Preventative Services & Oral Hygiene Care
- Regular dental check-ups with x-rays is recommended in order to identify any issues so we can maintain your optimal oral health.
- During a comprehensive exam we will look at your teeth, your gums, your jaw and your bite. It will also include xrays, photos and oral-cancer screenings.
- Preventative dental care includes:
- Scaling and root planning
- Prophylaxis (polishing)
- Oral hygiene instruction
- Fluoride application
- Periodontal probing & maintenance
- Fit and Fissure Sealants
- Home care
- Dental treatment is only as good as regular dental maintenance, that includes twice daily brushing and daily flossing at home. Keeping your teeth free from plaque and tartar will reduce acid producing bacteria that causes cavities and gingivitis.
Routine Dental Care
The foundation for a healthy mouth starts with routine hygiene or ‘dental cleaning’ appointments. For some patients, having dental cleanings twice a year is perfect to establish and maintain a healthy mouth. For others, three or fours times a year is required due to heavier/more frequent build-up, presence of active gingivitis/periodontal disease, crowded teeth, ongoing orthodontic treatment…etc.
Preventative Care
Preventative care can include any of the below measures based on your ongoing, ever evolving oral health.
- Recall examinations and radiographs
- Scaling and root planning (SRP)
- Prophylaxis (polishing)
- Flossing under crown/bridges/implants
- Fluoride applications
- Silver Diamine Fluoride (SDF)
- Fit and fissure sealants
- Periodontal probing & Maintenance
Home Care
In-office dental care is only as good as the daily home care you perform. The gold standard is twice daily brushing and once daily flossing. Adjunctives such as interdental picks, waterpiks, gum stimulators…etc are great addition to bushing and flossing.
FAQs
Do I really have to brush and floss twice a day?
YES! The removal of acid producing bacteria requires the mechanical removal/disruption of dental biofilm. It cannot be ‘rinses away’ with mouthwash.
Can I use waterpik instead of flossing
NO! Waterpik is great for removing large food deposits/debris, but it will not disrupt the plaque biofilm. Only thorough brushing/flossing can do that.