How often should I have a dental exam and cleaning?

You should have your teeth checked and cleaned at least twice a year, though your dentist or dental hygienist may recommend more frequent visits.

Regular dental exams and cleaning visits are essential in preventing dental problems and maintaining the health of your teeth and gums.  At these visits, your teeth are cleaned and checked for cavities.  Additionally, there are many other things that are checked and monitored to help detect, prevent, and maintain your dental health.  These include:

• Medical history review: Knowing the status of any current medical conditions, new medications, and illnesses, gives us insight to your overall health and also your dental health.
• Examination of diagnostic x-rays (radiographs): Essential for detection of decay, tumors, cysts, and bone loss.  X-rays also help determine tooth and root positions.
• Oral cancer screening: Check the face, neck, lips, tongue, throat, tissues, and gums for any signs of oral cancer.
• Gum disease evaluation: Check the gums and bone around the teeth for any signs of periodontal disease.
• Examination of tooth decay: All tooth surfaces will be checked for decay with special dental instruments.
• Examination of existing restorations: Check current fillings, crowns, etc.
• Removal of calculus (tartar): Calculus is hardened plaque that has been left on the tooth for sometime and is now firmly attached to the tooth surface.  Calculus forms above and below the gum line, and can only be removed with special dental instruments.
• Removal of plaque: Plaque is a sticky, almost invisible film that forms on the teeth.  It is a growing colony of living bacteria, food debris, and saliva.  The bacteria produce toxins (poisons) that inflame the gums.  This inflammation is the start of periodontal disease!
• Teeth polishing: Removes stain and plaque that is not otherwise removed during toothbrushing and scaling.
• Oral hygiene recommendations: Review and recommend oral hygiene aids as needed (electric dental toothbrushes, special cleaning aids, fluorides, rinses, etc.).
• Review dietary habits: Your eating habits play a very important role in your dental health.

As you can see, a good dental exam and cleaning involves quite a lot more than just checking for cavities and polishing your teeth.  We are committed to providing you with the best possible care, and to do so will require regular check-ups and cleanings.

What are porcelain veneers and how can they improve my smile?

Porcelain veneers are very thin shells of tooth-shaped porcelain that are individually crafted to cover the fronts of teeth.  They are very durable and will not stain, making them a very popular solution for those seeking to restore or enhance the beauty of their smile.
Veneers may be used to restore or correct the following dental conditions:

• Severely discolored or stained teeth
• Unwanted or uneven spaces
• Worn or chipped teeth
• Slight tooth crowding
• Misshapen teeth
• Teeth that are too small or large

Getting veneers usually requires two visits.  Veneers are created from an impression (mold) of your teeth that is then sent to a professional dental laboratory where each veneer is custom-made (for shape and color) for your individual smile.
With little or no anesthesia, teeth are prepared by lightly buffing and shaping the front surface of the teeth to allow for the small thickness of veneers.  The veneers are carefully fitted and bonded onto the tooth surface with special bonding cements and occasionally a specialized light may be used to harden and set the bond.
Veneers are an excellent dental treatment that can dramatically improve your teeth and give you a natural, beautiful smile.

Flossing is considered the major part of a dental hygiene practice. It aids to remove plaque and food particles between the teeth or below the gumline that a normal toothbrush cannot easily reach. The build-up of plaque or debris in the mouth generally causes bleeding gums, tooth decay, bad breath, gingivitis and other adverse problems. It is thereby highly recommended to regularly brush and floss teeth for a healthy and attractive smile. Some of the key flossing tips include:

Flossing can be performed using PTFE or single filament thread which facilitates to perfectly slide between the teeth with tight spaces and is also shred resistant while waxed nylon floss when compared to unwaxed versions is idle for easier movement. It is however important to thoroughly evaluate the use of both techniques before using them on the teeth.

The other prime flossing tips is to always begin from the upper portion by progressing from one end to the other. It is essential to gently move the floss in a forward and backward motion since rigorous movement could bruise the gumline. Besides this, it is required to clean only between the teeth and not the gum. On the other hand, individuals with bleeding or weak gums can use desensitizing tooth products that help to lower the sensitiveness of the dentin to a great extent. It would also be suitable to use oral anti-bacterial rinse as prescribed by a dentist to eliminate plaque.

Another alternative flossing tips for sensitive and painful gums is the powerful water picks method that allows flushing out food particles especially from rigid areas. However, this needs to be implemented under the direct supervision of an expert. In addition it is required to follow a healthy diet and reduce the intake of sweetened products to control hardened or bleeding gums.

Since the use of the same section could only spread bacteria all around the mouth instead of clearing the debris. Thus, it is vital to move to a new floss segment for each tooth. During the process, it is beneficial to wrap an 18-inch strand around the middle fingers. Following this, a 1-inch section needs to be held between the forefingers and thumb. This will assist in performing the cleaning process in an effective and less strenuous way. It would also be perfect to slightly curve the thread to eliminate particles stuck at the surface of the tooth. It is mandatory to always rinse the mouth with cool water or a mild mouthwash to remove any leftover food particles after the cleaning procedure. Therefore the proper practice of these flossing tips will enable to keep the mouth fresh and attain pearly white teeth.

By mnlewis

A Positive Experience

Building a foundation of trust by treating our patients as special individuals is vital to our success. We understand how uneasy some patients may feel about their dental visits, and know we can make a difference by providing a relaxing and positive experience. Our entire team is dedicated to providing you with excellent, personalized care and service to make your visits as comfortable and pleasant as possible.

NO Dental Insurance..., No problem Please ask us about Hart's Dental Plan- Includes 2 exams xrays and regular cleanings per year and discounts on your treatment up to 25% disclaimer: for non insured patients/some restrictions apply.

A standard of excellence in personalized dental care enables us to provide the quality dental services our patients deserve. We provide comprehensive treatment planning and use restorative and cosmetic dentistry to achieve your optimal dental health.

To contribute to your overall health through dentistry is our mission, creating beautiful smiles is our passion.

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