Flossing allows you to reach and clean 40% more of your tooth surface.
Your dental appointment will begin with a thorough cleaning from your dental hygienist. Plaque, tartar and bacteria will be cleaned, and your teeth will be gently polished and flossed to ensure that your smile is bright, beautiful, and healthy.
If it has been a little while since you had x-rays taken, or if your dentist believes there are hidden issues with your teeth, x-rays may be administered. With these images, our team can see potential issues hiding below the gum line and within teeth.
Your dentist will then examine your teeth, gums, and mouth for any signs of oral health issues, like cavities, gum disease, and abnormalities of the tissues. A close examination of your x-rays will ensure that every potential problem has been exposed.
As you continue your exam, your dentist will share the state of your oral health along with any potential problems that they detect. Your dentist will develop a treatment plan that’s fit to serve your unique needs. Finally, your dentist will offer recommendations to resolve the issues and the best treatment options for your lifestyle and budget.
Our team is happy to schedule your next appointment if you are in need of a follow-up for a simple filling, more complex restorative work, or a cosmetic treatment. Schedule your next cleaning in 6 months to keep your smile in great shape for years to come.
Routine teeth cleaning appointments can ensure your smile remains healthy and strong. We recommend scheduling an appointment every six months so that our dental hygienist can address and remove minor stains, plaque, and bacteria.
Taking care of your oral hygiene at home is equally important. Be sure to brush at least twice a day for two minutes using fluoride-based toothpaste. Flossing once per day can remove food particles, plaque, and bacteria that can’t be removed with brushing alone.
After your teeth cleaning, your dentist will apply a layer of fluoride-rich varnish directly to your teeth. This varnish is left in place to take effect.
Once the treatment is complete, minerals like calcium and phosphates will bond to your teeth, strengthening and “remineralizing” them, to prevent the formation of cavities.
Patients of all ages can enjoy the cavity-fighting benefits of dental sealants. Made up of a layer of liquid dental resin, sealants are applied directly to the rear teeth, because their deep crevices are more prone to cavities.
After the resin is applied, it is hardened using a UV light to create a strong, transparent barrier that blocks food debris, acid, and bacteria from coming into contact with your enamel. A strong dental sealant can prevent the formation of cavities for up to 10 years.
Patients who struggle with gum disease require periodontal care as a key component of their preventive dentistry. “Gingivitis” is known as the first stage of gum disease. It can be reversed with specialized cleanings and proper at-home oral hygiene. Visiting your dentist for regular checkups is crucial. This way, your dentist can monitor your oral health and ensure gingivitis is at bay.
Patients with more advanced cases of gum disease can support their oral health with more frequent, deep cleanings scheduled every 3 months. Routine periodontal maintenance can halt the progression of the disease and keep their oral health under control.
A crucial part of preventive care includes oral cancer screenings. Catching oral cancer in its early stages before it spreads and becomes more serious can save a patient's life. Your dentist can detect early signs by performing an oral exam at your biannual dental appointments.
By examining your mouth, gums, and oral tissues, your dentist will look for discolored patches, lumps, growths, and other similar abnormalities. A biopsy can be taken and sent to a specialist for further analysis, or your dentist will refer you to a specialist directly, in the rare case that an issue is found. Your dentist will become familiar with your oral health if you visit consistently, which will allow them to more easily notice when there may be something wrong.
Regular flossing allows you to clean an additional 40% of your tooth surface.
Tooth enamel is the hardest part of your entire body.
Gum disease is a completely preventable disease that is caused by a buildup of plaque and tartar around the gum line. This is a result of poor oral hygiene, which is a good thing because that means that avoiding and treating gum disease is well within your control.
Prevention starts at home, with your regular oral hygiene routine. Are you brushing and flossing frequently, thoroughly, and for long enough? To thoroughly remove plaque and food particles, you should brush your teeth in the morning when you wake up and at night before bed for at least 2 minutes with a soft bristle toothbrush and fluoride toothpaste.
You should also be brushing your tongue, ideally with a tongue scraper, but a toothbrush will also work. This removes bacteria that is harbored by the tongue. Many people forget to or avoid flossing, but this is not a good idea.
Most cavities are caused by a lack of flossing, which is why they form between the teeth. However, this plaque buildup that is never removed by flossing can also harden into tartar, causing gum disease.
Floss between each of your teeth once a day, preferably before you brush your teeth. Studies show this is the most effective way to remove all plaque and food particles. You should also avoid lifestyle habits that increase your risk of developing gum disease, such as smoking, having uncontrolled diabetes, and eating a diet high in sugar.
You should be going to the dentist every 6 months for regular preventative check ups and dental cleanings. This is the case even if you are an expert at maintaining good oral hygiene at home. You could have an underlying dental condition that you’re unaware of or be at risk for decay that can be stopped with a checkup and treatment.
However, you wouldn’t be aware of this unless you went to the dentist and got an x-ray. X-rays reveal issues that are not necessarily visible to the naked eye. Some people will require more frequent dental visits if they have a higher risk of developing cavities and gum disease.
This might include people with diabetes, dry mouth, a history of advanced gum disease, and pregnant women. If you haven’t been to the dentist in the past 6 months, contact us at Bayview Dental to schedule an appointment with Dr. Eric Youngner.
Before we start the cleaning, Dr. Youngner will perform a physical exam, where he will look for signs of certain oral health problems such as cavities, gum disease, and oral cancer. Then, a scaler or ultrasonic cleaner will be used to scrape away plaque and tartar from around the gum line.
This is an important step, as tartar can only be removed at the dentist and this is the greatest predictor of gum disease. Plaque, if left untreated, will harden into tartar within 72 hours. Your teeth will then be brushed with a powerful electric toothbrush and gritty toothpaste.
Your teeth will be flossed to remove any left-behind pood particles and toothpaste. After rinsing your mouth to remove any debris, a fluoride varnish will be applied to your teeth to remineralize them and protect against cavities.
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