Maintaining a Healthy Smile
Maintaining an appealing smile and healthy mouth can be relatively easy. A good (not necessarily perfect) home care program and regular check-ups go a long way to prevent complex and expensive dental treatment.
Caries (tooth decay) and Periodontal (gum) disease are the two main diseases of the mouth. Both are caused by a film of bacteria that we all have living on our teeth or roots; we call the film of bacteria “plaque” or more technically “Dental Biofilm.” Tooth decay causes breakdown of teeth and can be unsightly. Gum disease causes bone to be lost around the roots. Both diseases can lead to premature and unnecessary loss of teeth.
Preventative dental care extends from our office to your home, keeping your teeth healthy by eliminating plaque and tartar and the practice of daily routines to keep your teeth at their best.
Initial Oral Examination
Your treatment will begin with a personal interview and exam. Prior to your first appointment, we ask that you prepare any questions and goals you have for your personal dental care. We want and expect you to be a participant in your care so that you can be as healthy as possible.
Typically, we recommend regular cleaning/checkups every 6 months and x-rays once a year for our patients. For patients with special treatment needs, the recommended schedule for office visits may be more frequent to ensure optimal oral health.
Dental Hygiene
Regular exams and teeth cleanings will remove tartar and calculus in places that you can’t reach through brushing and flossing. In addition to regular office visits, daily brushing and flossing will help keep dental plaque and calculus to a minimum, maintaining a bright, healthy smile.
An important part of our practice at Tualatin Dental Care is instructing patients in the best at-home dental hygiene habits that result in a healthy smile for life. We will teach you step-by-step the best ways to brush and clean in between your teeth.
Periodontal Treatment
Periodontal is a broad term used to describe various diseases that affect the gums, bone and surrounding structures of the teeth. As we age, gum disease becomes increasingly prevalent with as much as 80% of adults affected in some way. Gingivitis (inflamed gums) and periodontitis (active gum disease) are the most common adult types of periodontal disease. Both are caused by bacteria (plaque or dental biofilm) and are virtually painless in earlier stages. Early warning signs include bleeding, red, tender or swollen gums.
In advanced disease one may experience bad breath or taste, loose or shifting teeth and changes in your bite. If left untreated, periodontal disease often leads to premature tooth loss. It has been implicated as a contributing factor in diabetes, heart attack, stroke and associated with premature childbirth. The severity of periodontal disease varies from person to person. The Doctors and dental hygienists will thoroughly examine your mouth and if needed, provide you with a treatment plan made specifically for you.
One final note, remember the health of your gums and bone is even more important than how your teeth look, it is the foundation for everything you see above the gum line. It is paramount that your gums and bone are healthy before starting an extensive or complex restorative case.
Fluoride Treatment
You may want to invest in fluoride treatment as part of your overall dental care. Fluoride treatments aid in preventing tooth decay by making your teeth more resistant to acid attacks from plaque, bacteria, and sugars in the mouth. Fluoride helps to re-mineralize teeth that have been affected by bacterial acids and can slow cavity progression.
Sealants
Brushing and flossing are critical to good dental health, but often can’t reach food particles and plaque in the grooves of the chewing surfaces in your teeth. Sealants help to protect these depressions and grooves through a simple procedure in which a tooth-colored resin “coating” is applied onto the surface of the tooth. A sealant acts as a barrier and aids in protecting chewing surface enamel from plaque and acids to prevent decay. While generally effective, sealants often breakdown, can be partially or completely lost and should be replaced every five (5) years.
Sealants
Brushing and flossing are critical to good dental health, but often can’t reach food particles and plaque in the grooves of the chewing surfaces in your teeth. Sealants help to protect these depressions and grooves through a simple procedure in which a tooth-colored resin “coating” is applied onto the surface of the tooth. A sealant acts as a barrier and aids in protecting chewing surface enamel from plaque and acids to prevent decay. While generally effective, sealants often breakdown, can be partially or completely lost and should be replaced every five (5) years.
Diagnodent- Laser Cavity Detector
Believe it or not, but the widespread use of fluoride has made finding and restoring cavities in their early development more challenging than ever. Fluoride hardens the outer enamel layer, which means decay has a difficult time gaining a foothold. As a result, cavities are typically smaller and can be much harder to diagnose. In the “good ol’ days”, a dental explorer would catch in the cavity or it would show up on X-ray. Now, small cavities routinely go undetected. We use the Diagnodent laser cavity detector to help us find these small cavities. By diagnosing decay early in its development, we can prevent more extensive damage. Your restorations will be smaller and less costly and you’ll be able to retain more of your own natural tooth.