Preventative Care

Sealants are a dental treatment where a plastic material is placed in the pits, fissures or chewing surfaces of molars (and sometimes bicuspids).  Their purpose is to act as a barrier to prevent cavities.

Flouride is an interesting mineral because it attracts other minerals and strengthens tooth enamel.  At your check-up, we can determine whether your teeth would benefit from a fluoride supplement.  We offer supplemental fluoride for patients of all ages and can advise the best solution to meet your needs.

In the United States, one person dies from oral cancer every hour and 115 Americans are newly diagnosed with oral cancer every day.  As with other cancers, early detection is crucial.  Some of the most common causes are:

• Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)
• Tobacco use of any kind
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Excessive sun exposure to the lips
• Poor fitting dentures

Mention any changes you notice to your professional at the office of Advanced Dental Professionals.  Together, you and your dental professional are the best prevention you have against oral cancer.

Many people suffer from bruxism or teeth-grinding.  Occasional bruxism does not usually cause harm, but when teeth grinding occurs on a regular basis, the teeth can be damaged and other oral health complications may develop.  The causes of bruxism vary but most damage occurs during sleep and a person may be unaware of the grinding.

We can fit you with a mouth guard to protect your teeth from grinding during sleep.  The procedure is fairly simple – an impression of your teeth will be taken and sent to a lab.  We work together to create a custom guard for you and ensure it fits properly.

Good oral hygiene is important, not only for aesthetics but for general health.  Poor oral hygiene can lead to a variety of oral and general health problems such as gum disease, infection, tooth decay, bone loss, heart disease, oral cancer and more.  Regular cleanings and checkups can help prevent these problems.

There are different levels of cleaning, depending on the needs of the patient:

Prophylaxis: (regular dental cleaning) involves removing the sticky, soft bacteria infested plaque and tartar that have deposited on the teeth. If the deposits are allowed to accumulate on the teeth it will allow the bacteria to grow close to the gum line, causing disease.

The purpose of a cleaning is to leave the tooth structure clean, smooth and bacteria free.  This is a preventative treatment.

Debridement: this treatment removes heavier deposits from above and below the gum line to allow the dentist to effectively evaluate the patient’s periodontal (gum and bone) health and to properly assess the condition of the teeth. This is the first step to treating disease.

Scaling and Root Planing: this is a non-surgical treatment performed when periodontal disease is present. It is also called a “deep” or “periodontal” cleaning and may involve the use of local anesthetic.

The deposits are removed from the tooth structure, including the root surface in “deeper” pockets.  The root surfaces are then smoothed to help prevent further build-up.  This procedure helps gum tissue to heal and periodontal pockets to shrink.