Preventative Dental Procedures
Preventative Dental Procedures
Importance of Oral Hygiene
Good oral hygiene is extremely important not only for your self-esteem but also for your overall health. To keep proper oral hygiene it is important to not only correct oral hygiene at home but also to maintain regular visits with your dentist. For most people regular visits to your dentist is once every 6 months. At this appointment the dental hygienist will clean parts of your teeth which you can’t reach at home.
What is Dental Plaque?
Dental Plaque is a thin soft film material that forms on your teeth and is a combination of food debris and bacteria. The only way to remove dental plaque is to brush your teeth twice a day and to floss once a day to remove the dental plaque that gets in between your teeth. When dental plaque is not removed by proper oral hygiene home care, it can hardens and turns into tarter which then eventually can lead to a more serious conditions like cavities and Periodontal Disease or Gum Disease.
Preventative Services at Alpha Dental Care
Teeth
Cleanings - For healthy gums patient may only need to come in for dental cleanings once every six months. Some patients who need a little more care may need to come every 3-4 months.
Fluoride - A mineral that is applied as a rinse or a varnish. This mineral help prevent tooth decay and strengthen teeth. Fluoride treatments are usually done for adolescents and children 15 years of age and younger.
Sealants - A plastic material that is placed in the deep groves of your back teeth that help prevent decay from forming. Some people just have natural deep grooves in their back teeth. These deep grooves can be traps for food debris and bacteria which forms plaque. Since the grooves are so deep it can be hard to clean which makes it highly acceptable to decay. The clear sealant material is placed in the deep groves of the tooth to prevent the grooves from trapping the food and bacteria. These sealants are usually placed with children who have newly erupting permanent or adult teeth coming in. It is best if sealants are placed within six months after the teeth have erupted.
Digital X-rays
- Used for diagnostic purpose.
Types of x-rays:
- FMX (Full Mouth Series) - Twenty x-rays taken of the whole mouth.
- Periapical X-rays- usually taken of just an individual tooth to show the crown of the tooth to the root of the tooth.
- Bitewings- used to show the interproximal areas on the molar teeth.
- Panoramic- One film that shows the whole mouth, upper and lower arches.
