Dental Hygiene and Cleanings

dental hygiene & cleaningGood dental hygiene and oral health is now directly linked to better overall health. Regular cleanings, check-ups and maintenance are not only important to prevent cavities and dental diseases, but are also important to reduce inflammation in the oral cavity which affects inflammation in the entire body, that is associated with many conditions including diabetes, heart disease and Alzhiemer’s disease.

Your dental hygienist will complete a thorough examination of your teeth, gums, tissues and bone that supports your teeth to determine the presence of gingival (gum) or periodontal disease. Gingivitis is inflammation that affects your gums only. Periodontal disease is inflammation that affects the gums, bone and ligaments supporting the teeth. Bacteria and tartar below the gum-line creates toxins that eat away at the bone supporting your teeth, and can eventually lead to tooth loss. Tartar is plaque that has calcified and hardened after being in the mouth for more than 48 hours. Once plaque has calcified and hardened into tartar, it can no longer be removed by brushing, and it is necessary to see a dental hygienist for removal.

Digital x-rays are used to evaluate the health of your bone and presence of deep pockets and tartar buildup to help guide your periodontal therapy. With our fully digital office, your hygienist will show you your x-rays and educate you on your individual oral health, discuss the best treatment options and move forward to help you achieve your healthiest smile (and gums)! After careful examination, a thorough debridement (scaling and root planing) will be completed to improve your oral health.

We also offer advanced oral cancer screenings with our Velscope system (tissue fluorescence visualization) to identify any areas of concern. This is a non-invasive, quick procedure we do in-office. Please ask us more.