Preventative Dentistry
Stay one step ahead of dental woes: Embrace the power of preventative dentistry for a lifetime of confident smiles!
The Role of Regular Dental Checkups & Professional Teeth Cleaning in Preventative Dentistry
Still, to most of our first-time dental patients, that means brushing and flossing their teeth regularly.
However, suppose at-home preventative measures are not always successful. We teach our patients that those measures must be combined with a customized plan of regular dental checkups and professional teeth cleaning in our office.
When you visit us for a complete checkup and teeth cleaning, we will always do what we know to be the best way to keep you from having unnecessary dental problems in the future. Our exam will include looking for any signs of broken teeth or restorations that need repair and any signs of teeth grinding, gum disease, or oral cancer.
It is true that proper preventative dentistry indeed begins at home, but to make sure it has its best chance at ultimate success, you will need to follow all of our professional dental advice.
Here are Just a Few of Those Dental Advice Prompters:
- Choose a toothpaste with the least amount of additives.
- We recommend you follow our professional advice as much as possible, such as getting regularly scheduled in-office teeth cleanings.
- Be sure to rinse your mouth with water after every meal that includes sugary drinks and foods, but try to avoid them as much as possible.
- Always brush your teeth at an upward or downward forty-five-degree angle toward your upper and lower gums.
- Regular teeth brushing should last at least one to two minutes each time, two to three times a day.
- Be sure to floss well every day, preferably before bedtime, and try to use a WATERPIK.
- Make sure that your mouth wash is alcohol-free.
A lack of good preventative dentistry is one of the leading and most common causes of gum or periodontal disease, which develops due to large amounts of harmful bacteria around and under the teeth and gums.
These destructive bacteria flourish deep inside the gum pockets surrounding each tooth, resulting in a chronic infection that can erode and enflame your jawbone.
Listed Below Are Six Important Facts Everyone Should Know About Periodontal or Gum Disease:
- It is the primary cause of tooth loss.
- It affects approximately 80% of the American adult population.
- It begins with a milder form known as gingivitis but can advance to periodontitis’s more severe and advanced state if not treated soon enough.
- Only about three percent of those affected ever seek any ongoing treatment.
- It can sometimes take many months or even years to develop discernible symptoms because the condition is often considered a silent disease, with no warning signs in the early stages.
- It has usually developed into an advanced stage before a person is aware of the symptoms.
Listed Below Are Six Common Signs of Periodontal/Gum Disease:
- Chronic bad breath/halitosis
- Darker red gums or gingiva
- Receding gums
- Swollen gingiva/gums
- Loosened teeth
- Unusual bleeding of the gums
The Lack of Good Preventative Dentistry That Can Lead to Periodontal/Gum Disease Can Also Affect Your entire Body.
Diseased or infected gingiva (gums) can eventually affect your entire body if it is not treated effectively in its initial stages. The mediators of inflammation and bacteria that originate in gingivitis or periodontitis within your gums are not merely localized infections but can also be circulated by your blood throughout your body.
This type of bacteria and inflammation is also considered the root cause of several medical conditions, such as certain cancers, kidney diseases, pregnancy complications, heart diseases, strokes, and diabetes.
It should now be easier to see just how vital proper preventative dentistry practices can be…not only to your oral health but also your overall health!
Please call us today if you are ready to begin putting appropriate preventive dentistry methods to work for your and your family’s future dental health or have already experienced gum disease problems. We are passionate about your oral health, and we are committed to helping you begin correct preventative dentistry practices that will maximize your overall physical health.
Sedation Dentistry
For your convenience, we offer these three types of comfort and sedation dentistry:
Nitrous Oxide
This “laughing gas,” as most people know it, is used for simple fillings or routine cleaning treatments and is the most common form of sedation. Thanks to this simple form of sedation, your entire dental treatment can be a relaxing experience.
Sedation By IV
During IV Sedation, the patient’s vital signs are monitored throughout the entirety of the procedure, as the sedation is administered via IV. The patient will have been sleeping during the entire process, in this case, and will awaken only after the procedure.
Suppose a patient must return to school or work after completing the procedure. In that case, it will be especially beneficial for them to understand their need for sufficient recovery time before they leave.
Conscience Oral Sedation
We currently offer oral sedation for our patients who wish to remain conscience and yet come to us with gagging problems or a higher than average amount of fear and anxiety. Throughout the entire procedure, we closely monitor their vital signs once giving a combination of oral medications.
Once taking the oral medication we provide, the patient becomes highly relaxed and drowsy, and after their appointment, most patients remember nothing of the fear or anxiety they may have thought to experience without.
You will not be put to sleep with oral sedation, and during the entire procedure, you will be able to respond to Dr. Melancon and his team.
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