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Preventative Procedures
Preventative care is an integral part of our practice. Maintaining good oral hygiene is one of the most important things that you can do for your teeth and gums. Healthy teeth not only enable you to look and feel good, they make it possible for you to eat and speak properly. Good oral health is important to your overall well being. Promoting health through preventative dentistry and educating our patients on good oral hygiene is the heart of our practice. Thorough examinations and professional cleanings allow us to identify problem areas and stop periodontal disease.
Oral Hygiene & Periodontal Disease
WHAT IS PERIODONTITIS?
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When bacteria cause inflammation of the gums it is called “gingivitis”. The gums are usually red, swollen and can bleed easily. Gingivitis is a mild form of gum disease that can usually be treated with daily brushing, flossing and regular cleaning by a dentist or dental hygienist. However, when gingivitis is not treated it can progress to “periodontitis” which means inflammation around the tooth. The gums will pull away from the teeth and form “pockets” that are infected. The body’s natural response is to fight the bacteria as it spreads below the gum line. The combination of the bacterial toxins and the body’s enzymes fighting the infection start to break down the bone and connective tissue that holds the teeth firmly in place. If this condition is not treated, the bones, gums and connective tissue that support the teeth are destroyed. This may lead to the teeth becoming loose and needing to be removed.
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What Can You Do To Prevent Gum Disease
- Brush your teeth twice a day
- As part of your brushing routine floss every day
- Visit the dentist routinely for a check-up and professional cleaning
- Eat a well balanced diet
- Don’t smoke as this contributes to gum disease and makes treatment more difficult
Quite often symptoms go unnoticed until the disease is advanced. Some of the signs you can look out for include:
- Bad breath that won't go away
- Red or swollen gums
- Tender or bleeding gums
- Painful chewing
- Loose teeth
- Sensitive teeth
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Any of these symptoms may signal a serious problem, which should be checked by a dentist. The main goal of treatment is to control the infection. The treatment will vary depending on the extent of the gum disease. However, the best treatment requires that the patient keep up a good oral hygiene plan at home. Additionally, quitting smoking and healthy eating will improve treatment outcomes.
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Our hygiene department has the most up to date methods in preventing periodontal disease. This includes periodontal screening tests and the highest technology digital x-ray system with ultra high magnification to see even the smallest areas of plaque or calculus. This x-ray system reduces the effects of x-radiation by up to 90%. Our highly trained periodontal hygienist records the measurement of gum recession and evaluation of potential bone loss early on. Each visit these things are re-evaluated. Most importantly the cleanings and scalings are performed in the most meticulous manner. All this is done in a relaxed atmosphere catering to the patients needs. We also have topical solutions to decrease sensitivity to scaling by lightly anesthetizing the gums. We have many prophy aids to further assist the patient with home care i.e. rubber tips, floss threaders, proxabrushes, fluoride treatments and denture adhesive. We also give each patient a complementary gift bag of a top of the line tooth brush, floss and sample tooth paste.
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