Preventive Dentistry
- Dental Cleanings and Exams
- Dental Hygiene
- Oral Cancer Screening
- Athletic Mouthguards
- Nightguards
- Fluoride Treatment
- Diagnosis of Periodontal Disease
- Scaling and Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)
Athletic Mouth Guards
When you are preparing for sports practices or a game, you wouldn’t dream of going without your uniform.
If you are playing a contact sport like football or hockey, you always have a helmet and pads on before going near the field or rink. However, if you aren’t using a sports mouth guard for your practices and matches, you are missing a vital piece of protective gear.
Each year, an estimated 13-39% of all dental injuries occur while playing sports. Since mouth guards were made a mandatory part of American football, about 200,000 injuries to the mouth and teeth have been prevented annually.
However, the dangers of tooth and mouth injury do not end with contact sports. In fact, recent studies have found that today’s basketball players are far more likely to suffer injury to the face, mouth, and teeth than football players. For these sports, contact comes from the ball, ground, hoop, or other surface rather than other players, so mouth guards are not currently required by most schools and many teams. Protect your teeth with a sports mouth guard. Dr. Christopher Lee will custom-fit your mouth guard to keep you safe while you play.
Dental Hygiene
It is recommended to brush your teeth at least twice a day with a soft bristle toothbrush and floss daily to prevent the build-up of plaque and tooth decay.
If possible, use products containing fluoride to help strengthen teeth.
It is important to keep up with regular professional cleanings from your dentist to prevent oral problems from occurring.
Your dentist’s top priority is to provide you with the highest level of service and quality dental care. In order for you to maintain proper oral health, this level of quality needs to extend to your personal oral hygiene routine.
Taking good care of your teeth at home can help you prevent periodontal disease, tooth decay, and other oral health problems from developing.
Also, keeping a balanced diet and reducing the number of unhealthy snacks you eat can contribute to a healthy smile. Eating too many snacks filled with sugar can put you at a greater risk for tooth decay. If possible, drink a glass of water after every meal and snack to wash down these sugars if brushing your teeth isn’t an option after food intake.
Your dental office can help you establish a dental hygiene routine that will keep your teeth healthy and white.
Diagnosing Periodontal Disease
Periodontal disease is diagnosed by our dentist or hygienist through a series of tests.
First, we will check the depth of the gum pockets between your teeth and gums. Next, we will check for inflammation, bleeding, loose teeth, and bone loss.
Based on our findings, we will determine the stage of your periodontal disease and recommend your treatment.
Stages of Periodontal Disease
Gingivitis: the first stage of periodontal disease, characterized by inflamed, tender, bleeding gums, and plaque build-up.
Periodontitis: the second stage of periodontal disease, characterized by plaque hardening into calculus (tartar), gum recession, deepening gum pockets, and early stages of bone loss.
Advanced Periodontitis: the final stage of periodontal disease, characterized by destruction of gums, bone, and ligament tissues, loosening and loss of teeth, and more severe bone loss.
fluoride treatment
Your dentist may offer fluoride treatment to prevent tooth decay for patients. Fluoride helps by making the tooth more resistant to the buildup of plaque and sugars. It can also speed re-mineralization as well as disrupt acid erosion in teeth.
Fluoride can be applied to the teeth as a gel, foam, or varnish. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), ffluoride recommendations vary depending on a person’s age. During this time, primary and permanent teeth are developing. Fluoride becomes incorporated into the development of permanent teeth, making it difficult for acids to demineralize the teeth.
Adults can benefit from fluoride as well to fight tooth decay and strengthen teeth. People with the following oral health conditions are more susceptible to decay and may especially benefit from fluoride treatment:
- Dry mouth
- Gum disease
- History of frequent cavities
- Presence of crowns and/or bridges
- Undergoing orthodontic treatment
In addition to receiving fluoride treatment at your dental office, it can be directly applied to the teeth through fluoridated kinds of toothpaste and mouth rinses. Mouth rinses containing fluoride in lower strengths are available over-the-counter. However, stronger mouth rinses can be provided by a doctor’s prescription. Fluoride can also be found in public water supplies.
Night Guards
Unconscious grinding of the teeth during sleep is a condition known as bruxism. If you are grinding your teeth in your sleep most nights, you should contact our office for a night guard.
A night guard is a removable dental appliance that is similar to an athletic mouth guard. It provides a barrier between your top and bottom teeth to protect them while you sleep.
Dr. Christopher Lee will custom fit your night guard to ensure your comfort and safety. Night guards can protect your teeth from wear, gum irritation, enamel damage, and jaw pain.
At your appointment, Dr. Christopher Lee will discuss other ways to help reduce or eliminate night grinding. This may include avoiding chewing gum, alcohol, and caffeine, as these increase the risks of grinding.
If you suspect you may have issues with teeth grinding, contact our office for an appointment.
Scaling And Root Planing (Deep Cleaning)
Periodontal disease is very treatable, but cannot be fully cured. If you are diagnosed with periodontal disease, we may recommend a treatment called a “deep cleaning”, better known as scaling and root planing.
With this treatment our dental hygienist or dentist may use a topical or local numbing agent to ensure you are comfortable. During the procedure, we gently remove plaque, bacteria, and tartar that is attached to the root structure and within the deeper periodontal pockets. This helps the tissue to stabilize and heal.
The goal of the procedure is to minimize bleeding and inflammation caused by the bacteria and tartar, while helping to prevent further bone loss and tissue fiber destruction.
After the completion of your scaling and root planing treatment, you will be scheduled for regular ongoing maintenance care. These visits will involve a thorough professional cleaning and monitoring of your oral health to ensure the disease does not recur and progress further.
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