deeper stains on your teeth, this process will not remove them. The dentist will then perform a thorough exam of your teeth, recommend any further treatment and send you on your way with some helpful advice.
Fluoride Treatment
Fluoride helps make the tooth more resistant to the build up of plaque and sugars. Fluoride can be applied to the teeth as a gel, foam or varnish. According to the ADA, fluoride intake is often recommended for infants and children between the ages of 6 months and 16 years. During this time, primary and permanent teeth are developing. Fluoride becomes incorporated into the development of permanent teeth, making it difficult for acids to demineralize the teeth.
Dental Sealants
Sealants are highly effective in preventing tooth decay and cavities on your molars and premolars. These areas are the most susceptible to cavities due to the anatomized grooves. The bristles on a toothbrush can’t always reach deep into the grooves of your teeth, especially the molars. This leaves leftover food particles and cavity-causing bacteria hiding in the tiny crevices of your teeth, creating the perfect conditions for tooth decay. Sealants start out as a liquid that the dentist paints on the teeth and fills in all those grooves. The dentist uses a special curing light that hardens them within minutes and it forms a hard bond with the tooth. On average sealants can last around five years. In children, this can mean many years of protection during the years that their teeth are most susceptible to cavities.