Preventative Dental Care
Is it necessary to visit the Dentist every 6 Months?
Oral hygiene visits are necessary for eliminating bacteria in the mouth. Overtime oral bacteria builds up to form plaque that can harden and lead to more long-term ailments such as gingivitis, a mild form of gum disease as well as more advanced periodontal disease if not removed. Our dentist and hygienist will discuss with you a hygiene maintenance program that best suits your dental needs.
Why is Oral Hygiene Important?
Adults over 35 years of age lose more teeth to gum disease (periodontal disease) than from cavities. 3 out of 4 adults are affected by periodontal disease at some point in their life. The best way to prevent cavities and periodontal disease is with good homecare and consistent visits with your dentist and hygienist.
Teeth Cleaning-Prophylaxis
A dental prophylaxis is a cleaning procedure performed to thoroughly clean the teeth and gums. Consistent teeth cleanings are important in order to stop the progression of gingivitis and periodontal disease.
Key benefits of Professional teeth Cleaning Include:
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Plaque Removal. Tarter (aka calculus or plaque buildup) both above and below the gum line can result in serious periodontal problems. Even with a proper home care routine, it can be impossible to remove all bacteria and debris from gum pockets. Using specialized cleaning instruments and equipment our hygienist can remove bacteria from the hard to reach places that your home toothbrush cannot.
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Brighter, Whiter Smile. Stained and yellow teeth can happen to the best of us even if we are not regular coffee drinkers! Teeth cleaning is an effective way to rid teeth of these unsightly stains.
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Fresher Breath. Halitosis (or bad breath) is generally indicative of advancing periodontal disease. A combination of old food particles and gum infection results in bad breath. The routine removal of bacteria, plaque and calculus at our office can noticeably improve halitosis and reduce potential infection.
We recommend you schedule a cleaning appointment at least every 6 months. For those patients that suffer from periodontal issues we recommend 3-4 times per year to ensure your periodontal disease is properly monitored. Remember periodontal disease cannot be completely reversed however regular and consistent teeth cleanings can certainly halt further progression.
Dental Sealants
A simple procedure yet highly effective way to prevent tooth decay. Dental sealants effectively “seal” the deep grooves of your teeth, acting as a protective barrier from plaque and acids. Sealants can last up to several years before the need for reapplication and benefit both children and adults.
Children's Dentistry
The sooner you can bring your child in for a dental visit the better. Taking the preventative approach will help our dentist be able to diagnose potential dental issues in there early stages allowing for corrective action much sooner resulting in a better experience for your child. A child’s first visit is typically scheduled by the age of one. This allows your child to become more familiar with the dental experience and they will be more likely to continue good oral health habits long-term.
Tru Dental First Visit Tips:
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Read books with your child about going to the dentist. A few of our favorites: Just going to the Dentist By Mercer Mayer, The Tooth Book By Dr. Seuss, The Berenstain Bears Visit the Dentist By Stan and Jan Berenstain.
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Speak positively about going to the Dentist. This is an Exciting Adventure for them!
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Bring your child to the office prior to their appointment for a “preview” on what to expect. We provide office tours daily and would love to show your little one around.
Cavity Prevention for baby teeth are just as important for permanent teeth. Baby teeth not only hold space for the permanent teeth, they are important for chewing, biting, speech and shaping of the jaw. For these reasons it is important to schedule you child’s visit as soon they begin to teeth. You will want to maintain a healthy diet and daily hygiene.
Periodontal Disease
Periodontal Disease is infection of the gums that can cause damage to your teeth as well as severe bone loss in your jaw. If caught early on there are many methods that can be utilized to treat periodontal disease such as scaling and root planing. This effective technique is designed to treat gum disease and prevent further damage such as continued bone loss, tooth loss etc. By preforming this non-surgical procedure, bacteria and calculus found below the gum line and around the tooth roots is removed and your tissue is disinfected helping to prevent the disease from progressing. Unfortunately, your treatment of periodontal disease does not end here. In order to keep your periodontal disease under control it is vital that you attend regular periodontal maintenance visits sometimes as frequent as 3-4 times per year.
For more information about our preventative care programs or to schedule an appointment, please contact Tru Dental today or schedule online.