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. Our doctors and
hygienists
will also make suggestions for preventative measures such as dental sealants or
nightguards to protect against bruxism & TMJ.
If
we feel that you are suffering from gingivitis or more severe gum disease, we
may recommend a root scaling or planing. These measures can be instrumental in
preventing bone loss and helping you to keep your natural teeth.
Oral
Cancer Screenings
During
a dental exam, the doctor 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
Scaling
and root planing is a non-surgical procedure in which the periodontist removes
plaque and tartar from below the gum line. 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.