Preventive Dentistry

A Perfect Smile Starts with Preventive Dentistry

Perfection does not come overnight. It is the result of lots of small things done right, regularly.
That is why we provide Preventive Dentistry to protect your teeth and gums from threats like cavities, gingivitis, enamel loss, and periodontitis.

Good dental hygiene also reduces the risk of secondary health problems linked to poor oral health, including gum disease, heart disease, and diabetes. The health of your mouth affects your entire system — so we take your preventive care seriously.

Annual checkups and x-rays are the most important part of your preventive treatment and care in the office. They help us find and ward off potential problems before they become major issues. Professional cleanings eliminate plaque and stains that can not be removed by your home oral care — even those from your morning coffee! We also create custom mouth guards for patients who grind their teeth, or snore guards to help alleviate snoring.

Based on your current oral health and long-term goals, we design a customized preventive treatment plan just for you. We understand that many people dislike the dental office experience. That is why we go out of our way to make sure your regular visits are as comfortable as possible.

Keeping your teeth and gums healthy through preventive dentistry is a critical part of maintaining your good oral and overall health. Doesn’t that sound perfect?

Keep Smiling with Preventive Care

Annual Checkups

Prevention begins with an annual checkup, which includes x-rays and a thorough exam by Dr. Simon.

Your Exam:
Detailed evaluation of your teeth and underlying bone.
Oral cancer screening.
TMJ evaluation, the temporo-mandibular joints that connect your jawbone to your skull.
Gum evaluation, which includes measuring all gum pockets and the amount of recession to determine the extent or progression of gum disease.
Evaluation of all existing restorations.
Soft tissues evaluation, including tongue, pharynx, cheeks, floor of mouth, etc.

Following your exam, Dr. Simon will go over with you in detail any issues that require treatment. Then, you will create a personalized treatment plan together — taking into account your condition, needs, goals, schedule, and financial/insurance situation.

Cleanings

Periodic routine cleanings (also called “prophylaxis”) are what most patients without gum disease or who may only have gingivitis receive.

Under the gentle care of our professionally-trained hygienists, hand and ultrasonic instruments are used to remove plaque, tartar and stains from above the gumline. Flossing follows to stimulate the gums, then polishing to keep things smooth and to prevent plaque from accumulating on rough surfaces. In certain instances, we even use our soft tissue laser to disinfect the gums in hard-to-reach areas. Before you leave, you receive detailed home hygiene instructions to keep your teeth and gums healthy on a daily basis.

If you are diagnosed with periodontal (gum and bone) disease, we provide scaling and root planing, most commonly known as “deep cleanings”. This is followed by routine “periodontal maintenance” cleanings to slow periodontal disease progression, reduce or control inflammation, and help prevent further damage to your teeth, gums, and underlying bone.

Fluoride and Sealants

For additional cavity prevention, we may recommend dental sealants or fluoride treatments. These are long-lasting, simple, fast, and painless preventive procedures that coat your teeth in an additional layer of protection against tooth decay and bacteria. They can be an effective way to ward off cavities, sensitivity issues, and future restorative dental treatment.