Preventive Services
What are Dental Exams & Cleanings?
Keeping your teeth healthy and clean requires more than diligent brushing and flossing at home. In many cases, plaque will build upon different areas of the teeth, hardening into a chalky white substance known as tartar. The only safe way to remove tartar buildup is with a professional cleaning performed by a registered hygienist. Exams are necessary as well, since they give us a view of your dental and oral health to prevent issues from getting worse.
Laser Frenectomy – How Does It Work?
A soft tissue laser does not cut. Instead, it vaporizes tissue with light energy almost painlessly. In addition, the laser procedure causes almost no bleeding. Lasers sterilize at the touch and therefore cause less risk of infection. Healing is very quick—a laser stimulates bio-regeneration. The result is beautiful tissue and less chance of relapse.
Tongue Tie
What Does It Really Mean?
Ankyloglossia, or tongue-tie, is the restriction of tongue movement as a result of fusion or adherence of the tongue to the floor of the mouth. A tongue-tie is caused by a frenum that is abnormally short or attached too close to the tip of the tongue.
Normal tongue function is important for multiple reasons. Among the many benefits, normal tongue function allows a baby to latch adequately and breastfeed efficiently, promotes normal speech development, makes it possible for a child to self-cleanse the mouth during eating, supports adequate swallowing patterns, allows for proper growth and development, and makes fun little things like eating ice cream, kissing, or sticking your tongue out to catch snowflakes possible.
Challenges That Can Occur With A Tongue-Tie
- Inability to open mouth widely, affecting speech and eating habits
- Inability to speak clearly when talking fast/loud/soft
- Clicking jaws
- Pain in jaws
- Protrusion of the lower jaw (inferior prognathism)
- Effects on social situations such as kissing, licking ice cream
- Dental health complications such as a tendency toward inflamed gums and increased need for periodontal surgery
- In the elderly, difficulty in keeping a denture in place
Lip Tie
How Can A Lip-Tie Affect My Child?
A LIP-TIE OCCURS WHEN THE UPPER LIP REMAINS ATTACHED TO THE UPPER GUM. CHALLENGES THAT CAN OCCUR IN CHILDREN AND INFANTS WITH MODERATE TO SEVERE LIP-TIES INCLUDE:
- Pain with breastfeeding
- Inability to adequately flange the maxillary lip upward during breastfeeding, affecting an infant’s latch and ability to create a good seal
- Formation of a large gap between the maxillary central incisors, called a diastema
- Difficulties with brushing and flossing
- Increased risk of dental decay
- Repeated trauma to the maxillary frenum because it is so low and prominent
Why are Dental Exams & Cleanings necessary?
Even with the best brushing habits, you can still benefit from a professional cleaning. Exams are just as necessary, since they can alert us of minor problems so that treatment is both easier and more effective. Cleanings help to prevent gum disease and tooth decay when done regularly. It's never too late to start taking better care of your smile with routine preventative treatment.
How often should you come in for Dental Exams & Cleanings?
We recommend coming into our office once every six months to keep up with your dental health. If you have children, try to get them in for their first appointment as soon as possible. If it's been a long time since your last cleaning, it's never too late to start loving your smile. We offer care in a judgement-free and relaxed manner.
What can you expect at the appointment for Dental Exams & Cleanings?
The appointment will begin with a professional cleaning. This is performed by a licensed registered dental hygienist who uses special instruments to clear away heavy tartar buildup and surface stains. Your teeth are then polished and carefully flossed before the gums are checked for signs of inflammation or infection. Once the cleaning has been completed, we come in to perform the exam. The exam allows us to check for signs of tooth decay, loose or broken restorations and even oral cancer. To make your future appointments easier, we'll pre-schedule them before you leave the office.
If you think you might benefit from a cleaning and exam, call our office today so that one of our helpful staff members can further assist you.
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