Dental Hygiene/Periodontal Health
In addition to the meticulous cleaning, polishing, and examination of your teeth, we also take the time to help our patients develop proper oral hygiene habits at home. We will evaluate your hygiene techniques and make adjustments to your routine where needed. We will also make suggestions for preventative measures such as dental sealants or nightguards to protect against bruxism & TMJ.
If you are suffering from gingivitis or more severe gum disease, we may recommend a non-surgical procedure kown as root scaling or planing. These measures can be instrumental in preventing bone loss and helping you keep your natural teeth.
Oral Cancer Screenings
During a dental exam, we will check your neck and oral tissues for lumps, red or white patches or recurring sore areas.
Screening for early changes in the oral tissue can help detect cancer at a stage when it can be more successfully treated.
Smoking, especially combined with heavy alcohol consumption (30 drinks a week or more), is the primary risk factor for oral cancer. In fact, this combination is estimated to be the most likely trigger in about 75 percent of oral cancers diagnosed in this country. Other lifestyle and environmental factors also may increase your risk of developing oral cancer.
Scaling & Root Planing- A Non-Surgical Periodontal Therapy
Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure in which the dentist removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line, while the patient is completely numb. Root surfaces are cleaned and smoothed with specially designed instruments. It is important to remove the plaque and tartar from the pockets, because aside from the bacterial toxins that irritate the gums, plaque and the rough surfaces of tartar make it easier for bacteria to gain a foothold. After the initial non-surgical root planing and scaling is completed, you will be re-evaluated as to the possible need to proceed with a surgical periodontal solution depending upon your overall periodontal condition.
Surgical Periodontal Procedures
Depending on a given patient's periodontal needs, a surgical corrective procedure may be necessary. An example of some of the more common procedures are soft tissue grafting ( such as to cover an exposed tooth root) and bone grafting to replace lost bony support aroung the roots of a given tooth.
