During your initial appointment, your gums and bone supporting the teeth will be checked for disease, radiographs will be taken to look for cavities, and an oral cancer screening will be performed. This will allow us to develop a plan in order to provide the best possible care for your oral health.
Cleaning and Polishing: The cleaning will consist of the removal of plaque (sticky film on your teeth) and calculus (plaque that has hardened over time) from your teeth. The presence of plaque and calculus causes inflammation and if left untreated can lead to gum disease.
A full set of digital radiographs is performed once a year unless your dentist recommends otherwise. These images are crucial for giving the dentist the information that is not always seen in the exam such as decay in between teeth, bone loss, abscesses, and other pathology hiding within the teeth and bone.
A sealant is a clear coating that is applied to the chewing surface of back teeth, where decay is most common. A sealant prevents decay by covering grooves on these teeth preventing decay from forming in these areas. Sealants are most beneficial on permanent molars of children and adults with a high cavity risk.
Fluoride is a natural mineral that has been proven to help fight and even reverse the decay process. Fluoride is often found in drinking water, foods, toothpastes and other dental products. Fluoride has been found to be beneficial for both children and adults in fighting tooth decay and strengthening developing teeth.
