Dental Hygiene/Periodontal Health
Your mouth is a window to your body and your entire health! We take this very seriously and will show you how to meticulously clean your teeth, tongue, and gums lowering the overall amount of bacteria in your mouth and body.
If we feel that you are suffering from gingivitis or more severe gum disease, periodontitis, we may recommend a root scaling and planing- these are separate appointments that focus on treating and preventing periodontits, a gum disease that causes you to lose your teeth and increases your risks of heart disease. All of which we want you to avoid!
There are two factors to poor gum (periodontal) health. The first we can all control, it is from plaque and bacteria that we can remove daily. The second is genetics, we may inherit the ability to have gum problems much easier and may require more dental visits even with meticulous oral hygiene-not fair!
Oral Cancer Screenings
During your dental exam, we will always check your entire mouth and oral tissues for any irregular lumps, red or white patches, or recurring sore areas.
Screening for early changes in the mouth can help detect areas before they turn into cancer at a stage when they can be more easily and successfully treated.
Smoking, especially combined with daily alcohol consumption is the primary risk factor for oral cancer. In fact, this combination is estimated to be the most likely trigger in about 75 percent of oral cancers diagnosed in this country. Some individuals do still develop oral cancer with no risk factors. HPV or Human Papilloma Virus is a newly linked risk factor that can turn on certain types of oral and cervical cancers. We highly recommend all parents discuss the new HPV vaccine with their healthcare providers to help stop the transmission of this virus.
Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure in which the dentist and hygienist ensure that your mouth is numb and then removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line. This removes the bacteria that are causing periodontal disease. Root surfaces are cleaned, smoothed, and disinfected with specially designed instruments and techniques. It is important to remove plaque and tartar from pockets because, aside from the bacterial toxins that irritate the gums, plaque and the rough surfaces of tartar make it easier for bacteria to gain a foothold. The inflammation in the gum tissues caused from bacteria cause a higher level of inflammation in your body and blood vessels. There are scientific studies that relate gum disease to higher risks of heart disease which is a very multifactoral disease.
If we feel that you are suffering from gingivitis or more severe gum disease, periodontitis, we may recommend a root scaling and planing- these are separate appointments that focus on treating and preventing periodontits, a gum disease that causes you to lose your teeth and increases your risks of heart disease. All of which we want you to avoid!
There are two factors to poor gum (periodontal) health. The first we can all control, it is from plaque and bacteria that we can remove daily. The second is genetics, we may inherit the ability to have gum problems much easier and may require more dental visits even with meticulous oral hygiene-not fair!
Oral Cancer Screenings
During your dental exam, we will always check your entire mouth and oral tissues for any irregular lumps, red or white patches, or recurring sore areas.
Screening for early changes in the mouth can help detect areas before they turn into cancer at a stage when they can be more easily and successfully treated.
Smoking, especially combined with daily alcohol consumption is the primary risk factor for oral cancer. In fact, this combination is estimated to be the most likely trigger in about 75 percent of oral cancers diagnosed in this country. Some individuals do still develop oral cancer with no risk factors. HPV or Human Papilloma Virus is a newly linked risk factor that can turn on certain types of oral and cervical cancers. We highly recommend all parents discuss the new HPV vaccine with their healthcare providers to help stop the transmission of this virus.
Scaling & Root Planing
Scaling and root planing is a non-surgical procedure in which the dentist and hygienist ensure that your mouth is numb and then removes plaque and tartar from below the gum line. This removes the bacteria that are causing periodontal disease. Root surfaces are cleaned, smoothed, and disinfected with specially designed instruments and techniques. It is important to remove plaque and tartar from pockets because, aside from the bacterial toxins that irritate the gums, plaque and the rough surfaces of tartar make it easier for bacteria to gain a foothold. The inflammation in the gum tissues caused from bacteria cause a higher level of inflammation in your body and blood vessels. There are scientific studies that relate gum disease to higher risks of heart disease which is a very multifactoral disease.