The first major component of preventive dentistry is the dental checkup. We urge our patients and their families to undergo one every six months. The issues that could threaten smile stability, including tooth decay and periodontitis, don’t form overnight, they require months. Which means a checkup twice a year is a chance for us to catch them in the earliest stages, often before you experience discomfort. To make a diagnosis with accuracy and precision, we embrace advanced digital imaging technology, such as digital x-rays and intraoral cameras. Our team can then create a treatment plan to address the concerns we discover. Again, this is helpful for each and every member of your family, so be sure to schedule a six-month checkup soon!
Over time, plaque and tartar can form on our teeth. While brushing and flossing can limit the severity of this buildup, only a cleaning can remove them. Removable is essential because otherwise, these layers can erode enamel and inflame the gums to cause cavities and periodontal disease, while also leading to bad breath and teeth stains. But we can help with a dental cleaning! The procedure involves our team using an ultrasonic scaling device and a manual pick to gently and thoroughly remove all plaque and tartar from your smile. Once we do, our team will polish the teeth to brighten them and also make it more difficult for the accumulation of plaque and tartar before your next six-month appointment. If you already have warning signs of gingivitis and gum disease, we could also offer a deep cleaning, known as scaling and root planing, to remove the buildup from the teeth and exposed roots, helping manage the disease to avoid worsening symptoms and tooth loss.
Did you know that preventive dentistry can also help you rest easier? When people struggle with snoring and sleep apnea, this leaves them feeling exhausted and could eventually impact memory, their immune system, and even heart health. But we can offer relief! With an oral appliance, we will create and custom-fit a device that is worn like a mouthguard as you rest. Once in place, this helps shift the jaw and tongue forward to keep airways open and free of obstruction, so you breathe without interruption and wake up feeling more rested and alert. The oral appliance will be easy to use and store, and it can travel with you too.
TMJ disorder is an oral health issue that can cause serious discomfort, but we can help address it with preventive dentistry. The disorder occurs when pressure is placed on the jaw joints, often through issues like misalignment, injury, tooth loss, or issues with the growth and development of the smile. Without treatment, this could complicate how you hope and close your mouth, and lead to painful symptoms like toothaches, tooth sensitivity, jaw and facial pain, and a popping or clicking in the jaw.
With a custom-made oral appliance, we can provide a device that is worn while you sleep. The device then repositions the jaw to ease strain so you avoid painful symptoms!
When you grind your teeth on a nightly basis, this is known as bruxism. Without treatment, this pressure on your smile could lead to damaged teeth and worn-down tooth structure, which increases the risk of tooth decay and infection. You could also experience painful symptoms in your jaw, head, and face. Our team can use a custom oral appliance to help ease underlying stress, and to place a barrier between the upper and lower sets of teeth to prevent further damage to them. We can also repair any damage that has occurred with dental bonding or a custom-made dental crown.
Did you know we offer children’s dentistry as part of our approach to preventive dentistry? Our team can protect little smiles with routine checkups and cleanings, which should start at around age two. In addition, we can offer unique preventive treatments to help fight tooth decay. During routine checkup visits, we can apply fluoride to the teeth in a varnish form to strengthen the outer enamel and lower the risk of tooth decay. For this reason, we also recommend kids use a fluoride toothpaste, those three and older need a pea-sized amount, those under the age of three should use a rice-sized amount.
We also have dental sealants! Kids may have trouble reaching the rear teeth when they brush and floss. When this happens, cavities can form that cause pain and threaten smile stability. But with dental sealants, we will apply a special acrylic coating to the rear teeth so food and drink particles cannot be trapped there, lowering the risk of cavities. Applying this takes seconds and the sealants can stay in place for up to ten years, wearing away gradually with time. With both fluoride treatments and dental sealants, application takes seconds and kids just need to avoid food and drink for about a half hour as the material cures.
If you have any questions about how we safeguard smiles of all ages with preventive dentistry, or if you would like to schedule a checkup and cleaning visit with our team, then contact our office today to learn more and get started. You deserve a smile that is healthy and strong, and we’re ready to help!
The team at Pecan Tree Dental in Grand Prairie, TX, is ready to help you enjoy better oral health with a preventive approach. To schedule an appointment with our team, call us today at 972-262-5111
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